Top Stories – Aug 4 – Dangerous Stuff

Kelowna and the Regional District are reminding residents to safely dispose and recycle their hazardous household waste. Garbage and recycling collectors and processors have witnessed an increase in hazardous materials in waste collection bins and at the landfill. Electronics and other items can catch fire or explode during landfilling and recycling processes, turning a regular household item into a potential risk.

Heading into the long weekend, it has been almost a week since the Eagle Bluff wildfire flared up in Washington State and crossed the border southwest of Osoyoos. Highway 3 was closed in both directions yesterday due to limited visibility with smoke for 6.8 kilometres between Old Richter Pass Road and Lambert Crescent. Just under 200 properties remained on evacuation order.

Former US president Donald Trump entered a plea of not guilty yesterday at federal court in Washington DC, to four criminal charges of plotting to reverse the election result that led to the January 6th riot. The former president was the only person charged in the case, though prosecutors referenced six unnamed co-conspirators, mostly lawyers, they say he plotted with.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union is continuing to vote today to decide whether to ratify the agreement recommended by negotiators. Rejection would raise the prospect of more federal involvement in the case, with the Canada Industrial Relations Board directed to impose a deal or binding arbitration on both sides if a negotiated resolution can’t be reached.

The Superintendent of Bankruptcy says both consumer and business insolvencies rose significantly in the second quarter. As interest rates were rising, consumer insolvencies rose 23.5 percent from the second quarter of last year and business soared by 36.9 percent.

Ballistics experts will fire up to 139 shots at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School today during a reenactment of the 2018 Parkland massacre. It’s organized as part of a lawsuit accusing a sheriff’s deputy of failing in his duty to protect the victims. It left 17 dead, 17 wounded and hundreds traumatized in South Florida. The shooter was sentenced to life in prison and the school will be torn down after the reenactment.

If hitting the highway is part of your long weekend plan, expect delays on the Coquihalla Highway with 70 km/hour construction speed zones in place at the Bottletop, Juliet and Jessica bridges. On Highway 1 between Hope and Spences Bridge there is single-lane-alternating traffic with a pilot vehicle and a temporary traffic light at a rail crossing. And because delays can happen, pack food and water for passengers and pets.

Calls to search a Winnipeg-area landfill for the remains of two First Nations women are ramping up as rallies take place across the country. Pressure has been mounting since Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson said her government would not support a search of the privately owned Prairies Green Landfill north of the city because it could expose searchers to asbestos and toxic chemicals.

Amazon does better than some big banks. The company posted better-than-expected revenue and profits for the second quarter. The e-commerce giant earned 6.7-Billion dollars as revenue was up 11 percent from the same period last year to 134.4-Billion.

Sports

The BC Lions were a different team from the get-go in Winnipeg last night as they took a big 50-14 loss to the Bombers. Toronto is in Calgary today at 6:00

In the NFL Hall of Fame game, the Cleveland Browns beat the New York Jets 21-16.

At Elks Stadium last night The Kelowna Falcons took another win from Kamloops, this time by an 11-5 score. The Falcons have their final home stand of the regular season this weekend as Wenatchee comes to the Okanagan.

The Blue Jays are on the road this weekend in Boston. Yesterday at Rogers Centre, Toronto lost 6-1 to Baltimore.