11 years for trafficking
Preparing for 'deadly smoke' 
Woman jailed for sex assault
Landfill murders trial begins 
Facial recognition at border?
PM ups attacks on Poilievre
Enquirer publisher testifies
Ariel Henry resigns 
Moulin Rouge sails collapse
EPA targets coal-fired power
US growth slowed sharply 
Rogers tops complaint list
Warriors put to the brink
Vees dominating Vipers
Warriors snakebitten in loss
Weinstein conviction tossed
Cudi cancels tour
Tim Hortons the musical
Top Stories for September 22, 2022
Kelowna man can't believe he won half a million in the Lotto 6/49 Extra
A Kelowna man had to pinch himself before he would believe he was $500,000 richer. Lorne Hradecki from Kelowna tells Castanet he was in denial for a full 24...
Merritt council candidate has child sex crime conviction, claims he was framed
A registered sex offender running for a seat on Merritt city council says he hopes voters will be able to look past his conviction to see his platform. Michael...
'Our education is obsolete': Lab assistant rattled as IH drops post-secondary requirement for similar role
Amid a historic labour shortage, Interior Health will no longer require post-secondary education for workers whose primary role is to draw blood from patients,...
Traveller at Vancouver Airport misses flight after massive wait
Vancouver International Airport continues to see some significant baggage and flight delays following several months of issues. B.C.'s largest airport says...
'Listen to us': Kelowna surgeon among over 130 doctors calling for minister's acknowledgement healthcare is crumbling
Health care specialists have signed a letter sent to B.C. Minister of Health Adrian Dix calling for attention to the crisis in specialty health care. When the...
Kelowna lawyer fined for 'cavalier' trust fund management
A Kelowna lawyer has been fined $20,000 by his profession's regulator for misconduct and a “cavalier approach” to trust fund management. Gregg...
Canada ending requirements for COVID-19 vaccines, ArriveCan app at border Sept. 30
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has agreed to let a cabinet order enforcing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements at the Canadian border expire at the end...
Large police presence around home near Wilson Ave. and Gordon Dr.
UPDATE 4:45 p.m. Police have now cleared the area. Castanet has a request in with the Kelowna RCMP. ORIGINAL 2:55 p.m. There is a large police presence around...
Would you prefer to work four longer days a week than a regular five-day week?
The City of Merritt in the B.C. Interior is launching a four-day work week pilot program in hopes of attracting, recruiting and retaining municipal workers....
Johnny Depp dating lawyer Joelle Rich
Johnny Depp is reportedly dating his former lawyer Joelle Rich. The 59-year-old actor is said to have struck up a relationship with lawyer Joelle, 37, after she...
Invasive grey squirrels spreading across the Okanagan
They may look cute and fuzzy – but make no mistake, grey squirrels are nasty customers. And they have moved into the Okanagan. Vernon-based wildlife...
Defence's expert testifies Kelowna RCMP officer acted legally
The judge presiding over a Kelowna RCMP officer's assault trial may ultimately have to decide which “use-of-force” expert she believes –...
Worman Homes wants to put your vehicle on the lift in proposed six-storey development
City staff is throwing its support behind a six-storey commercial building in Kelowna’s Pandosy Village that will feature one of the valley’s first...
First B.C. couple married by Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
A Christina Lake couple clad in pirate outfits, tricorn hats and swords has become the first in B.C. to tie the knot under the Church of the Flying Spaghetti...
Crash on Highway 97 between Summerland and Peachland; traffic still moving both directions
Multiple cars are in the ditch off Highway 97 between Summerland and Peachland. A Castanet staff member came across the incident around 3 p.m. She reports...
Powell's stark message: Inflation fight may cause recession
The U.S. Federal Reserve delivered its bluntest reckoning Wednesday of what it will take to finally tame painfully high inflation: Slower growth, higher...
Homeowners in Naramata still dealing with excessive water runoff as subdivision construction grows
A group of Naramata residents are frustrated that there has been little done to deal with ongoing excessive water runoff from developments above their homes...
6.8 magnitude earthquake shakes Mexico, at least 2 dead
A powerful magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Mexico early Thursday, causing at least two deaths, damaging buildings and setting off landslides. The earthquake...
Kelowna Fire Department called to Black Mountain home for report of a bedroom fire
Kelowna fires crews were called to a report of a structure fire Thursday afternoon. At approximately 4:30 p.m., the Kelowna Fire Department Regional Dispatch...
US: Security Council must tell Russia to stop nuke threats
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken called on every U.N. Security Council member to “send a clear message" to Russia that it must stop its nuclear...
Car bomb in Kootenays had gang ties, sent shrapnel through home: police
It’s believed a car bomb in the Kootenays earlier this month is linked to organized crime. The explosion on Sept. 9 at 6:40 a.m. in the village of...
'Taller people may find it challenging': This Vancouver rental unit will probably bruise some heads
With many people looking for an affordable home in Vancouver, there are some odd options out there. In this case there's essentially a bachelor apartment in...
Long-COVID patients show signs of autoimmune diseases: study
Some long COVID patients suffering symptoms including fatigue and shortness of breath are showing signs of autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and...
Spouse of gunman who killed 22 Nova Scotians calls for policing reforms at inquiry
The spouse of the gunman who killed 22 Nova Scotians in the 2020 mass shooting is calling for improved police training and handling of domestic violence....
Home builders association host mayoral candidate debate on housing affordability
Three of Kelowna's mayoral hopefuls will discuss issues around housing affordability ahead of next month's municipal election. The discussion, set for...
Penticton man arrested after being found slumped over steering wheel in running vehicle filled with drugs, weapons, cash
RCMP in Penticton have arrested a man found passed out in a running vehicle, in possession of a stash of drugs and weapons. On Sept. 21 at approximately 9...
B.C. COVID-19 deaths rebound from multi-month low
The number of people dying from COVID-19 in B.C. has rebounded from multi-month lows, according to new provincial data. Government statistics hold that 22...
Man found shot in car in Surrey was from Edmonton
A man found dying in a running car in Surrey had been shot, the B.C. Lower Mainland's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has confirmed. The man,...
Canadian dollar slides as investors retreat to U.S. dollars
The Canadian dollar is sliding lower again, hitting lows not seen in more than two years, a day after the U.S. Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate. The...
Gospel Mission scrambling to find employees to work at new shelter
The Kelowna Gospel Mission's new shelter at the former BC Tree Fruits packinghouse may not open at the start of October if they can't find staff. Gospel...
Canada Jetlines, latest airline to enter crowded field, set to take off
The next airline hoping to pose a threat to the country's Air Canada-WestJet duopoly is slated to take its inaugural flight Thursday. Canada Jetlines, a new...
Why a NASA spacecraft will be intentionally crashed into asteroid
In the first-of-its kind, save-the-world experiment, NASA is about to clobber a small, harmless asteroid millions of miles away. A spacecraft named Dart will...
Two men charged after Mounties find guns while patrolling alley
Two men are facing firearms-related charges after an eagle-eyed constable spotted a gun while patrolling a North Kamloops alley early Thursday morning, police...
Merritt to pilot four-day work week at city hall to attract workers
The City of Merritt in the B.C. Interior is launching a four-day work week pilot program in hopes of attracting, recruiting and retaining municipal workers....
Alex Jones testifies in trial over his Sandy Hook hoax lies
Alex Jones took the stand Thursday at his Connecticut defamation trial, acknowledging he had promoted the conspiracy theory that the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre...
Former BoC governor Stephen Poloz warns against entrenching inflation in expectations
BANFF, Alta. — Preventing current high inflation levels from becoming embedded into the public's expectations is key if the country is to avoid...
'Knocking on famine's door': UN food chief wants action now
The U.N. food chief warned Thursday that the world is facing “a perfect storm on top of a perfect storm” and urged donors, particularly Gulf nations...
Mounties searching for two suspects after robbery at Brocklehurst store
Kamloops Mounties are hoping tips from the public will help them track down the suspects in a Wednesday night robbery at a store in Brocklehurst. Police said...
Valley Mitsubishi celebrates 20 years in business
Valley Mitsubishi is celebrating 20 years in business in Kelowna this month. But it’s not just its lengthy history in the Okanagan that is being...
100 Heroes Kelowna returns after pandemic hiatus
The 100 Heroes Who Give A Damn in Kelowna are back. An event on Oct. 4 at 5 p.m. at the Kelowna Toyota dealership at 1624 Cary Road will mark the fifteenth 100...
Civic election: Maxine DeHart running for Kelowna city council
Castanet News has distributed a questionnaire to city council candidates in both Kelowna and West Kelowna to help voters get to know those putting their names...
Renovation noise drives Port Coquitlam tenant crazy - but she still has to pay the rent
You can't just up and leave without paying your last month's rent — even if noise from your landlord's basement renovations are driving you...
No pandemic airline refund, B.C. tribunal rules
A man who booked a holiday flight from Vancouver to Germany is not entitled to a refund after the B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal ruled not travelling during the...
Poaching fears as Fraser River salmon are dumped to rot, even as returns slump
Rodney Hsu says he has found too many Fraser River sockeye in places they aren't supposed to be this season — from residential areas to gravel roads,...
A new indoor mountain bike park is coming to the old Capilano Mall Sears location
Have you ever looked at a big empty space – something like an abandoned department store – and dreamt of putting something unique and awesome in...
Water advisory coming for Black Mountain residents
People living in Black Mountain are being advised about an upcoming water advisory. The Black Mountain Irrigation District has issued a precautionary water...
Historic former hospital on market for $13.2 million in Victoria
It comes with columns, mosaic tile floors, massive oak entrance doors, intricate stained glass windows, its own chapel and a sweet location on just over half an...
Civic election: Daniel Joseph running for Kelowna city council
Castanet News has distributed a questionnaire to city council candidates in both Kelowna and West Kelowna to help voters get to know those putting their names...
Man sentenced to 11 years for 2015 killing of Indigenous woman in northern Alberta
A man was sentenced Thursday to 11 years for killing an Indigenous woman in northern Alberta and later moving her body to Manitoba. Grant Sneesby, 72, stabbed...
Zelenskyy vows Ukraine will win war as Russia redoubles effort
Ukraine’s president implored the world Wednesday to punish Russia for its invasion, even as the leader vowed his forces would win back every inch of...
B.C. man on the run from kidnap sentence found by police working different case
Coquitlam RCMP say a British Columbia man who was on the run, allegedly trying to evade sentencing for a separate crime, is now back in custody. Police say...
B.C. man reaches settlement over priest sex abuse allegations
A man who alleged he was sexually abused by Mission Roman Catholic priests and a seminary employee has reached an undisclosed settlement to end the case. Mark...
Mint teams up with National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation to create keepsake
The experiences of residential school survivors are woven together with First Nations, Inuit and Métis teachings and traditional art forms that were...
Canada's environment minister does not jump to take up UN call for windfall taxes
Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault isn't warming to the idea of combating climate change by imposing a windfall tax on the massive profits being posted...
Small Shop Saturday is back, highlighting the importance of shopping local
This Saturday is the perfect opportunity to shop until you drop. The Downtown Kelowna Association has brought back Small Shop Saturday on September 24. In...
Police looking for more victims in string of Victoria rental frauds
Victoria Police have arrested two suspects and are asking victims to come forward after discovering a number of rental frauds that have cost people tens of...
COVID outbreak declared at Gateby care facility in Vernon
A new COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at Vernon's Gateby care facility. Interior Health lists the outbreak as of Wednesday, affecting the third floor of...
Kelowna Chamber of Commerce will host mayoral forum next month
The five candidates looking to be the next mayor of Kelowna will take the stage at the Mary Irwin Theatre next month. Incumbent Colin Basran and challengers Tom...
Suspect in fatal N.W.T. stabbing 'arrested without any incident,' RCMP say
RCMP in the Northwest Territories say the suspect in the stabbing of three people in Fort Good Hope was arrested Thursday evening "without any...
'Quiet quitting' in the not-for-profit sector
You have likely heard about the trend of “quiet quitting” that seems to be taking over the working world. People are not doing more than what is...
Three Richmond men charged with Japanese Yakuza cartel links
Three people with Richmond addresses have been arrested and charged with being part of a Japanese Yakuza cartel and China-linked organized crime operation....
Kelowna Kinsmen cornhole tournament fundraiser takes place Saturday
The Kinsmen Club of Kelowna is bringing back its annual cornhole tournament fundraiser, after two years off during the pandemic. The event Sept. 24 in Kinsmen...
Perfect time to catch Kokanee salmon spawning in Penticton
Kokanee salmon have returned to Penticton waterways for their annual run, a perfect opportunity for the public to spot the fish on their life cycle's final...
Kelowna Rockets enter a new season with growing expectations
The Kelowna Rockets won't be sneaking up on anyone this coming Western Hockey League season. The Rockets, with a young nucleus of talent, surpassed...
32 pilot whales rescued out of 230 beached in Australia
Wildlife experts on Thursday rescued 32 of the 230 whales that were found stranded on the wild and remote west coast of Australia’s island state of...
Dark is out, light is in, and you can find it all at Beachcomber Home Leisure
When it comes to furniture trends, Kelowna interior designer Tammy Cunningham says we have reached the light at the end of the tunnel. “We’ve come...
Mutiny charge withdrawn as military officer goes on trial for anti-vaccine comments
A Canadian Armed Forces officer who urged other military members against helping to distribute COVID-19 vaccines has pleaded guilty to conduct to the prejudice...
Kamloops councillor says meeting on rural healthcare crisis met with positive response from province
A Kamloops councillor says a meeting between municipal leaders and the provincial minister of health to discuss rural healthcare closures and health authority...
Police deploy bean bag shotgun in arrest at B.C. Women's Hospital
A woman is in police custody after police deployed a bean bag shotgun to remove her from a B.C. hospital Thursday morning. Officers from the Vancouver Police...
Fate of accused in first-degree murder now in hands of B.C. Supreme Court judge
A prosecutor maintains an eyewitness to a deadly 2018 Williams Lake shooting is credible even though the man didn’t initially disclose the identity of the...
New taxes on banks and life insurers will generate $5.3 billion over five years: PBO
Proposed new federal taxes on some financial institutions could generate $5.3 billion over the next five years, the parliamentary budget officer estimated in...
B.C. seniors have lowest financial support in Canada, says advocate
Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie says British Columbia ranks last among Canada's provinces and territories in providing key financial support for seniors....
We need great teachers (because we're all students)
My youngest son was ready at 6 am. Ready in spirit, in attitude and excitement of course, not ready in any tangible or physical way. The schoolbag was yet to be...
'Challenges' with way new dental program rolled out
This week, the House of Commons is back in session in Ottawa. The government has introduced two bills intended to provide relief for some Canadian families...
Defenceman Aidan Reeves has been named captain of the West Kelowna Warriors
For just the second time in the 17-year history of the West Kelowna Warriors, a defenceman will wear the "C" on his jersey. Blueliner Adian Reeves, a...
Work finally underway on temporary homes for flooded-out Princeton seniors
Work has begun on 20 new temporary homes for seniors in Princeton who were displaced by historic floods in November 2021. The provincial government, BC Housing,...
Vernon mayoral candidate Scott Anderson aims to raise Vernon's voice at provincial level
Vernon councillor Scott Anderson is taking a run at the mayor's chair in the municipal election, and on Thursday unveiled his mayoral strategy should he...
Metalfest organizer Jessie Valstar running for Armstrong council
Best known for his role in co-founding Armstrong Metalfest, Jessie Valstar is looking to make a difference in his community. So he decided to run for Armstrong...
Penticton Art Gallery's Square Mini Mural project back for auction at Cannery Brewing
The Square Mini Mural live auction is back again at Cannery Brewing, a collaboration with the Penticton Art Gallery supporting local artists and the gallery....
Civic election: Get to know James Miller, incumbent Penticton city councillor
Castanet News has distributed a questionnaire to each candidate running for local council in the South Okanagan. All candidates have been given the same...
City of Kamloops councillor candidate profile: Daphane Nelson
Castanet Kamloops is going to help you get to know the candidates running for city councillor over the next few weeks. Every weekday morning starting on Sept....
Three arrested, drugs and cash seized at downtown Kamloops traffic stop
Kamloops police arrested three men, seizing drugs and over $5,000 in cash as the result of a traffic stop downtown. In a news release, Kamloops RCMP Corp....
Early numbers indicate continued enrolment growth in Vernon school district
The Vernon school district continues to grow. Last year, School District 22 enrolment increased by 185 students, or 2%, to 8,672 students, says...
B.C. adds $2 million to enhance suicide prevention, patient care
British Columbia's minister of mental health and addictions has announced $2 million in funding to support enhanced care for people at risk of suicide....
Vernon mayoralty candidate Olesen slams inaction on crime
A challenger for mayor in Vernon is condemning crime in the city, and says current council members have done little to stop it. "We continue to see an...
Civic election: Get to know Terry Schafer, Oliver town council candidate
Castanet News has distributed a questionnaire to each candidate running for local council in the South Okanagan. All candidates have been given the same...
Osoyoos latest on list of BC Bird Trail destinations
The BC Bird Trail has added several locations in the province as part of its third season of inspiring people to explore birdwatching, including a new station...
North Okanagan dancers to perform opening dance for Chris Lemons inspirational presentation
Local dancers will add to a message of inspiration at an upcoming Vernon event. Presented by the Emily Dahl Foundation and North Okanagan Hospice Society,...
City of Vernon encouraging people to park the car for GoByBike Weeks
As summer gives way to fall, the City of Vernon is urging residents to keep on pedalling. Fall GoByBike Weeks kick off in the North Okanagan Oct. 3, and runs...
Community feedback helps shape future for North Okanagan Hospice Society
Community feedback is helping shape the future for the North Okanagan Hospice Society. The society is reviewing feedback from a recent public information...
Multiple voting options for residents in six TNRD areas holding director elections, TNRD says
Residents in the six Thompson-Nicola Regional District areas holding elections for the position of director will be able to cast votes through mail or on...
