City to remove big spider
Delta cops arrest suspect
40 months for drunken crash
PM sidesteps Dong question
Great Lakes preservation
US, Canada end loophole
Water restrictions eased
Chad nationalizes oil assets
Barred from police work
Toshiba accepts buyout
Bracing for booze hikes
Net-zero for LNG plant
Canada makes playoffs
Pride refusals in spotlight
Local star to shine at UBCO
Paltrow takes the stand
Paltrow crash trial continues
'Prices ruining live music'
Top Stories for February 8, 2023
BC SPCA puts out call for help as 21 retrievers need adoption
Who doesn't love an adorable retriever pup? An influx of the furballs has the BC SPCA asking for help. Eileen Drever with the SPCA says: "We are hardly...
Remains of missing Kelowna man found in Adventure Bay area of Vernon
The case of a missing Kelowna man has ended in tragedy in Vernon. Vernon RCMP confirm that remains discovered in the Adventure Bay area on Jan. 25 are those of...
Business owner who sold three kilos of cocaine to undercover cop sent to prison
A Kamloops-area restaurateur who dealt drugs to pay for his kids’ expensive medications wiped tears from his eyes Tuesday as he was sentenced to 30 months...
Bylaw moving Kelowna's homeless population away from sidewalks and back alleys
The number of Kelowna's unhoused population taking shelter on city sidewalks and back alleys has begun to dwindle over the past several days. As...
Netflix Canada begins password sharing crackdown, additional members cost $7.99
Netflix Canada is rolling out its long-anticipated plans to crack down on password sharing. The streaming giant says it will begin notifying Canadian users...
Slope instability has Highway 1 closed west of Chase
UPDATE: 4:42 p.m. It looks like Highway 1 will remain closed just west of Chase until at least Thursday morning. DriveBC issued an update just after 4:30 p.m....
Are you wary of flying in light of air travel issues such as delays, cancellations and lost bags?
Travel chaos that gripped travellers at airports around the world last summer, and resurfaced during the holiday season has made potential tourists wary of...
Kelowna's Ramada hotel on market for $32 million after years of expansion talk
If you’ve always wanted to own a hotel on Kelowna’s main drag, you now have a golden opportunity. The Ramada by Wyndham Kelowna Hotel and Conference...
Patient calls for better communication by Interior Health after waiting weeks for a biopsy appointment
A Kelowna woman is calling on Interior Health to make it easier for patients requiring biopsies for suspected cancer to find out where they are in the queue....
Author whose father was forcibly treated at Kelowna General Hospital warns of the dangers of involuntary care
The author of a new book is speaking out against the push for more involuntary care in the rush to deal with the opioid crisis and the rising number of people...
Driver charged with first degree murder after bus crashes into Quebec daycare
UPDATE 2:43 p.m. The driver of a bus that crashed into a suburban Montreal daycare this morning, killing two children, has been charged with two counts of...
RCMP arrest men involved with stolen trucks
Kelowna RCMP officers arrested two men on Wednesday in separate incidents, both driving stolen trucks. Shortly after 8 a.m., police were notified that a truck...
Burn pile quickly spreads to nearby field in Lake Country
UPDATE: 5: p.m. A burn pile in Lake Country along Carrs Landing Road blew out of control on Wednesday afternoon and quickly grew to a grass fire over one acre...
Off-duty police officer dead after self-inflicted injury at B.C. gun range
Warning: Details in this story may be distressing to some An off-duty police officer is dead after a self-inflicted injury at a gun range in Langley. The...
More than 10,000 people sign petition opposing B.C.'s Bill 36
More than 10,000 people have signed a petition asking the B.C. government to pause its overhaul of the province's healthcare colleges. In November, the B.C....
Bail set for 'Dances With Wolves' actor as police in Canada apply for more charges
UPDATE 4:25 p.m. Bail has been set at $300,000 for a former actor in the movie "Dances With Wolves" who is facing eight sex-related charges in Nevada...
Whistler shelter dog is now 'in the arms of an angel' — adoptee Sarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan doesn't just sing the songs, she walks the walk—at least when it comes to the causes she's passionate about. The Halifax-born,...
Safety alert: Canada-wide recall of multi-surface cleaner due to 'microbial hazard'
A type of multi-purpose cleaner has been recalled from stores across Canada due to the potential for microbial contamination. The product recall issued...
120,000 job openings in Thompson-Okanagan over next decade
B.C. is expected to have one million job openings over the next decade, and 120,000 of those are anticipated in the Thompson Okanagan region. The provincial...
Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield re-introduces bill calling for gender pay equity
Kelowna-Mission MLA Renee Merrifield is trying again to get gender pay equity entrenched in law in BC. The Liberal Shadow Minister for Gender Equity and...
Kelowna resident hoping to create Okanagan's first indoor dog park
Jason Stratford is hoping to create the Okanagan's first indoor dog park. Stratford says he came up with idea during the height of COVID-19. The Kelowna...
Freight train derails in Rogers Pass, east of Revelstoke
CP Rail personnel are on the scene of a derailment in Rogers Pass. The company says it is conducting an investigation into the incident, which happened Sunday....
B.C. Liberal bill would eliminate PST on used vehicle sales
The B.C. Liberal opposition on Wednesday re-introduced legislation to reduce taxes to make buying a used car more affordable. The Provincial Sales Tax (Used...
Burnaby RCMP investigating after car and motorcycle collide, killing the operator of the motorcycle
RCMP are investigating a fatal motorcycle accident in Burnaby. On Wednesday Feb. 8, just before 6:30 a.m., police responded to a report of a two-vehicle...
Huge controlled avalanche in B.C. caught on camera
Provincial avalanche control crews have been busy in northwest B.C. BC Transportation and Infrastructure published a video Wednesday of a controlled avalanche...
Penticton council votes to make open alcohol on city beaches legal permanently
A pilot project allowing alcohol consumption on Penticton beaches has been made permanent. In the summer of 2020, council passed an initiative allowing open...
Mill closures threaten to punch holes in fabric of rural B.C. towns
When Mayor Shane Brienen of Houston, B.C., thinks about the impact of the impending closure of the town's sawmill, he worries not only about the economic...
Drop-off recycling station opens at Glenmore landfill
Recycling just got more convenient in Kelowna. Residents can now drop off recyclables at the new Return-It Express and GO recycling station at the Glenmore...
B.C. man loses COVID test battle with Air Canada
B.C.’s Civil Resolution Tribunal has rejected a man’s claims that Air Canada owes him a refund after the carrier refused to transport him because it...
Judge finds standard breached but dismisses claim of ex-Mountie who says he was railroaded
A B.C. Supreme Court judge has dismissed the claim of an ex-Mountie who said he was railroaded out of his job following a high-profile murder investigation in...
Pre-trial conference for Curtis Sagmoen set for Feb. 22 in Vernon
A notorious North Okanagan resident has had a new restriction placed on his bail. The lawyer for Curtis Wayne Sagmoen appeared on his behalf in Vernon court...
Thompson-Okanagan snowpacks healthy as rest of province sees increased drought risk
Snowpacks are above normal for this time of the year in the Thompson-Okanagan while the rest of the province deals with an increased risk of spring drought. ...
Neighbours frustrated with abandoned boat on shores of Kal Lake
It’s been six months since neighbours around Kalamalka Lake first noticed a boat hanging around the Kalavista boat launch. Brad says it was late summer...
Former employee pleads guilty to fraud at Vernon care home
A Vernon woman who defrauded a local care home has pleaded guilty. Michelle Hampton pleaded guilty in Vernon court, Wednesday. Hampton was charged in 2010 with...
B.C. forecasts more than one million jobs over next decade, health, tech key areas
More than one million jobs will need to be filled in British Columbia in the next decade, and a labour outlook says about two-thirds of them will be needed to...
Pop-up Luxe Fashion Market takes place in Kelowna this month
The first Luxe Fashion Market is popping up in Kelowna in support of a local charity. With over 20 tables of preloved and new shoes, clothing and accessories,...
Canada betrays its ‘Species at Risk Act’ while province wipes out mountain caribou habitat: VWS
The nation’s Species at Risk Act is no law at all, says a Kootenay environmental group. The Valhalla Wilderness Society contends that the Species at Risk...
MH17 probe: 'Strong indications' Putin OK'd missile supply
An international team of investigators said Wednesday it found “strong indications” that Russian President Vladimir Putin approved the supply of...
Terrace sawmill, bioenergy plant closing indefinitely
Skeena Sawmills, a major employer in Terrace, has announced it is closing indefinitely as of today, throwing more than 150 people out of work, but hopes to...
Canadian clothing companies lack awareness of child labour risks: Report
The Canadian Ombudsperson for Responsible Enterprise says Canadian clothing companies have limited awareness about whether child labour could be being used in...
Hope fading as deaths in Turkey, Syria quake pass 11,000
With the hope of finding survivors fading, stretched rescue teams in Turkey and Syria searched Wednesday for signs of life in the rubble of thousands of...
Tickets going fast for Vernon Winter Carnival Snowglobe Concert with the Reklaws
Get ready for a real 'Barn Burner' at Kal Tire Place on Friday. The sibling duo of Jenna and Stuart Walker, who make up the Reklaws, will headline...
Indigo says it is dealing with a 'cybersecurity incident' affecting online service
Indigo Books & Music Inc. says it is dealing with what it calls a "cybersecurity incident" that has affected online customer orders. Toronto-based...
Lawyers seeking class action certification for Lytton residents impacted by devastating 2021 wildfire
A weeklong hearing is underway in B.C. Supreme Court where lawyers are trying to get a class-action lawsuit certified for Lytton residents impacted by...
Helmet-wearing bed racers compete for bragging rights
The "solid craftsmanship” of their service department is being credited with helping pull off another win for Team Toyota. This is the second year in...
Devastation in Turkey echoes past quakes and offers B.C. lessons: profs
The earthquake that ravaged Turkey and Syria this week offers both lessons and warnings for people in British Columbia as images emerge of the human devastation...
Salmon Arm RCMP nab train-hopping thief linked to stolen Jeep in Kelowna
A Jeep stolen from Kelowna Monday morning was found in Salmon Arm by RCMP the same afternoon. Police credit an observant bystander for helping with the...
Keep Canada's doors open to Ukrainians, refugee groups urge Ottawa
Humanitarian groups that have been supporting Ukrainian refugees are calling on Ottawa to extend a special immigration program that allows people fleeing...
Despite public pushback, historic home of Bogner's restaurant will be demolished and redeveloped
It was a close vote, but a definitive one — the historic home that housed Bogner's restaurant in Penticton will be razed and redeveloped. Following a...
Labour shortages could push up wages, 'reignite inflation' in long run, report warns
A new report says a protracted labour shortage in Canada could fuel more rapid wage growth and inflation over time, potentially prompting the need for higher...
Death toll in Turkey, Syria earthquake surpasses 15,000
The death toll from the catastrophic earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria rose to more than 15,000 as more bodies were pulled from the rubble of collapsed homes...
Kelowna's Fireside Fest a 'big-time' success after two-year hiatus
After a two-year hiatus, Kelowna's Fireside Festival returned to the city this past weekend, with dozens of bands playing over three nights. Fireside...
Broadway merchants seek compensation for lost business from subway construction
Subway construction along Broadway has killed many businesses, is killing many more, and neither the City of Vancouver nor the provincial government has agreed...
Police hunting for bank robber in Trail, B.C.
Police are investigating a bank robbery downtown Trail, B.C. last week. RCMP say they were called on Feb. 2 at 3:51 p.m. for a robbery at the CIBC 1200 block...
Recent travel chaos shakes B.C. travellers' confidence: survey
Travel chaos that gripped travellers at airports around the world last summer, and resurfaced during the holiday season has made potential tourists wary of...
Kelowna Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram giving away restaurant gift card, detailing package
February is the month to spread some love, and Kelowna Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram will be doing exactly that to one lucky contest winner. The dealership which is...
BoC considered not raising rates last month, but hot economy swayed decision
The Bank of Canada contemplated not raising interest rates last month but with the economy outperforming expectations, its governing council ultimately decided...
Kelowna's Muslim community collects donations for earthquake victims
The Muslim community in Kelowna has come together to collect donations for earthquake survivors in Turkey and Syria. A 7.8 magnitude quake, which was followed...
Tug company, senior official charged in fatal 2021 sinking off northwest B.C. coast
Charges have now been laid against a tug and barge company and one of its senior officials two years after a tug sank off British Columbia's coast south of...
Slow down and take time to appreciate life
Busy, busy, busy. We’re a culture of busy. Living life on fast-forward, filled with pressing to-do lists seems to be the norm these days. Being busy has...
Province to start merging lists of patients who need doctors, doctors who can take patients
Patients without family doctors in B.C.’s urban areas have been signing on to the province’s Health Connect Registry. And now, doctors who...
Twitter scrambles to fix meltdown as many unable to tweet
Many Twitter users found themselves unable to tweet, follow accounts or access their direct messages on Wednesday as the Elon Musk-owned platform experienced a...
Kelo Cannabis expanding free delivery to Quail’s Ridge, Mission and South Kelowna
Kelo Cannabis is making it possible for even more neighbourhoods in Kelowna to take advantage of its free cannabis delivery services. Kelo Cannabis has offered...
SD73 board discussed RHJ behind closed doors, will contact city to clarify role
The Kamloops-Thompson school district will be connecting with city council to clarify SD73’s mandate and roles after a recent incident resulted in Mayor...
Accused in B.C. gas station machete attack alleges police corruption
The man facing charges in connection with a machete attack at a Vancouver gas station told a B.C. Supreme Court judge his case involves organized crime...
Paul Brandt headlines unique acoustic storytelling music festival in Penticton
Canadian country legend Paul Brandt will be sharing his talents at an intimate upcoming musical event in Penticton. Brandt will join four of Nashville's hit...
Sweet and tasty ideas for your beloved
Valentine’s Day is approaching, as is “Galentine’s” Day, now growing in popularity, the day before Cupid arrives. Maybe you’ll be...
How much Canadians have fallen behind amid high inflation and who's hurting the most
Inflation has eroded purchasing power for many Canadians, but the experience with rapidly rising prices has been far from uniform. While the inflation rate...
Defence, innovation ministers team up to sell D.C. on merits of working with Canada
Canada is fortifying a long-standing front in its ongoing battle with protectionist impulses in the United States: resurrecting the Second World War-era notion...
Local volunteer group holding benefit concerts to provide support for Ukrainians fleeing war get to the South Okanagan
A group of South Okanagan locals are hosting a pair of benefit concerts in support of humanitarian aid for Ukrainians fleeing war to safety in Canada. Under the...
Urban search and rescue team from Burnaby, B.C., deploys to quake zone in Turkey
A team of urban search and rescue specialists from British Columbia has deployed to Turkey's earthquake zone after independently offering to help with what...
Zelenskyy tells UK 'freedom will win,' pushes for warplanes
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pushed for fighter jets to ensure his country's victory over Russia in a dramatic speech before the U.K. Parliament,...
Stolen truck continues to flee after running over RCMP spike belt, police say
Police say they deployed a spike belt on Paul Lake Road on Tuesday night in an attempt to stop a stolen truck linked to a burglary. Mounties said the pickup was...
Forests critic keeping an eye on salvage wood subsidy program
Opposition forests critic Mike Bernier is taking a wait and see attitude to the provincial government's recently-announced doubling of funding to Forest...
New police unit has eyes on 16 prolific offenders in city, Mounties say
The Kamloops RCMP detachment's new crime reduction unit has its eye on more than a dozen prolific offenders, according to a recent report to the city. In a...
A year after Freedom Convoy, Ottawa to reopen street in front of Parliament Hill
Ottawa's city council has approved a motion to reopen the street in front of Parliament Hill to traffic a year after it was closed off following the Freedom...
Vancouver's Turkish community unites to collect donations for quake survivors
Donations are pouring into a Vancouver warehouse for those affected by Monday's devastating earthquake in Turkey, but a volunteer organizer says the country...
Upcoming free tourism expo to show off all Penticton has to offer
Be a tourist in your own town at the sixth annual Think Remarkable Unique Experiences (TRUE) Penticton Tourism Expo this spring. The free event will see over 50...
Federal health minister to write to provinces seeking agreement on new health deal
Federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos will ask the provinces today whether or not they intend to accept the new health-care funding deal tabled by the prime...
Beleaguered Vancouver folk festival launches fundraising effort to save event
Organizers behind the Vancouver Folk Music Festival are taking new steps to try to save the summertime event. A statement from president Mark Zuberbuhler says...
Victoria officers who delayed breaking down door of suicidal man did nothing wrong: IIO
Victoria police have been cleared of wrongdoing in a case where officers went to the apartment of a man reported to be suicidal but couldn’t decide...
Jam can curling returns as elementary kids take part in carnival fun
Elementary school kids from across Vernon have been trying their hand at 'jam can curling' this week as part of Vernon Winter Carnival. The venerable...
TD Bank Group donates $200,000 to TRU for mobile health-care unit
TD Bank has donated $200,000 for a mobile health-care training unit to be operated by Thompson Rivers University. TRU’s Mobile Health Care Simulation Lab...
Candlelight vigil at Vernon City Hall to mark 365 days of Ukrainian resistance to Russia's invasion
To mark a full year of war in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress will hold a candlelight vigil outside Vernon City Hall on Feb. 24. The vigil begins at 5...
Tk'emlups bid to host Indigenous games draws province-wide support, city says
A City of Kamloops official says a bid from Tk’emlups te Secwepemc to host the 2027 North American Indigenous Games — which would be the largest...
Kamloops Film Festival giving away ultimate movie lovers' prize pack
The Kamloops Film Festival is giving Castanet Kamloops readers the chance to win an ultimate prize pack worth more than $250. The package includes two tickets...
