News Archive‹ Sep 17 to 23, 2017 ›

Vees win finals rematch

In six years that the BCHL showcase tournament has taken place, only one team has never lost at the event. That's the Penticton Vees, who in that time are...

Lind explodes, Rockets win

Kole Lind's quick start to the Western Hockey League season continued Saturday. Lind had a hand in all five Rockets goals in a 5-1 thumping of the Kamloops...

Prince Harry praises athletes

The Invictus Games got off to a rollicking start Saturday as scores of war-wounded athletes marched, limped or wheeled their way to thumping martial music,...

Distraught man shot by cop

A man in Vancouver was rushed to hospital in critical condition after being shot by police on Saturday. Vancouver police officers were confronted by the man,...

Sun earn home playoff date

The Okanagan Sun have guaranteed themselves at least one home playoff date. The Sun ran their unbeaten record to 7-0-1 Saturday night with a 20-10 victory over...

RECAP: Heat bested at home by national #3 Thunderbirds

The UBC Okanagan Heat women's soccer team fell on home turf on Sunday afternoon, as the visiting UBC Thunderbirds took a 2-0 victory at Nonis Field.Read more:...

RECAP: A draw at MRU rounds out clean weekend for Heat men

UBC Okanagan men's soccer team played to a scoreless draw against the Mount Royal Cougars on Saturday afternoon to finish off their Alberta weekend trip.Read...

The chemistry of dating

Culture Vulture TV's Leanne Allen is back with another episode of Girls on Grapes. This week, Leanne and her gal pals discuss dating chemistry.

Puppy poached from car

A Saanich man had his four-month-old pooch poached from his vehicle in a Save-on-Foods parking lot on Friday. James Dumont said he went into the grocery store...

House parked in driveway

A couple in East Kelowna can't leave their home because someone left a small house in their driveway. The company moving the house reportedly had truck...

NAFTA vehicle rules stalled

Despite tough talk from the U.S. about the job-killing impact of NAFTA on its automotive sector, Canada's chief negotiator isn't expecting to see a...

Campfire ban goes on

Continued dry weather has forced Enderby to keep implementing an open-air burning restriction, which includes campfires. The announcement comes after nearby...

Hockey shop catches fire

The hockey community was shaken up in Surrey after a fire at The Hockey Shop on Saturday. The blaze reportedly began in a garbage pile behind the family-owned...

AB Premier talks federal tax

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley is not weighing in directly on the federal government's controversial tax change proposals, but says she hopes the feds strike...

Metis get Riel's items back

Three items, including a crucifix, that belonged to North-West Rebellion leader Louis Riel, which have been held by the RCMP for decades, will soon return to...

Site C critics speak up

Critics of an $8.8-billion dam project in British Columbia voiced concerns over the long-term costs of the project during the first in a series of public input...

Pop star to help kids in Iraq

Demi Lovato has been named a Global Citizen mental health ambassador at the organization's music festival in New York City's Central Park. The singer...

NAFTA reps ride school bus

American and Mexican trade negotiators are discovering one more disadvantage to the breakneck pace being set for renegotiation of the North American Free Trade...

A mother gives back

Robert Taylor was in a car accident in 2000, when he was 20 years old, that left him a quadriplegic. For nine years, Robert used a device that allowed him to...

Trailer takes out street lamp

A trailer slipped off a semi-truck and knocked down a street lamp on Lakeshore Drive, between Main Street and Martin Street. Penticton RCMP were called to the...

Langford wants Amazon HQ

A Vancouver Island city is trying to catch a big fish in the tech sector. Langford Mayor Stew Young said he has made a bid for Amazon to build their new North...

Coach sells drugs at practice

A minor football league coach in Nanaimo has been charged after reportedly selling drugs during practice. Levan Anthony Hayden, an assistant coach for a team of...

A bite out of Kelowna

Downtown Kelowna was teeming with 1,000 people trying out the culinary options the city has Saturday. The Taste of Downtown event, organized by the Downtown...

Dementia and sex

What you need to know about intimacy, sexuality and behaviours in dementia There is a widespread assumption that as we age, we lose our sexual allure and...

A royal meeting

U.S. first lady Melania Trump met Saturday with Britain's Prince Harry as she led a delegation to Toronto for the opening of an Olympic-style competition...

Celebrating culture

Civic Plaza and Spirit Square were filled with the sounds of music and laughter Saturday during the RespectFEST Multicultural Celebration. RespectFEST 2017 is a...

Shooting witnesses sought

Kamloops RCMP are looking for witnesses to a targeted shooting of a known gangster. On Sept. 21, Konaam Shirzad, 34, was gunned down on Hudson's Bay Trail...

Warriors to skip WH visit

The Golden State Warriors say they will not go to the White House when they visit Washington early next year, announcing the decision hours after President...

PM pays tribute to Chan

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was one of the scores of people paying tribute at the funeral for Liberal MP Arnold Chan Saturday morning in Toronto. Chan, the...

Crisis in Puerto Rico

A humanitarian crisis grew Saturday in Puerto Rico as towns were left without fresh water, fuel, power or phone service following Hurricane Maria's...

Sports take over City Park

Hundreds of people ran, jumped, kicked, spiked and threw in City Park Saturday while raising $100,000 for Special Olympics athletes. The sixth annual Motionball...

Castanet's week in review

Castanet's week in review with Nich Johansen.

More mortgage changes

There isn’t much doubt that more significant mortgage rule changes are on the way, perhaps as early as Oct. 2. Canada’s banking regulator, OSFI (the...

Chamber slams tax changes

Members of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce say proposed tax changes by the federal government are casting business people in a negative light and the finance...

Harry listens to patients

The founder of the Invictus Games spent the hours leading up to the opening ceremonies visiting one of Canada's top mental health facilities. Prince Harry...

Big movies mean big bucks

Lights, camera...money. Recent statistics show movie production expenditures is at an all time high in B.C. The industry reached an estimated $2.6 billion in...

Thank a coach

Sept. 23-30, has been declared British Columbia Coaches Week, recognizing the impact of the more than 10,000 coaches in the province. Coaches not only...

Life for raping, killing nurse

A Tennessee man has avoided a possible death penalty by agreeing to a sentence of life in prison plus 50 years for the kidnapping, rape and killing of nursing...

No campfires allowed

Vernon and Armstrong residents hoping to usher in fall relaxing around a campfire had better plan something else. On Friday, the BC WIldfire Service lifted a...

Polite encounter with bear

Canadians are known for being polite, and one man extended those pleasantries to a trio of bears that were lounging in his yard. When Jordan Cote heard his...

Poll: road rage

Police are investigating a violent road rage incident in North Vancouver in which a man ripped the windshield wiper off a car, shattered the rear window, and...

Grass carp in Lake Erie

Researchers have fresh evidence that invasive grass carp are swimming and spawning near the mouth of a river that flows into Lake Erie. Their next step is...

Trump would fire players

President Donald Trump says National Football League owners should fire players who kneel during the national anthem. And he's encouraging spectators to...

Another quake hits Mexico

A strong new earthquake shook Mexico on Saturday, causing new alarm in a country reeling from two still-more-powerful quakes this month that have killed nearly...

BC man sings with Beatle

A B.C. man got to share the stage with rock legend Paul McCartney. Grand Forks resident Gregg Anderson sang with McCartney during the sound check for his...

Asleep at helm in boat crash

A boater was asleep at the helm when his 30-foot vessel slammed into a breakwater at a Campbell River marina on Thursday. Shocked ferry passengers watched the...

Battles fire with garden hose

A homeowner grabbed a garden hose to battle a house fire, Friday, in New Westminster. The man came home to find his house ablaze and did what he could until...

Candles cause of house fire

Twenty-foot flames were shooting from the second floor of an East Kelowna home when firefighters arrived on scene Friday night. A 911 call about 11:30 p.m....

Fall's flying fairies

It’s official – fall is here. I have gotten over the initial shock of the seasons changing, and now I am working to soak in the magic of autumn. I...

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...

March to take back the night

People in Penticton will be marching against violence next week. The Take Back the Night walk will take place Wednesday night, with a goal to raise awareness...

Best surfers catch a wave

Day 2 of the World Wake Surfing Championships in Kelowna saw more of the world's best competitors hit Okanagan Lake. Two of the top competitors in the...

Council to meet with gov

Transitional housing, mental health and a community wellness committee will be on the agenda for Penticton city councillors when they meet the new provincial...

Downtown lot snapped up

A high-profile piece of Penticton real estate is changing hands. A one and a half acre lot at 249 Westminster Ave. has been sold to an undisclosed buyer,...

Transit changes coming

The City of Vernon, in partnership with BC Transit, is making some changes to the bus system and they want to know what people think. The city will be altering...

CrimeStopper... or starter?

A former Okanagan CrimeStoppers president has found himself on the wrong side of the law. Dino Cabalfin, who assumed the role of board president of Central...

Dog high jump

Never underestimate how high a dog can jump.

The 64 day longest flight

Somehow these 2 guys managed to stay in the air in their Cessna for 64 days! Incredible!

Rockets dominate opener

Kole Lind showed why the Vancouver Canucks have high hopes for him. Lind, selected by the Canucks in the second round of the June entry draft, was a force in...

RECAP: Heat women fall 1-0 to visiting Vikes

Home opener spoiled by Victoria on Saturday afternoon.Read more: http://goheat.ca/sports/wsoc/2017-18/releases/20170923x4zvfr

RECAP: Heat take out Dinos

UBC Okanagan win their second straight match after they upend the University of Calgary men's soccer team with a 2-0 decision at McMahon Stadium on...

RELEASE: Heat sink Mariners in preseason bout

Read more: http://goheat.ca/sports/mbkb/2017-18/releases/2017092440jilu

SUV into Liquor Depot

An SUV crashed into the corner of The Liquor Depot on Butt Rd in West Kelowna, just after 7:50 p.m. No injuries have been reported. RCMP and emergency crews...

Top-5 triathlete at 70

Kelowna's Judy Lloyd just missed out on her goal of a podium finish at the recently completed International Triathlon Union world championships. Lloyd...

Supercars cruise the Valley

Some of the hottest cars on the planet were spotted in the North Okanagan, dropping jaws and turning heads. Several McLaren sports cars have been spotted in the...

Children dying from drugs

Tears of sadness and consoling hugs filled the Laurel Packinghouse Thursday night, as dozens of people met to discuss the impacts the province's drug crisis...

Celebrating cultures

As RespectFEST 2017 heads into the final weekend, there are a lot of things on the go. A multicultural celebration is planned for Civic Plaza and Spirit Square...

Weather relief here for fall

It appears that the extreme weather that has cursed the Okanagan Valley for months is in the past, just in time for the fall equinox. Following high water...

Rescinding of Fire Ban

Campfires will once again be allowed for those lands which are contained within the The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) Fire Protection Areas....

SkyTrain repairs cause delays

Getting around Metro Vancouver could be a bit of a headache this weekend due to transit upgrades and cruise ship traffic. The Expo Line will have service...

'Face of evil'

A California man who killed eight people at a hair salon in 2011 was sentenced to life without parole Friday in a courtroom packed with sobbing victims'...

Crash suspect in custody

A suspect in a deadly crash near Hope last week has been arrested in Revelstoke. RCMP confirm a suspect in the Sept. 11 Highway 3 collision is in custody on an...

PIB blasts dissident group

Despite five vacancies, the Penticton Indian Band says its council has the legal backing to govern the community. The band issued a fiery statement Friday...

Dock-building bonanza

Last spring’s near-record lake levels caused havoc for many Okanagan residents and businesses, but the start of repair efforts in the region has created a...

Evening Update Sept. 22

Castanet's Evening Update for Friday, Aug. 25, with reporter Wayne Moore.

Technology freedom!

I reach for my non-existent cellular device in my pocket and feel complete freedom. I know what your thinking and maybe a year ago, I’d have thought the...

Failing dam latest threat

Puerto Rican officials rushed to evacuate tens of thousands of people downstream of a failing dam and said they could not reach more than half the towns in the...

SFU urged to drop 'Clan'

For more than 50 years, Simon Fraser University's sports teams have played under the name The Clan, to honour the Scottish heritage of the school's...

Families holding out hope

Hope mixed with fear Friday on a 60-foot stretch of a bike lane in downtown Mexico City, where families huddled under tarps and donated blankets, awaiting word...

Harry inspires at Invictus

Wounded soldiers from several countries shook hands, conversed and shared a laugh with Prince Harry on Friday as the royal readied to launch the Invictus Games...

This Is That LIVE!

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society proudly presents the staged version of the popular CBC comedy showThis Is That on Sunday, October 15 at...

Sketch of sex assault suspect

Kelowna RCMP have released a composite sketch of a suspect in a July assault. The suspect is alleged to have threatened and assaulted a 14-year-old girl on the...

Knox reopens Saturday

Kelowna's Knox Mountain Drive reopens this weekend. Cooler temperatures and rain have reduced the fire hazard on the mountain park in downtown Kelowna. As a...

Kelowna going Cuckoo

Kelowna’s award-winning Fred Skeleton Theatre Company presents a ribald, unrestrained take on the classic story about a mental hospital and its motley...

At-risk species bill tabled

South Okanagan - West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings has introduced a private member's bill to tweak the Species at Risk Act. Cannings is hoping to close a...

Semi rollover on Hwy 3A

Traffic is being slowed in both directions on Highway 3A, due to a semi-truck rollover at Yellow Lake. Witnesses say the incident occurred just before 1:30...

Flaming pumpkin traffic jam

In an early Halloween highway horror, a truckload of burning pumpkins blocked traffic on a Florida interstate. Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Gaskins said in...

Heat wave hits Toronto

With temperatures expected to top 30 C this weekend and humidex values forecast to be pushing 40 degrees, Toronto's ombudsman is calling on the city's...

Damage complicates rescue

The devastation wrought by hurricane Maria is hampering plans to evacuate more than 150 Canadian students from the storm-ravaged Caribbean island of Dominica....

Rockets Foote gets the C

The Kelowna Rockets have named Cal Foote the 23rd captain in team history. Foote, 18, was selected in the first round of the 2017 NHL draft, 14th overall, by...

May tries to reboot Brexit

Britain is prepared to abide by European Union rules and pay into the bloc's coffers for two years after leaving the EU in March 2019, Prime Minister...

Building important soft skills through campus clubs

Campus clubs are a great way to connect with others while sharing your interests and acquiring valuable soft skills along the way. Soft skills? How so? During...

Tries again on Oregon LNG

The Canadian company whose proposal to build an LNG export terminal in Oregon was derailed by U.S. regulators last year has resubmitted its application for a...

'Farmer' Trudeau shows off

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tried to show off his farming skills Friday at the International Plowing Match in southwestern Ontario. The prime minister drove a...

Townhouse fire

UPDATE 4:01 p.m. A mother and her daughter managed to escape a fire in their townhouse unharmed Friday. Crews were called to the fire in one of the units at the...

'Web of lies, deception'

UPDATE: 1:05 p.m. “I find Mr. Brodie's evidence to be a convoluted, entangled web of lies and deception within which there are layers of truth,”...

LaBeouf claims 'free speech'

Shia LaBeouf's lawyer has claimed that the actor's rant against a bartender for refusing to serve him alcohol was "protected free speech". The...

Tent city sparks debate

The problem remains the same, but the solution is as elusive as ever. This spring, Vernon city council allowed homeless people to camp in area parks, resulting...

Safety first at 'Riverdale'

Warner Bros. Television says the safety of the cast and crew of its Vancouver-based "Riverdale" set is of "paramount importance." The studio...

Fatal crash on Hwy 3

A fifty-nine-year-old Grand Forks man has died as a result of a fatal collision on Hwy 3 on Thursday morning. Emergency crews were called to the single vehicle...

Backing off on tax plan?

B.C.'s finance minister says there are rumours the federal government will back off on parts of its proposed tax reforms for small business that have...

Casino laundering probed

B.C.'s attorney general has announced a review of the province's anti-money laundering policies after reading a report about a casino taking in $13.5...

Gaga praises documentary

Lady Gaga has praised the makers of her documentary Gaga: Five Foot Two for showing that fame is "not all it's cracked up to be." The Edge of...

PIB sues former councillors

Turmoil within the Penticton Indian Band leadership has spilled into the courts. The band has filed a lawsuit against former Chief Jonathan Kruger and five...

Rural bus service essential

By Amanda West The quality of life of rural British Columbians is being thrown under the bus. If we are not careful, it will be done without a plan for the...

Final campfire bans lifted

With seasonal weather returning, campfire bans in the Kamloops, Cariboo and Southeast fire centres will be rescinded as of noon today. The use of tiki torches...

Rob Thomas feels 'helpless'

Singer Rob Thomas has struggled to help his wife Marisol during her 14-year battle with Lyme disease. The Matchbox Twenty frontman has been married to the...

Real Dianne Watts?

Dianne Watts is once again showing us that she is merely driftwood in the river of politics gravitating to whichever place in the political spectrum gives her...

Dragged, pinned by car

Police say a 73-year-old woman from Nanaimo suffered life-threatening injuries after a vehicle rolled over her and dragged her down the driveway of her home....

Okanagan College sees fall student enrolment grow

Okanagan College sees fall student enrolment grow

The total number of students enrolled in programs at Okanagan College has climbed by more than four per cent compared to last year at the same time. A snapshot...

Facts not factual

Polarized opinions and alternative facts With a veritable war of words going on across the Pacific, Donald Trump is covfefe'd while North Korean leader Kim...

Castanet Kid Report

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

Fined $10k for coal spill

The B.C. Conservation Officer Service is announcing convictions of two men connected to the 2013 coal waste spill in the Tulameen River. Mine manager Allan...

Fergie turns to Oprah

Singer Fergie has turned to Oprah Winfrey and Deepak Chopra's meditation tips to help her focus as she launches her new solo album. The Black Eyed Peas star...

Riding for families in need

Two-wheeled enthusiasts are expected to come out in droves this weekend to help families in need. The Salvation Army is hosting its annual Kelowna Toy Run,...

Teen charged in bombing

British police on Friday charged an 18-year-old man with attempted murder and causing an explosion over last week's bomb attack on the London subway. The...

New sanctions on N. Korea

President Donald Trump has added economic sanctions to his fiery military threats against North Korea, and renewed his rhetorical offensive against Kim Jong Un...

Former PM head-butted

Australia's prime minister on Friday urged restraint in the nation's same-sex marriage debate after his predecessor, Tony Abbott, said he was...

Tennis bad boy diplomat

Ilie Nastase is taking on a new role as a diplomat for the Czech Republic. The Romanian tennis great has been banned by the International Tennis Federation for...

Kelowna's will experts

Even today, Tricia still thanks her lucky stars she met Katy Williams. Her mother had passed away, and things were getting messy with her estate. Lawyers had...

Albas to talk taxes

Central Okanagan-Similkameen-Nicola Conservative MP Dan Albas will be visiting Penticton next week to host a town hall for the region's business community....

Behind Invictus spotlight

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will join hundreds of disabled veterans from across Canada and more than a dozen other countries in Toronto on Saturday to help...

Busiest crossing closing

The busiest border crossing in the United States will close this weekend to the more than 40,000 cars that pass through it daily to Mexico. The closure between...

Celebrating rivers

The City of Kamloops is celebrating the 9th annual Kamloops World Rivers Day Sunday, Sept. 24, in Riverside Park. World Rivers Day is a free family event,...

U2 stalled new album

U2 stalled the release of their new album last year, so they could perfect their new songs for a concert run. The band began work on Songs of Experience in...

Cop car crash closes hwy

An RCMP officer and another driver were sent to hospital after a collision on Lougheed Highway in Port Coquitlam early Friday. The police cruiser collided with...

Still time to enter event

There's still time to get in on the biggest party of the year. The Vernon Winter Carnival board has extended the deadline date to get an event package in...

IH gets new board chair

The provincial government has appointed three news members to the Interior Health board of directors. Dr. Doug Cochrane has been appointed board chair,...

Gang co-founder shot dead

The co-founder of the Red Scorpions gang was shot dead in a Kamloops residential neighbourhood Thursday night. The shooting occurred at 7:20 p.m. on...

Hurricane benefit concert

Beyonce will return to the stage with husband Jay-Z for a hurricane benefit concert next month. The gig, which will raise funds for the victims of the recent...

Survivors pulled from rubble

Survivors are still being pulled from rubble in Mexico City as rescue operations stretch into a fourth day Friday, spurring hope among desperate relatives...

Harry sets stage for Invictus

The royal founder of the Invictus Games is in Toronto today to set the stage for the multi-sport competition. Prince Harry arrived at a downtown Toronto office...

Boy dies in hot car

Toronto police say a nanny has been charged in the death of a child found in a hot car Thursday afternoon in west-end Toronto. Police say the four-year-old boy...

Facing weeks without power

The eye of Hurricane Maria was nearing the Turks and Caicos early Friday as Puerto Rico sought to recover from the storm's devastation. Two days after Maria...

What is 'middle class?'

The Liberals speak constantly of strengthening the Canadian middle class, but any precise definition of that amorphous category has always been ambiguous. Until...

Thanks from Save Skaha

Save Skaha Park Society (SSPS) is delighted with the news that the City of Penticton (COP) is severing all ties with Trio Marine Group and that Skaha Park will...

$13,000 for killing grizzly

An Alberta man charged with killing a collared grizzly bear that was being tracked for research will pay nearly $13,000 in fines, but some say it doesn't go...

Murder suspect out of coma

A man who fled authorities last week with his six-year-old boy and who was later charged in the slaying of the child's mother is close to being released...

Inflation picks up pace

The country's annual inflation rate continued to accelerate last month with a boost from higher costs for gasoline, hotels and airline tickets. Statistics...

Road rage turns violent

Police are investigating a violent road rage incident in North Vancouver in which a man ripped the windshield wiper off a car, shattered the rear window, and...

Socializing and memories

Congratulations to Jason Boyer as he is the new the owner of Xchange Kelowna. Xchange is small and lively lounge. Everything Jason does is to encourage...

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...

Largest park even bigger

The largest regional park in the Central Okanagan has grown by another 127 hectares, but you still can't go in it. The Black Mountain /...

Call for gov to fight bus cuts

The Mayor of Princeton said the province's transportation minister "needs to get involved" in the fight against Greyhound's proposed round of...

Toothless on illegal dumping

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen needs more tools to combat illegal dumping, according to one of its directors. The board received a presentation...

Rockets ready for opener

The Kelowna Rockets will be close to full strength when they start the new Western Hockey League season Friday night. Only forward Dillon Dube is expected to...

Fundraising for Eli

While six-year-old Eli Johannson continues his second battle with an aggressive form of cancer, friends continue their efforts to raise funds for his family. A...

Freedom from addiction

Several hundred people are expected to celebrate victory over addiction Saturday. The third annual Recovery Day Okanagan takes place at Polson Park from noon to...

All aboard the rail trail

Construction is set to begin shortly on about half of the 48.5-kilometre Okanagan Rail Trail. As weather permits, crews will build approximately 26 km of the...

Card juggling

Cards twirling, knuckles blazing, hands-a-blur—welcome to cardistry, the sleight of hand acrobatic sensation all done with a simple deck of 52. The kings...

Driveable Hot Tub

The Spa Car, BMBubbleU Jacruzii or Convertapool what ever name you give it this thing is 2 ton of fun on wheels.

Warriors sweep showcase

For the fourth year in a row, the West Kelowna Warriors have returned from the BCHL Showcase with the maximum four points. The Warriors completed a sweep of the...

Targeted shooting kills one

One man is dead while another was rushed to hospital after a shooting in South Kamloops Thursday night. Several people reported hearing gunshots at about 7:20...

A $200k 'lesson learned'

The Mayor of Penticton said the Skaha Lake waterslide debacle was a “lesson learned” on the value of public engagement. The city announced this week...

Poll: student debt

Student debt is holding back the growth of British Columbia graduates. A study by BDO Canada shows nearly half of B.C. residents with a post-secondary education...

Where is Nikki?

Family of a missing Malakwa woman have issued another appeal for information on her whereabouts. Nicole Bell, 31, was last seen in Sicamous on Sept. 2....

Trump 'deranged' says Kim

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, in an extraordinary and direct rebuke, called President Donald Trump "deranged" and said he will "pay...

Trapped girl didn't exist

Hour after excruciating hour, Mexicans were transfixed by dramatic efforts to reach a young girl thought buried in the rubble of a school destroyed by a...

Sullivan wants to lead Libs

MLA Sam Sullivan has become the first person to announce plans to run for the leadership of the BC Liberal Party, and others are expected to be lining up soon....

Taking steps for healing

Upper Nicola Indian Band members will attempt to heal wounds from one of Canada's darkest legacies. Walking, riding and canoeing from the former Kamloops...

Surf's up, best compete

Surf's up in Kelowna. The 2017 World Wake Surfing Championship got underway at City Park, Thursday. "This is all the people (who) have qualified from...

A-mazing event needs help

One of the most spooktacular events in the North Okanagan is looking for volunteers. Historic O’Keefe Ranch is looking for volunteers to help with its...

Arts Rising kicks off

Penticton's Arts Rising Festival officially kicked off Thursday with the ribbon cutting of a new piece of art work that will be finished by the end of the...

Pedestrian hit and run

Chilliwack RCMP are looking for witnesses who may have seen a pedestrian hit and run Sept. 9 about 1 p.m. A 54-year-old Chilliwack woman was crossing Williams...

Hwy 3 reopened

UPDATE: 5:15 p.m. DriveBC reports the scene has been cleared and the highway has fully reopened. UPDATE: 3:40 p.m. Highway 3 has been reopened to single-lane,...

Paddle power to clean river

Volunteers will be paddling their way to a cleaner Shuswap River next month. On Saturday, Oct. 7, Charles Ruechel of Elements Adventure Co. will again lead the...

KYC easy solution

There is a solution to KYC’s red ink situation that readily presents itself for serious consideration. KYC has a number of options available that involve...

Evening Update Sept. 21

Castanet's Evening Update for Thursday, Sept. 21, with reporter Wayne Moore.

Puerto Rico left powerless

The sky was darkening Thursday afternoon as 10-year-old Sarah Jimenez laid out three plastic buckets on her grandmother's patio in hopes of capturing...

Hiring diverse abilities

A growing number of businesses are employing individuals with diverse abilities, and a restaurant in Kelowna has experienced the benefits first hand. Andrew is...

Orange to remember

Politicians of all stripes wore orange shirts during a ceremony at the B.C. legislature to remember the thousands of Indigenous children who were forced to go...

17 years sought for killer

The Crown and defence are both recommending a high-risk sexual offender who pleaded guilty to killing a 17-year-old Surrey teen be sentenced to life in prison...

Red Cross loan program

“It’s probably the most rewarding volunteer job I’ve ever had,” explains Dara Murphy, volunteer and co-leader of the Canadian Red...

Repairs first, relief second

Board members for the Regional District Okanagan Similkameen approved spending on Thursday afternoon to repair an exposed water main in Naramata. The repairs...

Rockets set league trend?

The Kelowna Rockets may be on to something. After watching his team struggle to ice a full roster on the final pre season weekend, president and GM Bruce...

Powwow celebration

The Youth Exhibition Powwow returned to Okanagan College, Thursday, for its ninth year. Students and community members joined in the celebration of Indigenous...

'More lies and more lies'

At least $44,000 in trip fees and fundraising meant for a European hockey tour was actually spent on the failed hockey dorm project near the SOEC. The fraud...

Courtroom suicide

The man who swallowed liquid in front of a judge who had just sentenced him to jail on child porn charges died in hospital, police confirmed Thursday. Former...

Smoke protected apples

After the worst B.C. fire season in history, smoke in the Okanagan has actually helped this fall's apple harvest. B.C. Fruit Growers’ Association...

Vernon-Kamloops car chase

UPDATE: 4 p.m. Two suspects are alleged to have stolen a vehicle during a flight from officers in the North Okanagan, after being tracked for driving a stolen...

Elephant fire 95% contained

The BC Wildfire Service says firefighters are close to containing the roughly 1,900-square kilometre wildfire that has destroyed numerous homes and properties...

Traffic nightmare

Sexsmith Road has become a complete nightmare since the extra set of traffic lights were installed halfway down Sexsmith. It was always a busy road but now that...

Appeal in Surrey Six case

The Supreme Court of Canada has agreed to hear an appeal linked to the gang-related murders of six men, including two innocent bystanders, in a highrise in...

More BC bears destroyed

The number of black bears destroyed by the B.C. Conservation Service is up sharply over last year. It says 373 have been killed from April to the end of August,...

Struck, killed by scooter

RCMP are looking for the driver of a mobility scooter in Coquitlam after a pedestrian was struck and killed. Police say an 86-year-old woman was bumped by a man...

No child in collapsed school

A high-ranking navy official said Thursday there is no missing child at a collapsed Mexico City school that had become a focus of rescue efforts following this...

Trudeau on Canada's shame

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used a speech to the United Nations on Thursday to probe a source of national shame: the historic struggles of Canada's...

L'Oreal heiress dies

Liliane Bettencourt, the L'Oreal cosmetics heiress and the world's richest woman, has died at her home in a chic Parisian suburb. She was 94....

Beware flood-damaged cars

Consumer protection agencies are warning those shopping for used cars to stay alert as some vehicles damaged in the recent floods south of the border may appear...

WestJet goes big

WestJet Airlines Ltd. is gearing up for delivery of its first Boeing Dreamliner 787 by breaking ground on a new $50-million hangar at Calgary International...

BC dragging its feet on KVR

The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen is lobbying the provincial government to allow them to complete the KVR trail through Kaleden. At the Union of...

Long-term view of lake

A biologist is urging local politicians to take a long-term view of Okanagan Lake, especially when it comes to urbanization and changes to the foreshore....

A peek inside Summerland

The District of Summerland is giving the community a chance to tour some of its most fascinating buildings on Saturday. "Doors Open Summerland" is a...

Gaga praises Noah Cyrus

Lady Gaga has praised Noah Cyrus for cheering her up while she's ill by covering her track Million Reasons at a concert on Tuesday. Miley Cyrus' younger...

Escape from reality

Kelowna is humming with new businesses that have harnessed technology to solve any number of serious problems, but one of the city’s newest additions is...

Fake cop causes crash

Police in Toronto are looking for a man who allegedly caused a collision while impersonating an officer. They say witnesses reported that a man dressed in a...

Annual blind fishing derby

On Saturday September 16, 2017, the Kelowna Yacht Club hosted the annual Blind Fishing Derby and it was a photo finish with stunning rainbow trout! When Kathy...

Powerlifter chasing gold

His strict diet and devotion to the gym has paid off, Penticton's Andrew Mortensen has earned a spot at the IPL World Powerlifting Championships in Las...

Tons of waste diverted

Thousands of kilograms of organic matter were diverted from the landfill at the Interior Provincial Exhibition this year. In the third year of diverting organic...

Organic valley by 2020?

As we reap the harvest this fall, consumers are being urged to think organic. The 12th annual Organic Okanagan Festival takes place at Summerhill Pyramid...

Three-quarters regret debt

Student debt is holding back the growth of British Columbia graduates. A study by BDO Canada shows nearly half of B.C. residents with a post-secondary education...

Ed Sheeran plays charity gig

Musicians including Ed Sheeran played intimate charity gigs for fans in homes around the world on Wednesday. Ed's gig, one of hundreds staged by Amnesty...

The mess at Reid's corner

The city should have improved Edwards intersection with a few painted lines as it's a nightmare with people trying to turn and cars which are going straight...

Hart's $118,000 baby shower

Kevin Hart and his pregnant wife Eniko Parrish are hosting a $118,000 baby shower in the middle of the comedian's sex tape scandal. The actor has been in...

Help design downtown

The City of Kelowna is asking for public input in designing new street furniture. Residents have the opportunity to provide input that will be used to transform...

Yacht club members to pay

A special meeting of Kelowna Yacht Club members scheduled for tonight has been cancelled. The meeting was originally called to hold a vote on additional fees...

Canada's most famous UFO

The first frantic callers to reach the RCMP were clear: something had crashed off Shag Harbour, N.S. It was around 11 p.m. on the night of Oct. 4, 1967. Most...

Kudos to Lib backbenchers

I am going to begin this week by crediting a few backbench members of the Liberal caucus in Ottawa. A few of these MPs have been quietly voicing displeasure...

Mom, baby die days apart

A tiny preemie whose gravely ill mother had hoped to save her by shunning chemotherapy during pregnancy has died, a relative said Thursday. Sonya Nelson said...

New arena deal dead

The Calgary Flames say they were willing to contribute $275 million of their own money to a new arena before they ended negotiations with the city. Calgary...

3.1% growth forecast

The Conference Board of Canada says it expects the economy to grow by 3.1 per cent this year, but cautioned growth will slow over the second half and into next...

Busted twice in 750 metres

Vancouver police stopped a driver twice for distracted driving within eight minutes and just six blocks. The driver was handed two hefty distracted driving...

Fergie stays centered

Fergie has been relying on a 21-day meditation program to keep her centered as she deals with her split from husband Josh Duhamel. The stars announced the sad...

VSO tours the Okanagan

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra will be making its way to the Okanagan as part a B.C. Interior tour. The Grammy and Juno award winning VSO will open the...

Cops mocked Down woman

A 29-year-old woman with Down syndrome has filed a complaint with the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario after two Toronto police officers were recorded mocking...

No coffee, ATV in the way

Track and field facilities at Okanagan College's Vernon campus got a lot of use last week during the BC 55+ Games but the concession stand remained closed....

Kiss members reunite

Original Kiss members Gene Simmons and Ace Frehley have reunited for their first public appearance since their group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of...

Girl hospitalized by foul ball

A young girl at Yankee Stadium was injured by a 105 mph foul ball off the bat of Todd Frazier during Wednesday's game against Minnesota, leading some...

4 year old shoots herself

A four-year-old Florida girl has died after accidentally pulling the trigger of a gun when she reached into her grandmother's purse for candy. Yanelly...

He invented the emoji

The tiny smiley faces, hearts, knife-and-fork or clenched fist have become a global language for mobile phone messages. They are displayed in the Museum of...

Paltrow eyeing TV show

Actress-turned-lifestyle guru Gwyneth Paltrow has set her sights on conquering TV with plans to launch her own wellness show. The Iron Man star's Goop...

Site C - not enough info

The BC Utilities Commission has released a preliminary report into the future of the controversial $8.8-billion Site C dam project in the province's...

Workshop for caregivers

When you need support, knowing how to effectively ask for what you need is key. For Kelowna families living with dementia, it's an essential skill. They...

CETA comes into force

Canadian companies have much greater access to one of the world's largest markets starting Thursday, as a major trade deal between Canada and the European...

Year-end deal 'impossible'

NAFTA negotiators appear to have adopted the lament of Alice in Wonderland's White Rabbit: "The hurrier I go, the behinder I get." Battalions of...

Gyllenhaal yearns for kids

Jake Gyllenhaal's role as a doting uncle has made him yearn for a family of his own. The Brokeback Mountain star's sister Maggie Gyllenhaal and her...

Luxury Auction

Open House Daily 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. Luxury Auction! This property is selling WITHOUT RESERVE at Luxury AUCTION Oct. 5th, 2017. List price used herein is for...

Winter hits Highway 97C

The first hint of winter has popped up on Highway 97C, the Okanagan Connector. A light dusting of snow has fallen in the Pennask Summit and Elkhart areas. Snow...

Warriors derail Express

Matt Kowalski continued his hot start to the BC Hockey League season. Kowalski scored once and added a pair of helpers leading the West Kelowna Warriors to a...

Markets needed downtown

I have had many conversations over the years in regards to what our downtown core needs and what should happen with this space. I live on Lawrence and have...

Body found in Amber case

Quebec provincial police said Wednesday they found a body investigators believe is that of a missing 71-year-old man connected to last week's Amber Alert...

Mom gambled son's life

Sentencing arguments are to be heard today for a woman who treated her son with holistic remedies before he died of a strep infection. Tamara Lovett was found...

Two tickets in 10 seconds

A Calgary woman says she's getting ready for a court battle after receiving two photo radar tickets issued just 10 seconds apart. But a city spokesman tells...

Invasion of painted ladies

The millions of black-and-orange butterflies that have carpeted flower beds across the Montreal area in recent days are waiting for winds to carry them south to...

S&P cuts China credit rating

The Standard & Poor's rating agency cut China's credit rating Thursday due to its rising debts, highlighting challenges faced by Communist leaders...

Trump's threat 'dog barking'

North Korea's foreign minister has described as "the sound of a dog barking" President Donald Trump's threat to destroy his country. The...

SEC reveals 2016 hack

The Securities and Exchange Commission said Wednesday that a cyber breach of a filing system may have provided the basis for illegal trading in 2016. In a...

Puerto Rico left battered

Rescuers fanned out to reach stunned victims Thursday after Hurricane Maria ravaged Puerto Rico, knocking out electricity to the entire island and triggering...

12 year old wins AGT

A 12-year-old girl is getting a $1 million prize and her own Las Vegas show after taking the "America's Got Talent" crown on the season 12 finale...

Girl still trapped in rubble

A delicate effort to reach a young girl buried in the rubble of her school stretched into a new day on Thursday, a vigil broadcast across the nation as rescue...

Tangled elk does it again

Vancouver Island conservation officers say an elk that was freed from tangled ropes last year has done it again, this time getting caught up in a deflated inner...

Watts to seek Liberal helm

Former Surrey mayor Dianne Watts is reported to be making a bid for the leadership of the BC Liberals. CTV reports the Conservative MP is planning a...

Let cats be carnivores

I read a story a while ago about a vegan who is promoting a no-meat lifestyle for cats. In fact, this guy has not fed his cat any meat-type product in months....

Police investigating brushfire

A wildfire earlier this month in Summerland has been confirmed to be human caused, and police are looking to speak with potential witnesses. The Summerland Fire...

Saving the alpine & grizzlies

Off-road vehicles, especially ATVS, are “punching into the alpine” and damaging habitat in the largest section of alpine land in the North Okanagan,...

Mixed views for Main St.

The next phase of the City of Penticton's downtown revitalization project, a $2.2 million job on the 300-block of Main Street, was first discussed in...

Local mental health starved

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth in B.C., but in Penticton, non-profit groups continue to struggle to find money for resources. "I...

High-octane action

Hundreds of racers from across the Pacific Northwest will be riding into SilverStar Mountain Resort for a pair or high-energy events. The Bannister GM Rev...

Downtown palate pleaser

It will be a culinary delight, sure to please the palate of the most discerning of diners in the Central Okanagan. The seventh annual Taste of Downtown Kelowna,...

Small-town living not easy

Life for immigrants in smaller towns is more challenging than for those in larger centres, despite the good intentions of small-town residents. UBC Okanagan...

Artists to bare their soles

These shoes are worth looking at. Shoe Bank Canada is getting creative with its latest fundraiser, which will see artists create one-of-a-kind footwear. The My...

Navigating on 6 rafts

You know you're a bit of an adrenaline junky when whitewater rafting gets so boring you need to come up with zany new challenges to spice things up on the...

5 longest flights

Think you could last in economy on one of these?

Top spots for wine lovers

The 50 best restaurants for wine lovers in Canada have been revealed, and Kelowna grabbed four of the spots. OpenTable revealed the list on Wednesday from...

PREVIEW: Home at last for women's soccer

Home games this Saturday and Sunday starting at 1 p.m. for UBC Okanagan. Saturday vs. University of Victoria and Sunday vs. No. 3 UBC.Read more:...

PREVIEW: Two in Calgary upcoming for Heat

The UBC Okanagan men's soccer team will be back on the road for back-to-back games against Calgary and Mount Royal this Saturday-Sunday.Read more:...

Kettle Mettle runs Saturday

The fourth annual Kettle Mettle Gravel Road Cycling Fondo will take place on Saturday on the Kettle Valley Rail Trail. The event starts in Penticton's...

Step up, local youth

A local social enterprise company has challenged the city’s youth to step up and become changemakers in their community. Volinspire, a volunteer-based...

Urging Canadians to get out

Global Affairs says the federal government is closely monitoring hurricane Maria as the storm churns through the Caribbean and is already lending assistance to...

Family escapes large fire

A woman, who is nine months pregnant, and her partner were able to escape a massive blaze that tore through a home in Black Creek on Vancouver Island. The fire...

Poll: supportive housing

"I am prepared to lose votes, I am prepared to lose friends, because I believe that this is what's best for our community. "I will stand up for...

Gloves off, oven mitts on

The Kelowna Rockets were Master Chefs on Tuesday at Kelowna Secondary School. The boys were split up into five teams and provided $50 to purchase ingredients...

Push for no hunting zone

The owner of a therapy dog that was shot dead after being mistaken for a wolf is pushing for a no shoot zone from Whistler to Squamish. Her pup, named Kaoru,...

Local kids going hungry

Many Penticton children are going to school hungry Monday mornings, after not getting enough to eat at home on weekends. The Starfish Park program launched by...

Tourney honours top player

The name of Vernon's annual Splatfest racquetball tournament has been changed to honour a longtime friend and promoter of the sport. The newly-named Keith...

False alarm fire calls

Firefighters quickly responded to a call of visible flames inside a Kelowna home Wednesday evening. The call came in about 4:30 p.m. when a caller reported...

Developers eyeing RV park

City staff will be seeking public feedback on whether a pair of city-owned addresses near Skaha Lake should be sold. An offer was recently made to the city to...

The Toad Prince

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society proudly presents Tears of Joy Theatre’s production of The Toad Prince on Saturday, October 14 at...

New twist on Hopscotch

Hopscotch, Kelowna's festival of whisky, is adding something a little different to the mix this year. For the first time, craft beer will be showcased in...

Was confession a lie?

Did Donald Brodie lie to police following a collision with a pedestrian? Or to police months later while in custody? To multiple local media outlets? Or on the...

Glenmore Rd truck route?

I have noticed an increasing amount of truck traffic on Glenmore Road in the past couple years. It is being used as a Hwy 97 bypass. Trucks are getting off Hwy...

Evening Update Sept. 20

Castanet's Evening Update for Wednesday, Sept. 20, with news director Jon Manchester, in for Wayne Moore.

Race to free trapped girl

The wiggling fingers of a young girl trapped in the rubble of her collapsed school in Mexico City raised hopes among hundreds of rescuers working furiously...

7 years for wife killer

A man who strangled his wife and concealed her body after enduring what he described as years of domestic abuse has been sentenced to seven years in prison....

'Climate Barbie' apology

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer resisted demands Wednesday that he condemn longtime Tory MP Gerry Ritz and force him to apologize in the House of Commons for...

City cuts ties with Trio

The City of Penticton is cutting ties with the Trio Marine Group, putting the final nail in the coffin of a proposal that sparked protests and debate over the...

Trump 'decided' on Iran

"I have decided," President Donald Trump declared Wednesday, announcing he'd reached a verdict on the Iran nuclear deal's future even as top...

Tough on distracted drivers

Careless drivers in Ontario causing death could soon be fined up to $50,000 as the government plans to introduce tougher penalties that will also crack down on...

Rolston String Quartet

Wednesday, October 18th marks the opening night concert of the 2017/2018 season for Chamber Music Kelowna featuring the accomplished Rolston String Quartet,...

BC MBA Games winners need volunteers

Preparation for the School of Business and Economics (SoBE) hosting the BC MBA Games is in full swing. SoBE’s Master of Business Administration (MBA) students...

Winter tightens grip on fire

The Diamond Creek wildfire burning between Manning and Cathedral Provincial Parks will likely smoulder well into winter, as wildfire crews hang back and let the...

Primaris' golf for CMHA

For the third year in a row Primaris’ Orchard Park Shopping Centre drives home the importance of mental health. The company’s recent golf...

Huge success for food bank

The Central Okanagan Food Bank collected nearly 94,000 pounds of food during the seventh annual B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive. "In West Kelowna, we...

Nutech giving back to the School of Nursing

Meeting by accident

A three-vehicle collision held up traffic, but didn't cause any injuries, Wednesday afternoon in West Kelowna. The crash happened about 2:15 p.m. at the...

Details in junkyard fire

Four vehicles that caught fire in Glenrosa on Monday belonged to one individual, police say. Firefighters from West Kelowna and Peachland, along with a BC...

Motel meets wrecking ball

Penticton’s notorious Highland Motel is gone. Demolition crews started tearing down the structure Wednesday, following weeks of environmental remediation...

Shoddy access to info

British Columbia's privacy commissioner says the government broke its own law 20 per cent of the time last year by failing to respond to freedom of...

Payday loan insurer bashed

An insurance company has been ordered to stop selling policies through two payday lenders and provide refunds after an investigation by B.C. regulators. The...

New law faculty member improving access to justice

OSO season opener

The Okanagan Symphony Orchestra (OSO) is thrilled to present the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra (VSO) as part of their tour of the BC Interior. This Grammy and...

Drive through serves brekkie

The United Way North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap will once again be serving up breakfast. On Oct. 5 from 6-9 a.m., volunteers will be serving breakfast bags at...

Puerto Rico deluged

The strongest hurricane to hit Puerto Rico in over 80 years destroyed hundreds of homes, knocked out power across the entire island and triggered heavy flooding...

Struggling to breathe

A 34-year-old Vernon mother suffering from the genetic disease, cystic fibrosis, for which there is no cure, is pleading with people to take up her cause before...

Re-establish Human Rights

Attorney General David Eby says British Columbians will have the opportunity to shape and re-establish the province's human rights commission. Eby has...

Scandal investigation

The federal government should be moving ahead with action against Volkswagen in the wake of news that Ontario has charged the company and carried out a raid on...

Bacon brother back in jail

Just months after he was released on parole, notorious gangster Jarrod Bacon is back in prison following a big night out at the strip club. Bacon was released...

Boy killed at protest

A 10-year-old boy was killed and 10 others injured in Togo's capital as hundreds of thousands of opposition supporters demonstrated Wednesday against a vote...

Pancakes & procrastination

Sometimes my procrastination about writing my column works to my advantage. Although I knew all week what I was going to write about, I held off due to sheer...

Celebrating First Nations

Hundreds of area school children got a lesson in taking care of nature and local First Nation culture Wednesday. As part of the ongoing RespectFEST events, the...

JAY-Z and Kanye to settle

JAY-Z and Kanye West are reportedly planning to sit down in a bid to settle their legal issues. The rappers publicly fell out after Kanye slated Jay and his...

Warriors streak on the line

The West Kelowna Warriors will put a three-year winning streak on the line when they kick off the Bauer BC Hockey League Showcase Wednesday night in Chilliwack....

People moving downtown

More residents are living closer to Penticton’s downtown in recent years, city council heard Tuesday evening. Since the downtown plan was approved in...

14 treaties in two years?

The BC Treaty Commission says the political climate in the province and federally is ripe for pushing ahead stalled treaty negotiations. The commission released...

Mayor becomes president

Vernon Mayor Akbal Mund has stepped into the president's shoes with the Funtastic Sports Society. The decision came at the society's annual general...

Anderson not dating Assange

Pamela Anderson has confirmed that she "loves" WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, but is in a relationship with someone else. The former Baywatch star...

Summer of fire finally over

For the first time in nearly three months, all wildfire evacuation orders and alerts have been lifted in British Columbia as the province begins to recover from...

A place for LGBTQ youth

Penticton has lacked support for the LGBTQ youth community for too long, according to local advocates, but a new program is opening its doors to offer a safe...

Draisaitl joins mural wall

He was only a Kelowna Rocket for a short time, but Leon Draisaitl made a mark on the team. Now, that mark will be permanent with his addition to the Rockets...

Shannon bridge on target

Construction on a new bridge across McDougall Creek on Shannon Lake Road is on schedule. City officials in West Kelowna say construction is expected to be...

Next phase at Reid's Corner

Work on Reid's Corner in Kelowna will be ramping up in the next two weeks. Contractor Emil Anderson Construction advises motorists there will be road...

PM takes bite of Big Apple

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau found himself in the midst of a whirlwind 10-meeting day in New York City on Wednesday as he prepares Canada's campaign for a...

Wiarton Willie dies

The albino groundhog at the centre of Canada's most high-profile weather forecasting tradition has died. Wiarton Willie, who drew crowds to Wiarton, Ont.,...

Nicki Minaj working on new

Nicki Minaj has promised fans her new music is "a billion times more epic" than her 2014 hit Anaconda. The 34-year-old singer is currently working...

'No body, no parole'

A would-be politician in Alberta wants Canada to adopt a "no body, no parole" law. Dane Lloyd is vying for the federal Conservative nomination in...

Walking with ghosts

When Gladys Radek walks the Highway of Tears, she says she can feel the spirits of women who are missing or have been murdered walking beside her. Dozens have...

When holiday ads are okay

With regard to the issue of when Christmas advertising and selling should begin: I was listening to CBC yesterday. The discussion on air from 12:30 till 1 p.m...

Residents flee arson fire

Residents who had only recently moved into a Campbell River home fled an intentionally set fire this week. RCMP say its the third such fire over the past year. ...

Digging through rubble

Police, firefighters and ordinary Mexicans dug frantically through the rubble of collapsed schools, homes and apartment buildings early Wednesday, looking for...

A rough welcome to BC

A newly married couple moving to B.C. from New Brunswick is reluctantly preparing to start a new life with almost no possessions. The U-Haul van loaded with...

Stage slip-up for Grande

Ariana Grande laughed off a stage slip during a show in Taiwan on Tuesday night by insisting it was a miracle she'd stayed on her feet throughout her world...

Fox makes bid for Sky TV

The British government has referred Twenty-First Century Fox's bid for satellite broadcaster Sky to competition authorities on public interest grounds, a...

Puzzled by Trump threat

Was it a bluff? A warning that Washington would shoot down North Korea's next missile test? A restatement of past policy? Or simply just what it seemed: a...

Canadians OK in Mexico

Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland says there are no reports of Canadian casualties following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that killed more than 200...

Winery creates opportunity

More children in the Okanagan will have opportunities to reach their potential thanks to Arrowleaf Cellars. Each year the local winery graciously donates their...

PM touts progressive trade

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau took his so-called progressive trade agenda to the United States on Tuesday, arguing that worker-friendly policies are key to...

Leader should have seat

Outgoing NDP leader Tom Mulcair says it is important for his successor to have a seat in the Commons — an issue playing out in the current battle to...

Labatt to pour in $460M

Labatt Breweries of Canada says it is investing $460 million between 2017 and 2020 to enhance its operations and help boost growth. The maker of popular brands...

Jason Aldean writes book

Country star Jason Aldean has written a book about his tough times. The dad-to-be sat down with writer Tom Carter to pen Family, Friends and Fans, which...

Big wildfire no longer threat

The massive Elephant Hill wildfire that has raged through the Cariboo and the Thompson-Nicola regions is no longer considered a threat to life and limb. Both...

Paris Jackson ambassador

Rising model and actress Paris Jackson has landed a new role as an ambassador for the AIDS charity founded by her late godmother Elizabeth Taylor. Michael...

More parking needed

I don't think a large commercial block is what's needed at the old bargain store on Bernard. I think residential and more public parking would better...

Site C report set to drop

The British Columbia Utilities Commission is expected to release a preliminary report today on its review of the $8.8-billion Site C dam in the province's...

Hedley to rock Kelowna

Canadian rockers Hedley are bringing their high-energy show to the Okanagan. The platinum-selling chart toppers have announced their highly anticipated 2018...

Fortis crews taking cover

FortisBC crews will vacate the Turks and Caicos Islands today as another hurricane barrels toward the beleaguered nation. Hurricane Maria is packing Category 5...

Promised jobs never came

The Supreme Court of British Columbia has certified a class-action lawsuit against Mac's Convenience Stores and three immigration consultants alleged to...

Maria whacks Puerto Rico

One of the strongest hurricanes to ever hit Puerto Rico pummeled the island Wednesday, tearing off roofs and sending doors flying from hinges as officials...

White men pay more

The filmmakers behind a comedic web series are facing fierce backlash after they tried to tackle economic disparity with ticket prices. Organizers for the...

Le grilled cheese is OK

English-language words such as hashtag, grilled-cheese, and parking are now acceptable in everyday French-conversation in Quebec, according to guidelines...

OECD raises outlook

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development has raised its expectations for economic growth in Canada this year compared with a June forecast....

2 more arrests in bombing

British counterterror police arrested two more people Wednesday in relation to a London subway attack, bringing the number to five. Detectives arrested a...

Cop killed changing tire

A regimental funeral will be held today in New Brunswick for a member of the RCMP killed in a collision last week when he stopped to help motorists change a...

Revitalization focus shift

City hall is redirecting its focus on the revitalization of downtown Kelowna and Rutland. Several years ago, the city established 10-year revitalization tax...

Travelling for healthcare

IN SEARCH OF THE $1,000 FACELIFT According to Patients Beyond Borders, more than eight million patients from around the world travel to obtain medical treatment...

Main St. 'investment' mulled

City councillors voted in favour of the first and second reading for a local tax proposed for storefronts on the 300 block of Main Street, Tuesday night....

Downtown rentals approved

Penticton city councillors voted unanimously Tuesday evening to approve a forty-unit apartment building in the downtown core to be used for affordable housing....

PRH tower taking shape

The expansion of Penticton Regional Hospital had some minor setbacks this winter, but should still open on time and on budget. EllisDon project manager Jason...

Put out that fire!

In Vernon, being a good neighbour means ensuring your backyard campfire is out by 11 p.m. On Monday, city council gave third reading to an amendment to the Good...

Powwow set to wow

The ninth annual Youth Exhibition Powwow will celebrate Indigenous culture on Thursday – and everyone is invited. Dancers and drummers from across B.C....

Winefest fast approaching

Changing leaves and cooler weather means the Okanagan Fall Wine Festival is right around the corner. For 10 days, the 37th annual festival will return to the...

'Prepared to lose votes'

"I am prepared to lose votes, I am prepared to lose friends, because I believe that this is what's best for our community. "I will stand up for...

Fishing with a RC boat

What a time to be alive!

More than 5 senses

Here are a few of the other senses your kindergarten teacher (and Aristotle) left out.

Regular exercise benefits those with spinal cord injuries

Conclusive evidence is supported by hundreds of studies, according to UBC researcher What’s true for the general population is doubly true for those living...

More snow for highways

It might be time to switch to winter tires if you frequent the mountain passes of the Southern Interior. Environment Canada has issued a special weather...

Former cop to be sentenced

A retired Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer accused of smuggling narwhal tusks across the border is due to be sentenced for money laundering. Prosecutors...

Long lost ring found

A treasure-hunter who hit the beaches of Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma found something that a Winnipegger lost about four years ago — a...

Hillary mocks Putin

When Hillary Clinton took the guest's seat on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," she was in a mood to put Russian President Vladimir Putin on...

Death toll reaches 149

UPDATE: 9:31 p.m. A powerful earthquake shook central Mexico on Tuesday, collapsing buildings in plumes of dust and killing at least 149 people. Thousands fled...

Drivers told 'think of me'

Watch the road and “Think of Me.” A road safety campaign aimed at distracted drivers is being launched near schools in Surrey and White Rock...

Hey kids, make some noise

Hey you kids, stop sitting there, get up and make some noise. The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society is launching its 'No Shushing...

Attacks racially motivated

A 23-year-old white man was arrested Tuesday and accused of cold-bloodedly killing two black men and shooting up a black family's home in a string of...

Vees ready for showcase

The Penticton Vees jumped all over the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in their lone game last week, scoring five times in the first period en route to a 6-2 victory,...

Too early for Christmas?

There are 97 days until Christmas – but that fact hasn't stopped a number of Okanagan retailers from putting out their holiday wares. Walmart and...

Comedy at the Creekside

A comedy show at Lake Country's Creekside Theatre will bust ethnic stereotypes – and guts. Come ready to laugh as First Nation comedian Howie Miller...

Libs under fire over pot

Three Liberal cabinet ministers came under fire Tuesday by opposition parties concerned about sweeping implications of federal pot plans set to take effect next...

Poll: funding BC politics

The BC Liberals say NDP legislation to get big money out of politics comes with a huge broken promise from Premier John Horgan. Liberal house leader Mike de...

Political turmoil continues

A group within the Penticton Indian Band opposed to Chief Chad Eneas is unsatisfied with his announcement earlier this month calling byelections to fill five...

Off-road bans lifted

Effective noon Wednesday, off-road vehicles will be permitted on Crown land throughout B.C. Cooler weather and recent rain has reduced the flammability of fuels...

Helping women recover

For the first time, the doors to a North Okanagan recovery house is open to women. Bill's Place has set aside four of its 19 beds to help women with...

Faith leaders call for calm

Leaders of several faiths on Tuesday called for peace and justice amid the turmoil that followed the acquittal of a white former St. Louis police officer in the...

Harding to lead theatre

Jim Harding has been named the new executive director for the Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre. Harding brings a mix of theatre knowledge and...

Seller's Market - see it here

Canada’s newest real estate TV show has a new home on Castanet. Seller’s Market, from co-producers Cedarwood Productions and Kelowna-based Visland...

Evening Update Sept. 19

Castanet's Evening Update for Tuesday, Sept. 19, with reporter Wayne Moore.

Spot fire above Glenrosa

A wildfire is burning above Glenrosa, near the Powers Creek dam area, but it's currently not near any buildings. West Kelowna Fire Chief Jason Brolund says...

Canada ready to help

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canada is ready to help "our friends" in Mexico following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake that killed dozens and...

Closing time on time change

Premier Rachel Notley says the question of whether Alberta should stop changing its clocks every spring and fall hasn't been resolved yet. An all-party...

Tailings pond bird deaths

The Alberta Energy Regulator says it is responding to a report of bird deaths at the soon-to-be-producing Fort Hills oilsands mine north of Fort McMurray in...

4 years for violent B&E

UPDATE: 4:30 p.m. Alexander Laramee's grandma and great aunt waved goodbye and blew him kisses as he was handcuffed by a sheriff and taken away following...

Therapy dog shot dead

A therapy dog that worked with people with autism and PTSD was shot dead Monday after a hunter thought the animal was a wolf. Kaoru, a large-breed Tamaskan, was...

Final Caetani event

The Caetani Centre Summer Music Series will host their final music series event this Sunday featuring Betty Johnson and The Aaron Loewen Trio, as part of Family...

Next move for Funtastic?

The Funtastic Sports Society's annual general meeting takes place Tuesday night, and changes are expected. First, the society has to find a new general...

Skaha Bluffs Park may grow

Skaha Bluffs Provincial Park may grow by about 150 acres if a proposed expansion of City of Penticton limits moves forward. City council directed staff Tuesday...

Surge in asylum seekers

The number of people seeking asylum in Canada is now the highest it's been since 2009, driven in part by a surge in asylum seekers showing up at the...

Kelowna needs larger mall

I have lived in Kelowna for eight years and believe that Kelowna is crying out for a new bigger mall, a real signature piece that meets the needs of the city as...

10 cm of snow for Alberta

Winter came early in Fox Creek, Alta., on Tuesday. Environment Canada says a snowfall warning was in effect as of 10 a.m. Tuesday. Many residents of the area...

Prolific offender busted

A prolific offender known to be violent is off the streets thanks to an eagle-eyed off-duty member of the Salmon Arm RCMP. Cpl. Dan Moskaluk said on Monday,...

Ashton blasts NDP bill

Over the next four years, British Columbians will see the Horgan government use about $27.5 million of taxpayers' money to support political parties,...

WestJet faces union push

WestJet is facing more pressure from organized labour as two unions have turned their sights to the airline's regional Encore operation. The Canadian Union...

Breach could hit 100,000

Equifax Canada said Tuesday approximately 100,000 Canadian consumers may have had their personal information and credit card details compromised in a massive...

1 bag challenge, Vernon!

Vernon's Salvation Army has issued a one bag challenge to businesses and individuals who want to help the local food bank and feed local families who need...

Toys R Us files in Canada

Toys "R" Us Canada has initiated bankruptcy proceedings in an Ontario court a day after it filed for creditor protection in the U.S. The company said...

Maria aims at Puerto Rico

Dominica's leader sent out an emotional plea for help as Hurricane Maria smashed into the Caribbean island and caused "mind-boggling" devastation,...

Challenge triathlon no more

This summer saw the final Challenge Penticton. City council granted organizer Michael Brown’s request Tuesday to drop the Challenge brand from next...

Kosher weed, high holidays

A Quebec medical marijuana producer says its processed products have been certified as kosher, just in time for one of the high holidays on the Jewish calendar....

Taxpayers on parties' hook

The BC Liberals say NDP legislation to get big money out of politics comes with a huge broken promise from Premier John Horgan. Liberal house leader Mike de...

Ticket for 1 km/h over limit

An Alberta man is shaking his head after a peace officer gave him a ticket for driving one kilometre over the speed limit. Mathieu Gagne, 31, said he was nabbed...

Youth Exhibition Powwow returns for ninth year

Youth Exhibition Powwow returns for ninth year

Okanagan College Media Release The cultural event of the fall season is back and about to kick off at Okanagan College’s Kelowna campus. Community members are...

100+ used needles found

The Penticton Fire Department was called Friday afternoon to pick up an inordinate mess of drug paraphernalia and trash behind the vacant former bingo hall...

3-day canoe trip for youth

Indigenous youth departed on a three-day canoe journey Tuesday morning. The second annual event is a combined effort between the First Nations Friendship Centre...

Fernanda Cunha at VJC

THE VERNON JAZZ CLUB PROUDLY PRESENTS: Fernanda Cunha Sings Jobim. Continuing with our Latin theme, Fernanda Cunha will be singing the Music of Antonio Carlos...

Depp's home fails to sell

Johnny Depp is still stuck with the keys to his Kentucky farmhouse after it failed to sell at auction. The Pirates of the Caribbean star initially listed the...

Do grades really matter?

Do you really have to be at the head of the class to make it to head of the boardroom? A new study done by UBC Okanagan researchers found that good grades...

Regulating pot shops

Enderby city council has approved a bylaw regulating where marijuana dispensaries and related businesses can and cannot be situated, in the event the drug is...

Pay taxes or risk property

The City of Kelowna is putting delinquent taxpayers on notice. Pay up, or risk losing your property. The city recently published a list of 82 properties,...

Slocan grow ops busted

It’s harvest season in the Slocan Valley – and police are on the watch. RCMP took down two marijuana grow ops in the region last week. The valley,...

Flight struck by lightning

A flight from Comox on Vancouver Island made an emergency landing at Vancouver Monday night after being struck by lightning. The Pacific Coastal Airlines flight...

Chesney helps survivors

Country superstar Kenny Chesney has been identified as the anonymous man who helped reunite a family after Hurricane Irma ripped through the British Virgin...

Stroller hit in crosswalk

The Penticton RCMP traffic section wrote a pair of violation tickets last week connected to incidents that could have ended badly. Officers were called to an...

Drowning confirmed

UPDATE: 11 a.m. Kelowna RCMP and the BC Coroners Service remain on the scene of a drowning at 1721 Mountain Ave. Cpl. Jesse O'Donaghey says police were...

We need another sign

I live near a section of Highway 19 that travels through a built-up area. The highway changes from four lanes divided by a barrier with a posted speed of 90...

Nuclear threat at new high

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the world's leaders Tuesday that the threat of a nuclear attack is at its highest level since the end of the...

2016-17 deficit $17.8B

The federal Finance Department says the government ran a smaller deficit than it was expecting in the spring budget, ending its 2016-17 fiscal year with a...

Facebook on the hot seat

The problems keep piling up for Facebook, and it's unclear how long the internet giant will be able to brush them aside as it barrels toward acquiring its...

Thanks neighbour!

Penticton RCMP are looking for two sets of golf clubs, stolen out of an SUV last week while a neighbour stood idly by. Police were called to Atkinson St....

Manson praises Rihanna

Marilyn Manson has praised Rihanna for being "dangerous" and for the "hardcore" video she co-created for her song B**ch Better Have My...

Liberals not supporting

There have been numerous news reports, articles, and letters to the editors concerning the premature nature of the proposed federal tax changes. Contributions...

Johnson’s Peace Pledge wins screenplay competition

Montreal luxury hot spot

Montreal is emerging as a luxury real estate "hot spot," while Vancouver and Toronto sales should pick up this fall after somewhat sluggish times,...

Hockeyville remembered

Two lead organizers from the successful Lumby Hockeyville bid are being flown to Prince Edward Island this week, to take part in celebrations for the new...

Taylor Swift hit with lawsuit

Taylor Swift is being sued by two songwriters who claim she ripped off their "haters gonna hate" line in her hit track Shake It Off. The 27-year-old...

Fatal stabbing in Burnaby

Police are investigating a fatal stabbing at a Burnaby restaurant. The Independent Homicide Investigation Team has set up a tent on Kingsway after the...

Linkin Park announce tribute

Linkin Park are to regroup following the death of frontman Chester Bennington for a tribute concert at the Hollywood Bowl. The band is planning a one-night-only...

Army Rouge fashion show

It was a night to remember. The Salvation Army Central Okanagan hosted their second fashion show this year Army Rouge at the Capri Hotel. The show featured...

Dogs in park questionnaire

The City of Vernon wants to know how residents feel about on leash dogs in Polson Park. On Monday, council okayed a two year trial in the park, starting this...

Trump: 'total destruction'

President Donald Trump, in a combative debut speech to the U.N. General Assembly, threatened the "total destruction'" of North Korea if it does...

Housing to become a right

The federal Liberals' are sending signals that they are ready to make a right to housing part of its national housing strategy. The declaration appears...

Cellphone searches a worry

Canadians should be "very concerned" about their cell phones, computers and other electronic devices being searched by U.S. border agents, the federal...

Pesticide: no room for doubt

A group of international scientists meets today to try to convince parliamentarians there is no longer any doubt that common agricultural pesticides are toxic...

Climate plan written in oil?

B.C.'s former Liberal government asked oil and gas corporations to "refine" the language of recommendations made by an advisory panel before it...

Balloon ban voted down

A proposed ban on balloons at any beach, park or community centre has been rejected by the Vancouver Park Board. The ban was proposed as a way to stop balloons...

Hollywood rattled by quake

A small earthquake with an epicentre just outside Los Angeles got people all atwitter in Southern California. The U.S. Geological Survey says a magnitude-3.6...

Navy brings aid to islands

The crew of HMCS St. John's is helping deliver supplies and clear debris in the Caribbean in the wake of hurricane Irma. The Halifax-based frigate is in the...

'Most dangerous' celeb

One-time pop-punk princess Avril Lavigne has beaten superstar Beyonce at something, but she may not be totally happy with her victory — she's been...

Dreamers shout down Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi, the top Democrat in the U.S. House, said she understands the fears of young immigrants after they shouted her down Monday at an event where she...

Lost hikers rescued

A father and son were rescued Monday in a remote area north of Indian Arm, near Coquitlam. The hikers departed Thursday and were expected to return Sunday, but...

Deer impact trashes SUV

A collision between an SUV and a deer in West Kelowna demolished the front end of the vehicle Monday night. The black Range Rover struck a four-point buck at...

Don't go to la la land

Inattention is criminal. Or is it? You be the judge. R. v. Dunford, 2015 SKQB 386 Keith Dunford was driving through a highway construction zone with signs...

Non-profit site launched

An e-commerce website has come to Penticton to support of those trying to exit the sex trade. The Penticton Soup Sisters and Brodo Kitchen hosted an event...

Traffic impacts hotel plan

Some on Kelowna city council voiced concerns Monday over the possible traffic impact of a new hotel proposed for the intersection of Spall Road and Enterprise...

Muting housing opposition

A full house is expected at city council chambers for a controversial rezoning application Tuesday evening. The public hearing will determine whether a piece of...

Too many pot shops

Vernon councillor Dalvir Nahal has expressed concern over the explosion in marijuana dispensaries and related businesses. While pot shops have been open in...

Gleaners lose out

Vernon city councillors have commended the work done by the North Okanagan Gleaners Society – but they are not giving them a break on their property...

Cutting desks out of class

Reports of children being taught while sitting on the floor at Rutland Senior Secondary school seem to be true, but it’s likely not what you expect....

Skiff of snow on wildfires

An area that has been a focus for BC Wildfire Service recently has received some relief with snowfall, but not enough. The Southeast Fire Centre has seen an...

What's best on Bernard?

With the purchase of the high-profile Bargain Shop property on Bernard Avenue in downtown Kelowna, there are plenty of opinions about what should happen to the...

Fundraising for felines

A giant book sale will be held in Penticton Saturday in support of local felines. The AlleyCats Alliance is hosting the event across from the Penticton SPCA,...

Scooter-go-round

Three guys on a merry-go-round powered by a scooter. What could go wrong? We applaud them for wearing helmets for this one, but was this really a good idea to...

Why we eat too much

We’re hugely invested in the idea that the cause of obesity lies with diet – and that we should therefore solve the problem with kale and apple soup...

Small towns need to do more to help immigrants feel they belong

A group of women celebrate community and connectedness through dance and music at the annual ladies party hosted in Oliver, BC. (photo contributed) UBC study...

Feeling royal on the river

Admittedly, “Boutique” isn’t a word you would normally use to describe a river cruise experience. But Kelowna’s Travel Time Inc. is...

Maria reaches Category 5

Hurricane Maria intensified into a dangerous Category 5 storm and pounded the small island of Dominica as it surged into the eastern Caribbean on Monday night,...

Toys-R-Us in financial mess

Toys-R-Us has filed for bankruptcy protection in the United States and says it intends to follow suit in Canada. The company filed Chapter 11 documents late...

Fire ban lifted for some

A ban on campfires has been lifted in the Coastal Fire Region of the province. The BC Wildfire Service made that announcement Monday. Along with campfires, the...

Standoff ends peacefully

A seven-hour standoff in the Queensborough area of New Westminster ended peacefully Monday. New Westminster Police were called to the area about 5 a.m.for a...

Smoky skies set record

Smoke in Kamloops set a new record this year. According to Environment Canada, the city saw the most hours ever – 387 – with visibility below 9.7...

Crash sends car on its roof

A multi-vehicle collision on Highway 97 and Cooper Road caused some anxious moments for occupants of a dark-coloured sedan. The crash, early Monday evening,...

$700-billion military bill

The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly approved a sweeping defence policy bill that would pump $700 billion into the military, putting the U.S. armed forces on...

WFN celebrates new centre

The Westbank First Nation Early Years Centre celebrated its official opening and provincial recognition at an inaugural open house Friday. The centre is now...

Poll: Liberal tax plan

A jousting match erupted Monday between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer as the Liberal government's plan to end...

Maria batters Dominica

Hurricane Maria intensified into a dangerous Category 5 storm and pounded the little island of Dominica as it surged into the eastern Caribbean on Monday night,...

Flying south for the winter

A bird lovers paradise will take place this weekend near Okanagan Falls, for anyone interested in learning more about bird migration. The event, Bird Migration...

Doing good on social media

A graduate of Mount Boucherie Secondary is being recognized for trying to make a positive difference through social media. Karah Hopgood is one of 16 students,...

Kelowna, UBCO ink deal

The City of Kelowna and UBC Okanagan have come to an understanding. The two entities signed a memorandum of understanding in chambers prior to Monday's city...

Car fires 'suspicious'

UPDATE: 5:30 p.m. Given the amount of smoke and windy conditions, Monday's car fire in Glenrosa was upgraded to a second alarm. West Kelowna Fire Rescue...

Distracted driving blitz

Distracted driving continues to claim more lives on B.C. roads than impaired driving. A distracted driving education and enforcement blitz will take place...

Evening Update Sept. 18

Castanet's Evening Update for Monday, Sept. 18, with reporter Wayne Moore.

Food drive fills shelves

Organizers of the annual B.C. Thanksgiving Food Drive say Penticton, Summerland, Kaleden and OK Falls donated an estimated 13,500 pounds of food during...

Brazen baseball bat beating

A brazen attack involving a baseball bat beating has police asking for anyone with information to come forward. Four youths were walking home on 20th Street in...

Homeless get a break

The handful of homeless people still sleeping in Polson Park are getting a break on the time they can set up their tents as the days grow shorter, although not...

Yacht Club tourist centre

Richard Drinnan is usually spot on with his analyses and he certainly got it completely right in his recent letter titled “Visitor info centre should go...

Invasive bass caught

Biologists with the provincial government are keeping a close eye on the Kettle River, after multiple reports of invasive bass being caught since the fishery...

Name city's new school

You could help name Kelowna's newest school. The Central Okanagan School District is seeking suggestions from the community to name a new middle school in...

Recycling cops watching

Inspection teams will have an eye on your recycling bins this fall. As much as 18 per cent of material put out in the carts cannot be accepted, adding cost and...

NDP bans big money

B.C. political parties will receive an annual allowance over the next five years in an effort to help wean them off unlimited corporate, union and individual...

PenSAR recruiting members

Penticton and District Search and Rescue is holding an open house Tuesday evening, part of a recruitment drive currently underway. They are looking for...

Battle lines drawn over tax

A jousting match erupted Monday between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer as the Liberal government's plan to end...

Gloves off in Boeing fight

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is dropping the gloves in his fight with Boeing, saying his government won't do business with a company that he's accusing...

Landmark Cinemas sold

Canada's second-largest chain of movie theatres is being sold to a Belgian firm for about $123 million. Calgary-based Landmark Cinemas says a deal to be...

Waterton: some can return

Parks Canada has informed some evacuees that they will be able to return to the Waterton Lakes National Park townsite starting Tuesday. A powerful wildfire...

'Narcos' scout killed

Authorities in central Mexico say they are investigating the killing of a location scout working on the Netflix series "Narcos," which chronicles the...

Offensive reading removed

A package of education materials used in B.C. secondary schools has been removed for review after a First Nations woman learned her 14-year-old daughter had...

Trump calls for UN reform

President Donald Trump made his debut at the United Nations on Monday, using his first appearance to urge the 193-nation organization to reduce bureaucracy and...

Driver slams into apartment

RCMP have arrested the driver of a BMW after he lost control and drove into a three-storey apartment building in Kamloops. The black sedan was travelling west...

From Avatar to pea power

Hollywood director James Cameron and his wife Suzy Amis Cameron have announced they are investing in an organic pea-processing plant in Saskatchewan. The...

Lawn Days of Summer

For the second straight year, JCI Vernon and BDO Canada LLP teamed up to bring an exciting networking event to Vernon's young professionals. The 2017...

Who will lead BC Liberals?

The interim leader of the B.C. Liberal Party says while no one has officially declared they will seek the party's top job, several high profile candidates...

More parents take the stand

The parade of parents to the witness stand claiming to have been defrauded in the Penticton hockey dorm fiasco continued Monday as the trial entered its second...

Threat on bathroom mirror

RCMP are investigating after a threat was written on a bathroom mirror at Westsyde Secondary School in Kamloops. There will be limited entry into and out of the...

Show a little Respect

RespectFEST 2017 was launched in Vernon Monday with a free pancake breakfast at Civic Square. The festival is a week long celebration that gives the public the...

Lady Gaga postpones Europe

Lady Gaga has postponed her European tour due to her "physical and mental health struggles". On Monday the Poker Face musician announced the European...

Taste of winter

A special weather statement is in effect throughout the Okanagan valley. "We expect the first taste of winter at higher elevations this morning in central...

Mariah plotting return to TV

Mariah Carey is reportedly plotting a return to reality television, after signing a deal with VH1 to shoot a docuseries chronicling her 2018 world tour. The...

Terry Fox Run raises $5,100

More than 200 people participated in Penticton's Terry Fox Run Sunday, about double what organizers anticipated. The 37th annual event also raised more...

Improve your credit score

It can be frustrating to find out that your mortgage application has been affected by a low credit score or potentially incorrect information reporting on your...

Trudeau meets UK's May

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and British Prime Minister Theresa May say their two countries are working towards a new bilateral free trade deal to take effect...

Wine run nationally known

An Okanagan running event is getting some national attention after being named a finalist for Event of the Year in the Canadian Tourism Awards. For the second...

Maria now Cat 3 hurricane

UPDATE: 10:30 a.m. Hurricane Maria grew into a Category 3 storm on Monday as it barrelled toward a potentially devastating collision with islands in the eastern...

Fergie thanks fans

Fergie has thanked fans for their support following her split from husband Josh Duhamel. The Black Eyed Peas singer is currently in Brazil for the Rock in Rio...

Hiker dies in crevasse

RCMP in Whistler say efforts will continue Monday to recover the body of a man who died while on a day hike near the resort municipality. A news release from...

Rising debt poses risk

A new international banking report groups Canada with China and the special administrative region of Hong Kong as jurisdictions whose domestic banking systems...

Theatre Series Subscriptions

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society proudly announces the launch of our 2017/18 Theatre Series. This series consists of five diverse, high...

Rock band like 'nun' other

Eleven nuns take the stage wearing traditional black-and white habits but are anything but old school as they belt out songs to the ringing of electric guitar...

Foreign investment soars

Statistics Canada says foreign investment in Canadian securities totalled $24.0 billion in July, led by a record acquisition of Canadian bonds. The total for...

Roku IPO seeks $252M

Video streaming pioneer Roku hopes to raise just over $252 million in an initial public offering as it tries to expand into more households. The Los Gatos,...

First snowfall flies

Winter is one step closer. The first snowfall of the season took place at Big White Ski Resort, east of Kelowna, and Silver Star Mountain, near Vernon. Photos...

Kevin Hart public apology

Kevin Hart has taken to social media to apologize to his wife and family for "bad behavior". The 38-year-old comedian looked solemn as he looked...

NDP set to pick leader

The four federal NDP leadership hopefuls had one last chance Sunday to make their case to party voters before balloting begins to select a replacement for...

Bomb suspects interrogated

The two suspects detained over last week's London subway bombing are an 18-year-old refugee from Iraq and a 21-year old from Syria, both of whom were...

What your car really costs

For many drivers, the number they see on the windshield is their biggest consideration when it comes to buying a new car. But the sticker price doesn’t...

Homicide in Richmond

UPDATE: 9:30 a.m. A man is dead and police are investigating a possible shooting in Richmond. They say the attack does not appear to be random. An RCMP news...

Needles, trash near park

A Vernon father-daughter team are being praised on social media, after spending part of Sunday cleaning up an abandoned homeless camp near the entrance to...

Vernon Dance Series

The Vernon and District Performing Arts Centre Society proudly announces the launch of our 2017/18 Dance Series. This series of five shows continues the...

Taxi refusal

My wife and I arrived home from Calgary and after picking up our one piece of luggage we proceeded outside the terminal to get a taxi. Standing a few feet to...

Madonna intimate gigs

Madonna is planning to do more "intimate" gigs which allow her to engage with audience members. The entertainer has built up a reputation for hosting...

China fentanyl clampdown

The RCMP has launched at least 20 investigations involving dozens of vendors shipping fentanyl from China as Canada grapples with a record number of illicit...

Man jumps on alligator

Authorities in Rhode Island have captured an alligator hanging out near a campground. WJAR-TV reports that motorists spotted the 4-foot-long alligator near the...

Given the right to die

One of two B.C. women challenging the federal government's restrictive law on medically assisted dying has finally been able to end her suffering with the...

Farming city's mean streets

Michael Ableman has achieved something many thought impossible: creating thriving urban farms on pavement and contaminated soil in one of Canada's poorest...

Diesel fumes kill thousands

Researchers say there have been more than 4,500 premature deaths annually in Europe because diesel cars emitted higher levels of pollution than claimed. The...

Rolling Stone to be sold

Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner plans to sell his company's controlling stake in the legendary magazine that chronicled the music and politics of the...

GM workers on strike

A General Motors plant in Ingersoll, Ont., has been hit by a strike. The 2,500 members of Unifor local 88 walked out Sunday at 10:59 p.m. when negotiators for...

Child killed by tractor

A 13-month-old girl has died after authorities say she was run over by a tractor in South Carolina. The Island Packet reports the Beaufort County Sheriff's...

Veep, Handmaid tops

The dystopian vision of "The Handmaid's Tale," the deeply cynical Washington comedy "Veep" and the ever-topical "Saturday Night...

2 months, still no answers

It's been two months since the body of Marrisa Shen was found in a Burnaby park. And, on Sunday, friends and loved ones held a vigil for the 13 year old,...

911: parrot rescue

Firefighters used a ladder truck and sprayed water in an unsuccessful attempt to coax a pet parrot out of a tree in Victoria, Sunday. The owner first called the...

Let Me In!

Modern versions of Windows, especially Windows 10, really want you to use a password. Each week, as I set up or repair computers, I encounter people who believe...

Lady Gaga postpones tour

Lady Gaga has postponed her world tour's European leg until next year because of ongoing health problems, the tour's promoter said Monday. The six-week...

Needles found by 6 yr old

A six-year-old boy found a bag of used needles and his mother said this isn’t the first time in their neighbourhood. Rosalea Smith said her son found a...

Big showing for Ribfest

Kelowna’s second annual Rotary Ribfest heated up this year with more people waiting to sink their teeth into some BBQ cooking. Workers estimated upwards...

YLW accepting art

Calling all artists who live in the Thompson Okanagan area from Kamloops to Osoyoos. Artists have until Nov. 15 to submit their work for the Art Kiosk in the...

Hurlburt needs work

City of Vernon staff say Hurlburt Park needs a lot of work to improve accessibility, safety and usability. A fixture on Okanagan Lake for more than eight...

Baseball at Desert Park?

Staff with the Town of Osoyoos are suggesting one or two baseball diamonds be built in the infield of the Desert Park race track to accommodate the growing...

Stay on sex assault

A charge of sexual assault against a former Vernon man has been stayed by the Crown, but William Victor Schneider remains in custody over a separate case...

Husky wants to touch

As you can see, Doggo is trying to be accepted by Kitty. He desperately wants to be friends. Kitty is unsure.

Looking at Franklin flagship

A tiny dot of fuschia bobs livid against the deep blue Arctic sea at a GPS point known only to selected researchers and the few local hunters who guard it....

Cargo ship time lapse

The world's oceans are incomprehensibly vast, a fact that's quite apparent in this spectacular time-lapse of a cargo ship's journey over the course...

City of Kelowna and UBC Okanagan sign cooperation agreement

The City of Kelowna and UBC’s Okanagan Campus have a new tool in place to help guide their continued cooperation well into the future. “The Memorandum of...

From head of the class to head of the boardroom, do grades really matter?

UBC experts discuss relationship between academic ability and hirability As grade-schoolers concentrate on the three Rs, many university students are already...

Snow expected on highways

The Southern Interior’s mountain passes may get their first taste of winter overnight Sunday. Environment Canada has issued a special weather statement...

Cycling cops come home

After 10 days of cycling and over 1,000 kilometres covered, the Cops for Kids 16th annual ride is now complete. The 28 riders started through smoky skies in the...

Making a difference

Hundreds of people packed the Kelowna Community Theatre Saturday night to be inspired by Craig Kielburger, the founder of Free the Children and Me to We. ...

4 taken to hospital

Four people were taken to hospital after a collision on Postill Lake Road Sunday night. Everyone was able to be removed from the vehicle and paramedics,...

Wildfire recovery plan

A long-term plan to recover from this year’s unprecedented wildfire activity is already being implemented by the British Columbia government. The...

Bad ice for Coyotes

Poor ice conditions after a weekend concert has forced the Arizona Coyotes to cancel their scheduled preseason home game Monday night against the Los Angeles...

McEachen: 'His life's work'

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remembered Allan MacEachen as a "once-in-a-lifetime" calibre cabinet minister who helped transform Canada into the...

Elephant Hill downgraded

An evacuation order for the final few properties threatened by the Elephant Hill wildfire in the Thompson Nicola region has been lifted, although residents...

'It' still tops box office

The Stephen King adaption "It" continues to scare up record ticket sales, taking in an estimated $60 million in its second week and leaving a paltry...

BC support network lost

Valerie Nicholson believes she might be dead if not for Positive Women's Network. She was addicted to drugs and sleeping in decrepit hotels in...

Running for a hero

There were bikes and strollers, grandparents and toddlers, as the annual Terry Fox run began in Vernon Sunday morning. About 300 people, many young parents with...

Be yourself bravely

“Don’t air your dirty laundry in front of others.” “Never argue in front of the children.” “When a friend asks you how you...

Scaling back fire op

The BC Wildfire Service will be scaling back operations on the Finlay Creek wildfire near Peachland. "We still have resources on it although it's 100...

Mommy wine fest criticized

A Toronto woman who organized a daytime wine festival for new mothers has found herself caught in a firestorm over the pervasiveness of alcohol at a time when...

Maria threatens Caribbean

The hurricane-battered islands of the Caribbean are facing yet another storm threat: Forecasters said Sunday that Tropical Storm Maria is likely to hit the...

Arts Rising goes this week

Penticton's Arts Rising Festival starts Thursday and will feature art in a variety of diverse forms. The celebration is meant to display the power of art...

NDPers bid for top job

The four federal NDP leadership hopefuls have one last chance today to make their case to party voters before balloting begins to select a replacement for...

Where is Franklin buried?

The man who guided searchers to the wreck of John Franklin's flagship may have one more surprise left up his parka sleeve. "I believe that Franklin is...

Too much trauma for moose

A First Nations chief is calling on the B.C. government to halt the moose hunt this year, arguing the historic wildfire season has caused enough trauma to the...

Kids hurt as car hits building

Two children suffered minor injuries and were taken to hospital when a vehicle drove into a three-storey apartment building in Kamloops Sunday morning. The...

Tourists attacked with acid

Four young American tourists were attacked with acid Sunday at a train station in the French city of Marseille, but French authorities so far do not think...

Firefighters told: stay home

Thousands of Houston firefighters were told to stay home at the height of Harvey's flooding even as calls for help overwhelmed 911 dispatchers, the...

2nd arrest in London attack

The British government lowered the country's official terrorist threat level Sunday after a second man was arrested in connection with the attack on a...

Returning after Irma

As the devastated Florida Keys began reopening to residents who fled Hurricane Irma, officials warned the returning islanders to bring enough supplies to...

Military moves a concern

A senior NATO official says there's reason to be concerned about the large-scale Zapad 2017 military manoeuvres being conducted by Russia and Belarus, since...

Amber Alert dad in hospital

UPDATE: 11:08 a.m. A man who was arrested after police found his six-year-old son, who had been the subject of an Amber Alert, has been taken to hospital. The...

Korea Games will go on

The president of the International Olympic Committee remains confident the Winter Games will go on as scheduled in South Korea despite growing tensions on the...

Fear of racism on rise

A survey suggests Canadians have a generally positive impression of Muslims – but that view doesn't apply to some of the religion's leadership and...

Stolen carts cause problems

Kamloops has a shopping cart problem. RCMP say complaints have spiked from businesses reporting stolen shopping carts and people blocking customers from...

Horoscope: Sept.17-23

Overview for all signs: An optimistic mood is supported by those aware of the facts or evidence. Proceed on the present path to achieve success. Partner with...

Unsolved crimes: DLC

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...

Blue Grouse, Vancouver Isl.

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...

Give Arizona a home

With many animals looking for forever homes, there isn't enough staff to keep up with all the furry friends. That's why Critteraid is asking for...

A conversation on drugs

The opiate crisis continues to plague B.C. and although it's gaining attention, at-risk youth are still a big concern. The Bridge Youth and Family Services...

Hyatt hotel seeks approval

A proposed new hotel and mixed-use commercial-residential complex comes before city council Monday. As Castanet News first told you back in January, Kelowna...

New tech means new scams

As technology changes the way people live and work, police are warning the public that scammers are also using technology to advance their scams. Police are...

Paddleboard yoga

If your plans of doing yoga on a paddleboard involve eventually falling into a lake, then go give it a try!

The value of work

Does the world really need neuroadvertisers, PR researchers and branding consultants? Renowned academic and coiner of the ‘we are the 99%’ slogan,...