Top Stories – Oct 24 – Rutland Homicide

An incident in Rutland on the weekend where a young man was taken to hospital after being hit by a vehicle, has now turned into a homicide investigation after he passed away. It began as a call saying that a number of people had been bear sprayed around Houghton and Franklyn. The Kelowna RCMP Serious Crime Unit has taken over the investigation and are interviewing witnesses and collecting additional evidence. No arrests have been made.

Kelowna Council has started the process of further regulating short-term rentals in the city. The Zoning Bylaw changes would remove STRs as a permitted secondary use from all zones unless the zone explicitly allows it as a principal use. All properties with valid short-term rental accommodation business licences would be permitted to continue operating as a non-conforming use.

The Regional District is exploring the possibility of introducing a food waste collection program for residents who currently receive curbside garbage pickup in the Central Okanagan. Residents are being randomly selected to participate in a survey that aims to assess community support for such a program. RDOC says over 40% of waste going into residential curbside garbage is compostable and most of that is food waste.

The playground at Kinsmen Park in Kelowna is closed for demolition and site preparation. The park’s existing playground is being replaced and is scheduled to re-open next summer. The city says it will have ten activities for kids aged 18 months to 12 years including a dinosaur climber, slide, monkey bars, and the swing set will be preserved.

The BC government has introduced legislation that is expected to add skilled workers into the labour force more quickly by reducing barriers for internationally trained professionals. It would require regulatory bodies to remove “unfair barriers” for 29 different professions, including veterinarians, lawyers, teachers and paramedics. International professionals face barriers, such as redundant language testing and a “catch-22” requirement for work experience in Canada prior to getting accreditation.

Israel ramped up its airstrikes yesterday in Gaza, where the death toll was rising rapidly, and the United States advised Israel to delay an expected ground invasion. It wants to allow more time to negotiate the release of hostages taken by Hamas. Airstrikes demolished buildings across Gaza, including in areas where Palestinians were told to seek refuge. The Hamas Health Ministry is reporting the death toll in Gaza is now more than five-thousand.

Don’t forget that closure on Highway 97 north of Summerland today. Between 11 and 1 crews will be doing blasting where the rock slide was this past summer. When it reopens it will be single lane traffic in each direction and it will stay that way for the winter.

Depending on wind conditions we could see smoke from a distant fire today. A post on the wildfire service website says 450 piles of wood debris will be set on fire north of Apex Mountain Resort outside Penticton, and the burning will continue until all the wood is gone or heavy snow complicates the process. It’s part an ongoing project to manage forest fuels in the area and prevent or limit the spread of wildfires.

First Nations chiefs are hopeful a federal court will approve a landmark child-welfare settlement this week. Final arguments are being heard on a proposed agreement that would be the biggest in Canadian history if passed. It includes 23-Billion-dollars in compensation for more than 300-thousand children and their families, plus another 20-Billion to reform the child welfare system.

SPORTS

Andrew Cristall of the Kelowna Rockets was named WHL Player of the Week. The Washington Capitals prospect had 9 points in 3 wins last week.

The Vancouver Canucks wrap up their five-game road trip tonight in Nashville. So far the Canucks have two wins and two losses. Face off against the Predators is at 6:15.

Reports say Craig Dickenson will not be back as head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the 2024 season. The 52-year-old is on an expiring contract and was not offered a new deal to return.