Top Stories – Aug 2 – Busy Times

July was the busiest month in the 69 year history of Central Okanagan Search and Rescue. Volunteers were called out to help people 18 times, beating their previous record of 12 tasks in May 2022 and July 2021. That doesn’t include the 1000+ hours of training and administration last month. COSAR also assisted in searches in Rock Creek and Vernon.

A Vancouver dietitian is worried the Ozempic craze could have damaging effects on people with eating disorders. She says the drug’s widespread promotion as a way to lose weight feeds into a culture of dieting and weight-shaming and can be a trigger for patients with eating disorders. Ozempic was created as a diabetes treatment and many diabetics have been scrambling to get it as doctors prescribe it for weight loss.

July was a record month for Cineplex theatres, with the chain reporting 86-million-dollars in net box office revenues. It was also the company’s second highest month on record, behind December 2015 when “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” was released. Cineplex attributes much of last month’s success to “Barbie,” which generated the highest-ever July attendance.

As of yesterday there were just 43 properties still on evacuation order because of the Eagle Bluff Wildfire near Osoyoos. The number of properties on evacuation alert dropped to 969 from more than 2,000. The fire is still classified as out of control and has burned through just over 3,000 hectares on the Canadian side of the border.

People living with diabetes in BC have another option for monitoring their blood sugar. Pharmacare is now covering the Freestyle Libre (LEE-bray) flash glucose monitor that allows users to read their sugar levels by swiping a hand-held device or smartphone over the sensor. It saves having to prick a finger multiple times a day to test manually and the sensor can be worn for up to 2 weeks.

Following up yesterday’s story, NASA’s Deep Space Network of giant radio antennas around the globe have picked up a “heartbeat signal” from Voyager 2. Flight controllers accidentally sent a wrong command nearly two weeks ago that tilted the 46-year-old spacecraft’s antenna away from Earth and severed contact.

Kelowna RCMP arrested a prolific offender after a foot chase Monday evening. 29-year-old Brendan Latimer was identified as the person who stole a car after cutting off his electronic monitoring bracelet in Surrey. Police say he possesses significant risk to public safety, is known to run from police and has rammed a police vehicle in an effort to escape. He has outstanding charges related to offences in Nakusp, Kelowna and Penticton.

Discovering news articles and videos on Facebook and Instagram will soon become a relic of the past, as Meta announced it is officially ending news availability in Canada in a few weeks. That means Canadians won’t be able to share or view news articles and other content posted by publishers and broadcasters, including international outlets.

Donald Trump has been indicted again. This time on four felony counts that accuse him of working to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in the run-up to the riot by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol. The mounting criminal cases against Trump, not to mention multiple civil cases, are unfolding in the heat of the 2024 race. He faces a total of 78 felony charges across three criminal cases so far.

Sports

The Kelowna Falcons are back home to wrap up the regular season. First up, games today and tomorrow at Elks Stadium against the Kamloops NorthPaws. First pitch at 6:35.

After Bo Bichette left the Jays game on Monday with a leg issue, the team picked up shortstop Paul DeJong and cash from the St. Louis Cardinals for right-hander Matt Svanson. DeJong has 13 home runs and 32 RBIs across 81 games for the Cardinals this season.

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers is sitting out tomorrow night’s Hall of Fame game in Canton against the Cleveland Browns. It’s not yet clear when Rodgers will make his debut in green and white.

Tiger Woods has joined the PGA Tour policy board for the first time in his 27 years, giving Commissioner Jay Monahan key support . It also gives the players a greater voice as the tour tries to complete its partnership with the Saudi backers of LIV Golf.