Top Stories – Nov 2 – Illicit Drug Changes?

BC is asking Ottawa for an exemption from the criminal penalties for people who possess small amounts of illicit drugs for personal use. Included would be possession of up to 4.5 grams of illicit drugs, including heroin and fentanyl. Victoria says substance use and addiction is a public health issue, not a criminal one. If approved, police would not seize drugs from people.

The Canadian Dairy Commission is recommending an 8.4 percent increase in milk prices. It is expected to raise the cost of dairy products on store shelves in the new year. The increase is nearly double the previous record of 4.52 percent set in 2017.

The global death toll from COVID-19 topped 5 million yesterday, less than two years into a crisis that has not only devastated poor countries but also humbled wealthy ones. The U.S. alone has recorded over 745-thousand lives lost, more than any other nation. There have been just over 29-thousand deaths in Canada.

This past summer’s record-breaking heat claimed the lives of at least 595 British Columbians, according to updated data from the BC Coroners Service. The largest number took place between June 25 and July 1, when a heat-dome weather event resulted temperature records throughout the province. Temps hit the mid to upper 40s in the Okanagan.

Surgeries in some BC hospitals are being postponed due to staffing shortages created by several thousand unvaccinated health-care workers who have been put on unpaid leave. Health Minister Adrian Dix says there are currently 33-hundred health workers who have not been immunized, with Interior Health holding the largest portion of those at just over one thousand. Kelowna General Hospital has shut down two operating rooms this week due the shortages.

There may have been 222 new cases of covid-19 for Interior Health over the 3 days of the weekend but the number of active cases dropped by almost 100 to 588. Fraser Health is once again a hotbed posting 603 of the 1,370 new cases in BC. Sadly, in the 72 hour period, 25 new deaths were reported including 7 in the interior.

November 1 meant reduced services or closed access gates to some Regional Parks until March 31, while the parks remain open for walkers. Check rdco.com/pickapark for the hours and parking access information for the 30 regional parks in the Central Okanagan. It can also tell you what parks are dog friendly.

As all direct BC government employees must be fully vaccinated by the 22nd, Victoria has outlined other requirements for some who are not employed by the government. For instance, contractors and others accessing employee-only areas of indoor public-service workplaces must be fully vaccinated by Dec. 13. This does not apply to members of the public accessing government services.

Those who got two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine are recommended to get a booster shot six months after their last dose. Dr. Bonnie Henry said it has provided strong protection against serious illness, but lower protection against infection. The booster doses will be optional, and will be either Pfizer or Moderna.

Sports

The Canucks will try to get back in the win column tonight when they host the Rangers at Rogers Arena. Vancouver has lost all 3 home games it has played so far. Thatcher Demko is expected to start in goal.

Commissioner Gary Bettman defended the NHL’s decisions following an investigation into the Blackhawks’ handling of sexual assault allegations in 2010. He called the organization’s $2 million fine “significant” and stood by decisions to let Joel Quenneville coach one more game in Florida before resigning. He was Chicago’s head coach
when the allegations surfaced.

Monday Night Football in Kansas City saw the Chiefs get back to .500 for the season at 4 & 4 thanks to a 20-17 win over the New York Giants who drop to 2 & 6.

The Chicago Blackhawks say star forward Patrick Kane, along with assistant coaches Tomas Mitell and Matt Meacham, have returned from COVID-19 protocol. Kane initially entered protocol on October 24 along with two other players.

The Atlanta Braves can win the World Series with a win tonight in Houston. They lead the Astros 3 games to 2.

The Denver Broncos are trading Von Miller to the Los Angeles Rams. L.A. will send a 2022 second and third round pick in exchange. The Broncos are also paying $9 million of the pass-rusher’s remaining $9.7 million salary.