Top Stories – Apr 24 – Kidnapping

Police in Port Moody have five suspects in custody after an alleged kidnapping in the city. Multiple 9-1-1 calls directed officers after a man was reportedly pulled into a vehicle in the city’s brewery district. Police say the suspects are expected to face kidnapping charges, but did not provide a potential motive.

Kelowna Council will vote on the final version of the 2023 budget today. It would see a tax increase of 3.78%, or $86.42 based on the average value of a single detached home. It includes $31 million in parks improvements and $25.4 million in transportation projects. Property taxes are due July 4th.

King Charles III’s first months on the throne have shown he’s a monarch who will take an active role in different causes and is ready to engage with the public. But with less than 2 weeks until his coronation, he still has work to do to win over a skeptical Canadian public. Polling released in March found 67 percent, were indifferent to the King, compared to only 12 percent who said it was good that he was monarch.

The RDCO Board approved applying to the Union of BC Municipalities Community Emergency Preparedness Fund for a $30,000 grant. If approved, the money would be used for planning and conducting a large-scale Regional Emergency program training exercise involving local government and emergency support partners.

Ottawa has suspended consular services in Sudan as armed conflict escalates in the East-African country. Global Affairs says Canadian diplomats will temporarily work from a safe location outside the country while still trying to help citizens in Sudan. Meanwhile, there are reports of some Canadian diplomats getting out of the country with U-S and British evacuations.

Weeks after announcing it was closing its Canadian operations, Bed Bath & Beyond is doing the same thing in the United States. One of the original big box retailers filed for bankruptcy protection, following years of dismal sales and losses and numerous failed turnaround plans. It said it will start an orderly wind down of its operations including eventually closing its stores, while seeking a buyer for all or some of its businesses.

300 elected officials from 37 communities in will be in Vernon this week for the annual Southern Interior Local Government Association conference. They will be debating 30 resolutions including one calling for mandatory dash cams for semi trucks, and another seeking more non-farm use on farmlands.

Kelowna Secondary French Immersion Graduate Blake Roberts is on his way to Ottawa this fall as one of the 40 students in the country selected for the House of Commons Page Program. He will pursue his post-secondary career at the University of Ottawa and while gaining work experience in the capital. It has been 20 years since a KSS student was selected to participate in the program.

We are into day 6 of the federal public servants strike with wages the main sticking point. The Public Service Alliance of Canada has been demanding a 13.5% wage increase over 3 years while the government is offering 9%. Word yesterday was that contract talks between PSAC and the Treasury Board were continuing.

Sports

The Toronto Blue Jays spent the weekend in the Big Apple winning 2 of 3 games against the Yankees. The Jays begin three games at home against the Chicago White Sox later today.

Maple Leafs forward Sam Lafferty has been fined $3,100 for cross-checking. He was assessed a minor penalty for roughing in Saturday’s 4-3 overtime win over Tampa Bay after hitting Lightning forward Ross Colton up high in front of the Leafs’ goal.

Bayern Munich may have to do without Canadian star fullback Alphonso Davies for the final five matches of its season. The soccer team said he sustained a muscle bundle injury in the back of his left thigh during a 3-1 loss at Mainz in the Bundesliga Saturday.