21 Bell radio stations sold
BC dog wins Best of Breed
Wage conspiracy tossed
Tiny homes asked to move
Flu cases continue to rise 
The Russian G7 question
Overturn decades of policy
Workers face mass layoffs
Debris flows hit after fire
Wall Street short of a record
Auto parts maker tariffs reax
TikTok in US app stores 
Rockets can't catch Blazers
Brown steals Scotties opener
RLP will glow in the dark
Jay-Z, 'Diddy' suit dropped
Kylie Kelce dating theories
Prince Harry back in Canada
Top Stories for January 24, 2025
One person hospitalized in 'serious incident' on Kelowna's Saucier Ave
UPDATE: 9:15 a.m. Police tape surrounds the home at 736 Saucier Avenue following a "serious incident" early Friday morning. After RCMP tactical...
Missing West Kelowna kid reported found safe by RCMP
UPDATE: 9:55 p.m. West Kelowna RCMP have confirmed that the missing 12-year-old male has been found. "Thank you to the public for their assistance, the...
Off-grid cat-ski operator near Kelowna spots unusual sight in night sky
A cat-ski operator living off grid in the Monashee Mountains spotted something he can't explain in the sky east of Kelowna Thursday night. "We're...
Heavy police presence reported at Highway 97 and Leathead Road just after 4 p.m.
UPDATE: 4:30 p.m. Police confirm to Castanet that the heavy police presence in the parking lot of a Petro-Canada gas station at Highway 97 and Leathead Road is...
West Kelowna to install new park seating by February
UPDATE: 3 p.m. The City of West Kelowna has announced plans to install new park seating by early to mid-February, following the removal of picnic tables and...
School District 23 sued over Mount Boucherie auto class accident
A former Mount Boucherie student is suing the local school district following an accident in an automotive class that left him with serious burns on his hands,...
RCMP hunt alleged child predator known to frequent the Okanagan
A Canada-wide warrant has been issued for a Grande Prairie man facing multiple charges related to child sex crimes. According to RCMP, the suspect, Justin...
'Sausages, cheese, steak': B.C. hikers find food-filled suitcases
A Vancouver Island woman recently made an unusual discovery at a popular beach in a remote area. Tegwyn Hughes went on one of her favourite hikes to Mystic...
Labour dispute has workers off the job at Heidelberg Materials in the Thompson-Okanagan
UPDATE 4:22 p.m. Heidelberg Materials says they have been in negotiations with unionized employees at the company’s Kamloops, Kelowna and Penticton...
640-unit rental development approved for former BC Tree Fruits property in Lake Country
One of the largest developments ever proposed for Lake Country is moving ahead. District council Tuesday gave second and third readings to Official Community...
Crash on Highway 97 in Peachland now cleared
UPDATE 10:45 a.m. The crash is cleared and traffic is now flowing in both directions. ORIGINAL 9 a.m. Traffic on Highway 97 near Peachland is backed up Friday...
‘She didn’t say no’: former Vernon chiropractor takes the stand for his sexual assault trial
A former Vernon chiropractor accused of sexual assault took the stand as a witness in his much-delayed sexual assault trial, on Thursday. Murray Kievit, 60, was...
Kelowna RCMP warns public of text message scam impersonating police
The Kelowna RCMP is issuing a warning to the public about a text message scam that is circulating in the area, impersonating the police. The fraudulent messages...
North Okanagan Shuswap CrimeStoppers says human trafficking is an issue in Vernon
Vernon is not immune to human trafficking. And while it is not as big a problem as it is in larger centres, it is still a concern. January is CrimeStoppers...
Djokovic quits mid-match and walks off to boos, putting Zverev in Australian Open final vs. Sinner
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Spectators booed an injured Novak Djokovic as he left the court in Rod Laver Arena after quitting one set into his Australian Open...
'Conditions remain stable' at UBCO tower site as crane moves in
Change is afoot at a controversial downtown Kelowna development site. Progress at the UBC Okanagan tower is advancing with the piling stage of construction...
Rocker Marilyn Manson won't be charged after long investigation of sexual assault allegations
Prosecutors said Friday that they will not file charges against Marilyn Manson after a years-long investigation of allegations of sexual assault and domestic...
Invasive, plant-eating Japanese beetle found in Kamloops
An invasive plant-eating beetle has been found in Kamloops, a new discovery that puts the city on a very short list of B.C. municipalities in which the...
Late La Niña brings mixed conditions for B.C. ski resorts
Several ski resorts in B.C. are thriving despite a delayed La Niña, which was expected to bring cooler temperatures and greater precipitation to...
Victim taken to hospital with serious injuries after early-morning shooting in North Kamloops: RCMP
UPDATE: 12:11 p.m. Mounties have maintained a presence outside a house in the 900-block of 13th Street in North Kamloops, where police could be seen canvassing...
Police find $1 million in stolen items at property in Langley
Police recently found approximately $1 million in stolen items at a property in Langley, where a large outbuilding had been made to resemble a hardware store....
Kelowna sets definitions of affordability within new housing action plan
The City of Kelowna has developed a definition of affordability as part of its new Housing Action Plan. Planning staff say the definitions will offer clarity on...
Kelowna expects to have a new Prospera Place operator announced by the summer
The company that operates the SOEC and Penticton Trade and Convention Centre is at the top of the short list to run Prospera Place when the current agreement...
How the GST holiday distorted Canada's food inflation story
The latest food inflation data, released this week, was nothing short of startling. From November to December, Canada’s food inflation rate plummeted from...
Trench dug inches from retaining wall, witness tells Burnaby workplace death trial
A longtime North Burnaby resident told a Vancouver court Friday that he blasted a "supervisor" at the site of a fatal workplace accident for digging a...
Trump proposes 'getting rid of FEMA' while visiting North Carolina
President Donald Trump said he was considering “getting rid of” the Federal Emergency Management Agency during a trip to disaster zones Friday,...
B.C. accountant's quiet exit raises concerns over regulator transparency
On July 15, 2023, the regulatory body for B.C.’s 40,000 professional accountants issued a public notice stating that Abbotsford accountant Michael Nice...
Bill Wilson, father of former cabinet minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, dies
Bill Wilson, a hereditary chief and the father of former cabinet minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, has died. Wilson-Raybould announced his death on social media,...
This year's Ribfest will be the last staged by Kamloops Daybreak Rotary
The organizers behind one of Kamloops’ signature summertime events have announced they are pulling the plug after this year. Kamloops Daybreak Rotary has...
Canada Post gets $1-billion loan from federal government amid financial struggles
The federal government is providing a $1-billion loan to Canada Post to help the Crown corporation continue operating amid "significant financial...
Killer North Kamloops dog ordered euthanized after 'dog whisperer' backs out of deal
The second of three dogs found to have fatally attacked a family pet in a North Kamloops backyard will be euthanized, a judge ruled Thursday, after a so-called...
Freeland says Liberal leadership candidates should pledge to run as MPs
Former finance minister Chrystia Freeland called Friday for four Liberal leadership debates Friday and said the other leadership candidates should commit to...
Prosecutor says videos leave no doubt that A$AP Rocky fired a gun at his former friend
A prosecutor showed jurors a series of surveillance videos on Friday that he said when taken as a whole make it clear A$AP Rocky fired a gun at his former...
B.C. city penalized $165K says it's getting squeezed by regulation and climate change
B.C.'s second most important port city has been hit with more than $165,000 in environmental penalties — the latest in a long line of sanctions city...
BC Highway Patrol officer with damaged door forced to emulate Bo Duke to drive vehicle for repairs
A quick-thinking BC Highway Patrol constable took inspiration from the Dukes of Hazzard to successfully drive his damaged police cruiser in for repairs...
Former chief trade negotiator says Alberta undermining Canada in U.S. tariff talks
Ottawa's former chief trade negotiator Steve Verheul says Alberta is undermining Canada's attempts to prevent the U.S. from levying damaging tariffs....
Expect delays on Trans-Canada Highway in the Kicking Horse Pass area as vehicle recovery is underway
Motorists on the Trans-Canada Highway heading towards Kicking Horse Pass are advised to expect delays as a vehicle recovery operation is underway. Crews will be...
Self-proclaimed 'sheriff of Kitsilano’ jailed for Vancouver assaults, threats
A Vancouver man who tagged himself “the sheriff of Kitsilano” has been jailed for six months on convictions for assaults, uttering death threats and...
B.C. chief wants Oscar-nominated residential school film to be part of curriculum
An Oscar-nominated documentary about deaths, abuse and missing children at a former British Columbia residential school should be shown in schools across...
B.C. starvation inquest jury recommends pay boost for home-share providers
A coroner's inquest jury looking into the starvation death of a B.C. woman with Down syndrome has ruled her death a homicide and is calling for better pay...
Witness in Burnaby workplace death trial claims WorkSafeBC transcript 'doctored'
Tension ran high in a Vancouver courtroom this week as lawyers challenged the testimony of a pipe layer who survived a fatal workplace accident in Burnaby on...
Premier Doug Ford confirms he will call snap Ontario election next week
Ontario Premier Doug Ford plans to call a snap election Wednesday, using the threat of 25 per cent tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump to justify his early...
Protestors met with RCMP after CFIA protocol check-in at Edgewood ostrich farm
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), accompanied by RCMP officers, were met by protesters when they arrived at Universal Ostrich Farms Inc. on Jan. 24 to...
Kelowna most wanted
Crime Stoppers is asking for the public’s assistance in locating the following male who is wanted on a province-wide warrant in effect as of Jan. 21,...
B.C. climate activist couple to live in Pakistan if deportation proceeds
British Columbia climate activist Zain Haq and his wife Sophia Papp are planning to live together in Pakistan if his threatened deportation proceeds on...
Are we living in a black hole?
There is an interesting idea circulating through the astronomical community at the moment. This is not to say everyone believes it, but there is some evidence...
Nearly 250 million children missed school last year because of extreme weather, UNICEF says
At least 242 million children in 85 countries had their schooling interrupted last year because of heatwaves, cyclones, flooding and other extreme weather, the...
Transportation Safety Board investigating vessel collision at Squamish LNG project
A team of investigators with the Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) is heading to Squamish to uncover why two marine vessels working at an LNG project...
Major storm lashes Ireland and Scotland as hurricane-force winds down power lines and ground flights
Millions of people in Ireland and northern parts of the U.K. were urged to stay at home Friday as hurricane-force winds disabled power networks and brought...
Tech stocks help S&P/TSX composite climb as Trump tariff threats fail to shake market
Canada’s main stock index continued to climb Friday amid tech and financial gains, extending a nearly two-week run as markets bank on averting trauma from...
'I'm homeless': Jasper residents rally for housing as government negotiations stall
An Albertan who lost her home in the devastating Jasper wildfire last year says broken promises by the United Conservative Party government in setting up...
Vehicle recovery near Merritt creates lane closure on Coquihalla Highway
Drivers on the Coquihalla Highway are being asked to slow down due to a lane closure in Merritt on Friday afternoon. The left lane of the highway around exit...
Black ice warning for Highway 1 between Revelstoke and Glacier National Park West Boundary
DriveBC is reporting that the TransCanada Highway between Revelstoke and the Glacier National Park West Boundary is dealing with black ice on Friday night. The...
Hamas publishes the names of 4 hostages it plans to release from Gaza on Saturday
The Hamas militant group has published the names of four hostages it says it will release on Saturday as part of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. There was no...
Trump will visit disaster zones in North Carolina and California on the first trip of second term
President Donald Trump is heading to hurricane-battered western North Carolina and wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles on Friday, using the first trip of his second...
RCMP were not at fault after man stabbed himself during arrest in Lumby
RCMP have been cleared after an incident where a Lumby man was seriously injured. The Independent Investigations Office of BC cleared police of any wrongdoing...
Business, Vancouver International Wine Festival could be hit if B.C. bans U.S. alcohol
A B.C. ban on U.S. alcohol sales in the province would hurt small wine-import businesses and potentially the Vancouver International Wine Festival, which is set...
Meet Poppy, an oil spill-sniffing dog and a scientific trailblazer
Poppy, a six-year-old springer spaniel with floppy brown ears and a tail that never seems to stop wagging, is by all accounts a very good dog. Her white, brown...
Vernon's own Leah Goldstein inducted into the 2025 International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame
She's a world champion kickboxer, a world-class cyclist, martial arts expert and elite global athlete and now Leah Goldstein can add hall of fame inductee...
UN suspends all trips into Houthi-held areas of Yemen over staffers being detained
The United Nations on Friday suspended all travel into areas held by Yemen's Houthi rebels after more of their staff were detained by the rebels. The...
Cariboo Regional District denies application for Heli Ski Lodge in the Bluff Lake – Middle Lake area, citing environmental concerns
Due to strong public opposition and provincial environmental concerns, the Cariboo Regional District (CRD) Board rejected a land use application for Heli-Ski...
South Okanagan drug dealer jailed for two years
A South Okanagan man with a lengthy criminal record dating back decades was sentenced to nearly two years in jail time on Thursday. Grant McEwen, 58, appeared...
New partners at FH&P Lawyers bring impressive legal expertise
FH&P Lawyers LLP is proud to announce the appointment of Erin Cram and Tanvir Gill as the firm’s newest partners. With their impressive legal...
Critics denounce Vancouver mayor's 'Trumpian' plan to 'integrate' Downtown Eastside
Critics are denouncing Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim's plan for revitalizing the Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, with former councillor Jean Swanson saying his...
No criminal charges for West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager, B.C. Crown says
A special prosecutor has ruled out criminal charges against West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager following an investigation into campaign finance irregularities and...
Slippery conditions reported on Trans-Canada Highway between Chase, Revelstoke
Motorists on the Trans-Canada Highway are being advised to use extra caution amid slippery conditions stretching from Chase to Revelstoke. DriveBC has issued a...
GoFundMe for Sicamous family surpasses $13K goal in 24 hours
Residents of Sicamous have come together to support a local family after the sudden death of a beloved member of the community. Mike Vomacka died unexpectedly...
Kamloops Blazers end three-game skid with thrilling come-from-behind win over Kelowna
For almost 55 minutes Friday it looked as if the Kamloops Blazers would never find a way to get a puck past Kelowna netminder Jake Pilon - destined for a fourth...
Penticton pier to shrink by half unless community contributes funds
Penticton's iconic Okanagan Lake pier needs to be replaced, and due to rising costs of material and labour, the city is hoping community partners may step...
GoFundMe started to help Vernon family recover from destructive house fire
A Vernon woman has set up a GoFundMe to help her family get back on its feet after a fire destroyed her childhood home. “It would help with cleaning up,...
Best-selling author has Kamloops stop planned as part of book tour
A Vancouver-based author, actor, activist, former athlete, singer and entrepreneur will be in Kamloops next week to help you realize your dreams. The event is a...
Vancouver office market feeling the heat as vacancies rise, Colliers report reveals
The office market in Greater Vancouver saw a higher vacancy rate in the fourth quarter of last year, rising 1.2 percentage points annually to 9.8 per cent,...
North Shore Rescue saves 3 ill-equipped hikers from Mount Seymour cliff
North Shore Rescue volunteers pulled three hikers from a precarious clifftop on Mount Seymour, Thursday night. The group had reached the top of Pump Peak and,...
'It was a miracle:' Oliver man receives three different organ transplants in under a year
An Oliver man is thankful to be alive following three different organ transplants in under a year. Pat Hayes has dealt with a faulty heart since he was born....
TRU says plan to defer $9.5M in ministry dollars will be compliant with regulations
Thompson Rivers University says its plan to defer provincial dollars for use in future years will be compliant with ministry rules, but whether that was always...
BC Hydro project forces lengthy lane closure on stretch of Valleyview Drive
Kamloops drivers can expect single-lane alternating traffic along part of Valleyview Drive due to a months-long BC Hydro project. The City of Kamloops said...
'Our new meeting place'; Patrons pleased Tk'emlups Starbucks is now open
It's been a week since a new Starbucks opened at Chief Louis Crossing on the Tk'emlups reserve, and it's already proving popular with patrons. The...
Warriors edge Salmon Arm on Peachland Warriors night
The West Kelowna Warriors remain unbeaten in regulation time when they don the peach sweaters. To recognize their neighbours to the south in what has become an...
Penticton's first head spa opens up, offering 'headicures' to help promote health and wellbeing
Penticton is now home to its first head spa — a unique holistic service promoting health and well-being through scalp treatments. Recently opened inside...
Crime Stoppers asking for public assistance in locating a man wanted for fleeing from cops
Penticton RCMP and the South Okanagan Similkameen Crime Stoppers are asking people to keep an eye out for a man wanted on an outstanding warrant. In a social...
Vancouver mayor Ken Sim calls for pause on ‘net new supportive housing’
Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim announced Thursday that he will bring a motion before council to pause any “net new supportive housing units” in the city...
Salmon Arm's newest snowplow Snow Chute is ready to work
The newly-christened Snow Chute has arrived in Salmon Arm and is ready for snow-clearing duty. The City of Salmon Arm’s newest snowplow in the fleet was...
Clarence Fulton Secondary School student wins Vernon Junior Good Citizens award
A Clarence Fulton Secondary School student has won the Vernon Junior Good Citizens award. Ash Burdett, 15, is involved with the Family Resource Centre, Vernon...
Okanagan Sun to hold annual general meeting Feb. 8
The Okanagan Mainline Football Society, the organization that operates the Okanagan Sun football club, will hold its annual general meeting Feb. 8. The AGM is...
Oliver, Osoyoos fire crews tackle fire inside mobile home
South Okanagan fire crews worked hard to contain a structure fire from inside a mobile home on Friday afternoon. Rob Graham, deputy fire chief said they were...
OneWorld festival returning to Penticton, with special tribute to beloved 'Grandma' Grace Greyeyes
South Okanagan Immigrant & Community Services is especially excited to welcome the community to the 12th annual OneWorld Multicultural Festival, because...
Merritt mayor sending another bill for 2024 closures of Nicola Valley Hospital emergency room
The Nicola Valley Hospital’s emergency room was closed for 20 days in 2024 and Merritt city council is once again sending the province the bill. Mayor...
GoFundMe for Edgewood Ostrich farmers surpasses fundraising goal
The GoFundMe created for the Edgewood ostrich farmers has surpassed its original fundraising goal. Since its launch, the campaign has raised funds for legal...
Election officers named ahead of Okanagan Falls incorporation vote
The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen board of directors has chosen its election officers for the upcoming Okanagan Falls incorporation vote, which was...
Regional District North Okanagan provided thousands of dollars for area projects
Greater Vernon Trails and Natural Spaces Project grants have been awarded to several North Okanagan groups. The Regional District North Okanagan awards annual...
Haggis, bagpipes and more this weekend at annual Robbie Burns celebration gala in Penticton
It's not quite too late to embrace everything Scottish at the annual Robbie Burns Night celebration gala this weekend. On Saturday, Jan. 25, from 4:45 p.m....
Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society hopes to bring families together with free fun activities during Unplug and Play Family Literacy Week
The Literacy Alliance of the Shuswap Society(LASS) wants families to take a break from their screens and spend some time in their communities during their...
Irwin Chahal steps up as rural Oliver director on RDOS board, following predecessor's death
Rural Oliver has a new representative on the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen board of directors. Area C director Rick Knodel died in early January,...
BC Parks Foundation supports expansion park to protect Western Painted Turtles
The Western Painted Turtles likely don’t know someone is looking out for them. Earlier this week the province purchased over 65 hectares near Rosebud Lake...
Bear activity is down, but ‘dispatched’ bear numbers rise in the human-wildlife arena in 2024
The season for bears in the West Kootenay in 2024 was silent but deadly as activity was reported as low but the amount of bears killed was among the highest in...
Hall Street Pier in demand for weddings and city sets the price
West Arm of Kootenay Lake’s newest pier is open for business. Hall Street Pier has been in demand for bookings for weddings since it was completed last...
'Local loot needs your love': New community plan could boost shop local initiatives
Local businesses are the heartbeat of Nelson, and the city's new Official Community Plan offers residents a chance to help them thrive. Executive director...
Water, wastewater and resource recovery rates head uphill in city budget
An extra $100 per year is coming out of the wallets of Nelsonites to cover the increasing utility costs of municipal water, wastewater and resource recovery. On...
Local entertainer challenges stereotypes through storytelling
Local actor Lucas Myers said despite considering himself more of a wallflower, he finds inspiration by channelling personas contrary to his own. “It's...
Castlegar Nordic Ski Club is back with their Track the Troll campaign
The term trolling has adopted a new meaning over the years, but in this case, it's all about a game of hide and seek. The Castlegar Nordic Ski Club (CNSC)...
David Dobie's art exhibition seeks to challenge perceptions of nature and reality
The art scene in the Kootenays continues to thrive with the upcoming art exhibition, Shifting Design III, by artist David Dobie. Nelson audiences had the...
Level of calls for service drops in 2024: Castlegar RCMP
There has been a 19 per cent decline in crime statistics in the last four years in Castlegar, RCMP are reporting. In 2021 there were a total 4,587 calls for...
