Top Stories – June 2 – Booze In Parks?

Three parks in Kelowna could welcome alcohol consumption this summer, except on the BC Day and Labour Day long weekends. City council will review the recommendations on Monday for Boyce-Gyro, Kinsmen and Waterfront parks that would allow consumption from noon to 9pm between July 4 and October 6. Alcohol would not be allowed in certain areas such as playgrounds, sports courts and the water. And no glass.

A new distance-based discount came into effect at ICBC yesterday. Now, for anyone who drives less than 10,000 kilometres a year, a discount between 10 and 15 percent will be applied to select ICBC optional coverages on renewed polices. The new discount is different from the existing one for vehicles driven less than 5,000 kilometres in a year.

The Canadian Forces is being deployed to help crews fighting out-of-control forest fires in Nova Scotia that have forced at least 21-thousand people from their homes. They’re battling a dangerous combination of high heat, low humidity and gusty winds. Additional help is on the way from the U-S and South Africa for crews in both Nova Scotia and Alberta, with teams of firefighters due to arrive in Canada this weekend.

There will be some traffic delays tomorrow morning on the north side of Kelowna. The annual Hungry Hungry Half Marathon for the Food Bank begins and ends at the Apple Bowl between 7:15 and 11:30. The route will pass through Knox Mountain, Waterfront, Stuart and City Parks, along the promenade, as well as some portions of the Abbott Street running and biking trail.

Three flavours of energy drinks from G Fuel are being recalled due to high levels of caffeine. Pink Drip, Ice Shatter, and Hype Sauce are being recalled across Canada because they have high levels of caffeine and no warning about the contents. They come in 473 ml cans and more specific details are on the 2nd or 3rd page of the Health Canada recall website.

NATO is pressing Turkey to approve Sweden’s membership in the military organization. Turkey’s government has objected to Sweden’s inclusion, accusing it of being too lenient on terrorist organizations. The organization is also looking at boosting Ukraine’s non-member status in the alliance.

After calling off a chase of a speeding car near Ellison Lake on Highway 97 southbound, RCMP came across a cloud of dust by the John Hindle exit just after midnight yesterday. The car they had been chasing had gone off the road and down an embankment ejecting the passenger and trapping the driver. Both were taken to hospital in serious but stable condition although police say they have a long recovery ahead.

Two gun-control groups are urging the Liberal government to get on with drafting regulations that will flesh out firearm legislation currently being reviewed by the Senate. They want regulations on the future classification of firearms, outlawing large-capacity magazines and enshrining a national handgun freeze. Ottawa says the immediate priority is getting the bill through the Senate so it can receive royal assent before the summer break.

Twitter may now be worth one-third of what Elon Musk paid for it just seven months ago. The privately held Fidelity Blue Chip Growth Fund has reduced the market value of its stake in Twitter for a third time, now putting it at $6.55 million. That’s down from the nearly $20 million the fund valued its stake at in October.

Sports

The battle for Lord Stanley’s Cup begins tomorrow night in Las Vegas. The Golden Knights host the Florida Panthers as the best of 7 gets underway at 5.

The Pittsburgh Penguins named former Leafs executive Kyle Dubas as their new president of hockey operations. He replaces Brian Burke, who was fired in April after the Penguins missed the playoffs for the first time since 2006.

The Blue Jays are in New York for the weekend for an inter-league set of games against the Mets. Toronto beat Milwaukee 3-1 yesterday.