Top Stories – Aug 1 – Some Go Home

The Eagle Bluff wildfire burning right next to Osoyoos calmed down yesterday. Enough so, that many residents that had been evacuated were allowed to go home, but they are on evacuation alert with about 200 still out. As BC Wildfire got a better view of the blaze, its size on the Canadian side was estimated at 1,450 hectares. Any growth was on the west side, away from the town, but it was still categorized as out of control.

A new set of Health Canada regulations that require warning labels on individual cigarettes start to go into effect today. The wording on every smoke, written in English and French on the paper around the filter, ranges from warnings about harming children and damaging organs to causing leukemia and impotence.

A zoo in eastern China is denying claims that some of its bears might be people in costumes. It insists its sun bears, which have a habit of standing on their hind legs, are the real deal, and it’s arranging visits for reporters to prove it. Some zoos in China have been accused of painting dogs to look like wolves and donkeys to look like zebras.

A cyclist was injured after being hit by a vehicle on Sexsmith, just west of Reid’s Corner by the Rail Trail yesterday morning. There was no word on the rider’s condition and an accident reconstruction team from Kelowna RCMP was at the site for quite a while. It appears that the car driver stayed at the scene.

The Conservative party continues to hold a big fundraising edge over the Liberals, bringing in millions more than the governing party in this year’s second quarter. The Tories raised nearly $8 Million in donations between April and June compared to the Liberal’s 3.2 Million. Elections Canada shows the NDP brought in nearly $1.4 Million.

The social media platform formerly known as Twitter, has threatened to sue a group of independent researchers whose research documented an increase in hate speech on the site since it was purchased by Elon Musk last year. It’s not the first time that he has fired back at critics. Last year Musk suspended the accounts of several journalists who covered the takeover.

Proceeds from tickets sold today and tomorrow for Rock The Lake will go to the Forest Enhancement Society of BC, SenseNet Wildfire detection, and the BC Professional Fire Fighters Burn Fund. Producer GSL Group says they are also providing complimentary tickets to firefighter charitable associations in Kelowna as a thank you.

The union representing about 7,400 workers in the port dispute has been warned by the Canada Industrial Relations Board that changing its mind about a new deal during ratification would be an “unfair labour practice.” The Board also said the union must hold a vote on the deal no later than Friday.

That was a multi-Billion-mile oops. NASA is keeping an ear out for any signal from Voyager 2 which has been out of touch since flight controllers accidentally sent a wrong command more than a week ago that tilted its antenna away from Earth. The agency may have to wait until October for an automatic reset that should restore communication.

Sports

The Toronto Blue Jays began four home games against the Orioles yesterday with a 4-2 loss. They will play again today just after 4.

It’s the final week of the regular season for the Kelowna Falcons. They kick it off tonight with a game in Kamloops before returning to Elks Stadium tomorrow for another game against the NorthPaws.

After 21 straight home losses the Edmonton Elks have not fired GM and coach Chris Jones, but replaced offensive coordinator Steve McAdoo with Jarius Jackson.

New York Jets legend Joe Namath praised quarterback Aaron Rodgers for taking a sizeable pay cut after joining the team. Last week, he reportedly agreed to a reworked two-year, $75-million deal, equalling a $35 million pay decrease.