Top Stories – Aug 30 – Don’t Play In Fire

People have actually been going into the Mt. Law fire zone to hike and ride their ATV’s. The regional district Emergency Operations Centre reminds everyone to stay out right now and that any plumes of smoke they may see from time to time, are within the fire perimeter. The wildfire was last measured at 976 hectares.

There was no significant growth of the White Rock Lake wildfire on the weekend, which remains at just over 81-thousand hectares. As a result of rain received in the Six Mile Creek area, conditions were not favourable for the 3,500-hectare planned ignition operation. It could happen today. RCMP are doing patrols on the water, and in all areas of North Westside to help ensure people are staying out of the area.

There were 3 more deaths from COVID in Interior Health reported on Friday, bringing the total to 963. There were also 350 new cases, the most of the week as part of 867 in BC. There were 47 people in hospital in the region, 30 in critical care.

Conservative leader Erin O’Toole warned supporters that they’re not welcome on the campaign if they engage in harassment and intimidation of other party leaders. It came after several Conservative campaign workers were spotted among a crowd of raucous protesters who forced the cancellation of a Liberal event featuring Justin Trudeau in Ontario.

A poll shows the Conservatives have overtaken the Liberals in preference in the federal election. Nanos puts the numbers at 33.3 percent for Erin O’Toole’s party and 30.8 percent for the Liberals. Support for the Conservative leader is at 27.2 percent, while Justin Trudeau is just a bit ahead at 29.9.

Hurricane Ida made landfall in Louisiana yesterday with sustained winds of 240 kilometres per hour and gusts to 300. Generators kicked-in at Covid-patient-filled hospitals as power went off in some big cities like New Orleans and Baton Rouge. Ida hit on the 16 year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.

Interior Health and UBCO are holding the first of 3 covid vaccination clinics at the campus today. It will be from 11:30 to 3:30 in the Nechako Open Mezzanine. All students, faculty and staff can walk-up, register and receive their first or second dose.

There’s a new website in BC that will help people more easily navigate and connect with mental health and substance use information and supports. It features a guided search tool that helps users find a personalized list of services based on answering questions about who they are and what they need. Find it at Wellbeing.gov.bc.ca .

The United States, along with 97 other countries, including Canada, reached an agreement with the Taliban. It will allow them to continue to get Afghan allies out of the country after tomorrow’s withdrawal deadline.

Sports

It’s semi-final day for Team Canada at the Women’s World Hockey Championships. Canada will play Switzerland at 4, with the winner going to the gold medal game tomorrow.

The Minnesota Wild signed defenseman Jordie Benn to a one-year contract worth $900,000. The 34 year old spent last season with the Winnipeg Jets and Vancouver Canucks.

UBCO Sports has scored a big win. They will host the Canadian Collegiate Softball Association Championship in October. Eight teams from across the country will be here to compete for a national championship for the first time in 2 years.

The Belgian F1 Grand Prix only ran for 2 laps behind the safety car in very wet conditions. That wasn’t half way so only half-points were awarded with Max Verstappen, who had secured pole position, declared the winner of the shortest-ever grand prix.

The BC Lions are now 2 & 2 for the shortened season after a 24-12 win in Ottawa on the weekend. Last night in Winnipeg, the Bombers squeaked by the Stampeders 18-16.

The PGA Tour’s BMW Championship went to 6 extra playoff holes before it was won by Patrick Cantlay over Bryson DeChambeau.