Top Stories for September 20, 2022
Amber Alert cancelled for 3-year-old boy last seen at BC Children's Hospital
UPDATE: 6:43 a.m. The Amber Alert has been cancelled for the child taken from BC Children's Hospital in Vancouver on Monday. The BC Amber Alert system...
Stranger Things star makes appearance at Kelowna brewery
Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard recently swung through Kelowna. Kettle River Brewing Co. posted a photo of the actor on Monday. Wolfhard, a Vancouver native,...
Random assault reported downtown Kelowna
A Kelowna man says he was the victim of an unprovoked attack downtown late last week. The 28-year-old man, who requested to stay anonymous for his personal...
Kelowna RCMP impound 2 vehicles caught street racing
Two Kelowna residents will be without their cars for at least seven days after they were caught street racing. RCMP say officers conducting patrols on Sept. 17...
Kelowna General Hospital deal with bed bug outbreak in staff room
Kelowna General Hospital is used to dealing with medical outbreaks, but bed bugs are an entirely different matter. Castanet received information that staff at...
Council applauds UBCO's decision to lower height of downtown campus
It will still be the tallest building in Kelowna, albeit by just one storey. UBC Okanagan has tweaked the design of its downtown campus tower, lowering the...
Vernon man convicted in 1998 murder claims miscarriage of justice, wants to talk from jail
A former Vernon man who claims to have been wrongfully convicted of murder and who has spent a quarter century in jail says he wants to tell his story...
Cool weather gives wildfire crews a break as BC Wildfire Service transitions into year-round operation
The wildfire season is winding down in the Kamloop Fire Centre, but this year, there is no actual end to BC Wildfire Service operations. The provincial...
Should the penalties for street racing in B.C. be increased?
Two Kelowna residents will be without their cars for at least seven days after they were caught street racing. RCMP say officers conducting patrols on Sept. 17...
Kelowna RCMP officer testifies in his own defence at assault trial
A Kelowna RCMP officer has taken the witness stand at his assault trial. Const. Siggy Pietrzak was the first defence witness called as the trial resumed...
'Insane, super creepy': Family hiking near Osoyoos stumbles upon swarms of mystery beetles
A young family was out hiking near Osoyoos this week when they came across a creepy crawly discovery. Andrew Robertson was out with his family on Mt. Kobau when...
City of Kelowna urges proper pool drainage, or could get a $2K fine
The City of Kelowna is reminding residents to protect Okanagan Lake by draining backyard pools the right way. When draining pools, hot tubs or backyard water...
Mexico's earthquake coincidence drives anxiety for many
As the parents of children killed when a school collapsed during Mexico’s 2017 earthquake celebrated a Mass in their memory, the ground began to shake...
Kelowna spending $3 per listener, plus staff time, to produce city hall podcast
The City of Kelowna is paying nearly $3 per listener, plus hours of staff time, to produce a podcast about what is happening at city hall. The Kelowna Talks...
UN chief warns global leaders: The world is in 'great peril'
In an alarming assessment, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told world leaders Tuesday that nations are “gridlocked in colossal global...
Justin Trudeau slightly favoured over Pierre Poilievre for prime minister: new poll
A new poll suggests a plurality of Canadians still believe Justin Trudeau is still the best man for the job of prime minister, but he has only a slight lead...
4 Ukrainian separatist regions plan votes to join Russia
The separatist leaders of four Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine said Tuesday they were planning to hold votes starting later this week for the territories to...
Uncle seeks mistrial after jury found he sexually assaulted niece over period of years
A Kamloops man who was convicted of sexually assaulting his niece a number of times over a multi-year period is seeking a mistrial, alleging a perception of...
Surrogate mom's selfless act leaves Richmond family speechless
There are selfless acts and then there are gestures you hear about that simply stop you in your tracks. Case in point being an incredible offer made by one...
Sentencing hearing delayed for harasser of B.C. teen Amanda Todd
UPDATE 1:10 p.m. A sentencing hearing for the Dutch man found guilty of harassing British Columbia teenager Amanda Todd has been adjourned until next month due...
BC Wildlife Park seeking donations of fish to help keep animals full over winter
The BC Wildlife Park is in need of fish, hoping donations will help to make sure the facility’s resident animals stay full. “Fish is a staple in the...
Kelowna woman named to Canada's world cup basketball team
Could Taya Hanson's life be any busier in 2022? The Kelowna native, who has two gold medals to show for time on the international basketball court, now gets...
Northern B.C. hydrogen station the world’s largest
Hydra Energy has now broken ground on the world’s largest hydrogen refueling station in Prince George which will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from...
Paying for government services we're not getting
Growing up, my grandfather taught me the value of a dollar. He used to tell me, “Pay up as you go up, so that when you get up, you are up.” He...
'In excess of $200,000 in damage' done to Vancouver's PNE during Lil Baby riot
It's still not clear how much damage was caused by Sunday's riot at the PNE, but representatives for the venue say it's hundreds of thousands of...
Jimmy Kimmel signs 3-year extension for ABC late-night show
Jimmy Kimmel celebrated his 20th anniversary as ABC's late-night host early, signing a three-year contract extension for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”...
Red light means stop, but not always stay
Here's an interesting question from the DriveSmartBC inbox: “There is a mid-block pedestrian-controlled traffic light in our neighbourhood and drivers...
Economic stimulus should have stopped earlier to tame inflation, Bank of Canada says
Bank of Canada deputy governor Paul Beaudry said in hindsight, governments and central banks should have withdrawn stimulus measures earlier as economies...
Federal Liberal cabinet weighing whether to lift remaining COVID-19 travel measures
The federal Liberal cabinet is considering whether to renew COVID-19 vaccine mandates and mandatory random testing for travellers. The current measures are set...
Outbreak of highly contagious avian flu detected in Spallumcheen
A new outbreak of avian flu has been detected in Spallumcheen. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency website lists the outbreak as being discovered Sept. 18 in a...
One person has died from COVID-19 following outbreak at Vernon care unit
Interior Health has confirmed one person died from COVID-19 resulting from an outbreak at the Polson Special Care Unit in Vernon. In a brief statement to...
Watchdog says no charges, but refers Mounties for review after arrest leads to brain damage
B.C.’s police watchdog will not recommend criminal charges against a Mountie after an altercation last year on a Sahali street left a Kamloops man with...
More bike lane construction planned for Kelowna's Abbott Street
The City of Kelowna is warning motorists of bike-lane construction on Abbott Street this week. Construction starts on Thursday on what the city is calling a...
Musk to seek exemption from Iran sanctions for Web access
Elon Musk's hope to operate his satellite internet firm in Iran requires permission from the Treasury Department, which said Tuesday it welcomes...
RDCO offering free radon test kits to workplaces
The Regional District of Central Okanagan is offering 420 free radon test kits to commercial building owners and managers, while supplies last. All workplaces...
Saskatchewan Appeal Court removes injunction, allows Broncos lawsuit to proceed
The Saskatchewan Court of Appeal has set aside a temporary injunction that halted a lawsuit filed by some parents of those who died in the Humboldt Broncos bus...
Dental-care legislation one of first bills on docket as parliament resumes
Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos tabled new dental-care legislation in the House of Commons to allow the government to send cheques to low- and middle-income...
Civic election: Tom Groat running for West Kelowna city council
Castanet News has distributed a questionnaire to city council candidates in both Kelowna and West Kelowna to help voters get to know those putting their names...
Canada's inflation rate cools in August, but grocery prices continue to climb
Canada's annual inflation rate slowed to 7.0 per cent in August largely driven by the price of gasoline falling, but the cost of groceries continues to...
Information on all candidates vying for civic office in October is now available on Castanet
Are you having a hard time deciding who you will vote for in the Oct. 15 civic election? Castanet hopes to make that process easier with the launching of our...
Award-winning law firm opens Penticton office to serve clients in South Okanagan
There’s reason to celebrate for FH&P Lawyers. In fact, there are a few. Tanvir Gill just received recognition from Kelowna Chamber of Commerce as...
Summerland winery offering a unique crowd funded ownership opportunity
A Summerland-based winery has launched a new opportunity to give anyone the chance to “own a winery.” A first for a winery in Canada, Okanagan Crush...
Civic election: Peter Truch running for Kelowna city council
Castanet News has distributed a questionnaire to city council candidates in both Kelowna and West Kelowna to help voters get to know those putting their names...
Demand soars at Central Okanagan Food Bank
The Central Okanagan Food Bank has seen soaring demand as families are squeezed by inflation. Over 1,000 new clients have accessed the food bank over the last...
New B.C. school trustee slate has ‘freedom fighters’ and pro-SOGI candidates: Founder
The founders of a conservative-leaning group running a slate of school trustee candidates across B.C. claim their goal is to lessen the impact senior...
CFL suspends Stampeders linebacker Judge for one game following incident with Lions
CALGARY — The Calgary Stampeders won't have stalwart Canadian linebacker Cameron Judge on Saturday night when they complete their home-and-home series with...
Victim of historic sexual abuse encourages others to pursue their cases
Warning: Some details in the following story are graphic and may be upsetting. A Prince George woman who recently brought her perpetrator to justice more than...
Grocery prices in Canada continue meteoric ascent, rising at fastest pace since 1981
Food inflation remains stubbornly high in Canada as grocery prices climbed at the fastest pace in more than four decades last month. While overall inflation...
Sikanni bridge load limits increased in wake of deadly tanker inferno
Commercial load limits have been increased over the Sikanni Chief River Bridge in the wake of a fatal tanker truck inferno. In an update Tuesday morning, Public...
Political watchdog group emerges in Coldstream
A secretive political watchdog group that emerged in Coldstream over the summer won't say whether it has ambitions in the coming municipal election....
Retrial on murder of Japanese exchange student pushed back as Crown awaits ruling on dismissal
A former Vernon man awaiting retrial on the grisly murder in Vancouver of a Japanese exchange student has had his case adjourned as the Crown continues to push...
Five things to know about the government's plan to tackle affordability in Canada
The Liberals launched the fall sitting of Parliament Tuesday by tabling two new bills with more than $4.5 billion in spending they hope will ease the rising...
Homicide team called to Surrey after man found dying in running vehicle
A man found passed out in his vehicle in Surrey has died of his injuries, prompting police to cordon off the area in search of information. Surrey RCMP and the...
Blast from the past: The Penticton Silver Bullets Senior AA hockey team is back and ready to hit the ice
The Penticton Silver Bullets are blazing back to life, giving sports fans in the city more talent and excitement to look forward to this hockey season. Matthew...
Spotify launches audiobook store with some 300,000 titles
The expanding audio books market has a major new retailer: Spotify. On Tuesday, the music streaming service announced its long-rumored audiobook initiative,...
B.C. strike and cyberattack impacting OCS could cause $3M revenue hit for Aurora: CEO
Aurora Cannabis Inc. says it could take a revenue hit of up to $3 million because of a cyberattack that downed Ontario's pot distributor and a strike that...
Financial pressure mounting for working Canadians, new study shows
A new study has found that the financial well-being of working Canadians has declined in the past year, with distress growing for those who are financially...
Two members of the Kelowna Rockets have returned from NHL rookie camps
The Kelowna Rockets will have two familiar faces back on the ice in time for the start of the WHL's regular season. Goaltender Jari Kykkanen and defenceman...
Multi-vehicle crash slows southbound traffic on Overlanders Bridge
Traffic was snarled southbound on the Overlanders Bridge following a multi-vehicle collision on Tuesday afternoon. Emergency crews were called to the north end...
Penticton fire chief returns after helping Kentucky flood victims by volunteering with disaster response team
Penticton fire chief Larry Watkinson recently spent a week down south with Team Rubicon, an international disaster response team, assisting after flooding in...
FortisBC’s LNG project draws fire from opponents
Community and environmental groups continue to express disbelief at B.C.’s processing of a controversial liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant expansion...
Hertz to order up to 175K GM electric vehicles over 5 years
Hertz plans to order up to 175,000 electric vehicles from General Motors over the next five years. The agreement announced Tuesday includes electric vehicle...
More than one-third of UBC students face food insecurity, says university
Last week UBC sent alumni an email stipulating that over 35 per cent of undergraduates on the Vancouver campus "report that they lack consistent access to...
Another break and enter at Vernon's Helmut's Sausage Kitchen
A Vernon business says it's fed up with crime at its two local properties. Helmut's Sausage Kitchen posted on its Facebook page Tuesday, saying it had...
Complainant tells military sex trial she was 'horrified'
The complainant in the sexual assault trial against Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin testified on Monday that she woke up to the alleged assault one night in early 1988....
Canadian employers sought to fill nearly one million jobs in second quarter
Statistics Canada says employers were actively seeking to fill 997,000 vacant positions in the second quarter, the highest quarterly number on record. The...
Kelowna mayors debate organized by Okanagan College, UBC Okanagan
Okanagan College and UBC Okanagan are teaming up for a debate involving Kelowna mayoral candidates. The debate will focus on issues that matter to...
City of Kamloops officials, IHA to discuss complex care beds after minister confusion
A Kamloops councillor says senior city officials will meet with Interior Health to discuss complex care beds after a meeting where a provincial minister...
B.C. youth representative calls for data on mental health of children in care
British Columbia’s representative for children says she’s concerned that neither the province nor the country gathers data on the rate of mental...
Man arrested in Nanaimo after firing BB gun at police
A man was arrested and charged Sunday evening after firing at Nanaimo RCMP officers with a BB gun from behind a rock. Nanaimo RCMP said they received a report...
Canucks pleased with Young Stars Classic experience
The Young Stars Classic ended Monday with a battle of the undefeated -- the home province Vancouver Canucks taking on the up and coming prospects of the...
Alberta man found guilty in death of Métis hunters appealing conviction, sentence
An Alberta man found guilty of manslaughter in the deaths of two Métis hunters is appealing his conviction and sentence. Roger Bilodeau was convicted in...
Blazers head into Memorial Cup season ranked fifth in Canada
When the puck drops on the Kamloops Blazers’ monumental season on Friday at Sandman Centre, the Blue and Orange will take to the ice with a big target on...
Predator Ridge looks back at magical summer moment with Okanagan Symphony Orchestra
It was like a scene from a movie, just before the screen fades to black and the credits start rolling. A shot of the sun on the horizon, with orchestral music...
Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin takes stand at criminal trial, denies sexual assault
Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin says he is not guilty of sexual assault and never had any physical contact with a woman who made detailed allegations against him in court...
Organizers want Kamloops cornhole tournament to become regular event
Organizers have big plans for local cornhole competition after a weekend tournament as part of a downtown music festival. Also known as beanbag toss, cornhole...
Criminal probe begins after violence, arrests at music festival in Vancouver
Seven people were arrested and a criminal investigation is underway after a disturbance Sunday night by fans attending a music festival in east Vancouver....
Trial into alleged immigration scheme won't wrap until March
A complex trial involving four Richmond residents accused of submitting false immigration documents and bribing a Yukon government official, launched in July,...
Lawyers for N.S. shooting victims' families tell inquiry RCMP made basic errors
A lawyer representing victims of the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting told a public inquiry today it should recognize that the RCMP made basic errors in...
Mayor Martin Johansen of Oliver confirmed re-elected by acclamation
Incumbent Oliver Mayor Martin Johansen has been officially declared elected by acclamation. His second term was made official on Sept. 20. Johansen was running...
Coldstream begins open houses, site tours on $8.5M public works referendum
Open houses and site tours on a proposed new public works building in Coldstream will begin Wednesday. In conjunction with the Oct. 15 municipal election,...
Liberals put inflation help, disability benefit at top of fall parliamentary agenda
The Liberals are signalling that their fall priority will be helping Canada's most vulnerable as the House of Commons resumes sitting today. Many will be...
City of Kamloops councillor candidate profile: Darrell LaRiviere
Castanet Kamloops is going to help you get to know the candidates running for city councillor over the next several weeks. Each weekday morning starting on...
Shelves looking bare at Penticton Fill the Food Gap non-profit hamper program
With kids back in school, a Penticton non-profit group dedicated to making sure no one goes hungry needs a little extra help keeping their shelves stocked. Fill...
5 directors acclaimed to positions at Regional District of North Okanagan
Five candidates have been acclaimed to director positions with the Regional District of North Okanagan. Returning unopposed are directors Bob Fleming in Area B,...
Voting opens for People's Choice in Vernon Business Excellence Awards
Voting has begun for People's Choice in the Greater Vernon Chamber’s Business Excellence Awards. Now through Oct. 11, the public can vote for their...
Coach takes a swing at council in Coldstream election
Jeff Stevenson is among a crowded race for one of six council seats in Coldstream. The father, community advocate and carpenter is among 11 candidates. ...