Top Stories – Oct 17 – Cop Cleared

A West Kelowna RCMP officer will not face any further investigation related to an arrest in February. The Independent Investigation Office says no unreasonable force was used when the officer was attempting to arrest a man suspected of being involved in a hit and run near Elliott and Gossett. The suspect suffered broken bones to his face when he and the officer fell to the ground as he was being physically restrained.

Interior Health is asking young artists to share their thoughts and experience in its second ‘Tobacco and Vaping Poster Contest’ for a chance to win $150. Youth in Grades 8 to 12 living in the I-H region can create and submit artwork that shares a message about the impact of youth tobacco use, smoking and vaping. Details at interiorhealth.ca/takeabreath .

The Dairy Farmers of Canada are recommending that an upcoming increase to the farmgate price of milk be delayed amid ongoing food inflation and pressure on the food industry to stabilize prices. The Canadian Dairy Commission’s formula determined that price could go up 1.77 percent in February. The Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers called for a pause on any further increases to milk prices last week.

Conditions have cooled down and got wetter, so open burning permits are now available in the Central Okanagan. Eligible property owners who get a permit from their local fire service can burn outdoors on days when both air quality and venting indices are good. Yard waste such as leaves, pine needles, grass clippings, weeds and other garden waste are not allowed to be burned.

The BC government has introduced legislation to rein in what it says is a rapidly expanding short-term rental market. If passed, it would force short-term rental platforms to share their data with the province for enforcement and tax purposes, and would limit short-term rentals to within a host’s own home, or a basement suite or laneway home on their property. Most of the rules will apply to communities that have a population of 10,000 or more.

A&W is launching an exchangeable and reusable cup program in a bid to reduce waste. The One Cup program will allow customers to pay $3 for an exchangeable cup when they order a beverage. When they return for a drink, A&W will exchange the cup for a cleaned and sanitized one and give the customer a 20-cent discount at any locations that serve drinks in the company’s glass mugs.

Truckloads of aid is stopped at Egypt’s border with Gaza, barred from entry, as residents and humanitarian groups plead for water, food and fuel for dying generators. Israeli airstrikes forced the crossing to shut down last week, and local media reported Israel hit the crossing again yesterday. At least 2,778 have been killed and 9,700 wounded in Gaza, according to the Health Ministry there. More than 1,400 Israelis have been killed in the war.

Construction of a raised crosswalk at Abbott Street and Royal Avenue will start tomorrow and last to mid-November. Single lane alternating traffic is expected, so keep that in mind if you’re thinking about a shortcut to avoid Pandosy. The city says it will improve pedestrian safety by providing a direct connection to Kelowna General.

BC’s solicitor general has introduced legislation that would force the City of Surrey to go with a municipal police force. The update in the Police Act also gives the province the authority to cancel the RCMP contract it has with the city. Mike Farnworth says the new amendments would ensure that the ‘confusion caused by the City of Surrey won’t be repeated elsewhere in BC’.

SPORTS

The undefeated Vancouver Canucks continue their road trip this afternoon in Philadelphia. Face off against the Flyers is at 3 with Thatcher Demko expected to get the start in net.

Monday Night Football in Los Angeles sent the hometown fans home is disbelief, but all the Cowboys supporters were happy. A late field goal and interception helped secure a 20-17 win for Dallas over the Chargers.

Thousands of soccer fans were kept inside Belgium’s national stadium for about 2 1/2 hours yesterday after a game between Belgium and Sweden was suspended at halftime following a gunman fatally shooting two Swedes in Brussels before kickoff. The European Championship qualifier was being played some 5 kilometers from the shooting in the centre of the Belgian capital.