Top Stories – Jan 12 – O-C Hit

Okanagan College was recovering from a cyber attack yesterday that impacted its public website and learning management site. It also affected the ability to send all-user emails to students and staff and was trying to determine if any personal information had been compromised. Network access at all campuses across the valley was shut down while outside security experts worked to secure the systems.

For decades they have been called Brownies, but now the name for Girl Guides of Canada’s seven and eight year old members, will be ‘Embers’. The name change happened because the organization said the former name caused harm and was a barrier to belonging for racialized girls and women.

Storm-ravaged California continued to clean up and repair widespread damage as the lashing rain eased in many areas. However, thunderstorms led a new Pineapple Express into the northern half of the state. At least 18 people have died in the storms battering the state and more than half of California’s 58 counties have been declared disaster areas.

The most expensive house in the Okanagan is in Lake Country on Pixton Road, valued at $17.3 Million. So it’s a relative bargain that you could buy an entire mall for almost 6 Million dollars less. The Lakewood Mall Shopping Centre in Lake Country is listed for sale at $11.5 million… and it comes with a Tim Hortons!

The federal government is offering a new tax credit to help make it easier for Canadians to care for adult relatives in their own homes. The multi-generational home renovation credit is for expenses related to building a secondary suite for a family member. The credit will provide a 15 per cent tax refund on expenses of up to $50,000 to a maximum of $7,500.

The fate of a devastated salt-mining town in eastern Ukraine hung in the balance yesterday after one of the bloodiest ground battles of the invasion. Russian forces using jets, mortars and rockets bombarded Soledar in what a Ukrainian military officer said was an unrelenting assault. In an apparent recognition of battlefield setbacks, Russia’s Defense Ministry demoted the head of Russian forces in Ukraine after only three months on the job.

Kelowna RCMP is seeing an increase in false 911 calls from smart watches. They have recently responded to six separate false calls this ski season. All have been the result of smart watch owners unaware the “SOS function” has been turned on. When a skier or snowboarder falls wearing their smart watch, the built-in SOS function contacts the RCMP and emergency services.

Electric vehicles took two of three categories for the first time in this year’s North American Car, Truck and Utility of the Year awards. Ford’s F-150 Lightning electric pickup won the truck category, while Kia’s EV6 battery-powered EV was named the top SUV. The Integra, a small sedan from Honda’s Acura performance brand, won car of the year.

Ottawa’s plan to buy anti-aircraft missiles for Ukraine is prompting questions about why such equipment isn’t being bought for the Canadian Army. It has been without weapons to defend Canadian troops from enemy aircraft, rockets and drones since the last of its anti-air weapons were retired in 2012. A number of commanders have described the lack of such weapons as a key deficiency for our military.

Sports

The Vancouver Canucks will be hoping to get a point or 2 on this road trip tonight as they take on the Lightning in Tampa Bay. The game starts at 4.

The NFL tryout roadshow for BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke continued this week with the New York Giants. So far he has thrown the ball in Vegas, Jacksonville, Denver, Minnesota, Tampa, Indianapolis, Arizona, Cincinnati, Kansas City and with the LA Chargers.

In case you missed it, Damar Hamlin the NFL player who had to be resuscitated on the field just over a week ago was released from hospital in Buffalo yesterday.