Home2

A high altitude balloon floats over Billings, Mont., on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. China’s ambassador to Canada has been called onto the carpet to explain a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is hovering over the U.S. Global Affairs Canada says Ambassador Cong Peiwu was summoned on Thursday after the balloon was spotted over U.S. airspace. THE CANADIAN PRESS/The Billings Gazette via AP-Larry Mayer

Ottawa tight-lipped on details as Canada, U.S. call out China over balloon

China’s ambassador to Canada was summoned by officials at Global Affairs Canada

A protester holds up a fragmented piece of a Sponge round used to cause blunt trauma after a protest in Hong Kong on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019. The federal government says it wants the RCMP to ban the use of two crowd-control tools that forces across the country say they have in their arsenals: sponge rounds and CS gas. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Kin Cheung

Feds ask RCMP to ban use of sponge rounds, CS gas for crowd control

RCMP declines to say whether or not it will comply with that instruction

FILE - The house featured in the Steven Spielberg film “The Goonies” is viewed in Astoria, Ore., May 24, 2001. A man who was saved by a Coast Guard rescue swimmer at the mouth of the Columbia River on Friday, Feb. 3, 2023, as a massive wave overturned the yacht he was piloting turned out to be wanted by police for a bizarre incident in which he allegedly left a dead fish at the Astoria home. AP Photo/Stepanie Firth, File)

B.C. man rescued by U.S. Coast Guard wanted in bizarre fish incident at ‘Goonies’ house

Jericho Labonte is also wanted in B.C. on criminal harassment, mischief and failure to comply cases

Olympic medalist in swimming and former world record holder Elaine Tanner nicknamed “Mighty Mouse”, was awarded the Service Medal in 1969. The government renamed the medal to the Order of Canada medal in 1972. She’s photographed in Saanich, B.C., on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Elaine Tanner, 1960s swimming superstar, cherishes rare medal that Canada wanted back

In 1970, Tanner became the youngest Canadian to be awarded the Medal of Service

Olympic medalist in swimming and former world record holder Elaine Tanner nicknamed “Mighty Mouse”, was awarded the Service Medal in 1969. The government renamed the medal to the Order of Canada medal in 1972. She’s photographed in Saanich, B.C., on Tuesday, January 31, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Pat Corbet, 88, has always wanted to fly in a hot air balloon, and she had the chance to cross the experience off her bucket list thanks to the Chartwell Wish Foundation Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

VIDEO: Vernon senior fulfills lifelong wish with hot air balloon ride

Pat Corbet took to the skies on a bluebird Saturday morning

Pat Corbet, 88, has always wanted to fly in a hot air balloon, and she had the chance to cross the experience off her bucket list thanks to the Chartwell Wish Foundation Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Jeff VanDooyeweert, Eagle Valley Road Rescue deputy chief, pulls up carpet in a unit at The Haven seniors’ living complex in Sicamous as the 48-year old unit undergoes a renovation. (Rebecca Willson- Eagle Valley News)

Two Sicamous nonprofits work together to improve affordable seniors’ living situation

Road Rescuers volunteer time and tools to revamp Haven unit; seniors’ housing plans moving forward

Jeff VanDooyeweert, Eagle Valley Road Rescue deputy chief, pulls up carpet in a unit at The Haven seniors’ living complex in Sicamous as the 48-year old unit undergoes a renovation. (Rebecca Willson- Eagle Valley News)
(Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Thousands turn out for ever popular Vernon Winter Carnival parade

There were plenty of TV show designs among the floats, fitting in with this year’s Carnival theme

(Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
A crowd of around 150 people gathered at Starbright child development care centre to celebrate their new two-year extension but also to continue their fight to keep the centre alive. (Jordy Cunningham/Capital News)

Kelowna childcare facility given two-year extension, supporters shine at rally

“The Starbright parents have been absolute and committed advocates for their children”

A crowd of around 150 people gathered at Starbright child development care centre to celebrate their new two-year extension but also to continue their fight to keep the centre alive. (Jordy Cunningham/Capital News)
A screenshot of the TikTok video of a man alleged to have issued homophobic slurs who later turned himself in to the Vancouver Police Department. (Twitter/ @jamiepine)

Chilliwack man turns himself in to police following viral homophobic video

Man caught on video making homophobic comments and other insults outside SkyTrain station

A screenshot of the TikTok video of a man alleged to have issued homophobic slurs who later turned himself in to the Vancouver Police Department. (Twitter/ @jamiepine)
A crash slowed traffic near the intersection of 25th Avenue and 43rd Street in Vernon Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. Police say one of the vehicles was stolen and the occupants fled the scene. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Vernon police searching for occupants of stolen vehicle involved in crash

The occupants of a stolen Honda Civic involved in a collision fled the scene

A crash slowed traffic near the intersection of 25th Avenue and 43rd Street in Vernon Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. Police say one of the vehicles was stolen and the occupants fled the scene. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Johnathan Staniforth. (Photo/Kelowna RCMP)

Quick trip through the justice system for Kelowna shelter attacker

‘It is rare for this type of sentence to be delivered so swiftly’

Johnathan Staniforth. (Photo/Kelowna RCMP)
(BGC Okanagan/Submitted)

BGC Okanagan gets boost from mystery donor ahead of Pink Shirt Day

BGC Okanagan breakfast fundraiser on Feb. 22

(BGC Okanagan/Submitted)
Cracked earth is visible in an area once under the water of Lake Mead at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, near Boulder City, Nev. Amid a major drought in the Western U.S., a proposed solution comes up repeatedly: large-scale river diversions, including pumping Mississippi River water to parched states. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Pumping Mississippi River water west: solution or dream?

With drought continuing to parch the American West, some are casting for bold solutions

Cracked earth is visible in an area once under the water of Lake Mead at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Friday, Jan. 27, 2023, near Boulder City, Nev. Amid a major drought in the Western U.S., a proposed solution comes up repeatedly: large-scale river diversions, including pumping Mississippi River water to parched states. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Shania Twain poses for a portrait at Ticketmaster in West Hollywood, Calif., on on Jan 18, 2023, to promote her new album “Queen of Me.” (Photo by Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP)

QA: Shania Twain talks rebuilding confidence with new album

Country pop superstar confronts her physical vulnerabilities with authority on ‘Queen of Me’

Shania Twain poses for a portrait at Ticketmaster in West Hollywood, Calif., on on Jan 18, 2023, to promote her new album “Queen of Me.” (Photo by Rebecca Cabage/Invision/AP)
Bats come out of the Volcan de los Murcielagos, a cave that is home to three million bats, in the Balam-Ku reserve, in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. One version of the Maya Train plan had the tracks passing less than a half mile from the bat cave. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

In Mexico, worry that Maya Train will destroy jungle

$20 billion dollar project envisioned to grow economy of some of country’s most impoverished areas

Bats come out of the Volcan de los Murcielagos, a cave that is home to three million bats, in the Balam-Ku reserve, in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023. One version of the Maya Train plan had the tracks passing less than a half mile from the bat cave. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)
Dogs are chained up in the northern Ontario First Nations reserve in Attawapiskat, Ont., on Tuesday, April 19, 2016. The James Bay community of 2,000 is under a state of emergency due to a spike in youth suicide attempts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Growing dog populations an issue in some remote communities, shelters under pressure

Stray dogs are an issue in some places – a situation that’s adding to pressure on animal shelters

Dogs are chained up in the northern Ontario First Nations reserve in Attawapiskat, Ont., on Tuesday, April 19, 2016. The James Bay community of 2,000 is under a state of emergency due to a spike in youth suicide attempts. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette
Drake did not submit his 2022 album “Honestly, Nevermind” to the Grammys, but he still managed to pick up three nominations this year for collaborations with other performers. Drake leaves the court after the first half of NBA basketball action between Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets in Toronto on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Drake, Justin Bieber and the Canadians behind recent pop hits head to Grammys

Some potential winners are not stars, but talent working behind the scenes

Drake did not submit his 2022 album “Honestly, Nevermind” to the Grammys, but he still managed to pick up three nominations this year for collaborations with other performers. Drake leaves the court after the first half of NBA basketball action between Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets in Toronto on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Vancouver Canucks’ Bo Horvat, left, and Elias Pettersson celebrate Horvat’s goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of a pre-season NHL hockey game in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday September 20, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Bo Horvat, Elias Pettersson ready for ‘last ride’ together at NHL all-star game

‘Tough to see it happen, but business is business’

Vancouver Canucks’ Bo Horvat, left, and Elias Pettersson celebrate Horvat’s goal against the Los Angeles Kings during the first period of a pre-season NHL hockey game in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday September 20, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
B.C. has received only 18 per cent of federal support to deal with the effects of the 2021 atmospheric river that caused flooding and landslides across the province, including Merritt. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. has received less than 20% of federal funds promised for 2021 flooding, landslides

More funding expected to arrive in March 2023, but pace appears slow so far

B.C. has received only 18 per cent of federal support to deal with the effects of the 2021 atmospheric river that caused flooding and landslides across the province, including Merritt. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
People taking part in an Extinction Rebellion protest against old-growth logging march onto the empty Cambie Bridge, in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, March 27, 2021. A man who took part in four traffic-stopping protests in Metro Vancouver in an effort to save old-growth forests has been given a conditional sentence and six months probation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

House arrest, probation for old-growth protester who blocked Metro Vancouver traffic

Benjamin Holt was sorry for the inconvenience the demonstrations caused other people

People taking part in an Extinction Rebellion protest against old-growth logging march onto the empty Cambie Bridge, in Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, March 27, 2021. A man who took part in four traffic-stopping protests in Metro Vancouver in an effort to save old-growth forests has been given a conditional sentence and six months probation. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck