Top Stories – Jan 21 – Teachers Take Tests

200-thousand rapid antigen test kits are being shipped to kindergarten-to-Grade 12 schools for use by staff, teachers and administrators with symptoms of COVID. The number of staff will determine the number of tests received by each school district, independent school and First Nation school. The Ministry of Health and the Office of the Public Health Officer will direct how the tests are best used.

A big jump in covid infections for the Central Okanagan last week. The BCCDC reports 836 cases, almost double what it was the week before. The number of cases in the Vernon area was down a bit, while they increased a bit in Penticton.

It’s still not as expensive as cable, but it’s getting closer. Netflix is raising subscription rates for all customers except those with the $9.99 standard definition plan. The high def with 2 streams goes to 16.49 from 14.99, while the top tier Ultra HD increases by 2 bucks to 20.99 .

The days of free parking at hospitals is coming to an end. Hospitals in BC, will begin charging for parking for visitors, staff and some patients after waiving fees since April 1, 2020. The change comes into effect March 4. Free parking will continue for patients undergoing dialysis, cancer treatments in acute-care programs, volunteers and for parents of children staying overnight in the hospital.

Nominations are being accepted for the Order of British Columbia, the Province’s highest honour. People who have demonstrated outstanding achievement, excellence or distinction in a field of endeavour benefiting people are eligible. Go to gov.bc.ca/orderofbc for more info.

Interior Health recorded 563 new cases of covid-19 yesterday while 2,150 were reported for all of BC. Hospitalizations in the region are now at 100, with 17 patients in critical care. An additional 15 deaths from the virus, including 2 in the interior were reported, and 89.8 percent of those 12 and over have had 2 vaccines.

BC’s police watchdog says an off-duty officer involved in a fatal Seadoo collision on Okanagan Lake in August was not at fault. The officer said he and a friend had rented the watercraft and were travelling at high speed when his friend slowed and turned into his path, resulting in a t-bone crash. The Independent Investigations Office found the evidence matched up with the officer’s claims.

Canada’s Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller says Ottawa has reached an agreement with the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. They will hand over more records on residential schools that Ottawa had been holding back. Survivors have long called on the federal government to release remaining records that it had refused to disclose, citing legal reasons.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly says Canada will join allies in imposing severe sanctions on Russian officials if it takes further military action to compromise Ukrainian sovereignty. Russia has positioned about 100-thousand troops across Ukraine’s borders along with tanks and other heavy artillery, stoking fears across Europe of an invasion, but Russia has denied it intends to do that.

Sports

The Vancouver Canucks are back home tonight to take on Florida, one of the teams they lost to on their recent road trip. However, they could be without two star players as goalie Thatcher Demko and forward J.T. Miller both tested positive for the virus via rapid tests yesterday and were waiting for further results.

The Kelowna Rockets were supposed to begin a 5 game road trip tonight in Everett before team activities were paused by covid. Tonight’s game and tomorrow’s against Vancouver will be played at later dates.

In the BC Hockey League this weekend, the West Kelowna Warriors have 2 home games. Wenatchee visits Royal LePage Place tomorrow at 7, while Cranbrook is on the west side at 2:30 on Sunday.

The Kelowna Chiefs have a 7pm home game at Rutland Arena against the North Okanagan Knights tonight. Then tomorrow they hit the road for the return visit to Armstrong.

It’s divisional playoff weekend in the NFL. Tomorrow’s games have Cincinnati at Tennessee and the 49ers travelling to Green Bay. On Sunday Tampa Bay hosts the Rams, while Buffalo goes to Arrowhead to take on the Chiefs.

The Tampa Bay Rays’ plan to split their home schedule between Florida and Montreal is off. Rays officials claimed it was their best long-term option and dismissed their chances of finding a new stadium in the Tampa area.