Good progress on wildfire
Fire damages longhouse
Flights cancelled, delayed
Liberals under fire 
Public servants set to strike
Premier tours wildfire zones
Israel attacks Iran
At least 5 dead, 2 missing 
Powerful moment captured
Top court tries Facebook 
Crypto industry shows off
Minerals give China an edge 
Blazers open against Chiefs
Canada coach irate 
Welcoming Bautista
Brad Pitt admits mistakes
Former MTV host dies
Sabrina Carpenter 'too sexy'
Top Stories for April 28, 2025
Trump says Canada should become U.S. state as president weighs in on Canadian vote
U.S. President Donald Trump has weighed in on the Canadian election, repeating his claim that Canada should become an American state after his tariffs and...
'Heartbroken and overwhelmed': Families mourn loved ones, victims in ICU
Victim Services: Resources are available through the VPD Victim Services Unit: 604-717-2737 and VictimLinkBC: call or text 1-800-563-0808, or email...
Dan Albas wins 5th term in Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna
UPDATE 9:55 p.m. Conservative MP Dan Albas will represent Okanagan Lake West-South Kelowna in Ottawa, and he's optimistic about what he'll be able to do...
Power fully restored in the North Okanagan
UPDATE 10:32 p.m. Power has been restored to the remaining homes without power in the North Okanagan. According to BC Hydro power was restored at about 8:30...
RCMP investigating after human remains found in rural area near Kamloops
Police have now revealed their presence in the Cherry Creek area earlier this month was the result of finding human remains in the rural location west of...
Black Eyed Peas star in shock over Vancouver festival tragedy
Black Eyed Peas star Apl.de.ap is in "shock" after leaving the stage just "minutes" before the attack on a festival in Canada on Saturday. A...
Polls open until 7 p.m. in the Central Okanagan for Canada's 45th general election
UPDATE 3:50 p.m. Despite the rain, a steady stream of people passed through the doors of the Parkinson Recreation Centre to cast their ballots in the Kelowna...
Unsafe sexual enhancement products seized, recalled in Canada
Health Canada has issued a recall notice for a list of unauthorized sexual health promoted for sexual enhancement due to hazardous ingredients. In a recall...
Autopsy confirms Gene Hackman died from heart disease, notes his Alzheimer's and prolonged fasting
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The main cause of Gene Hackman's death was heart disease, but he was also in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease and...
Health Canada issues recalls for two separate medical devices
Canada's federal health agency has issued recalls for two separate medical devices over settings issues. Health Canada issued a recall for specific general...
Third time's the charm for Helena Konanz in Similkameen-South Okanagan-West Kootenay riding
UPDATE 9:55 p.m. After two previous attempts at a spot in Parliament, the third time appears to have been the charm for a Penticton city councillor. Helena...
Conservative candidate elected in Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee riding
UPDATE 9:25 p.m. Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee MP-elect Scott Anderson says he will do his best to represent the riding. Anderson told Castanet he's very...
Global charity run hits Kelowna on May 4
Kelowna will join thousands around the world for a one-of-a-kind race with no finish line — just the thrill of running for a cause. The Wings for Life...
Elections Canada reports website outage
Getting the latest information from the Elections Canada website is a challenge for some. "Some electors are experiencing difficulties accessing Elections...
In light of increasing use of vehicles as deadly weapons in crowds, does security need to be increased at public gatherings in your community?
A car ramming Saturday at a Filipino community festival in Vancouver that killed 11 people marks at least the fourth attack in seven years in which vehicles...
Trump is celebrating the Super Bowl champ Eagles, but star QB Jalen Hurts is skipping the ceremony
President Donald Trump is hosting the 2025 Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles at the White House on Monday, but several players, including quarterback...
Kamloops RCMP seek public help to find missing woman
Mounties are asking for the public’s help to find a missing woman believed to be in the Kamloops area. Kamloops RCMP says Kelsey Lazic, 30, was reported...
Convicted murderer claims B.C. prison wrongfully took books including 'Mein Kampf'
A convicted murderer who kept his victim's severed head in a bucket claims prison authorities in British Columbia are wrongfully withholding books he has...
UBC Okanagan announces Bachelor of Commerce degree for 2026
The University of British Columbia Okanagan is offering a new Bachelor of Commerce program featuring an industry-aligned curriculum and specialized...
Vernon and Coldstream to temporarily close all sports fields including baseball diamonds
UPDATE 3:51 p.m. The City of Vernon is closing sports fields due to the rain. Effective immediately, all city-owned grass sports fields including baseball...
City of Kelowna adopts budget, approves 4.34% tax increase
The City of Kelowna adopted this year's budget Monday, approving a 4.34% tax increase. In a press release issued Monday afternoon, the city said the tax...
Boater helps Kamloops Mounties rescue distressed woman from Thompson River
A life was very likely saved on Sunday night when the quick thinking of two Kamloops Mounties and a civilian boater pulled a distressed woman to safety from the...
Jagmeet Singh to step down as NDP Leader after losing seat
Jagmeet Singh says he will step down as the leader of the NDP as soon as new interim leader is chosen. Singh conceded defeat in his British Columbia riding of...
Rob Manfred says he discussed Pete Rose's status with Donald Trump and will rule on reinstatement
NEW YORK (AP) — Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said he discussed Pete Rose with President Donald Trump at a meeting two weeks ago and he plans to rule on a...
The Vietnam War ended 50 years ago, but the battle with Agent Orange continues
The Vietnam War ended on April 30, 1975, when the South Vietnamese capital of Saigon fell to Communist forces. But millions of people still face daily battles...
Police dealt with suspect one day before deadly Vancouver festival attack
The suspect in Saturday's deadly Filipino festival attack in Vancouver had an encounter with police in a neighbouring municipality the day before. Sgt....
Conservative Caputo re-elected to second term as Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola MP
UPDATE: 10:22 p.m. Miguel Godau says it's a “hard time” for the NDP party and in Canadian politics. As the NDP candidate, he netted 2,652 votes...
Chance of showers gives way to sunny, hot weather this week in the Okanagan
Some rain is possible at the start and the end of this week, but otherwise it should be sunny and hot. There’s a 30 to 40 per cent chance of showers on...
Penticton's Warren Avenue site of crash Monday afternoon
There is a traffic incident on Warren Avenue West blocking the turnoff onto the Channel Parkway Monday afternoon. A Castanet reporter on scene reports it...
NASA's oldest astronaut felt the decades melt away in space before returning on his 70th birthday
Fresh from space, NASA’s oldest full-time astronaut said Monday that weightlessness made him feel decades younger, with everyday aches and pains...
City of Vernon bylaw officers dealt with hundreds of files in 2024
City officials will be getting a detailed look at what tasks Vernon Protective Services did in 2024, with nearly half of the calls in the Business Improvement...
Spanish distributor says restoring power after huge outage could take 6-10 hours. Portugal also hit
Spanish power distributor Red Eléctrica said that restoring power to large parts of the country after a massive and unprecedented outage Monday that also...
Highway 1 down to single lane alternating traffic near Cache Creek
The Trans-Canada Highway is down to single lane alternating traffic east of Cache Creek. According to DriveBC a car crash between Back Valley Road and Juniper...
New trial set to begin in former world junior hockey players' sexual assault case
The sexual assault trial of five former members of Canada's world junior hockey team is set to begin today in London, Ont. Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex...
Condo sales climb as downsizers flock to Eminence at Knox Mountain
The Central Okanagan condo market is heating up, with recent numbers from the Association of Interior Realtors showing a notable 13.6% increase in condominium...
Two Kelowna fundraising events nominated for their excellence
A pair of Kelowna events are up for national awards based on how they were organized. Child & Youth Advocacy Centre’s Once in a Blue Moon and KGH...
Incumbent Conservative Mel Arnold elected as MP for Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies
UPDATE: 10:13 p.m. Newly-elected Conservative MP Mel Arnold thanked his campaign volunteers and voters after learning he would be returning to Ottawa to...
Kamloops lawyer's murder trial paused for two days after new disclosure comes in
The high-profile trial of a Kamloops lawyer accused of murdering his client, a Thompson Rivers University professor, is on pause until Wednesday. Butch...
Vernon Search and Rescue successfully found two missing campers in the Mabel Lake area
It took until the wee hours of the morning, but Vernon Search and Rescue located a pair of stranded campers. At 10:30 p.m. Sunday night, VSAR was asked by the...
Stock market today: Wall Street drifts higher ahead of a busy week for markets
U.S. stocks are drifting at the start of a week with many potential flashpoints for markets including earnings reports and economic data. The S&P 500 was up...
Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers hosts spring shredding event in Kelowna
Here’s your chance to get rid of those piles of paper stacking up in your filing cabinet or storage room. Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers hosts its 9th...
Corey Perry doing Corey Perry things helps Oilers square up series with Kings
EDMONTON — Corey Perry is pushing 40 years old and continues to be an NHL playoff X factor. A player loved by teammates and loathed by opponents for 21...
S&P/TSX composite up on election day, U.S. stock markets mixed
Canada's main stock index saw a modest uplift Monday as the federal election campaign came to an end, while U.S. markets were mixed ahead of earnings...
Deciphering the reasons behind Shedeur Sanders' stunning free fall in the NFL draft
It's not often that the 144th overall pick is the biggest story of the NFL draft. But Shedeur Sanders was not the usual 144th pick and his situation transcended...
NDP’s Vancouver Island stronghold shattered by rival parties
Voters on the Island opted Monday night for a “patchwork quilt” of colours, spreading victories in the Island’s seven ridings among four major...
Smile Cookie campaign kicks off in Kelowna, West Kelowna
The YMCA Healthy Snack program will be the recipient of proceeds raised during this year’s Tim Hortons Smile Cookie campaign in the Central Okanagan. The...
Putin thanks North Korea for troop deployment and promises not to forget their sacrifices
Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korea Monday for fighting alongside his troops against Ukrainian forces and promised not to forget their...
The Latest: Nations must choose sides as Trump's trade war pits US against China
Nations are being forced to choose between siding with China or the U.S. as President Donald Trump’s trade war locks the world’s two largest...
A trial begins in Paris over 2016 jewel heist aimed at Kim Kardashian
A trial has started in Paris over the 2016 heist in which armed robbers tied up Kim Kardashian in her bedroom and stole millions of dollars’ worth of...
Flags at half-mast at Richmond City Hall in wake of Filipino street party tragedy
The flags at Richmond City Hall will be lowered to half-mast for this week to commemorate the deaths of 11 people on Saturday at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in...
Cannes unveils jury including Halle Berry and Jeremy Strong
Halle Berry, Jeremy Strong and Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia will be among the jury members at this year's Cannes Film Festival deciding the Palme d'Or...
Speaking to large and small audiences
When it comes to public speaking, some might assume the bigger the audience, the scarier the experience. But that isn’t always the case. Some of the most...
How bugs and beet juice could play roles in the race to replace artificial dyes in food
As pressure grows to get artificial colors out of the U.S. food supply, the shift may well start at Abby Tampow’s laboratory desk. On an April afternoon,...
Loss of FEMA program spells disaster for hundreds of communities and their projects
The textile mills that once served as the backbone of Mount Pleasant, North Carolina, have long been shuttered, and officials believed federal money would be...
Accident on Highway 97A near Tolko sawmill by Armstrong
Emergency crews are a the scene of an accident near the Tolko plant on Highway 97A between Vernon and Armstrong. The accident is in the southbound lane, and is...
Do you know the rate of returns in your financial plan?
What rate of return is your advisor using when they prepare retirement plans or investment proposals for you? If you don’t know, it’s time to start...
Palestinian envoy tells UN court Israel is killing Gaza civilians. Israel says it’s being persecuted
A Palestinian diplomat told the United Nations’ top court on Monday that Israel is killing and displacing civilians and targeting aid workers in Gaza, in...
Green co-leader Elizabeth May retains seat in Saanich-Gulf Islands
Green party co-leader Elizabeth May, who has held the Saanich-Gulf Islands seat since 2011, will be returning to Ottawa. May, who throughout the campaign felt...
Scotiabank says KeyCorp results will add about $62M to its second-quarter net income
Scotiabank says its ownership stake in U.S. bank KeyCorp will contribute about $62 million to its second-quarter net income. The Canadian bank says the amount...
Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee riding has four federal candidates to chose from
It’s decision day in Canada and voters across the country will take to the polls to elect a federal government. Here in Vernon-Lake Country-Monashee,...
History, pride and storytelling through wine in the South Okanagan
"Four seasons of fun" is an ongoing collaboration between Castanet and Visit Penticton showcasing what Penticton has to offer all year round. Watch...
Playwright announced as winner of Judy Wapp Art Fellowship award
A Winlaw-based playwright is the inaugural winner of the Judy Wapp Art Fellowship Award, announced on April 20. Marya Folinsbee takes home the new annual award...
Rob Morrison declared winner in Columbia-Kootenay-Southern Rockies
UPDATE 11:51 p.m. Conservative candidate Rob Morrison has been declared the winner in the Columbia-Kootenay-Southern Rockies riding. Morrison, previously the...
Is Vancouver a safe city? Questions asked in wake of attack
Is Vancouver a safe city? It’s a question many are asking after Saturday night’s deadly attack at the Lapu Lapu Day festival, where 11 people died...
Many will need care after Vancouver festival attack that killed 11, organizer says
An organizer of the Filipino festival in Vancouver that was devastated by a "meaningless tragedy" says there are many who will need help to recover...
Barrick Gold looks to change name to Barrick Mining as it builds copper business
Barrick Gold Corp. announced plans to change its name to Barrick Mining Corp. as it looks to continue to grow its copper business. The new moniker is subject to...
Voters go to the polls today after a 35-day election campaign packed with promises
After a short, intense and heated election campaign, Canadians are casting their ballots in a historic election to choose the next federal government. Liberal...
Russia declares a ceasefire in Ukraine on May 8-10 for WWII Victory Day
Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Monday declared a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine on May 8-10 to mark the World War II Victory Day, as U.S. President...
Westsyde Community Development Society aims to fundraise, build new skate park
Residents in Westsyde are hoping to break ground on a new skate park by next year, but first they want to hear from the community what should be included in the...
Houthi rebels say alleged US airstrike that hit Yemen prison holding African migrants kills 68
Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Monday alleged a U.S. airstrike hit a prison holding African migrants, killing at least 68 people and wounding 47 others. The...
B.C.'s fertility rate drops to record lows but there may be cultural and societal changes driving it
It used to be seen as unusual, even taboo, to have a child in your mid to late thirties, but cultural and economic shifts are making it become the norm. Rhonda...
Conclave to elect a new pope will start on May 7 as cardinals get to know one another
Catholic cardinals on Monday set May 7 as the start date for the conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor, delaying the secret voting for two days so they...
Everything you need to know to exercise your civic duty this election day
Today is election day. Here is everything you need to know to exercise your civic duty. Canada’s 45th federal election campaign has been a two-horse race....
Canadian honey producers warn that retaliatory tariffs could sting the beekeepers and the honey production market
Lee also owns Swan Valley Honey in Creston alongside his wife, Amanda, which produces local wildflower honey. Peak pollination season for bees typically begins...
Environment Canada calls for week of sunny skies, daytime highs around 25 C
The Kamloops area is expected to see clear and sunny conditions over the coming week, with temperatures predicted to reach highs of 25 C. Monday will see...
Steady turnout at South Okanagan polls
Voters have steadily been turning out in the South Okanagan throughout Election Day in Canada. Castanet visited several polls throughout the South Okanagan...
Oliver community members join Vaisakhi parade celebrations
Community members celebrated Vaisakhi with a parade in Oliver on Sunday. "We had the best seat in the house for the Vaisakhi parade today," said the...
Kootenay-Boundary region given almost $2 million in grant funding for wildfire risk reduction
Nine projects worth $1.9 million to reduce wildfire risk, enhance forest health and get more fibre into the hands of mills and energy producers have been...
Another temporary ER closure for Lillooet Hospital and Health Centre
The Lillooet Hospital and Health Centre emergency room will be closed over Monday night. It’s the latest in a series of closures for the ER, which has...
Castlegar approves design-build contract for park renewal project in Brandson
A wish list for Brandson neighbourhood park in Castlegar has been approved and now the pieces are being assembled to bring those wishes into reality this fall....
