News Archive‹ Feb 12 to 18, 2017 ›

Rockets get back on track

The Kelowna Rockets jumped back into the win column Saturday night. After getting just a point from a team (Spokane) outside the playoff picture Friday, the...

Canucks edge Flames in OT

Chris Tanev's goal 34 seconds into overtime gave the Vancouver a Canucks a 2-1 victory over the Calgary Flames on Saturday night. Tanev converted a 2-on-1...

US downs Canada in rugby

Mike Te'o scored three tries as the United States defeated Canada 51-34 in Americas Rugby Championship action on Saturday night. Ryan Matyas, Tony Purpura,...

Warriors thrill in OT

Chase Stevenson capped a wild, and thrilling night with a goal at 4:05 of sudden death overtime, sending the West Kelowna Warriors to a 3-2 win over the Island...

RECAP: Heat pull out a three set win over TRU for season sweep over BC rival

With a win Saturday night, the Heat men earned a weekend sweep against Thompson Rivers in the teams' annual home-and-home matchup. Men's Volleyball (Canada West...

Liberating Mosul

Iraqi forces have launched an operation to retake the western half of Mosul from the Islamic State group. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi announced the...

RECAP: Heat and WolfPack tied in standings after weekend split

After closing out a President’s Cup victory with a win Thursday night, the Heat fell to the ‘Pack in the second half of the teams’ annual home-and-home...

Quinn honoured with statue

Late NHL and Canadian men's Olympic hockey team coach Pat Quinn was honoured Saturday with a statue outside the home of the Vancouver Canucks. The...

Budget deliberations to start

Penticton city council will review a new five-year financial plan and deliberate on 2017 budgets for all city operations during three days of council meetings,...

Anti-Muslim protest

A national Islamic group is expressing alarm about a small anti-Muslim protest held Friday in front of a Toronto mosque. The National Council of Canadian...

Garland assaulted in jail

A man sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars for the murder of a Calgary couple and their grandson has been assaulted in jail, according to his...

Spill worries Spall

A sewage lagoon breach on a dairy farm on Salmon River Road has concerned already frustrated Spallumcheen residents in the Hullcar Valley living with a tainted...

Fire destroys old cabin

A home at the base of North Vancouver’s Grouse Mountain was destroyed in a massive fire early Saturday morning. The blaze began around 1 a.m. at an old...

Pipeline leak

Enbridge says it believes a pipeline that leaked near Edmonton was struck by another company doing construction in the area. The pipeline company says in a news...

First curling event a success

A first time curling event held in Penticton Saturday proved to be a success. About 72 curlers showed up to play, mingle and raise funds for a good cause at the...

Missing teen found

UPDATE: 7:09 p.m. According to the RCMP, shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday, the missing youth made contact with his family and is back home safe and sound. The...

Running in their undies

Some joggers weren't joking when they said they were going out for a "brief run." In briefs, boxers, bras and bloomers, they ran three-quarters of...

Two vehicle MVA

Castanet is receiving reports of a two vehicle MVA at Springfield and Spall Roads in Kelowna at about 3:45 p.m., Saturday afternoon. One male was possibly...

Funeral for filmmaker

Toronto filmmaker Rob Stewart was remembered Saturday as a lovable scamp who channelled his passion for the environment into a global movement. Hundreds of...

Bobby Hull in town

NHL legend Bobby Hull made his way to Kelowna this weekend to meet his fans and sign autographs, for a local National Hockey Card Day celebration. Downtown...

BC Greens defend forestry

By Dan Hines This year’s provincial Throne Speech provided a few passing sentences about B.C. forestry and the B.C. Liberal government’s approach in...

Smoke at care home

Emergency crews in West Kelowna responded Friday night to Brookhaven Care Centre after reports there was smoke in a room. The call came in at about 10:30 p.m....

California rain eases

A huge Pacific storm that parked itself over Southern California and unloaded, ravaging roads, opening sinkholes and leading to the deaths of at least three...

Search turns up nothing

UPDATE: Saturday 2 p.m. A search at the Kinsol Trestle near Shawnigan Lake was called off Friday night. Hikers reported hearing a woman's screams near the...

Gracie bounces back home

Gracie the wallaby is back with her owners after three days on the lam. The diminutive marsupial bounced off from her home in Langley on Wednesday night,...

Landslide in Chilliwack

Three Chilliwack homes have been evacuated as a precaution after a landslide happened on a local mountain. The City of Chilliwack says no one was hurt as a...

Light quake rattles coast

Residents from Vancouver Island and Metro Vancouver reported feeling a tremor Saturday morning. Earthquakes Canada says a 4.0 magnitude quake occurred 120...

Crews clearing rockslide

Cleanup has begun on Highway 12, between Lytton and Lillooet, after a rockslide completely covered the road. The rockslide closed the highway in both directions...

Healthy living fair returning

The Healthy Living Fair is returning to the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre, Saturday March 11. The event brings together community resources for people...

Protesting police abuse

Paris police sprayed tear gas at bottle-throwing demonstrators on the margins of a rally Saturday meant to support a young black man who was allegedly raped...

Make polls great again

By Shachi Kurl and Ian Holliday Pollsters and polling organizations are frequently the target of criticism, derision and disdain. People don’t like the...

Parking lot to highrise apt.

The City of Kelowna has made a tidy profit on a piece of property it purchased five years ago. The City announced late Friday it has finalized a deal to sell...

Pregnancy discrimination?

A Vernon woman says the owner of The Squires Four Public House mistreated and discriminated against her while she worked there, due to her pregnancy. Haylee...

Of politics and demons

Politics – and demons – are said to be behind an exodus of students and staff from a Kelowna private school. Upwards of 40 students, out of a...

Flight evacuated over note

A Turkish Airlines plane in Istanbul, destined for Toronto, has been evacuated after a suspicious note was discovered in one of its bathrooms. A Turkish...

Sinkhole swallows two cars

Two vehicles fell into a sinkhole on a Los Angeles street Friday night, after heavy rains continue to ravage the city. Firefighters attended Laurel Canyon...

Weird crystal cave life

In a Mexican cave system so beautiful and hot that it is called both fairyland and hell, scientists have discovered life trapped in crystals that could be...

Turned away, dies next day

Fraser Health is looking into the care a three-year-old child received at an Abbotsford hospital after the tot was sent home and she died the next day. Balraj...

No licence, weapons in car

Police pulled over a prohibited driver in Coquitlam, Friday, and also seized a cache of weapons. The driver was stopped on the Trans-Canada Highway by an...

Beaten, shoved in car

Vancouver Police are searching for a woman after witnesses saw her beaten and pulled into a vehicle. Shortly after 2 a.m. Friday, witnesses reported hearing a...

Unsolved crimes: West Kel

You could have the missing piece of the puzzle that will help the RCMP put someone behind bars. Here are some recent crimes that Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers...

86 families with new homes

An official opening was held for Kelowna's most recent affordable housing building, which provides 86 subsidized rental apartments for low-income people in...

One winner for $26M

There is one winning ticket for the $26 million jackpot in Friday night's Lotto Max draw, and it was sold somewhere in Ontario. The jackpot for the next...

Organs from OD victims

There has been a spike in the proportion of organs coming from donors who have died of drug overdoses in British Columbia, says a leading transplant...

Lakeside tower topped off

The Lakeside Resort in Penticton “topped off” their new tower on Friday afternoon with a ceremony, hoisting signed beams to the roof. Construction...

Figure skaters hit the ice

Young figure skaters are taking to the ice all weekend in Penticton for the Okanagan Region Championships at Memorial Arena. "There will be a lot of...

Robbery sparked gun battle

A shootout that shocked Vernon was triggered by an attempted armed robbery, B.C. Supreme Court heard this week. Jacob Lowes, one of three men charged in the...

Business leader of the year

This is the last in a series recognizing businesses that took home awards from the 29th business excellence awards held by the Penticton and Wine Country...

Amanda Westrheim

Sweeping lake, valley and mountain views from this gorgeous, custom built, original owner home in desirable Peachland. Located on a well established street of...

The drone taxi

Chinese company Ehang is bringing the first unmanned aerial taxi to Dubai this year. The massive drones can carry 100 kgs and have a compartment for a small...

50 Shades of Walken

A woman's life is forever changed after she is introduced to the handsome, yet tormented, Christopher Walken.

Vees shut down Warriors

The Penticton Vees scored early all three periods in a penalty-filled 5-0 win over the visiting West Kelowna Warriors Friday night. Ty Amonte with two, Nick...

Rockets succumb in OT

Three times this season the Kelowna Rockets and Spokane Chiefs have needed overtime to decide an outcome. And, for the third time, the Chiefs found the game...

Saved thief from burning car

Two Good Samaritans were honoured Friday for rescuing a man from a burning car. Stephen Donaldson and Mark Perkins were recognized by Sidney-North Saanich RCMP...

Poll: need for (less) speed

Is 50 km/h too fast? Residents on a quiet Coldstream street want the speed limit dropped to 30 km/h. Robb and Sara Thompson say there seems to be little regard...

New charge for Schneider

The man accused in the murder of a Japanese student in Vancouver has also been charged in a sexual assault in Vernon. The sex crime related to the new charge...

Fire in Rutland

UPDATE: 9:35 p.m. Castanet has received reports that the fire is now out and the scene is under investigation. More details as they become available. Send...

Man injured by shark

A man was critically injured when he was attacked by a shark on Saturday while spear fishing on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, an official said. The...

Flood homes auctioned

More than two dozen homes in High River, Alta., have been auctioned off as the provincial government looked to unload some of the property it purchased as part...

Feather in student's cap

A Kelowna student surprised her school – and her parents – by being selected to participate in the prestigious SHAD summer university enrichment...

Human smuggling charges

A Canadian is accused of helping five people sneak into the U.S. from the South Okanagan. U.S. Border Patrol Agents headed to a remote area southeast of Osoyoos...

End in ex-Kelowna cop case

A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit that alleged a high-profile former RCMP officer sexually harassed a colleague. A former civilian employee filed the...

A sacred space

A new, multi-denominational place of worship and solitude has opened at Kelowna General Hospital. Called the Sacred Space, it replaces the hospital's...

Repairs begin on landslide

Neighbours are happy to see that work has begun on repairs to a landslide that took out half a residential street in Peachland. But, some say the slide could...

Coldest Night of the Year

The weather may be warming up, but the Coldest Night of the Year is just around the corner. The annual walkathon returns Feb. 25, when Kelowna residents are...

Two dead in storm

A powerful Pacific storm blew into Southern and Central California on Friday with wind-driven heavy rains that downed power lines and electrocuted a man, killed...

Concerned by docks

Is this really a priority? There are far more important public uses of provincial funding. I would argue that the BC Provincial regulations are already the...

Semi-truck burns on Coq

A tractor trailer burst into flames Friday afternoon on the Coquihalla, just south of Merritt. Firefighters and emergency responders were seen battling the...

Break it like Beckham

A family ski vacation at Whistler for Victoria and David Beckham has not been without incident. The celebrity couple's 17-year-old son Brooklyn broke his...

Mudslide cleared, hwy open

Highway 8 has reopened near Spences Bridge following a mudslide that blocked the road on Wednesday. DriveBC reports the highway reopened this afternoon, 12...

$1.4B health deal for BC

Money from Ottawa to fight an ongoing overdose crisis helped sway British Columbia into signing a new 10-year, $1.4 billion health funding deal, says the...

BC raising disability rate

The British Columbia government says it's raising disability assistance rates this spring by $50 per month. The provincial government says it is investing...

Famous fat cat dies

A former fat cat whose weight-loss journey made headlines around the world has died. The Fredericton SPCA confirmed Tiny's passing in a news release on...

Flooding cuts phone lines

About 500 Telus customers in Kamloops are without home phone service. The utility says it is working to restore the service, but it could be Monday until...

Evening Update Feb. 17

Castanet's Evening Update for Friday, Feb. 17, with reporter Wayne Moore.

Drug and gun charges

A Penticton woman who has had previous brushes with the law is again in custody. Amanda Sach is facing charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, flight...

Dramatic arrest

UPDATE: 3:50 p.m An erratic driver who lost control of his vehicle near UBC Okanagan Thursday night could face charges. Just before 10:30 p.m., RCMP say the...

Stand against Islamophobia

After the murders of six men at a Quebec mosque last month, Canadians quickly rallied around our Muslim neighbours. The voices that spoke publicly, both Muslim...

Cougars acting weird

Cougars acting strangely have prompted a warning to residents of Coquitlam. The B.C. Conservation Service urges caution in and around green spaces, following...

Streamlining public transit

B.C. Transit is getting ready to roll out a harmonized public transit system in the South Okanagan. A B.C. Transit representative met with the Regional District...

Hunting brazen bank robber

Police in Kamloops are after a brazen afternoon bank robber. A man walked into the downtown TD Canada Trust on Victoria Street at 1:35 p.m. on Friday and...

Logging truck rollover

A logging truck driver walked away from a rollover crash in Revelstoke Friday morning. The 33-year-old driver was headed north on Towney Street at about 11 a.m....

Feverishly fighting flooding

The city of Kamloops has a flooding fight on its hands. The city says crews have been "feverishly working around the clock" for two days and two...

Massive replant means jobs

British Columbia is spending $150 million to plant tens of millions of trees, which it says will help fight climate change and create over 3,000 jobs in rural...

Shootout in Oakland

Officials say a gunman who fired numerous shots Friday morning in east Oakland near the zoo has been disarmed and is in police custody. Officers were called to...

Garland will die in jail

Triple murderer Douglas Garland will spend the rest of his life in prison for a crime the judge says was carried out with meticulous planning and precision....

'Get real' PM tells elite

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used one of Germany's most prestigious black-tie galas to tell business leaders to "get real" about the addressing...

Cash for Kicking Horse

UPDATE: 2 p.m. The federal and British Columbia governments have announced $469 million in upgrades to two stretches of Highway 1 through southeastern B.C.,...

Tory contender visits

Conservative leadership hopeful Lisa Raitt made a stop Friday in Vernon. Raitt is one of 14 people vying to lead the federal Conservative Party. She spoke at...

Police warn of rental scam

The Summerland RCMP is warning the public about a rental scam in the community. On Feb. 16, police were contacted about an online scam, where a unknown person...

Castanet kid report

This week's Castanet Kid Report with junior reporter Ariella Amato.

'Like winning the lottery'

Admir Cejvanovic doesn't remember much about the refugee camp nestled on the border of Croatia and his native Bosnia. Just a toddler at the time, he lived...

Goodbye to welcome

Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran prides his community in being inclusive for all. It's just not welcoming anymore. The city is being forced to remove the...

Lions bolster receiving corps

The B.C. Lions added another big-play threat Friday, agreeing to terms with veteran receiver Chris Williams through the 2018 season. The five-foot-eight,...

An outpouring of support

Canada's Muslim community has received an outpouring of support in the wake of stinging personal attacks against a Liberal MP and her motion to condemn and...

Thanks to a very kind man

I fell today when trying to navigate a sidewalk close to Capri Mall as I went home with my shopping. It can be tricky during snow season in this area but...

Traffic lights

I have a question. Why, when a traffic light is out, is there no one there directing traffic? Barb Radd

Just for your information

Re: Open letter to all drivers You might want to do a quick fact check of your make believe rules: (Motor Vehicle Act, RSBC, 1996, c. 318, s. 179(1)). Section...

Beer battle bubbles on

A court ruling that threw out a New Brunswick man's $292.50 fine for buying cheaper beer in another province and taking it home has upended decades of legal...

From 50 km/h to 30 km/h?

Is 50 km/h too fast? Residents on a quiet Coldstream street want the speed limit dropped to 30 km/h. Robb and Sara Thompson say there seems to be little regard...

Meet Pickles the pig

Pickles the pig has been helping Corey Dyck stay sober for eight months now. The 50-pound pot-bellied piglet hasn't left his side since the two became best...

City cheers pot shop ruling

The City of Penticton is welcoming a recent decision from a B.C. Supreme Court judge, who has ruled local governments have the right to regulate marijuana...

A trade show for women

The biggest fundraiser of the year for a South Okanagan nonprofit is set to take place this weekend at the Oliver Community Centre. The Women of Oliver for...

Snak the ripper in Vernon

Vancouver based rapper and cult icon Snak The Ripper makes his return to Vernon Saturday, Feb 18th at Status Nightclub in Vernon. Snak who has created a huge...

Jeep rolls off Highway 97

UPDATE 1:00 p.m. The Penticton Fire Department says the woman involved in the single vehicle crash walked away unscathed. Deputy Chief Chris Forster said after...

Marc Anthony settlement

Marc Anthony will reportedly pay ex-wife Shannon de Lima $10,000 a month for the next three years as part of their divorce settlement. The singer's divorce...

Flammable pajamas recalled

A line of Christmas-themed girls' pyjamas sold in Canada last year under the brand name Mini Zone Choc has been recalled over flammability concerns. The...

Bacon murder under wraps

A publication ban will remain in place for the pretrial proceedings of the three men accused of murdering gangster Jonathan Bacon in Kelowna, despite there...

Selena Gomez 'grateful'

Selena Gomez has clocked up 110 million fans on Instagram. Selena is already the most followed person on Instagram, according to Forbes, ahead of her pal Taylor...

Curling event for charity

A curling tournament for a good cause is set to take place at the Penticton Curling Club on Saturday. The Tugs Tournament for Heart and Stroke, a first time...

Storms drain blood supply

Powerful winter weather across much of Canada recently has put the crunch on blood donations. Ice storms out East and heavy dumps of snow in the West kept...

OC students get hands-on experience in community for in-demand trades

Okanagan College Media Release With a 44 per cent increase in new housing starts in the Shuswap over the last year, an Okanagan College program is training...

Crash near Salmon Arm

UPDATE: 11:35 a.m. Highway 1 has reopened near Salmon Arm. ORIGINAL: 7:45 a.m. A crash has closed Highway 1 about 30 kilometres east of Salmon Arm. DriveBC...

High stakes for editing students

An journey to inclusion

By Gerry Chidiac In 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper apologized to the aboriginal peoples of Canada for crimes committed against them in the residential...

Car crashes into motel

UPDATE: 11:25 a.m. Emergency officials say a car ran a stop sign, ricocheted off an SUV and slammed into a motel Friday morning. "He ended up going right...

$1.7B wind farm investment

Energy giant Enbridge Inc. is making big inroads into renewables even as changes in government policies are paving the way for the rapid expansion of its...

Bieber accused of faking

Justin Bieber has been accused of faking illness to miss a deposition in a copyright infringement case over his hit Sorry. The 22-year-old singer and his track...

InspireHealth Rain Walk

The InspireHealth Rain Walk will take place on Sunday, March 12, 2017 from 9am – 12pm at the Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna for supportive cancer...

OD toll - 116 in January

The number of illicit overdose deaths was down in January in British Columbia, but the toll of 116 people is still the third-highest on record behind only the...

Take control of technology

I was wondering what to write for this week’s column and stumbled upon inspiration in the form of a Facebook post from a family member in Ontario. It...

Celebrate in Rutland

Residents of Kelowna's Rutland neighbourhoods are invited to celebrate Canada's 150th birthday – and the 50th anniversary of Rutland Centennial...

Walk for Alzheimer's

Kelowna residents can join a team to participate in the Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer's and show their support for people who face dementia. The event...

Family Night of Science a time for wide-eyed wonder and questions

Britney oozes positivity

Britney Spears shared a powerful Bible verse on the 10th anniversary of her head-shaving incident on Thursday. On 16 February 2007 the singer was seen shaving...

Vern Nielsen passes at 67

Vern Nielsen is being lauded as a leader and an inspiration. Nielsen, who served in many charitable and business capacities, died Feb. 11 following a long...

Clarence Louie re-elected

Clarence Louie has been re-elected chief of the Osoyoos Indian Band. He won his 12th term Thursday with 214 votes, according to the Oliver Daily News. Louie was...

Dollar not stopping travelers

The relatively low value of the loonie isn't deterring Canadians from travelling to the United States, especially to winter vacation spots in Florida,...

Clooney's having boy & girl

George Clooney's mother has revealed the actor and Amal Clooney will welcome a boy and girl later this year. Earlier this month it was revealed the Gravity...

Hemp treats to Middle Earth

Dogs in New Zealand are about to get a taste of the North Okanagan. True Leaf Pet, a Vernon-based company that manufactures hemp dog treats, has entered into an...

Saving a piece of heritage

Winners of this year’s Heritage Awards in the Central Okanagan have been announced. The Central Okanagan Heritage Society presented the awards on...

Rogers Pass reopens

UPDATE: 9:30 a.m. The Trans-Canada Highway east of the Rogers Pass has reopened to traffic. The highway was closed 10 kilometres east of the summit following a...

On the cusp of rebuilding

The head of Canada's auto workers union says the country is on the cusp of building its industry again and shouldn't be concerned with the protectionist...

Kimberley wants deer gone

The City of Kimberley has applied to the province for funding to capture as many as 50 deer and move them far from the southeastern B.C. city. Council made the...

It's slippery out there

Icy conditions are reported on roads in much of the Okanagan this morning. Melting snow and rain Thursday, combined with freezing temperatures overnight, left...

Marc Anthony moves on

Marc Anthony has reportedly embarked on a new romance with a model 27 years his junior following his divorce from Shannon de Lima. The I Need to Know singer...

Rethinking Brexit

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair launched a campaign Friday to persuade the U.K. to rethink its decision to leave the European Union, saying those who...

Round up immigrants?

The Trump administration is considering a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants, including millions...

Fatal 3-logging-truck crash

A logging truck driver was killed earlier this month near Fort St. James in a major crash. The BC Forest Safety Council says the driver was killed in a crash...

The salt of the earth

Deep below upstate New York's farm country, workers in ghostly tunnels are praying for snow. Fiercer winters mean better business, longer hours and fatter...

'More than just spending'

Canada is demonstrating its commitment to NATO in ways that go beyond simple military spending, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says. During a news conference...

Teachers walk off job

Nova Scotia's public school teachers are walking off the job today to protest the provincial government's plan to impose a contract on them. Dozens of...

Wallaby loose in the city

A wallaby wandering through Langley has the jump on everyone trying to find it. The roughly metre-high creature, similar to a kangaroo, has been on the hop...

Migrants force way in

Almost 500 migrants forced their way into Spanish territory in North Africa early Friday by breaking through gates in the 20-foot fence that separates Morocco...

Confident on softwood

When it comes to negotiating a softwood lumber agreement, British Columbia Premier Christy Clark says she prefers an unpredictable American administration,...

BlackBerry class action

A class action against BlackBerry Ltd. has been filed on behalf of more than 300 employees across the country who allege they lost their severance entitlements...

Powerful storm pelts Cali

A powerful storm hit California with the first in a new series of rainstorms moving across the northern half of the state while the south awaited a rains that...

Bombing at shrine kills 88

Pakistani forces killed and arrested dozens of suspects in sweeping raids as the death toll from a massive suicide bombing by the Islamic State group that...

Reactor worse than thought

Robot probes sent to one of Japan's wrecked Fukushima nuclear reactors have suggested worse-than-anticipated challenges for the plant's ongoing cleanup....

Kraft in talks to buy Unilever

U.S. food giant Kraft Heinz Co. confirmed that it's made an offer to buy Europe's Unilever and been rejected. The company said Friday that talks are...

Boy doll a 'mind killer'

A North Carolina pastor is angry that the maker of the American Girl doll collection is selling a boy version of its pricey dolls. The Asheville Citizen-Times...

Toddler dies from beating

A hospitalized 21-month-old Georgia boy has died days after authorities say his father beat him and his three-year-old sister. News outlets reports that Shomari...

The Zuckerberg manifesto

Mark Zuckerberg's long-term vision for Facebook, laid out in a sweeping manifesto , sometimes sounds more like a utopian social guide than a business plan....

Kelowna's 'Three Best'

Three Best Rated is now in Kelowna. Have you seen Three Best certificates hanging in businesses around town, yet? The company is hand-picking local...

Unsolved crimes: Kelowna

You could have the missing piece of the puzzle that will help the RCMP put someone behind bars. Here are some recent crimes that Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers...

Cancer strikes family twice

A Williams Lake family is re-living the horrors of cancer after their six-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia, 10 years after their six-year-old son...

Fentanyl more 'devious'

Stephen Samoyloff has worked as an emergency doctor for years, but he says the most recent overdose spike, largely due to fentanyl, is unique. "I think...

Fruit pickers squeezed

Fruit pickers have seen their minimum piece rate wages grow at a slower pace than the standard minimum wage, which one picker says is unfair to the seasonal...

NHLers at home in Valley

More NHLers are calling the Okanagan home. Current and former pros are migrating to the Valley for its great weather, golf – and plenty of buddies to...

Coldstream reviews taxes

Coldstream residents will have a chance to look at the district's proposed 2017 budget at a proposed March 8th meeting at the district hall. District...

Paramedics seek support

Paramedics in the North Okanagan continue to seek support from the public in their bid to be given the same collective bargaining rights as firefighters and...

One man and his nation

Welcome to the Republic of Molossia: Population 32. Although not officially recognized by the United States, Molossia is a self-declared nation in the middle of...

Walking Dead auditions

Ever wanted to be a zombie on The Walking Dead? Here's how the audition goes down...

RECAP: Swiatlowski's 16 kills power the Heat over the 'Pack

With the Thursday four set win in Kamloops over the WolfPack UBC Okanagan win their sixth match of the year and play again on Saturday in Kelowna at 7 p.m....

RECAP: Four set victory in Kamloops on Thursday night

A one game lead in the standings and the Presidents’ Cup are earned in win over Thompson Rivers on Thursday in Kamloops. Rematch in Kelowna on Saturday at 5...

Guilty in daughter's death

A Calgary woman has admitted to drugging her nine-year-old daughter, then setting fire to the vehicle her child was in. Laura Coward, who is 50, pleaded guilty...

Endangered BC languages

Can First Nations languages be saved? A major symposium takes place in Penticton and Kelowna this weekend to discuss the issue and develop strategies to protect...

Too much screen time

How much screen time is too much for a child? Local experts with Children for a Better Future delivered a presentation Wednesday evening in Penticton to help...

Schools' budget $2M higher

The official trustee for the North Okanagan-Shuswap School District has given three readings to an amended annual budget bylaw for $73,853,866. Mike McKay, who...

First female firefighter

Isabeau Venables has started her career with the Penticton Fire Department, making her the first-ever full-time female firefighter in the city. She brings over...

Kal Lake Road concern

The likely closure of Kalamalka Lake Road for upgrades later this year is causing some concern in Coldstream. The City of Vernon is considering a possible...

Slides block highways

UPDATE: 6:30 p.m. Shortly after Highway 1 was closed east of Lytton due to a rock and mudslide, the same highway has been closed at a different location due to...

'Inventathon' champions

A group of local students took the top prize at Enactus UBC's “Inventathon” last weekend, with their innovative idea for recycling food waste....

Upper Bench Rd. flooded

UPDATE 5:30 p.m. The road has now reopened. UPDATE 4:00 p.m. The City of Penticton says melt water flows have decreased to the point where crews are now able...

Warm, but no record

While Thursday's warm weather seemed semi-tropical compared to a couple of weeks ago, it didn't come close to breaking any records. Thermometers hit a...

Evening Update Feb. 16

Castanet's Evening Update for Thursday, Feb. 16, with reporter Wayne Moore.

Award deadline extended

The deadline to nominate a deserving citizen, athlete, team or business for one of Kelowna's civic awards has been extended. The deadline for the 42nd...

Jailed for crime spree

A Saskatchewan man is facing time in jail in connection with a crime spree between Kamloops and Vernon last May that ended in a serious crash. Roderick Mervin...

Trump's jaw-dropper

Donald Trump held his first lengthy press conference as U.S. president and it was the stuff of political legend. There were jaw-dropping moments. Nuggets of...

Hundreds attend job fair

There has been a steady flow of people looking for work at at a job fair held Thursday in Penticton. The Cascades Casino Penticton teamed up with YMCA WorkBC to...

College marketing team earns silver in Montreal case competition

Okanagan College Media Release A trio of third-year marketing students from Okanagan College’s School of Business are back on B.C. soil after placing second...

Killed driver faced charges

A bus driver who was stabbed to death on the job was facing charges of sexual assault dating back three decades and did not show up for jury selection on his...

Oil trains going too fast?

Current speed limits for Canada's oil-carrying freight trains may be too high to prevent serious accidents and should be re-evaluated, the Transportation...

More spending on defence

Canada expects to make significant new investments in defence following the forthcoming release of its defence policy review, Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan...

New distillery taking shape

A new distillery is getting ready to open up in the South Okanagan this spring. Tumbleweed Spirits in Osoyoos is the latest to join a rapidly growing craft...

Grand theft Lohan

New York state's highest court has agreed to allow Lindsay Lohan to appeal her lawsuit against the makers of "Grand Theft Auto," who the actress...

Fast, efficient, affordable

The federal government's bid to find new ways to finance construction of affordable housing is yielding its first results. A $3.5-million, three-storey,...

Battle of the bots

More than 100 Kelowna students left their classrooms and took their problem-solving skills to a robot battleground. The second annual Sumo Bot Competition has...

Crash, carjack, crash

UPDATE: 2:45 p.m. Police in Coquitlam say they "have a suspect in mind" after a dramatic carjacking Thursday morning. Investigators say a suspected...

Get off the pot, says judge

A 20-year-old Hedley man was handed a 42-day sentence and 18 months probation in Penticton court on Thursday for illegally being in possession of a rifle. Harry...

Shoddy police work found

An independent watchdog has uncovered shoddy reporting by RCMP officers in northern British Columbia that makes it impossible to tell whether many...

Concerned by docks

A number of local governments are concerned by a loosening of provincial regulations that would make it harder to monitor proposed or newly-built lakeside...

Prospera sign of the times

As Castanet first reported back in November, an electronic sign is in the works for Prospera Place in Kelowna. The proposal will come before city council...

One more hurdle for mom

Friends and family are pulling together for a Kelowna mom diagnosed with cancer. Alyssa Castle says her aunt, Spring, is a low-income, single parent of three...

Open letter to all drivers

Just for your information: 1. Any intersection that does not have a traffic light is a pedestrian right of way. Whether there is a crosswalk or not, you are...

Always a silver lining

In the spirit of the legendary Canadian storyteller Stuart Maclean, whom we learned has recently passed, I have a story to share that I hope will bring a smile...

Tourism building

I thought I would write a quick letter to add to the other letters you must have received of people who believe it is not necessary to build a new tourism...

Keep the big guys out of it

A B.C. non-profit is supporting the push to end corporate and union donations in the province. MLAs John Horgan and Vicki Huntington have both introduced bills...

Avalanche near Tulameen

An avalanche has blocked Coalmont Road – the northern route connecting the community of Tulameen to the rest of B.C. The avalanche happened after 1 p.m....

UBAKA clothing drive

Urban Bulldogs Against Kids Abuse will be holding it's food and clothing bank on Feb. 25 in Penticton to help those in need. The drive is still going strong...

We are awake

Re: Wake up and smell the roses No person is going to agree with every move that any particular politician makes, that’s the nature of the beast. At the...

Greens jump into race

The Green Party has fielded a candidate for the Vernon-Monashee riding. Keli Westgate, sales and marketing manager for Spa Hills Compost, has entered the race....

Probe into the breach

UPDATED: 1:25 p.m. Premier Christy Clark is promising a thorough investigation into four incidents that the B.C. government describes as "unusual"...

Guilty in trio of deaths

A man accused of killing a Calgary couple and their grandson has been found guilty on three counts of first-degree murder. Douglas Garland, who is 57, was...

Up all night fighting fires

Firefighters with the Armstrong-Spallumcheen fire department were up all night fighting two blazes. Crews were called to the Rose Valley Square Mall in...

Stroller recall hits Canada

Health Canada has joined a North America-wide recall on certain Britax child safety products. The specific products include Britax B-Agile and BOB Motion...

Poll: useful or not

Results are mixed for public elementary schools in the Central Okanagan, according to the latest report card issued by the Fraser Institute. While 90 per cent...

Cutest cop on the force

He's the cutest member of the Victoria Police Department. And he needs a name. Victoria police have turned to Grade 4 students for the adorable task of...

Pitch the Dragons

Calling all aspiring entrepreneurs – or at least those who dare to face the dragons. Dragon's Den is holding its 2017 auditions, and Kelowna is on the...

Blake Shelton's fear

Gwen Stefani had to think twice about her relationship with Blake Shelton when she discovered he hates roller coasters. The 47-year-old singer started dating...

Trump revising travel ban

UPDATED: 11:55 p.m. President Donald Trump's administration said in court documents on Thursday it does not want a larger appellate panel to review a ruling...

Moving a Kelowna beach

Hot Sands Beach is moving. City of Kelowna staff have been working on relocating 4,000 cubic metres of sand from the south end of the beach, after it washed out...

TransCanada refiles for XL

TransCanada says it's once again seeking approval of its Keystone XL pipeline route in Nebraska despite stiff opposition from some landowners. The energy...

Hospital must rehire drunk

A New Brunswick hospital has been ordered to rehire a lab employee who was fired after he didn't go to work for more than a month. That's because the...

Covered in snow & speeding

RCMP officers in Vernon are shaking their heads over a speeding driver who was spotted in a snow-covered vehicle on Highway 97 just north of the city on Sunday....

Carbon tax not neutral

A report from the Fraser Institute says British Columbia's carbon tax is no longer revenue neutral. The study, co-authored by Charles Lammam, director of...

Peladeau back at Quebecor

Pierre Karl Peladeau is returning to his job as the president and CEO of Quebecor Inc., one of Canada's largest media and telecommunications companies....

Pet squirrel stops burglary

A pet squirrel named Joey prevented a burglary attempt in Idaho last week by scratching the teen suspect when he tried to break into a gun safe, police said....

Another storm hammers East

Much of Atlantic Canada was slogging through yet another bout of nasty winter weather Thursday that closed schools and government offices again, even as people...

Ford committed to Canada

Ford's commitment to investing in its Ontario facilities has not wavered since the election of U.S. President Donald Trump, the head of the automaker's...

'Day Without Immigrants'

UPDATED: 11:20 p.m. The heart of Philadelphia's Italian Market was uncommonly quiet. Fine restaurants in the nation's capital and New York closed for...

Softwood strategizing

Premier Christy Clark called a special cabinet meeting today to help map British Columbia's approach to reaching a new softwood lumber trade agreement with...

Emma Watson charges $2

Emma Watson doled out life advice for just $2 via an iPad at Grand Central Station in New York on Tuesday. American writer Derek Blasberg, who struck up a...

What's in a word?

Former justice minister Irwin Cotler says a Liberal-backed motion aimed at combating racism would have broader support if it didn't contain the word...

Highway 1 reopens

UPDATE: 11:05 a.m. Highway 1 is now open in both directions east of Golden. However, the route will be closed in both directions about 30 kilometres east of...

We face longest ER waits

A new report suggests Canadians have the longest wait times for medical attention in emergency departments and for referrals to specialists among patients in 11...

Housing first, not politics

Earlier this week, all eyes were on the White House for the historic first meeting of President Trump and Prime Minister Trudeau. While no official agreements...

Lacrosse team filling a gap

The Okanagan Wild is bridging a massive gap for lacrosse players in the Southern Interior as the only team from the region in the B.C. Intermediate Lacrosse...

Failed to kill Kenney's bid

A last-ditch attempt to get Jason Kenney kicked out of the Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership race has failed. Party president Katherine O'Neill...

Israel envoy damage control

The combative attorney President Donald Trump picked as his ambassador to Israel sought to repair the damage from past attacks on political opponents, telling...

Younger Trudeau in town

Trudeau is coming to Kelowna. No, not that one – the prime minister's younger brother, Alexandre Trudeau. The author, journalist and documentary...

Eat your veggies!

Mom was right. You should eat your veggies. Health Minister Terry Lake and Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick joined Half Your Plate ambassador chef Michael...

Mariah's live comeback

Mariah Carey made a successful live performance comeback on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Wednesday night - her first since her now infamous New Year's Eve...

RCMP arrest man with gun

Salmon Arm RCMP arrested a man with a handgun and illegal drugs who travelled by Greyhound bus from Vernon Wednesday afternoon. After police were alerted,...

Super fan gets super date

Eugenie Bouchard is not one to welch on a bet. Her date with random Twitter fan is why you never bet against Tom Brady Bouchard, from Westmount, Que., went on a...

A seat for the Tea Party

The Senate on Thursday confirmed President Donald Trump's pick to run the White House budget office, giving the Republicans' tea party wing a voice in...

SunMine solar farm shines

A former lead and zinc mine in southeastern British Columbia has generated a small profit in its first full year of operation as a solar farm. A report by city...

Designated Dads fundraiser

Kelowna Chrysler has teamed up with Kelowna Comedy to present a night of comedy Friday, February 17th. This show will feature Kelowna’s top local...

Boeing union bid fails

Production workers at Boeing's South Carolina plant have overwhelmingly rejected an effort to unionize, maintaining Southern reluctance toward unionization...

Canadian Tire sees sales up

Canadian Tire reported strong earnings for the fourth quarter, as the national retailer saw sales spike across all its divisions. The Toronto-based company...

Win a Wicked Windfall

Make the most of winter with Castanet's Wicked Winter Windfall contest. It's our biggest giveaway of the year so far. One winner will walk away with a...

$425K bid on old ferry

The Queen of Burnaby may have a new home. The 52-year-old BC Ferries vessel had been put on auction by the province, and received a bid $25,000 over the...

Okanagan College students tackle food security with Refreshing idea

Okanagan College Media Release Three Okanagan College business students battled their way to first place at UBC Okanagan’s inaugural Inventathon last weekend...

Old TV stuffed with cash

About 30 years ago an Ontario man stuffed a wad of cash and banking documents inside a box, opened up the back of his television and hid the package inside. He...

Kidman's other engagement

Nicole Kidman has finally confirmed she was once engaged to rocker Lenny Kravitz. The stars began a short-lived romance in 2003 and there were reports at the...

Freezing rain deja vu

UPDATE: 9:30 a.m. The travel advisory has been lifted along Highway 3. However, DriveBC warns the area is still receiving heavy rain. ORIGINAL: 7:30 a.m....

Crash on Main Street

Emergency responders were called to a two vehicle crash at the intersection of Main Street and Eckhardt Ave. Thursday morning. The accident occurred around 9...

Ring of Fire in Vernon

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre proudly presents Western Canada Theatre and Chemainus Theatre’s production of Ring of Fire on Monday, March...

Jagger's forgotten memoir

Rolling Stones rocker Mick Jagger wrote a 75,000 word autobiography and then forgot about it. Writing in British magazine The Spectator, book publisher John...

Flower power for gay couple

The Washington Supreme Court has unanimously ruled that a florist who refused to provide services for a same-sex wedding broke the state's...

Charge after hwy crash

UPDATE: 9:25 a.m. Vernon RCMP say a driver, who is alleged to have been drinking, is facing penalties under the BC Motor Vehicle Act after a collision on...

Vernon woman found

UPDATE: Feb. 16, 8:30 a.m. Police say Lorna Bostock has been found safe and sound. ORIGINAL: Feb. 15 Vernon/North Okanagan RCMP are searching for a local woman...

Missing 18-month-old girl

Police in Manitoba are searching for a missing 18-month-old girl. Officers in Selkirk were advised Wednesday morning that Seaira Neveah Hunter and her mother...

Companion paws, awws

A Kelowna-based mental health and suicide prevention foundation is branching with a companion pet program for veterans, first responders and seniors. The...

New speed limit for trains?

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is calling for a re-evaluation of speed limits for trains carrying oil across the country. The recommendation comes...

Rebels present at Oscars

Stars of "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" are heading to the Academy Awards. Oscar telecast producers announced Thursday that Felicity Jones and Riz...

Arrested for illegal entry

Two people have been arrested after allegedly walking across the U.S. border into Surrey. U.S. Customs and Border Protection called RCMP at 5:40 a.m. to report...

Trump sons coming to BC

Two of U.S. President Donald Trump's sons have been confirmed as attending the grand opening later this month of a new hotel in Vancouver that bears their...

Encana looks to growth

Encana Corp. says it delivered on its strategic objectives last year and is now poised for growth, after losing US$944 million in 2016 and US$5.17 billion in...

Bombardier revenue falls

Bombardier Inc. says it had a US$981 million net loss last year. That was an improvement over 2015, when the Montreal-based company's full-year loss was...

Wildfire's advance halted

Firefighters in New Zealand's second-largest city were able to halt a wildfire's advance on suburban homes Thursday after it burned down 11 houses in...

Trudeau sells CETA pact

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau arrived in Strasbourg, France, hours ahead of what was billed as a historic, confidence-building speech to European lawmakers....

Pushed into the spotlight

Lawyers for 23-year-old Daniel Ramirez Medina say he was asleep in a suburban Seattle house last week when immigration agents showed up to arrest his father,...

Cleaning up protest camp

Federal and state officials announced plans Wednesday to accelerate cleanup at a camp in southern North Dakota that has housed hundreds and sometimes thousands...

Insurance mergers kiboshed

It was a rough Valentine's Day for the U.S. health insurance industry. One giant merger was abandoned, another is threatened by infighting, and a major...

Province appeals acquittal

A special prosecutor will ask British Columbia's Court of Appeal to overturn the acquittal of a former leader of a polygamous community who was found not...

A Valentine's wedgie

Most people know it as Valentine’s Day. But when I was in elementary school, I referred to it as the Anguishing Day From Hell That Reminded Me of What a...

Interest in lake access

There appears to be significant interest in whether or not Vernon city council approves funding for public access sites along Okanagan Lake. Dozens of people...

Kelowna dream for sale

It began as an ambitious, year-round playground on 640 acres of property just south of Kelowna's southern boundary. Now, 10 years later, after years of...

Keeping it affordable

Whether or not greater investment in Penticton will drive property values up, Mayor Andrew Jakubeit says the city will be working to ensure there is a stock of...

New Naramata fire hall

Naramata Fire Rescue has a spot in mind for a new satellite fire hall. The new spot – legally called Subsidy Lot 5, Plan 1190 – sits eight...

Residents want cell service

Residents along the Highway 3 corridor, particularly in the East Gate area southwest of Princeton, would like to see improved cell phone service. A petition on...

Property crime way up

There was a big bump in property crime in the North Okanagan over the last three months of 2016, according to statistics supplied by the RCMP. “Overall,...

Dog survives poisoning

A Kelowna dog owner woke up to a shocking surprise on his driveway last weekend. Troy Gangl was out chipping ice off his driveway on Monday when he found the...

Targeting eyesore inn

The District of Lake Country is taking measures to shut down a local motel. The Airport Inn Lakeside, which has been in bylaw contravention for nearly two...

Keeping up with Gordon

When Gordon Ramsay challenged an amateur cook to keep up with him things go downhill quick.

Iceberg flips over

While icebergs flipping over is a relatively common occurrence, catching it on camera is much rarer.

Warriors earn key victory

Chase Stevenson scored twice and the West Kelowna Warriors edged the Salmon Arm Silverbacks 4-3 Wednesday. It was an important win against the cellar dwelling...

PREVIEW: Heat men face perennial rivals from TRU

In the latest matchup in the annual competition for the Presidents' Cup, the Canada West #10 Heat men will play the annual home-and-home series against their...

Boost for busing at UBCO

Taking the bus at the University of British Columbia’s Okanagan campus is about to look a whole lot different. A request for proposal was submitted by BC...

Watchdog chastises RCMP

An independent watchdog has uncovered shoddy reporting by RCMP officers in northern British Columbia that makes it impossible to tell whether many...

PREVIEW: Heat set for annual home-and-home against WolfPack

The UBC Okanagan women's volleyball team have a tough match this weekend with interior rival Thompson Rivers. Both teams are already in the post season and are...

Walking for Alzheimer's

Penticton will be one of 22 communities across B.C. holding a walk to support those with Alzheimer's Disease. The Investors Group Walk for Alzheimer's...

The Family Day debate

Five years later, the great Family Day debate still rankles. B.C.'s long weekend is one week before that of other provinces and one week before the...

Baby's broken heart

A Kelowna couple’s unborn baby needs a heart procedure in Toronto. Casey and Amanda were told during an emergency ultrasound on Jan. 28 that their baby...

RCMP files: property thefts

Vehicle thefts and break and enters continue to be an ongoing problem in Penticton. On Feb. 7, a resident of the 2300 block of Naramata Road reported that his...

Banning the trophy hunt

A large majority of Canadians think it's time to ban trophy hunting. According to a recent Insights West poll, 59 per cent of those surveyed strongly...

Carfentanil added to the list

China is adding carfentanil and three related synthetic opioids to its list of controlled substances effective March 1, China's National Narcotics Control...

Teacher helps kids cheat

A Vancouver teacher resigned from her job after admitting she provided her Grade 7 students with the answers to a standardized provincial math exam. Sally...

Medical building approved

West Kelowna council has given approval for a new downtown medical complex. The three-storey building is situated at the corner of Dobbin Road and Old Okanagan...

Multiple-vehicle collision

No injuries were reported after a multiple-vehicle collision on Wednesday. Police arrived on scene at Highway 97 and Daimler Drive around 5:30 p.m. Roads are...

Crooks caught on camera

RCMP took a bite out of crime, unleashing police dog Ice on two thieves at Corix Kelowna's compound. The crooks broke in Feb. 11 about 4:10 a.m. They are...

Evening Update Feb. 15

Castanet's Evening Update for Wednesday, Feb. 15, with reporter Wayne Moore.

Cab driver needs help

A Penticton cab driver is still struggling to get back on his feet after a fire destroyed his home and all his belongings. Robert Emms has been staying with...

Mudslide takes out highway

A mudslide has taken out Highway 8, between Merritt and Spences Bridge, closing down traffic in both directions. The mudslide occurred 12 kilometres east of...

Rush to drain reservoir

Officials raced to drain more water from a lake behind battered Oroville Dam as new storms began rolling into Northern California on Wednesday and tested the...

'Caps add offence on loan

Vancouver Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson had scouted dozens of strikers in his seemingly endless search for a proven goal-scorer when an old friend...

NAFTA - cautious optimism

Canada's ambassador to Washington, who sat in on the Donald Trump-Justin Trudeau summit this week, says he's now cautiously optimistic about any...

First Nations deal on LNG

Premier Christy Clark is touting two agreements reached with First Nations on a liquefied natural gas export plant as important milestones for the project's...

Border agents raid home

UPDATE 4:00 p.m. The Canadian Border Services Agency has confirmed this morning's police action in Oliver was related to a man facing nine charges for...

Romeo fraudster ID'd

Police in Coquitlam have identified a man suspected to be responsible for several online frauds. RCMP sent out a Valentine's Day warning Tuesday after a...

Warriors denied recognition

City of West Kelowna vehicles will not be emblazoned with stickers recognizing the West Kelowna Warriors RBC Cup championship. The request, made by local...

Arts council needs funding

Volunteers with the Summerland Community Arts Council are “being stretched pretty thin,” since moving off of Main Street to make way for the new...

Shatner helps with KD hunt

UPDATE: 2:45 p.m. Feb. 15 After a huge response from the public, and even some celebrity endorsement, Everett has enough Star Wars Kraft Dinner to “last...

Cougar killed after attack

A conservation officer was attacked by a cougar that was trying to break into a home in Salmo Tuesday night, after a recent spike in cougar complaints in the...

Russia rumours dog Trump

President Donald Trump blamed intelligence officials and the media Wednesday for what he called the "very, very unfair" treatment of his ousted...

CBC's Stuart McLean dies

Stuart McLean, a bestselling author, journalist and humorist who entertained millions as host of the popular CBC Radio program "The Vinyl Cafe," has...

Poll: protective shield

A driver who was attacked while behind the wheel of a BC Transit bus acted heroically, says the local union president. "I'm stunned," said Scott...

BC fishermen fear ban

Canada's largest commercial fishermen's union says the creation of a new marine protection area off British Columbia's north coast will result in...

Nightmare move to Valley

A woman who recently moved to Penticton is speaking out about a bad experience she had with her moving company. Monica Bolduc said her things arrived over a day...

Markets continue streak

North American stock markets continued their winning streak as indices in Toronto and New York once again closed at all-time highs. The S&P/TSX composite...

Speech doesn't deliver

Re: 'We'll pay you back' The pre-election throne speech delivered this week is the latest missed opportunity for the provincial government to stand...

TRU prof gets international attention for rangeland research

Armed officer at bus station

Vernon RCMP officers responded to a complaint of a possible weapon seen in the area of the Greyhound bus station early Wednesday afternoon. "No one was...

Club Appreciation Day

The Lumby-Mabel Lake Snowmobile Association will be hosting it’s annual Club Appreciation Day, involving a mini track and sleds for children with safety...

Lexin Resources shut down

The Alberta Energy Regulator is taking the unusual step of shutting down all Lexin Resources operations, accusing the Calgary-based oil and gas producer of...

Bodies are missing girls

Two bodies found along a northern Indiana stream are those of two 13-year-old girls who went missing Monday and their deaths are being investigated as...

Our Canadian anthem

CBC had a Canada wide poll on whether the word “God” should be kept or removed from our anthem. They were totally amazed at the result of the poll....

Seeking help to evict rats

West Kelowna council is fed up with the rat problem in the city. And, they are looking for help from the provincial government. Council passed a resolution...

Coast Capital supports kids

Coast Capital takes pride in its community involvement, with a focus on building a richer future for youth. Their involvement in the Kelowna community is no...

Teacher uses hose on kids

A Grade 8 teacher in the Burns Lake area served a one-day suspension for hosing down her students, a year after being warned about pouring vinegar, flour and...

Silver Life Saving Award

A St. John Ambulance Silver Life Saving Award was presented to Angela Munson of Kelowna at a ceremony held on Tuesday, Feb. 7 in Kelowna. Ms. Munson applied...

Mariah's Valentine's date

Mariah Carey enjoyed a hot date with beau Bryan Tanaka in a golden bathtub on Valentine's Day. The social media happy diva posted an image of herself on...

Fired over fishwich

A woman who worked for Burger King for nearly 25 years has been awarded $46,000 by a court after she was fired over what a judge says was a misunderstanding...

Troublemaker back in court

A Penticton man with a long history of threatening behaviour in the community appeared before a judge again on Wednesday. Gerzson Kovacs was in Penticton court...

Drivers behaving badly

Young drivers aren't alone in behaving badly on U.S. roads, a trend that could be contributing to a spike in highway deaths. Well over half of drivers in...

Natives have the right: Pope

Pope Francis insisted Wednesday that indigenous groups must give prior consent to any economic activity affecting their ancestral lands, a view that conflicts...

Russian missile worries

NATO's chief says the military alliance would be concerned if reports that Russia has violated a Cold War-era treaty by deploying a cruise missile prove...

Bullet necklace blunder

An Ontario man is recovering from surgery after he shot himself in the leg while making a necklace out of a bullet. Durham Regional Police say a 50-year-old...

Israel's NFL fumble

It was supposed to be a feel-good visit by a group of professional football players to give a boost to image-conscious Israel. But in an embarrassing fumble by...

Dad, daughter to the rescue

A Naramata father and daughter played a big role in helping a woman whose car went off the road during Wednesday’s snowfall. Robert Van Westen and his...

Seeds of pot discussion

West Kelowna council has given first reading to a zoning bylaw amendment that it hopes will begin a discussion around marijuana production in the community. The...

Armstrong hit with cop costs

Taxpayers in Armstrong will be in for a shock this year as the cost of policing climbs. Data from the 2016 census shows the number of people living in the North...

Alanis has jewelry theft

Musician Alanis Morissette has reportedly lost $2 million worth of jewelry after burglars broke into her Los Angeles home. Law enforcement sources tell editors...

Boy's death inspires memoir

The aunt of a drowned Syrian toddler who became a haunting symbol of the country's refugee crisis will be sharing her story in a forthcoming book. Tima...

Cash for children's ministry

British Columbia's finance minister says the Children and Family Development Ministry will receive a financial boost in next week's budget. Mike de Jong...

Ginx TV powers up

Video game enthusiasts are getting a 24-hour Canadian TV channel aimed at satisfying their appetites for competition. Pay-TV broadcaster Super Channel says...

Clark to talk up budget

Fresh off the upcoming budget and heading into this spring's provincial election, Premier Christy Clark will address the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce next...

To the rescue - with pizza

Air Canada is apologizing to passengers who found themselves rerouted late at night to Fredericton with nothing to eat — that is, until a WestJet pilot...

'Like a bomb went off'

Many residents remain out of their homes in the aftermath of an enormous fire that ripped through a Toronto athletic club. Tuesday's fire forced the...

John Mayer plays Cupid

Rocker John Mayer is helping fans spread a little love on Valentine's Day via an Instagram serenade. The Your Body Is a Wonderland hitmaker took to social...

Dating after divorce

Your palms are sweaty; so are your armpits. You look nervously into your phone camera for the umpteenth time to check your hair – no grey. Teeth check -...

Slip and slide on Hwy 3

UPDATE: 10:50 a.m. Highway 3 is open again after a stretch of the highway turned into a slip and slide for semi-trucks. The freezing rain advisory is also now...

Yahoo: a security warning

Yahoo is warning users of potentially malicious activity on their accounts between 2015 and 2016. It's the latest development in the internet company's...

The awkward beaver

Castanet viewers have been sharing their slices of Canadiana. First, Elizabeth Shepherd sent in photos of a majestic mother moose wandering the pristine West...

Ed Sheeran denied entry

Ed Sheeran has been turned away from his own record label's Grammy Awards afterparty four years in a row. The 25-year-old singer attended the star-studded...

What are they spending on?

The Rutland Park Society has plans in place to spend at least $103,000 on Phase 1 of renovations to Centennial Hall. According to documents filed with Western...

Home sales back to normal

The British Columbia Real Estate Association says the province's housing market has tumbled from record highs posted in 2016 to return to what it calls...

Inclusive education “a process, not a place,” says researcher

Dr. Kim Calder Stegemann, associate professor, Faculty of Education and Social Work Calder Stegemann, lead author of Inclusive Education: Stories of Success and...

Harrison Ford air scare

Actor and aviator Harrison Ford narrowly avoided a serious incident with a passenger plane at an airport in California on Monday, according to reports. The Star...

Bus driver 'cold-cocked'

UPDATE: 9:45 a.m. A driver who was attacked while behind the wheel of a BC Transit bus acted heroically, says the local union president. "I'm...

3 charged with robbery

Three people appeared in Vernon provincial court Wednesday charged with robbery in connection with an incident at the 7-11 in Armstrong on Valentine's Day....

Sports Illustrated cover out

Kate Upton is so nice she's made the Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover thrice. Upton has become only the fourth woman to grace the cover three times. This...

The ever-evolving RRSP

RRSPs play a major role in paving the way to retirement for many Canadians, but strategies for using the long-term savings account will evolve throughout the...

Cineplex sees 12% decline

Cineplex Inc. (TSX:CGX) says a decline in attendance at the end of 2016 pushed down the theatre company's revenue in the fourth quarter. The Toronto-based...

James Hetfield was 'livid'

Metallica frontman James Hetfield vented his frustrations backstage after his Grammy Awards performance was hit by technical issues. The rockers took to the...

Robbed on Valentine's Day

Police in Kamloops are trying to catch a man who robbed a liquor store at gunpoint. The Valentine's Day theft happened at McCracken Station Liquor Store on...

Cocaine on a plane

The Canada Border Services Agency says it has seized seven kilograms of suspected cocaine from the bottom of food trolleys on an airplane. The agency says it...

Trump kept Pence in dark

Just six days into his presidency, Donald Trump was informed his national security adviser had misled his vice-president about contacts with Russia. Trump kept...

Going straight: addict's view

Had Al Fowler known more about his rights before enrolling in British Columbia's methadone treatment program in 2010, he may have avoided what he describes...

UBC moves away from oil

The University of British Columbia will exclude fossil fuel companies from its low-carbon investment fund, a move being applauded by a campus group that has...

Fires scorch New Zealand

Hundreds of people in New Zealand's second-largest city were evacuated from their homes Wednesday as wildfires burned down several houses and threatened to...

India launches 100 satellites

India's space agency said it successfully launched more than 100 foreign nano satellites into orbit Wednesday aboard a single rocket. The Indian Space...

America's top dog

Quite a rally for Rumor — a commanding comeback for German shepherds, too. Rumour was crowned America's top dog Tuesday night when, a year after a...

Upton SI's swimsuit queen

She's once, twice, three times a Sports Illustrated swimsuit cover lady. Kate Upton is once again gracing the cover of the annual issue, becoming only the...

Harrison Ford's close call

Actor Harrison Ford had a potentially serious run-in with an airliner at a Southern California airport, NBC-TV reported. Ford, 74, was told to land his...

EU says yes to CETA

The European Union's parliament approved a trade deal with Canada on Wednesday, extolling the pact as a sign of co-operation at a time when many political...

Jury to deliberate on murder

The fate of a man accused of murdering an Alberta couple and their five-year-old grandson will soon be in the hands of a jury. Douglas Garland, 57, is being...

Surgeon maimed patients

A Texas jury has found a neurosurgeon guilty Tuesday of maiming patients who had turned to him for surgery to resolve debilitating injuries. The verdict of the...

Relief as evacuated go home

At churches, fairgrounds and other makeshift shelters, thousands of Californians packed what belongings they had into garbage bags and suitcases to return home...

ADHD and death

ADHD and risk of premature death I have written several articles about ADHD and its symptoms. In addition to hallmark difficulties concentrating or staying on...

Fewer lost bags on flights

The U.S. government says domestic airlines cancelled fewer flights in 2016 than any year on record while also posting record-low numbers for lost bags and...

Net giants oppose tax plan

Proposals for tax changes aimed at helping Canadian publishers fight for revenues with online news aggregators would result in a punitive "tax on...

Vees keep win streak

For the sixth year in a row, the Penticton Vees have taken the BCHL Interior Division pennant for their own. That solidifies the Vees' record-setting...

Terror films downtown

The movie Tiny house of Terror is being filmed in downtown Kelowna. The movie is based on the mysterious disappearance of a woman's husband, and crew...

Talk about downtown

The Town of Oliver is looking for some input on their downtown revitalization process. "Downtown Oliver is recognized as the heart of Oliver and is highly...

Coyotes killing dogs

A West Kelowna woman says coyotes have been attacking and killing dogs in her neighbourhood at an alarming rate during the past few weeks. Dawn, who lives in...

Plea in nurse's death

UPDATE: 10:25 a.m. A spokesperson for the Criminal Justice Branch says a woman charged in connection with a 2014 vehicle crash in Vernon that killed a nurse...

Sings for missing son

Denise Horvath-Allan will never lose hope of finding out what happened to her son. Charles Horvath went missing, and is presumed murdered, in 1989. He was last...

Majestic Canadian sight

Elizabeth Shepherd recently came across a majestic Canadian sight. And she captured it on camera. She was at the Telemark snowshoe trail, located up Glenrosa...

Downhill speed run

If you're going to set world speed records on a production mountain bike, you need a few things: A complete lack of fear, a good bike, and a very funny...

DIY Net Gun

Everybody needs a net gun. They're necessities. Thankfully, this is a totally practical project you can complete at home with just a modest workshop.

Time running out for living languages in BC

All of British Columbia’s 34 living First Nations languages are critically endangered and many face the loss of their last generation of fluent speakers...

Rockslide closes Highway 1

A rockslide has cut off Highway 1, north of Hope, stranding vehicles and stopping train traffic. Staff Sgt. Robbie Drake with the Chilliwack RCMP says the rocks...

Massive fire still active

UPDATE: 8:30 p.m. Firefighters continued to pour water on a massive and "hazardous" blaze in midtown Toronto late Tuesday night, more than 14 hours...

Scotties tickets on sale soon

Tickets for the 2018 Scotties Tournament of Hearts go on sale at 10 a.m. this Friday. The Canadian women's championships will run from Jan. 27 to Feb. 4 at...

Canadians warm to NAFTA

Canadians are three times more likely to say the North American Free Trade Agreement has been beneficial to their country, as opposed to hurting it. The recent...

SilverStar hosts Interski trials

Some of the best skiers in Western Canada will be at the top of Silver Star Mountain this week. The Canadian Ski Instructors Alliance Western Interski team...

Heritage week underway

Penticton's rich and exciting history is on display this week at the Cherry Lane Shopping Centre. The Penticton branch of the Okanagan Historical Society...

Sure to be a special time

Four athletes and three coaches from the Okanagan will compete at the 2017 Special Olympics World Winter Games in Austria. The nine-day competition will bring...

Pot shop by daycare raided

Police have shut down a marijuana dispensary that set up up shop next door to a daycare centre in Nanaimo. RCMP say they received no co-operation from the...

Wash-BC bullet train?

Ultra high-speed ground transportation could soon connect Vancouver, Portland and Seattle. Washington state Governor Jay Inslee has proposed a 2017 to 2019...

Hot stuff in chili cook-off

Were the dishes too hot, too cold or just right? The eighth annual Vernon Winter Carnival Chili Cook-Off took place in Downtown Vernon on Saturday, with eight...

Lively talk about death

For a lively discussion about death, visit the death cafe. What's that? It's not where bad puns go to die. It's a series of talks coming to five...

Archery equipment stolen

Archery equipment and other valuables were stolen from a vehicle on Quebec Street in Penticton on Sunday night. Cpl. Don Wrigglesworth said the rear window of...

Seniors project crawls along

Staff with the District of Summerland will be meeting with the Freshwater Fisheries Society of B.C. this week to review concerns about the potential impact a...

Bomb-maker released

The only man who was convicted in the Air India bombings has been released from his halfway house, and can now live where he likes. Inderjit Singh Reyat was...

Evening Update Feb. 14

Castanet's Evening Update for Tuesday, Feb. 14, with reporter Wayne Moore.

Trudeau-Trump anxiety

Even with companies and politicians breathing a little easier after Justin Trudeau's first encounter with U.S. President Donald Trump, it remains to be seen...

Sued over bumblebee

An environmental group is suing the Trump administration for delaying an endangered-species designation for the rusty patched bumblebee. The Natural Resources...

Man with a softwood touch

A former federal cabinet minister has been appointed the B.C. government's trade envoy to try and reach a new softwood lumber deal with the United States....

Sure sign election is near

Voter registration notices begin going out across B.C. today in anticipation of May's provincial election. “We’re mailing over 1.9 million...

Evac lifted in California

Authorities lifted an evacuation order Tuesday for nearly 200,000 California residents who live below the nation's tallest dam after declaring that the risk...

N.L. takes a snow pounding

As a blizzard lashed Newfoundland with wind-driven snow Tuesday, Maritimers were still digging out from under a heavy snowfall that lasted more than 24 hours,...

Bought terror attack guns

A man accused of buying high-powered rifles used in the San Bernardino terror attack has agreed to plead guilty to federal criminal charges, court documents...

Gunfight trial underway

A man alleged to have been involved in a gunfight in Polson Park in August 2014 has gone on trial in B.C. Supreme Court. Three people were arrested 11 months...

Murder victim named

Vancouver police have identified the victim of the city's third murder this year. Maninder Singh Braich, 38, was severely injured in a house near Prince...

Filmmaker on historic hike

A Summerland based filmmaker is producing a documentary on the HBC Heritage Trail. Originally a First Nations route for hunting and trade between Hope and...

'We'll pay you back'

UPDATE: 2:45 p.m. British Columbia's government is promising financial relief for taxpayers in next week's budget, telling residents who will soon be...

Vigil for missing women

UPDATE: 2:30 p.m. Hundreds of people marched through the Downtown Eastside in Vancouver Tuesday for the 27th year in a row, to honour the memory of women who...

On tap this week for the UBC Okanagan Heat (Feb 16-18)

Annually rivalry matches with Thompson Rivers on tap for this week. Thursday night in Kamloops. Saturday night at home in Kelowna. Presidents' Cup will be...

School rankings hurt

UPDATE: 2:10 p.m. Vernon's superintendent of schools, Joe Rogers, believes the Fraser Institute's report card on B.C. elementary schools is lacking in...

Bouncer charged in punch

The trial has started for two men charged in connection with a vicious sucker punch outside a Kelowna nightclub. A third man has already been convicted for...

Big No to designer babies

Genome editing, a powerful technology that allows researchers to add, remove or replace snippets of DNA from cells, should only be used for the potential...

Over population of deer

My grand children came for a visit the other day and wanted to play in my backyard. I had to tell them no. The backyard was off limits because gramdpa cannot...

U SPORTS TOP TEN TUESDAY : Volleyball ranked No. 9 in Canada

Volleyball with home and home against valley rival TRU WolfPack. Thursday night in Kamloops and Saturday night in Kelowna. UBC Okanagan women's volleyball stats...

Refusing the flu vaccine

It certainly is interesting to note that over 50% of those responding to the Castanet Poll on getting the annual flu shot say they “never” get one....

A night for the ladies

Do you need a night to be pampered, but feel too guilty spending money on yourself? Look no further then Nuit des Dames. This is an event presented by Swinging...

$178M student-loan writeoff

The federal government for the second year in a row is writing off millions in student loans it will never collect, this time to the tune of $178.4 million. The...

Chained, raped daily

A South Carolina woman who spent two months chained inside a large metal container says her captor raped her daily and warned that if she ran or tried to hurt...

Seniors health assessment

The YMCA of Okanagan is inviting older adults of all ages to attend their upcoming Seniors Health Assessment at the Kelowna Family YMCA this Friday, February...

Valentine's Day outreach

City staff, clad in red shirts and carrying bags of candy, blanketed Penticton on Tuesday gathering feedback from residents. The focus on Valentine's Day...

Crews rush to repair dam

Crews working around the clock atop a crippled California dam reported progress Tuesday in repairing the damaged spillway and reducing the water level by at...

Trump's weird handshake

When is a handshake more than a handshake? Any time it involves the unpredictable U.S. President Donald Trump, who has turned the simple social convention into...

Elementary school rankings

An independent institution is the highest ranked elementary school in the South Okanagan once again, according to the annual Fraser Institute rankings out...

One hurt in four car crash

UPDATE: 1:08 p.m., Tuesday The incident Sunday night on Highway 97 was a four vehicle crash that sent one person to hospital, according to the RCMP. When...

New ferry on its way

The second of B.C.'s new, natural-gas-powered ferries is on its way across the Atlantic. The Salish Eagle was built in Gdansk, Poland, and left the shipyard...

Broken promise bill beaten

Liberal MPs have defeated a motion that accused the government of misleading Canadians when it promised to eliminate the first-past-the-post voting system in...

Armed robbers target stores

Two armed robberies took place in the North Okanagan within a matter of hours. Three people are in custody in connection with a robbery at the Armstrong 7-11...

A random act of kindness

Every so often, it's nice to hear about a small act of kindness. One Kelowna resident watched through her office window as a City of Kelowna employee...

Jeep goes over bank

UPDATE: 12:45 p.m. A family member of one of the occupants of the Jeep says the road conditions at the time of the crash were horrible. "That road was...

$17M lost to love

It started with a Facebook conversation with a stranger, then progressed to Skype exchanges, declarations of affection and promises to meet up in person. By the...

Lady Gaga goes public

Lady Gaga turned heads at a Grammy Awards afterparty on Sunday by using the bash to go public with her new man. The Born This Way hitmaker has reportedly been...

Judge OKs smaller VW deal

A federal judge in San Francisco granted initial approval Tuesday to a deal worth at least $1.2 billion that aims to compensate the owners of roughly 78,000...

Helping immigrants

Immigrants and refugees will have a new building to call home. South Okanagan Immigrant and Community Services (SOICS) is announcing a new 4,000-square-foot...

Guilty of Trudeau threats

A Saskatchewan man has been found guilty of uttering threats against Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Christopher Hayes has been fined $500, given nine months...

IHIT identifies body

B.C.'s Integrated Homicide Investigation Team has identified a body found Saturday night in Coquitlam. Just before 10 p.m., Coquitlam RCMP responded to the...

Gov't info a smoking gun?

The British Columbia government must hand over health information that tobacco giant Phillip Morris International says it needs to fight the province's...

Adele was 'devastated'

Adele was "devastated" to have to restart her George Michael tribute at Sunday's Grammy Awards, because she had worked tirelessly to perfect the...

Thank you

You might've heard about the guy who almost left some of his grey matter on the ice at the curling rink Friday night. Well, that was me. Flat on my back,...

Week to warm up

This morning we got off to a bit of a chilly start, but it's warming up fast. Kelowna should see a high of 4 C on Tuesday. Wednesday’s high is 5 C,...

Intermission Interrupted

The Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art is approaching its next student-led exhibition a little differently. As part of the Intermission series that sees...

City has gone too far

The Amendments to the Municipal Act made in 1998 to allow Private /Public partnerships have allowed the City of Kelowna to go too far with respect to Tourism...

Re: This bud's not for you

I recognize the importance of police enforcement. But, focusing on a business that provides relief to many in pain, or suffering from a medical condition,...

Carnival plans next year

Vernon Winter Carnival may have just ended but organizers are already thinking about next year. "What a fabulous 57th Vernon Winter Carnival,” said...

Cat makes 950-km trek

Six months after her cat ran away, a woman in the Netherlands is looking forward to a reunion — in an Austrian village 950 kilometres away. Austrian state...

Report pans local schools

Results are mixed for public elementary schools in the Central Okanagan, according to the latest report card issued by the Fraser Institute. While 90 per cent...

Derulo seeking apology

Jason Derulo is still waiting for bosses at American Airlines to "make amends" publicly after an incident at a Florida airport earlier this month. The...

Oh what a night

On March 11th, the Musical Actors and Singers of Kelowna (MASK) will present the second annual "Oh, What A Night" concert at 7pm at Rutland United...

Don't plow me in!

No one likes to spend significant effort shovelling their driveway only to have the plow come by and fill it in again. Most of us grumble and get to work, but...

Slams into pole, no seatbelt

An elderly woman is expected to survive after her vehicle slammed into a utility pole Monday night in Kelowna. Emergency crews rushed to the scene at Casorso...

Suspicious vehicles spotted

The RCMP was made aware of suspicious vehicles in the Okanagan Falls area on Monday night. Observant people spotted prowlers with flashlights, said Cpl. Don...

Name your top volunteers

Know any outstanding volunteers in the community? The South Okanagan Similkameen Volunteer Centre is looking for nominations for people who have been...

Bus driver killed in attack

Winnipeg police say a 58-year-old transit bus driver died after he was stabbed by a passenger early Tuesday morning. Chief Danny Smyth says the driver —...

Sarandon turned down

Susan Sarandon's portrayal of Hollywood icon Bette Davis in new TV series Feud is a dream come true for producer Ryan Murphy after years in the making. The...

Subway restaurant robbed

Kamloops RCMP are investigating a robbery at the Valleyview Subway. Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the man who robbed the...

Driver runs from rollover

UPDATE: TUE 10:20 a.m. The driver who fled the scene of a vehicle roll over Saturday in Naramata has been contacted, according to the RCMP. Cpl. Don...

Cockroach named after QB

More than a week after the Falcons fell victim to the biggest comeback in Super Bowl history, an Atlanta zoo has named a cockroach after Patriots quarterback...

Police takedown at Denny's

A Penticton man with several outstanding warrants was arrested after a fight with RCMP officers in the Denny's parking lot last week. According to Cpl. Don...

Stuck sledders rescued

Two snowmobilers were rescued from a ravine near Chase, Monday, after spending a cold night in the mountains. About 7 p.m. Sunday, Chase RCMP received a report...

Steals their heart, then cash

RCMP in Coquitlam hope a Valentine's Day warning will help them find a man who has been preying on unsuspecting women searching for love. Cpl. Michael...

Deluge of rain coming

Vancouver is about to get a good soaking. Starting later today and continuing overnight, Environment Canada is warning Metro Vancouver is going to get up to 100...

Peaks of Interest

Adam Temple, story artist from shows such as, “Turbo F.A.S.T, Max Steel, and Fangbone”, will be hosting a fine art exhibition, entitled “Peaks...

Toxic chemicals, tools burn

The cause of a scorching hobby shop fire on the 1700 block of E. Vernon Road Sunday is undetermined but probably electrical, according to BX-Swan Lake Fire...

Talking report cards

The Ministry of Education is inviting Penticton parents to give their opinion on report cards, and how their children’s progress is reported to them. The...

Five common RRSP mistakes

It's been 60 years since the RRSP was introduced as a retirement savings tool. But that doesn't mean Canadians have learned all the lessons of the past....

Disney drops PewDiePie

YouTube star Felix Kjellberg (SHEHL'-burg), who goes by the name PewDiePie online, has been dropped from Disney's Maker Studios and YouTube has...

Adele reference's 'husband'

Adele appeared to confirm rumors she has married partner Simon Konecki by referring to him as her "husband" during her Grammy Awards acceptance...

Poll: Family Day change

As British Columbians enjoy the long weekend, thousands say the province is celebrating Family Day at the wrong time. A petition on Change.org is calling for...

Missing teenager found

UPDATED: Feb. 14, 9:25 a.m. Police say Merissa Blind has been found. ORIGINAL: Feb. 7 Kamloops RCMP are looking for a missing 15-year-old girl. Merissa Blind...

Mixed for Hill at World's

Snowboardcross racer Kevin Hill of Vernon placed second in the small final in World Cup racing in Germany on Sunday. Hill was the weekend’s top Canadian...

TRU researchers apply expertise to solve industry challenges

Around the world

Want to see the world but money's a little tight? No worries, just take a quick, two-minute tour of the world with this hyperlapse made entirely out of...

Gala celebrates 25 years with $2.5 million

Kanye suffered memory loss

Kanye West suffered issues with memory loss as part of his recent health problems. According to his friend and collaborator, Malik Yusef, the Famous hitmaker...

N.K. leader's brother slain

Kim Jong Nam, the older brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, was attacked at Kuala Lumpur's airport and died on the way to a hospital, a senior...

Love on a budget

You don't have to break the bank to show your love. Consolidated Credit Counseling Services of Canada is offering some handy tips to celebrate...

Judge sides with survivors

Canada failed to take reasonable steps to prevent thousands of on-reserve children who were placed with non-native families from losing their indigenous...

Takeover for GM's Opel?

France's PSA Group, maker of Peugeot and Citroen cars, says it's exploring a takeover of Opel, General Motors' money-losing European business....

Big fun on Family day

Families celebrated in a big way at Big White Ski Resort on Family Day. The resort partnered with Family Channel for an action-packed weekend of events. There...

Watchdog eyes PM's vacay

Ethics Commissioner Mary Dawson has opened a second investigation related to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's vacation on the Aga Khan's private...

Troops prepare for Ukraine

Some 200 soldiers from Edmonton are preparing to deploy to Ukraine — though with everyone waiting to see whether the mission there will be extended,...

Election backdrop to session

British Columbia politicians are back in Victoria today to kick off the final sitting of the provincial legislature before residents head to the polls. Lt.-Gov...

Plain packaging for pot?

Garfield Mahood has spent 30 years fighting for the Canadian government to require plain packaging for cigarettes. So, the long-time non-smokers' rights...

Three dead in house fire

Three people are dead and a child is in hospital following an overnight house fire in Brampton, Ont. Brampton Fire Chief Michael Clark told reporters a basement...

Toshiba chairman resigns

Toshiba Corp.'s chairman resigned Tuesday after the company logged such massive losses in its nuclear business that it must sell its lucrative computer-chip...

Discrimination over Segway

A British Columbia man who alleges the province is discriminating against him by not allowing him to use a modified Segway as an assisted-mobility device will...

Dropping daylight time?

An Alberta NDP backbencher spearheading legislation to ditch daylight saving time now says it's not a done deal. The issue seemed to put Edmonton-South West...

Insurance merger shot down

Aetna and Humana called off a $34 billion proposal to combine the two major health insurers after a federal judge, citing antitrust concerns, shot down the...

Pot business is growing

Canada's largest publicly traded marijuana company says it ended 2016 with 29,000 registered patients — more than three times the number it had at the...

Search called off for boat

The search has been called off for the six veteran fishermen aboard a crabbing boat missing in the icy, turbulent Bering Sea. The fishing vessel Destination...

8 dead in coal mine blast

A coal mine explosion Tuesday in central China has left eight people dead and three injured, state media reported. The blast occurred at about 1:30 a.m. at the...

Trump security adviser quits

President Donald Trump's embattled national security adviser Michael Flynn resigned late Monday night, following reports that he had misled Vice-President...

Judge denies pipeline halt

A federal judge on Monday refused to stop construction on the last stretch of the Dakota Access pipeline, which is progressing much faster than expected and...

End collision insurance?

“To be honest, it pisses me off.” Those are the words of a former client who continues to live with neck symptoms years after a “minor”...

Worries dismissed years ago

Environmental activists and local government officials warned more than a decade ago about the risk of catastrophic flooding below a major Northern California...

'No wall, only bridges'

There was no talk of walls, only bridges as Donald Trump exuded amiability Monday in a first meeting with his Canadian counterpart that suggested the northern...

Yoga with goats

There are many different styles of yoga, including Ashtanga, Bikram, Hath and … yoga with goats. “I would probably say most people haven’t...

Impressive stats

Russell Westbrook spouts off some impressive stats in a hilarious new ad.

Nudes in Playboy again

Naked women are back in Playboy magazine, ending a year-old ban on the nudity that made the magazine famous. Playboy celebrated the reversal on Twitter and...

7 hurt in Disneyland fire

A fire broke out in Disneyland's main parking structure Monday that burned eight cars and caused seven people to be treated for smoke inhalation,...

2 dead in plane crash

Two people have been killed after a small plane crashed near Calgary. The plane couldn't be reached about an hour after its 4 p.m. takeoff. RCMP say the...

Rapist's parole extended

The parole board has been keeping a tight rein on the man known as the balaclava rapist since he was granted day parole last year, newly released documents...

BC ferry could be yours

Wanna buy a ferry? BC Ferries is auctioning off the Queen Of Burnaby, which will make its final run at the end of March. Bidding on the 52-year-old vessel...

Huge chicken farm fire

A barn fire in Abbotsford, Monday, killed almost 5,000 chickens. The massive blaze broke out about 6:30 a.m., with flames shooting 15 metres in the air....

Police dog catches suspects

Ice, a Kelowna RCMP police service dog, nabbed two break-and-enter suspects this weekend. Officers responded to Finns Road and Evans Court around 4 a.m. after a...

Rockets blast off in the 3rd

The Kelowna Rockets saved their best for last. The Rockets erased a one goal deficit with four unanswered goals in the third period in a 6-3 victory over the...

Diner damaged, broken into

A local Kelowna restaurant was broken in to and had cash stolen from it on Saturday morning and police are asking for the public’s assistance. RCMP...

Truck fire 'intentional'

A pickup truck that was set on fire Sunday night is now being called intentional, according to police. West Kelowna firefighters arrived on scene just after 10...

Women in workforce

One has proudly declared himself a feminist, while the other inspired hundreds of thousands of people to take to the streets in protest of his stances on issues...

Man stuck under building

A man was trapped inside a West Kelowna building after trying to fix the collapsing structure. West Kelowna firefighters responded to the building located near...

Low fat adds fat

Did the Low-Fat Craze Make Us Fatter? By Brigitta Beer Travel back in time with me for a moment. Late 1980s, through the 1990s, and beyond when we were told...

What's up for Valentine's?

It's Valentine's Day on Tuesday, so Castanet hit the streets to see what special plans local residents have in store for their significant others.

Trouble on the Connector

A couple of incidents have been reported on the Coquihalla Connector Monday morning. A Castanet reader sent in photos of the scenes. In the first, on the...

No school trips to US

A school board in southwestern Ontario says it has cancelled a handful of school trips to the United States due to "safety and equity" concerns. Clara...

WestJet expands in Quebec

WestJet is taking on Air Canada on its home turf, pursuing one of the largest expansions in its history in Quebec. The Calgary-based company (TSX:WJA) has...

Seeing past the numbers

Seeing past the numbers on housing affordability By Norm Letnick Our government talks a lot about taking action on housing affordability. It’s an...

'No means yes,' TO bar

A downtown Toronto bar issued a public apology Monday after displaying a sign that was denounced online as promoting sexual assault. Photos began circulating on...

PM and Prez all smiles

UPDATE: 10:30 a.m. Justin Trudeau sat next to Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka as the two leaders met Monday with a group of female business executives, one...

Trio of suspicious fires

UPDATE: 10:15 a.m. Police and fire investigators are probing a series of three related fires in East Vancouver this morning. The VPD says occupants of a home...

Killer looking for pen pals

Saul Betesh, who's spent four decades behind bars for the high-profile 1977 killing of a Toronto shoeshine boy, has joined a matchmaking website that helps...

Change Family Day date?

As British Columbians enjoy the long weekend, thousands say the province is celebrating Family Day at the wrong time. A petition on Change.org is calling for...

Deadly avalanche in Alps

At least four skiers were killed in an avalanche Monday in the French Alps near the resort of Tignes, and rescuers say they are trying to dig out five others...

Fires tear across Australia

Several homes were destroyed and two firefighters injured by huge wildfires that tore across Australia's most populous state over the weekend, officials...

IBM's Watson fighting crime

A year after IBM began teaching its Watson computer system to fight cybercrime, the company is making the platform available for use. "Now he gets a job...

Peugeot buys India's Amby

French car manufacturer Peugeot has bought India's most iconic car brand from its maker Hindustan Motors in a deal that signifies the passing of an era in...

No romance at legislature

Romance is not in the cards for British Columbia's politicians who return to the legislature Valentine's Day for a throne speech that sets the stage for...

Bird flu fears close markets

Several Chinese cities have shut down their poultry markets in the wake of a bird flu outbreak that has killed at least two dozen people this year across China....

Rembrandt theft foiled

Police say three witnesses helped nab a man who they say tried to steal five paintings from a Boston art gallery, including etchings by Pablo Picasso and...

Some advice for Justin

There is no shortage of advice being offered to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he prepares to meet U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday at the White House in...

Signs of an identity crisis

The NDP leadership race is off the ground with its first contestant along with a campaign of soul-searching to map out the party's future identity, experts...

Trump won't deter Tim's

The parent company of Tim Hortons and Burger King sees fertile ground for rapid expansion for both chains in the United States, regardless of uncertainty around...

Blizzard buries the East

Atlantic Canada was being blasted by a powerful winter storm Monday that cancelled flights and shuttered everything from schools and municipal offices to...

Adele reigns, despite hiccup

Despite trouble with her live performance at Sunday's Grammy Awards, Adele was the big winner. She restarted her tribute to George Michael Sunday at the...

Fearing 30-foot wall of water

Water levels dropped Monday at California's Lake Oroville, stopping water from spilling over a massive dam's potentially hazardous emergency spillway...

Pickup truck up in flames

A pickup truck went up in flames Sunday night. The blaze happened just after 10 p.m. in a residential complex parking lot along Carrington Road in West Kelowna....

Take a Mulligan

I think it’s happened to everyone. You’re cleaning up your stuff and you decide to move a bunch of files and folders from one place to another....

Breaking records at 85

Kelowna senior Conny Stamhuis has broken a couple of swimming records both in B.C. and nationally. Swimming in Victoria, Stamhuis broke the record for the...

Talk romance with the city

The City of Penticton is taking Valentine's Day as an opportunity to hear what people love about Penticton – and what they'd love to see improved....

You're the picture of health

A picture is worth a thousand words – and in this case may even save a life. Especially if you live far from medical care. Prof. Kathy Rush of UBC...

Great backyard bird count

It's almost time to get counting. The 2017 Great Backyard Bird Count begins soon and anyone can take part. Simply count birds for at least 15 minutes on one...

Beware of tax time scams

The public is being warned to keep an eye out for scam artists posing as Canada Revenue officials. “Tax time is almost upon us and now is the opportune...

Washing machine cover

Style points to this guy for incorporating a washing machine into a cover song

Murder charges in death

UPDATE: 10:20 p.m. Murder charges have been laid in a Kamloops death. Kamloops RCMP's Serious Crime Unit confirm Stephen George Fraser, 56, of Kamloops, has...

Lovebirds line up to tie knot

For dozens of lovebirds, Valentine's Day came early, Sunday, in Vancouver. The annual Love in the Square event at Robson Square saw six officiants marrying...

Plane crash in farm field

The pilot of a small aircraft walked away from a crash landing in a Surrey blueberry field, Sunday. The plane lost power after taking off from King George...

Streep pans Trump again

In an emotional speech by turns tearful, defiant and humorous, Meryl Streep doubled down on her harsh criticism of President Donald Trump, and spoke of having...

Morris, Cotter steal BC title

John Morris and Jim Cotter are off to another Brier. The team that finished second at the Tim Hortons Brier in Kamloops in 2014, won the belairdirect BC...

Power line knocked down

A power line was knocked out after several trees toppled over in Cowichan Valley Regional District on Vancouver Island. Residents were without power since...

Street hockey on the Coq

While traffic stood at a standstill for hours on end on the Coquihalla Highway late last week, some used the time for something very Canadian. Instagram user...

Schools cancel U.S. trips

A school board in southwestern Ontario says it has cancelled a handful of school trips to the United States due to "safety and equity" concerns....

Shed fire in east Vernon

Firefighters responded to a large shed fire on the east side of Vernon before 5 p.m. Sunday. BX-Swan Lake Fire Chief Bill Wacey couldn't speak for long, as...

Contract for care beds

InSite Housing, Hospitality & Health Services Inc. has been awarded a contract by Interior Health for the development of 60 residential care beds in Salmon...

Talking women with Trump

President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will participate in a roundtable discussion about women in the workforce Monday, showing the rising...

Fishing with the family

An estimated 150 people showed up to Yellow Lake Saturday to do some ice fishing with family. The event was put on by a number of organizations, including BC...

Mosques hold open houses

Two weeks after a gunman killed six Muslim men as they prayed in Quebec City, mosques around Montreal held open door events aimed at fostering understanding in...

BC MP wants to lead NDP

British Columbia MP Peter Julian has launched his bid to become the next leader of the federal NDP. He made the announcement in his riding of New Westminster...

What matters most to you?

The willingness to accept responsibility for one's own life is the source from which self-respect springs. — Writer Joan Didion You are 100 per cent...

Canadian gets Grammy

UPDATE: 2:55 p.m. Canadian songwriter Bernie Herms came out an early winner at the pre-telecast Grammy Awards ceremony on Sunday. The London, Ont.-born and...

Icy lake to ice bucket

Thick ice coating much of the lakeshore at Kalamalka Lake did little to dampen the enthusiasm of those who were to take part in the annual Polar Bear Swim in...

A hotbed for snow bikes

Snow biking was first invented about seven years ago, but has quickly grown in popularity. Last month, the sport was featured at the X Games for the first time...

Cheap land on East Coast

A historic manor in rural Nova Scotia has social media users salivating over the roughly $435,000 price tag for the estate, but it's far from the only...

Killer online for pen pals

Saul Betesh, who's spent four decades behind bars for the high-profile 1977 killing of a Toronto shoeshine boy, has joined a matchmaking website that helps...

$75,000 for Caetani House

Vernon's Caetani Cultural Centre is being given a $75,000 Canadian Heritage grant. “I think Sveva (Caetani) is smiling down on us today,” said...

Streaming Prince

Tidal's exclusive streaming rights to Prince's Warner Bros. Records catalogue is over. The record company announced that starting Sunday, his music on...

Blizzard for east coast

Weather warnings are out for the Atlantic provinces as a major snowstorm is forecast to hit the region overnight. Environment Canada says a low pressure system...

How full is your glass?

What do you think of all the snow we've been getting? If you love winter, you may be jumping up and down with glee. If you aren’t so much of a cold...

Sip with sweetheart

For those hoping for an early Valentine's treat, you can travel the Westside Wine Trail Sunday for the Sip with Your Sweetheart event. Thirteen wineries are...

Beyonce aims for Grammy

There are few things Beyonce has not conquered, and the Grammy for album of the year is one of them. For the third time, Beyonce is nominated for the coveted...

Church killer wants retrial

Convicted South Carolina church shooter Dylann Roof has asked for a new federal trial, saying prosecutors didn't have jurisdiction to bring their case...

Yes for so-called foreigners

Voters in Switzerland decided Sunday to make it easier for young "third-generation foreigners" to get Swiss citizenship, agreeing to extend to about...

Pepper spray evacuation

UPDATE: 9:00 a.m. Hundreds of passengers at Hamburg Airport were evacuated and more than a dozen flights cancelled after some 68 people were injured by a...

Murder squad probes death

The RCMP's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team is investigating after a man was found on a trail in Coquitlam last night. RCMP officers attended the 1300...

Slushy Coq but no delays

There were no delays reported on the Coquihalla Highway overnight, following two nights when hundreds of motorists were stranded between Hope and Merritt for...

Turks march on extremists

Turkey's president says his troops and allied Syrian fighters have reached the heart of the Islamic State stronghold of al-Bab in northern Syria and will...

We need darker skies

A group hoping to darken the skies around Vernon has suggested shielding on lights that are to be re-used in the parking lot when the new arena is built beside...

Vees tame Wild

The Penticton Vees shutout the BCHL’s top team, the Wenatchee Wild 2-0 Saturday at the SOEC. The win came a night after the Vees clinched their sixth...

One win from the Brier

The Morris-Cotter rink is only one win away from a trip to the Brier. The team from the Kelowna and Vernon curling clubs has dominated the 2017 B.C. Men’s...

Arrest in late-night crash

Neighbours report a car crash with arrests overnight in downtown Kelowna. About 3 a.m., residents were awoken when a white Mitsubishi Lancer smashed into...

Horoscope: Feb. 12-18

Overview for all signs Feelings slosh back and forth; take your time to stand on a position that you are more sure of. There has to be a solid base to build on...

Unsolved crimes: DLC

You could have the missing piece of the puzzle that will help the RCMP put someone behind bars. Here is a recent crime that Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers hope...

Charged in staff sex assault

The owner of the Orchard Park Jugo Juice is facing two sexual assault charges after allegedly forcing himself on an employee at his store. The alleged incident...

Future of arenas discussed

City staff set up shop at Memorial Arena Saturday to get feedback from the public on Penticton's two aging arenas. The arena task force information session...

Fest of Ale returning

One of the largest and longest running beer festivals in the Pacific Northwest is returning to the Okanagan in the spring. Guests of the 22nd annual Okanagan...

Evolve Cellars, Summerland

For Canada’s 150th birthday this year, Castanet is featuring an Okanagan wine each week, celebrating the bottles of our Valley and the diversity of the...

Smashing through the ice

A tug boat has been busy busting through the ice on Okanagan Lake. The chilly task helped other vessels escape the docks. "A Shoreline Pile Driving tug...

LSL calendar kickoff party

Locals Supporting Locals is holding a launch party for their annual calendar this Valentine’s Day at the Copper Mug Pub. “Many people ask, why are...

Bend council ear on budget

West Kelowna residents can bend the ear of their city council at an open house on the coming year's budget. Council members will attend the Feb. 15 event to...

Band of Brothers vet dies

Edward Tipper, a World War II paratrooper who was portrayed in the HBO series "Band of Brothers," has died. He was 95. He died Feb. 1 in the Denver...

DIY photography studio

Cooperative of Photography (COOPH) has created a new video where they share great tips and tricks on how to build your own simple DIY photography studio to...

Throat lozenges ad

If you're fighting a cold this season but need to keep your voice sounding sharp, these Finnish throat lozenges may help.