Top Stories – June 2 – Crime Stats Up

Kelowna RCMP Superintendent Kara Triance updated council on safety and crime data from the first four months of 2022. Compared to the same time last year, stats show a 13% increase in commercial break and enters; a 15% increase in residential B&E’s; and a 63% increase in shoplifting calls. Also of note were a 64% increase in calls to downtown Kelowna and a 41% jump in assault with a weapon.

The boss at WestJet has made it known where he stands on covid vaccines these days. Alexis von Hoensbroech tweeted: Vaccine mandates for air travellers and employees needs to be dropped. He says vaccines are not preventing the spreading of the virus since omicron, and there is no more logic to maintain it.

Residential school survivors met with Roman Catholic bishops to discuss what they expect from Pope Francis’s visit to Canada next month. The group wants the visit expanded to more locations beyond the scheduled stops in Alberta, Quebec and Nunavut.

West Kelowna is finishing up the spring refresh of its Wine Route just in time for summer. Crews will close Boucherie Road between Hayman and Stuart Roads, from 6 to 11pm tonight to conduct phase two of the planned spring maintenance. They’ll be installing flower baskets, completing boulevard maintenance and repairing light standards.

A new initiative will improve the quality of life for British Columbians living with hearing and sight loss, which is known as deafblindness. CNIB Deafblind Community Services, will use 740-thousand dollars in provincial funding over two years to hire four specially trained staff known as intervenors to work with clients one on one. They are trained to act as the eyes and ears of a person who is deafblind, making it easier for them to navigate day-to-day activities.

The Canadian Transportation Agency says Flair Airlines is “Canadian” and may continue to operate. At least 51 percent of a company’s voting interests must be owned and controlled by Canadians. The Edmonton-based discount carrier was under review over concerns an American shareholder exerted too much power.

An off-duty Penticton RCMP officer literally ‘dove in’ to save a 2 year old that had fallen into Okanagan Lake. It happened Saturday afternoon on a dock at a public beach in Naramata. One of the guardians jumped into the water, but was having difficulty fighting the current and low temperature. The Penticton RCMP wants to remind residents and visitors that the lake water can be cold, and some parts can have strong currents.

The federal Liberals faced calls yesterday to take a national approach to decriminalization amid the mounting death toll of the opioid crisis. That came as the House of Commons voted against an NDP bill to allow drugs for personal use countrywide. Carolyn Bennett, the minister of mental health and addictions, said the government will watch how decriminalization unfolds in BC to see if it achieves its intended goals for both public safety and health.

A US judge gave his final blessing to full freedom for John Hinckley, the man who shot President Ronald Reagan in 1981. It ends a four-decade journey through the court system for the once mentally ill man. The judge said Hinckley should continue to do well living in the community in Virginia like he has for years.

Sports

At Madison Square Garden the New York Rangers took the first game in their Eastern NHL Playoff final with Tampa Bay with a relatively easy 6-2 win. They’ll be back at MSG tomorrow night.

Meantime the Oilers will be looking to bounce back from that 8 – 6 loss on Tuesday in Denver when they take on the Avalanche today at 5. Edmonton head coach Jay Woodcroft will wait until today to name a starting goaltender for Game 2

At Rogers Centre yesterday, the Blue Jays took their second straight game from the White Sox, this time by a score of 7 to 3. Game 3 goes this afternoon just after 4. Toronto is second in the AL East, 5-1/2 games behind the Yankees.

The Montreal Canadiens named Martin St. Louis the 32nd head coach in franchise history, dropping the interim tag he was assigned this past winter. He signed a three-year deal through the 2024-25 season.

EA Sports says the late John Madden is the cover star for Madden 23. This is the first time Madden has graced one of the video game’s covers since the 2007 Hall of Fame edition. His last time as the main cover star was in 2000.