Top Stories – Feb 28 – Device Detonated

Highway 97 is open between Spall and Cooper after being closed for most of yesterday. Much of it was the time it took for the bomb squad to get here from the Lower Mainland after something resembling a pipe bomb was found. When it was detonated, police confirmed it was an explosive device. The road was reopened about 730pm.

Premier David Eby will introduce his first budget this afternoon. He says it will continue to invest in health care and housing while also tackling some deficits. The NDP has spent last year’s 5.7 Billion dollar surplus but Eby says BC has one of the strongest economies in Canada.

While Canada is hoping that 20% of vehicle sales will be electric or hybrid by 2026, Nissan is upping its game in Europe. It says it will make 98% of its offerings in Europe electric or series-hybrids by 2026. That’s up from the previous target of 75%. It’s aiming for 58% in Japan.

It will be school as usual for students at South Kelowna Elementary today. They were either kept at home or transferred to another school yesterday when a raccoon got up between the ceiling and roof. Operations staff were able to guide the critter out of the ceiling space and out a back door just before noon.

Cosori is recalling more than 2 million air fryers sold in Canada the U.S. and Mexico because their wire connections can overheat and cause a fire. There have been 205 reports involving 3.7 and 5.8-quart sizes that were sold between June 2018 and December 2022 in Best Buy, Target and Home Depot stores and online. Details at recall.cosori.com

The federal government is banning TikTok from its mobile devices days after federal and provincial privacy commissioners launched an investigation into the social media platform. The chief information officer of Canada determined the platform presents an unacceptable level of risk to privacy and security. BC, Alberta and Quebec are also investigating.

Starting tomorrow all Central Okanagan residents receiving curbside garbage & recycling collection will see yard waste pick up every two weeks until the end of December. Things like plastics, flower pots, garbage, bags of any kind, pet waste, or anything that could damage equipment or compromise the composting process needs to be out of bins.

The Osoyoos Indian Band will host the first Indigenous Golf Championship British Columbia at the end of May. It’s for men, women and youth golfers, who identify as First Nation, Métis and Inuit. Registration for the 128 slots opens tomorrow with full info at britishcolumbiagolf.org .

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has triggered the most massive violations of human rights in the world today, according to the head of the United Nations. He said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure have caused many casualties and terrible suffering. The Ukrainian military said that Russia launched attacks with exploding drones on several regions of the country from late Sunday until Monday morning.

Sports

In Dallas last night Thatcher Demko started in goal for Vancouver and it was tied at 4 at the end of regulation. Then 48 seconds into overtime Andrei Kuzmenko got the winner for the Canucks… his 3rd point of the game. Next up is a 6 game home stand beginning Thursday against Minnesota.

This isn’t good. The Canucks say forward J.T. Miller is out week-to-week due to a lower-body injury. He has 20 goals and 54 points through 59 games

Congrats to the KLO Grade 9 girls basketball team which made school history in Port Moody. The Cougars brought back gold for the first time ever as Provincial Champions.

The BC Lions say American defensive lineman Shawn Lemon has returned to the team as a free agent. The 34-year old is back for a third stint in orange and black after spending the last two seasons with the Stampeders.