Top Stories – March 4 – Nuke Power Plant Targeted

Russian forces battled for control of the Ukrainian city that is home to the biggest nuclear power plant in Europe yesterday. They also gained ground in their bid to cut off the country from the sea, as Ukrainian leaders called on citizens to rise up and wage guerrilla war against the invaders. The United Nations’ atomic watchdog agency expressed grave concern that the fighting could cause accidental damage to Ukraine’s 15 nuclear reactors.

Seven countries that ring the Arctic have pulled out of the international body that oversees its use and development in protest of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Canada, the United States, Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark and Finland won’t participate in the work of the Arctic Council or attend any of its meetings until further notice. The Council is currently led by Russia.

After a whole lot of pressure, the International Paralympics Association changed its mind and banned athletes from Russia and Belarus from the Beijing games. It had originally said they could compete as neutral athletes. Other countries had threatened to withdraw from the games if the IPA didn’t reverse it’s decision.

Don’t expect any relief at the gas pump from the provincial government. In fact, Premier John Horgan confirmed that the carbon tax increase of a penny a litre will go ahead as scheduled April 1st. He says the taxes go to road building, transit, and ensuring infrastructure is safe and modern.

Interior Health had the most new cases of covid 19 in the province yesterday at 100, while there were 391 in all of BC. In our region there were 96 people in hospital…. 14 of them in intensive care. There were 13 covid deaths in BC… 3 in the interior.

The benchmark price for a single family home in the Central Okanagan remained just above one million dollars last month. However sales dropped 20 percent to 231 units. Sales also dropped 20 percent for townhomes and the benchmark price was just under 740-thousand dollars… up 31 percent from a year ago.

Canada’s top banker says raising the Bank of Canada’s benchmark interest rate may be costly for households, but waiting longer to act would be more costly for the country. Governor Tiff Macklem says the economy has hit its productive capacity and demand for goods remains high. He says the country needs higher rates to slow spending growth so demand doesn’t run ahead of supply and increase already high inflation rates.

BCAA conducted a survey and found 68% said that they are seriously thinking of traveling, 22% are actively planning a trip, and 10% have already booked a trip outside Canada. However, 84% of British Columbians are concerned about getting stuck due to covid rules changing or testing positive and having to quarantine, versus fear of actually getting sick from the virus.

Ottawa has launched what it calls the Canada Digital Adoption Program. It is designed to help small and medium-sized businesses grow their online presence and upgrade or adopt digital technologies. It will provide 4 Billion dollars over four years, and is supposed to support up to 160-thousand small businesses.

Sports

Two goals in 45 seconds in the 3rd period gave the Vancouver Canucks a 4 to 3 win over the New York Islanders to improve this road trip record to 2 wins and 1 loss. The 4 game trip wraps up tomorrow at 4 in Toronto.

Heading into the second day of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, Rory McIlroy sits atop the leaderboard after shooting 7 under par. Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor is 5 shots back.

It’s another 3 game weekend for the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets starting with a homer tonight against Victoria. The Vancouver Giants visit Prospera tomorrow night, then both teams head to Langley for a Sunday game.

The size of a quarterback’s hands in the NFL is actually a thing. At the league combine, prospect Kelly Pickett’s hands measured 8.5 inches. No quarterback in the NFL has hands smaller than 9 inches. Now you know.

The West Kelowna Warriors are in Trail tonight for the second of a two game road trip. They are back at Royal LePage Place to host the Prince George Spruce Kings tomorrow at 7.

The NFL and the players’ association agreed to suspend all aspects of the joint COVID-19 protocols. Masks, monitoring devices, and social distancing will no longer be enforced at team facilities, though clubs must still comply with state or local laws.