Top Stories – Feb 6 – Violent Offender

Police are warning about a dangerous offender who may be in, or on his way to the Okanagan. John Aronson is a violent high-risk repeat offender who’s wanted for removing his electronic monitoring device and leaving a recovery home in Surrey. He’s 35 and has a lengthy list of interactions with police in Kelowna. There’s a picture above.

The Regional District Board is sending a letter to the Ministry of Environment, opposing proposed changes by Recycle BC. The plan would see the loss of several existing recycling depots. One of them would affect residents in West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and Central Okanagan West Electoral Area.

A group of airlines including Air Canada is asking the Supreme Court of Canada to hear their case after a lower court largely upheld the validity of Canada’s air passenger bill of rights. It bolsters compensation for travellers subjected to delayed flights and damaged luggage. Airlines have argued the passenger rights charter violates global standards and should be invalid for international flights.

A man has been given 6 months in jail for an attack at the unhoused camp along the Rail Trail last month. Jonathan Staniforth was arrested for assault after he punched and kicked his victim several times before being persuaded away by others. He was also given a year’s probation with certain conditions to protect others.

MLA’s in BC will get back to work in Victoria today. The Lieutenant Governor will read the Throne Speech shortly after 2. It’s the fourth session of the 42nd Parliament and the first full one under Premier David Eby who became NDP leader last November when John Horgan stepped down.

Canada has sent an Aurora military aircraft to Haiti to help disrupt the escalating gang violence. The plane was deployed after Haiti asked for help and it will stay there for a few days to assist with surveillance and intelligence efforts. Haiti has asked Western countries for a military intervention as it deals with political and humanitarian crises.

The Regional District Board received a presentation from Parks Services outlining program and visitor highlights for last year. It’s estimated during 2022 more than 36,000 people took part in a Regional Park interpretive program or event. That’s up from 27,000 in 2021 and on the way to returning to the pre-pandemic numbers of about 43,000.

A University of Victoria law professor thinks 51 Alberta lawyers who are pushing for a rule change so they don’t have to take a course on Indigenous issues are unwilling to learn. One lawyer has called the course on Indigenous history and culture ‘political indoctrination.’ But Jeremy Webber says the law is continually changing, and the requirement is needed to ensure lawyers don’t keep practising law as though it was the 1980s.

The federal defence minister says Canada “unequivocally supports” the U-S decision to shoot down a high-altitude surveillance balloon that was suspected of spying for China, noting the balloon violated Canadian airspace. Anita Anand said she and the Prime Minister were briefed on the operation beginning on Friday night and continuing Saturday.

Sports

WHL play on the weekend saw two big wins for Kelowna… 5-4 over Vancouver and 4-0 against Prince Albert. The Rockets head to Prince George for games tomorrow and Wednesday.

All star break is over so back to work for the Canucks as they begin a 4 game eastern road trip today in New Jersey at 4:30

The AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am was won by Canadian Ben Silverman and his partner Aaron Rodgers. The main event and 1.6 Million dollars first place money will be determined today.