Top Stories – May 31 – Success X2

Two good endings but more work for Central Okanagan Search and Rescue volunteers on the weekend. One involved an autistic teenage girl that wandered away from a local campground, but was found a couple of hours later. And COSAR was called to help evacuate an injured dirt biker that was taking part in an event along a riding trail in the Bear Lake Main Forest Service Road area.

Food Banks BC is receiving 955 thousand dollars from the province, with 825-grand dedicated to providing rapid access to food for people affected by emergencies, such as wildfires and floods. It’s part of 2.85 million in new money to support community-based programs and urgent food needs. United Way BC is receiving 1.4 million to support its regional community food hub operations.

Over 15,000 properties in eastern Ontario were still without power yesterday after that deadly storm swept across the province 10 days ago. The majority are in the Ottawa area. Eleven people were killed by the storm, with nine of those deaths caused by falling trees.

Quick action by the public allowed RCMP to arrest a woman who allegedly lit two brush fires along a North Okanagan highway. Police say witnesses were trying to put out the fires on Highway 97A north of Enderby on Saturday, but also kept track of the suspect and updated police. A 44-year-old Kelowna woman is being held in custody and will appear in court June 1 in Salmon Arm.

A new health alert system has been launched across Interior Health. The Toxic Drug Alerts system uses text messaging to send alerts and provide information and up-to-date resources to people who use drugs, and community members. To opt-in for the alerts, text the word JOIN to ALERTS, which is 253787.

The federal government has announced nearly 247 million dollars to help create more than 25-thousand apprenticeship positions in the skilled trades across Canada. Ottawa says employers would be eligible for double the money if they hire certain equity-seeking groups such as women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous, and racialized people.

If you know you are wanted by police, it’s probably a good idea not to speed on the highway. That’s what happened near Nelson earlier this month when a man was pulled over. When the officer was checking he noticed the smell of drugs coming from the car, and when he did some further checking, found out that the man was wanted so wanted on a number of outstanding warrants.

BC’s Chief Electoral Officer has submitted a report to the Legislature with changes to make it easier to vote. They include having more locations to drop off vote-by-mail ballots and allowing voters to add the name of a party leader on a write-in ballot, even if the party leader is not running in the voter’s electoral district. In that case, a vote for the party’s leader would count as a vote for that party’s candidate in that riding.

A national freeze on importing, buying or selling handguns is a feature of firearm-control legislation tabled by the federal Liberals. It would require long-gun magazines be permanently altered so they can never hold more than five rounds, and ban the sale of large-capacity magazines. The bill would also create a new “red flag” law allowing courts to require that people considered a danger to themselves or others surrender their firearms to police.

Sports

The NHL Western Conference final gets under way this afternoon in Denver. The Colorado Avalanche host the last Canadian team left in the playoffs, the Edmonton Oilers. Face off is just after 5.

Last night at PNC Arena in Raleigh, the Rangers dumped the Hurricanes 6-2 to come back from being down 2 games to none, to win 4 games to 3. New York will now play Tampa in the Eastern Conference final.

Daniel and Henrik Sedin are shifting to new roles in player development with the Vancouver Canucks organization. The twins will work on and off the ice daily with young players in Vancouver and the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks.

Here’s something refreshing… heading into the final stretch of his NFL career, Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce says he’s focused more on winning than maximizing his earnings. He says he’s there for the legacy to try to make the Chiefs the best team possible.

The Detroit Tigers called up 26-year-old infielder/outfielder Kody Clemens, the youngest son of seven-time Cy Young winner Roger Clemens. Kody’s three older brothers – Koby, Kory, and Kacy – also played baseball at high levels but never made it to MLB.