Top Stories – May 30 – Cycling Network

As Go By Bike Week continues, Kelowna is looking for resident input to identify new route opportunities within the existing and future bike network. There are two routing studies underway and a few opportunities to have your say. Details are at getinvolved.kelowna.ca/ and look for Neighbourhood Bikeways.

The United Conservative Party gets another term leading Alberta. Premier Danielle Smith’s party won a much smaller majority compared to 4 years ago over the NDP. Almost 800,000 people voted in recent days, setting a new record.

Energy production is resuming in Alberta after wildfires shut down many plants over the last month or so. At one point, analysts estimated that more than 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day of production was turned off. There are currently 50 active wildfires burning in the province, with 14 out of control.

The general minimum wage in BC increases from $15.65 to $16.75 an hour on Thursday. The 6.9% increase also applies to rates for resident caretakers, live-in home-support workers and live-in camp leaders.

Victoria is providing an additional $14 million in the EquipCare BC program for health, safety and quality improvements in publicly funded seniors’ long-term care and assisted-living residences. EquipCare BC assists in purchasing items, such as bathing equipment, specialized wheelchairs, medical bed mattresses, and other equipment. Since 2020, the Province has invested a total of $32 million in EquipCare BC.

If rising oceans aren’t enough, New York City is slowly sinking under the weight of its skyscrapers, homes and asphalt at an average of 1 to 2 millimeters per year. Midtown Manhattan’s skyscrapers are largely built on rock, which compresses very little, while some parts of Brooklyn, Queens and downtown Manhattan are on looser soil and sinking faster. Still, it will take hundreds of years before New York resembles Venice.

A man who stabbed numerous people in and around the Lynn Valley Library in North Vancouver two years ago has pleaded guilty to murder and other charges. Yannick Bandaogo (ban-DOW-go) pleaded guilty to the attack in March 2021 where a woman was killed and six were hurt. He will be back in court for sentencing July 5.

The remains of a BC woman missing for a dozen years have been found on a rural property in Vanderhoof. The announcement came 12 years to the day after Madison Scott was reported missing by a family member. She was 20 years old when she was last seen in 2011 after a party celebrating a friend’s birthday at a lake. No one has been charged in connection with her disappearance.

The Prime Minister says Ottawa will support Nova Scotia residents affected by the wildfire burning in the Halifax area. The blaze broke out Sunday afternoon forcing about 14-thousand people out of their home. The city says residents should expect to be away for at least 72 hours.

Sports

It will be the Las Vegas Golden Knights and Florida Panthers going for the Stanley Cup this year. Vegas got in with a 6-0 shut-out against Dallas last night to take the best of seven four games to two. The final will begin Saturday in Nevada.

The Toronto Blue Jays begin three games at home against the Milwaukee Brewers today. The Jays find themselves in last place in the AL East while the Brewers are first in the NL Central.