Top Stories – Jan 12 – Short Flight

Some passengers on a WestJet flight from Kelowna to Edmonton had a short trip late last month. The Q-400 turboprop did not pressurize properly after takeoff and had to return to YLW. Mechanics found ice in the aircraft’s cargo door pressurization seal and a blow out panel between the passenger and cargo compartments had blown out. Everything was repaired and the plane returned to service.

Dr. Bonnie Henry says there are still high rates of transmission of Covid in the province but there is a sense we’ve levelled off and could see decline in transmission. She says restrictions on gatherings and events are likely to remain unchanged for now and the province is looking at when they can safely resume. And unlike Quebec, Victoria says there are no plans to start fining the unvaccinated.

Justin Trudeau says Canada will have enough COVID vaccines for all those eligible to receive a fourth dose if needed. The prime minister assured provincial and territorial leaders that Canada has secured enough shots. And Ottawa has said provinces and territories will receive a combined 140 million rapid tests this month.

The fallout from a waterline break in West Kelowna last week is over. The boil water notice for West Kelowna Estates has been lifted. Residents will see crews continuing repairs and reinforcement on other infrastructure in the area that was affected by the water main break.

BC reported just over 22-hundred new cases of covid 19 yesterday. There have been 286-thousand since the pandemic began. For Interior Health there were 318 new cases… 141 fewer than the day before. The number of people in hospital in the region remained at 49, however the number of people in critical care increased by 2, to 23.

It’s going to cost you to be unvaccinated in Quebec. Premier Francois Legault says adult residents who refuse to get vaccinated against COVID will be charged a yet-to-be determined financial penalty. The premier says about 10 percent of adults in Quebec are unvaccinated but they represent about 50 percent of intensive care patients.

Central Okanagan Crime Stoppers is celebrating 35 years of helping reduce crime in 2022. Since it started, there have been 30-thousand tips, it helped in 3,000 arrests and 69 weapons seizures. Crimestoppers work also led to more than 5 Million dollars in recovered stolen property and 88 Million dollars in illegal drugs.

The 13 mayors representing more than 55 percent of British Columbians are again calling on the Province for the implementation of complex care housing solutions to support the most vulnerable residents. Kelowna’s Colin Basran is co-chair and says municipalities have invested in supportive housing, funded more police and bylaw officers, but more needs to be done and for that the need the Province’s support.

An investigation into the sudden death of a man found badly burned in downtown Vernon last month has concluded that criminality was not involved. The 53-year-old was found in Polson Park with burns on a large portion of his body. Despite efforts to treat him, he died in hospital.

Sports

In Florida last night, the Vancouver Canucks began their 5 game United States road trip with a 5-2 loss to the Panthers. The road show continues tomorrow in Tampa.

Defensive back T.J. Lee is staying in Vancouver. The BC Lions’ longest-tenured player has inked a one year extension with the team. Lee played in 14 games last season, recording 71 tackles, 12 special teams tackles and four interceptions.

The West Kelowna Warriors are on the road tonight in Prince George. The locals are undefeated so far this year as they take on the Spruce Kings at 7.

The Detroit Red Wings are adding a familiar Hall of Fame defenseman to their front office. They hired Nicklas Lidstrom as vice president of hockey operations. The 51-year-old is one of the most decorated defensemen in NHL history, spending his 20-year playing career with the Wings.

Now that Evander Kane is about to become a free agent, reports say at least a couple of teams want to speak with the agent for the former Shark. Both the Vancouver Canucks and Edmonton Oilers are said to be interested the 30 year old’s services with the Oilers saying they believe in 2nd chances.

The New York Giants judged they needed to make a coaching change. So, after a 10-23 record over 2 seasons, the NFL team fired head coach Joe Judge. He joined the Giants in 2020 after spending several seasons as the New England Patriots special teams coordinator.