Top Stories – March 7 – Putin Blames Ukraine

A second attempt to evacuate civilians from a besieged city in southern Ukraine collapsed Sunday amid renewed Russian shelling. Russian President Vladimir Putin turned the blame for the war back on Ukraine and said Moscow’s invasion could be halted ‘only if Kyiv ceases hostilities.’ The war is now in its 12th day, and has caused 1.5 million people to flee the country, and the head of the U.N. refugee agency called the exodus the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is in Europe to meet with allies about the intensifying situation in Ukraine. He has meetings today in London with the prime ministers of Britain and the Netherlands. In the days to come, Trudeau is to meet with other leaders in Latvia, Berlin and Warsaw.

There were two events in Kelowna yesterday protesting the war in Ukraine. One saw people on the pedestrian overpass on Highway 97 while the other was more like a peace rally at The Sails. In both cases there were calls of support for the people of Ukraine and funds are being raised for protection and humanitarian aid.

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If you are heading to the hospital, take some extra loonies and toonies with you as the days of free parking are over. However free parking continues for patients receiving dialysis treatment or undergoing cancer treatment in acute-care programs, and for patents and caregivers of children staying in the hospital overnight. Volunteers are still able to park for free.

Interior Health still can’t get below 100 when it comes to new daily covid cases. There were 113 on Friday as part of 340 in the province. The region with the lowest number was Vancouver Coastal at 41.

Starting today, rapid antigen test kits will be available through community pharmacies to people aged 60 and older. Those eligible can pick up one kit containing five tests every 28 days from participating pharmacies at no cost. Take your personal health number when picking it up.

The official global death toll from COVID-19 has just passed 6 million, underscoring that the pandemic, now in its third year, is far from over. As death rates remain high in Poland, Hungary, Romania and other Eastern European countries, the region has seen more than 1 million refugees arrive from war-torn Ukraine. There have been 37-thousand deaths in Canada… about 3-thousand more than the population of Penticton.

Interior Health’s next virtual career fair will be held tomorrow from 9am to 4pm and is aimed at all positions in I-H. Those interested in attending can book an online one-on-one session and meet their recruiter. There are opportunities for Aboriginal careers, environmental public health, health care assistants, laboratory, mental health, nursing, and more. Details on the Interior Health website.

The Regional District Recycling Ambassadors are back on the streets this spring and summer, randomly peeking under the blue lid and inside curbside recycling carts. In addition to the cart checks, the ambassadors will be placing a handy reference guide sticker right on the carts to highlight what goes in and what stays out.

Sports

Three wins in 3 games on weekend for the Kelowna Rockets. On Friday, it was a 5-4 OT win against Victoria, then it was home and away against the Giants where the Rockets won 5-3 on Saturday at Prospera to secure a playoff spot, and yesterday in Langley it was a 5-4 win over the Giants.

Jim Barker will not be part of TSN’s CFL broadcasts this year. He returns to Toronto to be part of the Argos’ front office staff.

The West Kelowna Warriors picked up a road win against Trail on Friday night. Then, back home against Prince George on Saturday the locals took a 5-0 shutout win. They’re in Vernon on Wednesday.

Major League Baseball and the Major League Players Association are at another impasse in negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement. Yesterday was the first time both sides got together since discussions fell apart last Tuesday.

After their win against Toronto on the weekend, the Vancouver Canucks are off for a couple of days. On Wednesday they begin a 7 game homestand as Montreal visits Rogers Arena.

Scottie Scheffler won the PGA’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill yesterday ending at just 5 under for the 4 days. Abbotsford’s Nick Taylor was top Canadian, 10 shots back.