Top Stories – Mar 1 – Device Was Dangerous

Kelowna RCMP don’t believe there was a specific target when an improvised explosive device was found on Harvey Avenue on Monday. Inspector Beth McAndie says it was ‘sophisticated’ but an investigation so far cannot link it to any other events in the province. The bomb squad is taking a closer look at what was left of the device after it was detonated.

If you want to get a few more laps in at the Stuart Park ice rink, get your skates on. It closes for the season this morning at 11. The city says with daytime temperatures above freezing it just gets too hard to maintain.

The CEO of Google and other top executives are being summoned to appear before a parliamentary committee after the company decided to temporarily block some Canadians from accessing news through its search engine. A federal bill would require digital giants to negotiate deals to compensate Canadian media companies for linking or repurposing their content online.

Kelowna Council is asking staff to bring forward a bylaw to amend the future land use of Kelowna Springs golf course to private recreation from industrial. If passed, a public hearing date would be set. And the RCMP said it responded to more than 60,000 calls for service last year, a 6% drop from 2021, although calls for service in the downtown area increased by 12.6%.

This year’s provincial budget comes in as a three year plan that will see more money going for family benefits, contraception, renter’s and carbon tax credits. The plan has a projected $4.2-billion deficit in 2023-24, declining to $3 billion in 2025-26. There will also be steps to strengthen the health and mental-healthcare system with $6.4 billion in new investments over three years.

Nissan is recalling more than 800-thousand S-U-V’s in Canada and the U-S due to a key defect that can cut off the engine while the vehicle is moving. It covers certain Rogues from the 2014 through 2020 model years, as well as Rogue Sports from 2017 to 2022. Nissan says the S-U-V’s have jackknife folding keys that may not stay fully open.

Goats Peak Regional Park is closed until further notice after a cougar was recently reported. Parks Services staff and the BC Conservation Officer Service ask residents to stay out of the 63-hectare park located off Highway 97 in West Kelowna. It will reopen when Conservation Officers determine it is safe for people to visit.

The BC government has followed the lead of many other jurisdictions and has banned TikTok on all government devices. Victoria says protection of government data and networks is a top priority. The president of Canada’s Treasury Board, made the federal announcement for Ottawa-issued phones on Monday.

The Canadian economy ended 2022 with a deeper slowdown than anticipated amid higher interest rates. Stats Canada said gross domestic product was unchanged in the fourth quarter after five consecutive quarters of growth. But a preliminary estimate suggests the economy bounced back in January, posting 0.3 per cent growth.

Sports

The Kelowna Rockets are home tonight playing host to the Spokane Chiefs. Pregame show with Regan Bartel begins at 635 on 1047 the Lizard.

Canucks defenseman Luke Schenn is going back to Toronto. The Leafs picked him up for a 3rd round draft pick. He leads the NHL with 258 hits this season.

The Toronto Blue Jays are 1 & 3 as Spring Training continues in Dunedin, Florida. Today they take on Baltimore in a 10am start.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll says they could consider a quarterback in the first round of the draft, even if Geno Smith returns. The Hawks currently own the 5th and 20th overall selections.