B.C. News

A strong employment report pushed the Canadian dollar to well above 98 cents US on Friday, its highest point in nearly two years. CBC.ca

B.C. is joining a lawsuit on behalf of women who say they've suffered serious medical problems while using Yaz or Yasmin, what's referred to as a "fourth generation" progestin hormonal pill. CTVBC.ca

A group of East Vancouver residents say they're furious with the B.C. Environmental Appeal Board's dismissal of their concerns about the smell coming from a neighbourhood rendering plant. CBC.ca

Two Vancouver police officers are recovering from head injuries after a violent struggle with a man wanted on a Canada-wide warrant. CBC.ca

B.C.'s Liberal government has backed away from plans to turf a branch of the Royal Canadian Legion from its home in a government building near the provincial legislature in Victoria. CBC.ca

The provincial government may be fuelling the black market with a coming tax increase on private sales of cars, boats and airplanes, the B.C. NDP says. CBC.ca

The Liberal government has backed away from plans to turf a branch of the Royal Canadian Legion from its home in a government building near the B.C. legislature. CTVBC.ca

Quietly buried in last week's budget was an announcement to raise the PST on the private sales of vehicles, boats and planes. The move, which takes effect July 1, will raise the tax five percent. CTVBC.ca

The majority of Vancouver city council members support an Olympic legacy of holding more street parties in the downtown core, a CTV News poll has found. CTVBC.ca

Legally blind skier Brian McKeever hopes a solid performance at the Paralympic Games will help ease the disappointment he still feels over being denied an opportunity to compete at the Olympics. CBC.ca

Canada has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the eve of the Paralympic Games in Vancouver. CBC.ca

The Paralympic torch relay reached downtown Vancouver Thursday afternoon, spurring a handful of road closures in the lead up to the Games' Opening Ceremony Friday night. CTVBC.ca

A large grow op has been dismantled near Vavenby.

On Tuesday, RCMP executed a search warrant on a property just off Highway 5 north of Clearwater and seized more than 2400 marijuana plants.

Corporal Chris Newel says in addition to the marijuana grow operation, police located a hydro by-pass which meant they were stealing a large amount of power.

“The rural property on Pye Road near Vavenby had two outbuildings that contained marijuana grow operations. One building had been recently built, it had two levels and contained over 1500 marijuana plants,” says Newel.

He says the second older building also had two levels.

“In this building, all the plants had been cut and were ready to be transported to another location. Police estimate over 900 plants had been harvested in this building.”

Newel says inside the house, a person had cut into the electrical system prior to the power consumption meter and was diverting power to the marijuana grow operation.

“Given the size of the grow op, the amount stolen would have been substantial. Nobody was found on the property at the time the search warrant was executed but police have several possible suspects and will be following up.”

He says they will be facing charges of production of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking and theft of electricity.

“BC Hydro has been alerted to the theft of electricity and the power has been cut off to the property as a safety precaution. Police have huge concerns about the potential fire hazard of these operations. In this area there is no fire protection and a fire would have put nearby residents at considerable risk.”

Just 24 hours after RCMP announced additional child porn charges against a Surrey man, Police say they've shut down a child pornography operation based out of an apartment on Vancouver Island. CTVBC.ca

Two Vancouver police officers are recovering from head and facial injuries after an arrested suspect made a violent escape attempt on Wednesday afternoon. CTVBC.ca

VANOC officials say extra transit and some road closures will be returning during the Paralympic Games, but not to the same extent as during the 2010 Winter Olympics last month. CBC.ca

Three British Columbia residents are suing Pfizer, claiming the company's smoking-cession drug Champix can cause serious psychiatric reactions. CBC.ca

Three debut novels, including the much-lauded The Golden Mean, have scooped nominations for the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize, one of seven B.C. book prizes. CBC.ca