Top Stories – Apr 29 – MapleFest Returns

In addition to the Cherry Blossom Triathlon this weekend, MapleFest is also making a return. It will take place in Stuart Park tomorrow from 10-4 where there will be activities, food, musical performances, and other entertainment. Water Street from Doyle to the Queensway Roundabout will be closed from 6am to 6pm. Deets on all the events at http://kelownamaplefest.com

Kelowna Council considered options for reducing and regulating vehicle idling in the city. It would be one way to achieve Council objectives including reducing Greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Staff recommended a one-minute idling control bylaw, along with a comprehensive education program and a largely educational enforcement strategy.

Keeping track of the weekly covid 19 numbers in BC, this past week there were almost 23-hundred new cases reported, compared to 2,000 the week before. Interior Health saw the positive tests decrease to 582 from 600. The people hospitalized with covid in our area was 98 compared to 103 for the week ending April 21. There were 12 deaths in the region.

A reminder that Open Burning Season in the Central Okanagan ends tomorrow. Property owners must use Best Burning Practices and call the toll-free Outdoor Burning Hotline: 1-855-262-BURN before lighting any fire to ensure that open burning is allowed. It usually returns in October, conditions permiting.

Following the flooding in November, the Province is making immediate regulatory changes will allow it to provide up-front contributions toward community recovery projects. It will also expand eligibility to cover more people and small businesses. It is also making relief available to private sector applicants that were unable to get insurance to cover disaster-related losses.

Ever since Russian forces took the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson in early March, residents sensed the occupiers had a special plan for their town. Now, it appears Russia plans to stage a sham referendum to transform the territory into a pro-Moscow ‘people’s republic.’ A 63 year old man said there is a very small minority of people who are happy that it is under Russian control, but mostly, nobody wants Kherson to become a part of Russia.

An all-party committee of MLAs is calling on the province to get rid of the RCMP and replace it with a provincial police force. The committee emphasized that transitioning to a provincial police service is not a reflection on the work of individual RCMP officers. The report also focuses on ensuring all policing is responsive to, and informed by the community as well as building trust by shifting the culture and structure of police services.

The Province will provide $3 million toward the Kelowna Airport-YMCA Child Care facility. The City, Airport, KF Aerospace and the YMCA are partnering to provide the child care facility on the YLW campus. It means parents working in and around the Kelowna airport will soon have access to convenient child care right on-site.

The federal transport minister says 37 passengers on a late-December party flight on Sunwing from Montreal to Cancun have been fined a total of $59,500. A total of 42 tickets have been issued, including 18 for non-compliance with vaccination requirements and 24 for violations of masking rules. Sunwing, Air Canada and Air Transat all refused to book the 154 passengers on return trips to Canada.

Sports

The West Kelowna Warriors begin round 3 of their BC hockey league playoffs tonight with a game in Penticton. Game 2 will be tomorrow night before they return to Royal LePage Place for game 3 on Monday.

At the NFL draft in Las Vegas, the Jacksonville Jaguars selected Georgia edge rusher Travon Walker with the first overall pick. Walker is Jacksonville’s second No. 1 overall pick in as many years. The Jaguars selected former Clemson quarterback Trevor Lawrence with the top selection in 2021.

The Kelowna Rockets will try and keep their playoff hopes alive tonight when they take on the T-birds in game 5 of their WHL playoff series. Seattle leads 3 games to 1 heading into the contest south of the border.

After finishing last in the NHL, Montreal guaranteed itself the best odds at winning the NHL draft lottery, which takes place on May 10. They have an 18.5% chance of picking first overall… something the franchise hasn’t done since 1980 when they selected Doug Wickenheiser with the top pick.

After a win in overtime against the Los Angeles Kings last night in their last game at Rogers Arena, the Vancouver Canucks play their final game of the season tonight in Edmonton. Face off against the Oilers is at 6.

Alek Manoah struck out seven and pitched three-hit ball over seven innings, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 1-0 yesterday to take 3 of the 4 home games. The Jays host Houston for the weekend.