Top Stories – Dec 9 – Shoplifters Busted

On November 18th and 19th, the West Kelowna RCMP Community Safety Unit in partnership with local businesses and loss prevention officers executed their sixth loss prevention project. As a result, 23 shoplifters were nabbed in just two days. Some of the thieves actually tried to leave the stores with shopping carts full of stolen goods.

Following yesterday’s all-day deliberations, Kelowna City Council has approved the 2023 preliminary budget. Based on the average value single-detached home, Council approved an $86.88 increase to property taxes. The 3.80 per cent increase, or $7.24 per month includes the introduction of a 1% public safety levy to fund the six new RCMP members, four firefighters and four bylaw officers.

Just after announcing a rate increase for its BC electricity customers, Fortis says natural gas prices will be going down next month – but not enough to make up for the electrical increase. The company says most FortisBC gas customers will see an overall decrease to their bill of about four percent, or $4 per month depending on consumption.

The BC government is supporting 117 not-for-profit organizations in the Interior that are focused on arts and culture, with more than $3 million in Community Gaming Grants. For example, some will be for concerts and music education programs through the Okanagan Symphony Society. Another beneficiary will be curling programs for youth, people with disabilities and seniors at the Kelowna Curling Club.

A new Ipsos poll finds that nearly half of us would be okay with having a charitable contribution in our name, instead of receiving a present. It also found that while 22 percent of Canadians are expecting to turn to charities for essential services over the next six months, 20 percent are planning to give less to charities this year than last year due to financial restraints.

Chiefs at the Assembly of First Nations voted to oppose the Liberal government’s proposed gun-control legislation. Some First Nations leaders say they’re concerned to see rifles used for hunting on the list and voted to take a stand against the bill, which they say infringes on their treaty rights.

The Wilsons Landing fire service is sending a huge thank you to area residents on behalf of the Central Okanagan Food Bank. The fire department’s Santa Run Monday night saw over 400 kilograms of food and a record $2,230 donated to help area families through the holiday period.

At least five children in BC died from the flu last month a rise that comes as an early season of respiratory illnesses adds strain to the health care system. The Coroners Service there were an average two to three flu deaths per year, among children in the province between 2015 and 2019.

If a trip to Hawaii is in your holiday plans, you shouldn’t have to drive through any lava. Magma from the Mauna Loa volcano is no longer feeding a flow that’s been creeping closer to a crucial highway, even as the world’s largest volcano keeps on erupting. That means lava isn’t advancing, and is no longer an imminent threat to the road that connects the east and west sides of the Big Island.

Sports

Two games coming up for the Kelowna Rockets. Tonight, the Victoria Royals are in town for a 7:05 face off. The pregame show starts at 6:35 on 1047 The Lizard and rocketfan.ca . Tomorrow, the Rockets head to Langley.

The Canucks will be part of Hockey Night in Canada tomorrow when Minnesota visits Rogers Arena. Vancouver is riding a 3 game winning streak.

He only got into L-A a couple of days ago, but a great late 4th quarter performance from quarterback Baker Mayfield led the Rams to a 17-16 win over the Raiders.

NBC may be looking for a new Sunday Night Football analyst. Former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett has emerged as a finalist for the head coaching job at Stanford University.