Top Stories – Nov 30 – Border Changes Today

Changes for non-essential border travel into the United States go into effect today for visits of less than 72 hours. To get INTO the States you need to show proof of being fully vaccinated along with the usual ID such as a passport. For coming back into Canada, it’s pretty much the same, along with filling out the ArriveCAN app and being able to prove it has been 72 hours or less. A negative PCR test is no longer required. However for trips longer than 72 hours the test is still needed.

Let the milk and meat roll in. Highways 3 and 99 have reopened to essential traffic. Due to ongoing cleanup and repairs on the Hope-Princeton, drivers can expect delays on that section of highway 3. Highway 7 also remains open for essential traffic. Highway 1 in the Valley and to Hope remains closed.

The first kids aged 5-11 in BC started to receive covid vaccines yesterday. They must be registered at getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca . There were 189 new cases in Interior Health over the past 3 days which included 55 yesterday. Sadly, there were 4 additional deaths in the interior over the weekend, bringing the total to 292.

Don’t get the skates out just yet. Because of the unseasonably warm weather, the opening of the Stuart Park ice rink has been postponed until Friday when it’s forecast to be cooler. A still-image live cam is set up at the rink so you can check ice and crowd conditions or see if the rink is closed for weather related maintenance before heading down.

The Lake Country RCMP is hosting its 2nd annual Toy Drive for the Lake Country Food Bank from now through December 10. Anyone who wishes to donate a new, unwrapped toy or gift cards for a family in need, is invited to drop their donation at the Detachment on Berry Road. In Kelowna this past weekend, they collected 631 toys and they received $1,162 in monetary donations.

Barbados is waving goodbye to Queen Elizabeth as head of state as it cuts ties with its colonial past and becomes a republic for the first time in history. It comes a month after the Parliament of the former British colony once nicknamed “Little England” elected its first ever president in a two-thirds majority vote.

A 45 year old man potentially faces 9 charges after police conducted a raid at a home in the 1300 block of Gordon Drive in Kelowna. They seized 20-thousand dollars in stolen audio equipment and a number of handguns. The investigation is on-going and charges related to the stolen property and firearms will be recommended to BC Prosecution Services.

With coastal and southwestern BC facing heavy rainfall while recovering from severe flooding, the Province is extending the temporary measure to prioritize fuel for essential vehicles and the provincial state of emergency until December 14. The fuel order applies to all fuel suppliers in the Lower Mainland-to-Hope region, the Sea-to-Sky region, Sunshine Coast, the Gulf Islands and Vancouver Island.

The organization governing Quebec’s maple syrup producers is releasing half its strategic reserve to address a global shortage. The group will be releasing 50 million pounds of maple syrup worth about $150 million on the world market by February. Last year’s warm winter resulted in the production of about 133 million pounds of syrup, down 40 million compared with the prior year.

Sports

In Montreal yesterday, Elias Pettersson and Conor Garland scored for the Canucks in a 2-1 win over the Canadiens to break a 4 game losing skid. They’ll wrap up this road trip tomorrow in Ottawa.

The Seattle Mariners and reigning A-L Cy Young winner Robbie Ray are finalizing a five-year, $115-million deal. While pitching for the Blue Jays last season, he recorded an MLB-best 248 strikeouts.

Monday Night Football was in Landover, Maryland and it was not a good one for suffering Seahawks supporters as they lost 17-15 to Washington. Seattle’s record now 3 wins against 8 losses and they have virtually no chance of post season play.

Fenway Sports Group, owners of the Boston Red Sox and Liverpool, have signed an agreement to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins for an undisclosed amount. Previous majority owners, Ron Burkle and Mario Lemieux, will remain part of the ownership group.

Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand received a three-game suspension for slew-footing Vancouver defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson on Sunday. He has a history with the Canucks as he was suspended five games for clipping blue-liner Sami Salo in 2012, and he sent Daniel Sedin flying during Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Final in 2011.

The New York Mets and free-agent ace Max Scherzer agreed to a three-year, $130-million contract. The three-time Cy Young winner’s reported deal would bring the Mets’ projected payroll for 2022 to around $265 million.