Top Stories – Feb 24 – Groping Incident

RCMP would like to hear from anyone that may have dashcam video taken in the 1300 block of Richter near Wilson around midnight on Monday. Police say two women were walking when a man approached them and asked for directions. He then groped one of them before they yelled at him and left. He’s described as south Asian, about five-foot-six with dark skin and an accent.

The Regional Board has approved a district grant application to the Union of BC Municipalities Disaster Risk Reduction Climate Adaptation fund. If successful, the $150,000 would be used to create an integrated strategy that identifies and reduces projected climate risks and emissions. It would also work in the areas of climate preparedness, hazard reduction and sustainability.

Google says that it’s blocking less than four per cent of Canadian users from viewing news content in a five-week test run of a potential response to the Liberal government’s online news bill. It would require digital giants such as Google and Meta, to negotiate deals to compensate Canadian media companies for displaying or providing links to their news content.

The Regional Board has received a letter from Westbank First Nation Chief and Council, requesting RDCO explore options to make regional governance more inclusive of Indigenous peoples. The WFN Chief and Council currently appoint a non-voting member to the Regional Board.
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Canada’s highest court has refused to hear an appeal from Glacier Media related to a ruling made during the sexual assault trial of former Canucks forward Jake Virtanen where he was acquitted. His accuser told a Glacier reporter that she believed Virtanen was involved. The company appealed when the trial judge approved a defense application for details of the interview with the woman, plus any other communications between her and the media outlet.

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried (freed) faces new fraud charges as prosecutors accused him of cheating thousands of investors out of Billions of dollars. All this while casting himself as a trustworthy ”savior of the cryptocurrency industry”. The new charges raise the prison sentence Bankman-Fried could face if convicted from 115 years to 155

West Kelowna Firefighters had their hands full with a fire on Ogden Road near Boucherie in Lakeview Heights yesterday. It appeared to start in a garage before strong winds spread it to the house. There were no injuries to the occupants or firefighters.

Saying it has worked well in other jurisdictions, the BC Green Party wants the NDP government to try out a four-day work week across the province. It says it would be without cuts to pay or working longer hours, which is the kind of innovative, people-first approach that can spark renewal in workplaces. The party is suggesting a 3 year trial.

People in mental-health crises at hospital emergency rooms will have quicker access to care, as nurse practitioners are now able to assess patients for involuntary admission under the Mental Health Act. The province says this will reduce wait times in ERs and speed up access to care at a critical time. A doctor is required to examine the patient if they are to be held longer than 48 hours.

Sports

The Kelowna Rockets have 3 games in 3 days in central Alberta. It starts tonight in Edmonton against the Oil Kings and you’ll hear the pregame show on 1047 The Lizard at 5:35. The Rockets play in Red Deer tomorrow and Calgary on Sunday.

In St. Louis last night, with 6 skaters on the ice, the Canucks tied the Blues at 2 with 28 seconds left. Elias Pettersson got the winner for Vancouver with 15 seconds remaining in OT. The Canucks are back at Rogers Arena tomorrow afternoon when they host the Bruins at 4.

The Toronto Blue Jays first Spring training game is tomorrow morning at 10 our time in Florida when they take on the Pittsburgh Pirates.