Top Stories – May 2 – Crosswalk Busted

Not stopping for a pedestrian in a marked crosswalk got a driver busted on Saturday evening. When he was pulled over on Water Street and was told to get out of the vehicle, a clear baggy of pink coloured suspected drugs fell to the ground. A further search of the vehicle turned up suspected meth, coke, fentanyl and open liquor.

Canada’s largest federal public-sector union reached a tentative contract agreement with the government, ending a 12-day strike by more than 120-thousand public servants. Chris Aylward, the union president, says it provides wage increases totalling 12.6 percent over four years, along with a one time 25-hundred dollar lump sum payment. Some 35-thousand Canada Revenue Agency employees are still on strike.

Albertans are going to the polls at the end of the month in a provincial election. Premier Danielle Smith, who many have said has been in election mode for the last few weeks says the vote will be on the 29th. Residents who are 18 years old or older and live in the province on election day are eligible to vote.

Local taxi companies will benefit from provincial funding to make their cabs wheelchair accessible. It is to reduce the cost of operating, purchasing and converting wheelchair-accessible taxis. Checkmate will receive $9,700, Kelowna Cabs will get $70,000 and West Kelowna Taxi will receive $34,000.

Changes to the Strata Property Regulation will allow people living in stratas with 55+ age restrictions to grow their families or support their children, while knowing that they’ll be able to stay in their home. It will also create an exemption to permit adult children or former dependants of current residents to move back home with their parents.

Canada has lost a music icon as Gordon Lightfoot passed away at the age of 84. The folksinger-songwriter contributed much to the Canadian music scene starting in the 60s. One of his biggest hits was the 1976 single “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Earlier this year, Lightfoot canceled a string of concert dates for health reasons, which were not specified at the time.

If you’re the type of person who likes to plan way ahead, you can now register for ‘Spring GoByBike Week’ and for the chance to win local and provincial prizes. It runs… or pedals…from May 29 to June 4, and will see activities, giveaways, free snacks and breakfast for people cycling to and from work and school or just going out for a ride. Individuals and teams can register for an account and log their bike rides at GoByBiKeBC.ca .

WestJet says it has completed its acquisition of Sunwing. Initially, the airlines will continue independent operations, but WestJet says they will move from being competitors to partners. Ottawa attached conditions that include extending Sunwing packages to five new cities and maintaining capacity on the most affected routes.

A recent poll of 3,000 adults in Britain found 64% had little or no interest in this week’s coronation. Among those aged 18 to 24, the number voicing little or no interest rose to 75 percent even though it has been 70 years since the last one. The ceremony for King Charles III is Saturday.

Sports

Round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs gets underway tonight. In Toronto the Leafs host the Florida Panthers at 4. Edmonton will be in Vegas tomorrow.

The Calgary Flames fired head coach Darryl Sutter. The team just finished a disappointing campaign, missing the playoffs for the second time in three years.

The Toronto Blue Jays began four games in Boston yesterday with a 6-5 loss. Game two goes today just after 4 with the Jays about 3 games ahead of the BoSox in the AL East.