Lethbridge news

• Higher than average snow pack in the mountain parks

  24-04-2020 23:59
  
  The province has monitored the snow pack in Kananaskis Country and Banff National Park for upwards of 50 years.  To do that they use a number of methods.  First, data is collected electronically through snow pillows and precipitation gauges that send real time data to river forecasters and second by physically taking snow depth measurements at historic sites and weighing those samples to determine the water equivalent. Typically at the end of the month field collection engineers use a
  
  Read more

• Asthma inhaler shortage due to COVID-19 worrisome for Calgary patients

  24-04-2020 23:43
  
  Even a trip on foot to the grocery store can be taxing on the lungs of a person who suffers from asthma. That's the reality for Ayon Dey. He has moderate asthma but requires an inhaler every day and a rescue inhaler, or Ventolin, in emergency situations. "If I don’t take it and try to wait it out, it could be several hours before I return to normal breathing," said Dey. The Ventolin inhaler Dey needs is becoming hard to find at retail pharmacy stores. Rahim Rajan, a pharmacist with Capsule
  
  Read more

• 3rd resident of Kensington seniors’ facility in Edmonton dies of COVID-19

  24-04-2020 23:38 via globalnews.ca
  
  A third resident at a north Edmonton seniors’ care facility, which has been dealing with an outbreak of COVID-19, has died of the disease.
  
  Read more

• Five more deaths, 297 new COVID-19 cases as Alberta total surpasses 4,000

  24-04-2020 23:21
  
  There have been five more deaths and 297 new cases of COVID-19 in Alberta, the province's top doctor announced Friday. It drives the total of confirmed cases to 4,017, with the death total now at 72 people. This is a breaking news story. Original story follows… Alberta's chief medical officer of health will provide a COVID-19 update on Friday, wrapping up a week that has seen record-high daily totals and the continued growth of outbreaks in meat-processing facilities and long-term care ho
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Alberta Medical Association shared incorrect information with members: health minister

  24-04-2020 22:20 via globalnews.ca
  
  Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro said the Alberta Medical Association shared incorrect information with its members about insurance deductibles and went on to address the physician funding framework and that he’s open to new proposals.
  
  Read more

• Recap of changes for Alberta’s rural doctors

  24-04-2020 22:15 via globalnews.ca
  
  Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro recaps the physician compensation changes that have been paused and what new supports rural physicians will receive.
  
  Read more

• Alberta health minister on why doctor compensation changes are being made now

  24-04-2020 22:10 via globalnews.ca
  
  Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro explains why boosts are being made to doctor compensation now instead of earlier in the year during discussions with the Alberta Medical Assocation.
  
  Read more

• Alberta health minister addresses recent reversal to doctor compensation changes

  24-04-2020 22:05 via globalnews.ca
  
  Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro responds to a question asking about reversals to previously announced clawbacks to physician compensation and where things go from here.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Alberta to spend $81M on rural health-care this year: minister

  24-04-2020 22:00 via globalnews.ca
  
  Alberta’s health minister has announced changes to health-care supports in northern and rural Alberta communities. Tyler Shandro said they will benefit doctors, and include changes to insurance premiums and on-call rates, and an incentive for medical students.
  
  Read more

• $81M health care boost to Alberta rural doctors

  24-04-2020 22:00 via globalnews.ca
  
  While unveiling an $81 million boost to health care supports in northern and rural Alberta, Health Minister Tyler Shandro said previously announced changes to complex modifiers – a sore spot for Alberta’s doctors – is cancelled. He also touched on several other changes he said will benefit doctors, such as changes to insurance premiums and...
  
  Read more

• Canada Day fireworks cancelled in Lethbridge Apr 24, 2020 - Lethbridge News Now

  24-04-2020 21:23 via lethbridgenewsnow.com
  
  Canada Day fireworks cancelled in Lethbridge Apr 24, 2020  Lethbridge News Now
  
  Read more

• Calgary virtual festival moves jazz out of the clubs and onto your screen

  24-04-2020 20:57
  
  A nearly month-long celebration of jazz is set to hit the stage but both the performers and audience will participate from the comfort of their own homes given current health orders. The virtual TD JazzYYC International Jazz Days Festival will kick off on April 30 — International Jazz Day — and is scheduled to run until May 27. Daily, hour-long sets will be broadcast at JazzYYC and on social media through a partnership with Jazz Home Delivery — hosted and produced by veteran mu
  
  Read more

• Kenney announces new senior representative in Washington

  24-04-2020 20:50 via globalnews.ca
  
  Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces former MP James Rajotte will be the province’s new senior representative in Washington, D.C.
  
  Read more

• Alberta energy minister explains $1B well site rehabilitation program is about job creation

  24-04-2020 20:50 via globalnews.ca
  
  Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage explains the goals of the province’s new well site rehabilitation program.
  
  Read more

• Alberta announces it will partner with feds in cost-share programs

  24-04-2020 20:49 via globalnews.ca
  
  Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces the province will partner with the federal government in two cost-sharing programs to help small- and medium-sized businesses hurt by COVID-19.
  
  Read more

• Alberta to ‘administer’ $1B well site rehabilitation program

  24-04-2020 20:47 via globalnews.ca
  
  Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces a $1-billion program, funded by the federal government’s COVID-19 Economic Response Plan, for oil well rehabilitation in the province.
  
  Read more

• Kenney says shovels are in the ground on Keystone XL pipeline

  24-04-2020 20:46 via globalnews.ca
  
  Alberta Premier Jason Kenney announces that shovels are in the ground in Alberta, Saskatchewan and parts of the United States on the Keystone XL pipeline expansion.
  
  Read more

• Alberta’s top court overturns approval of oilsands mine following land concerns

  24-04-2020 20:23 via globalnews.ca
  
  Alberta's highest court has overturned regulatory approvals for a $440-million oilsands mine that would have encroached on land a local First Nation considers sacred.
  
  Read more

• CEMA to provide update on COVID-19 in Calgary at 1 p.m.

  24-04-2020 20:15
  
  Calgary Emergency Management Chief Tom Sampson and Mayor Naheed Nenshi are scheduled to give a regular update on COVID-19 in Calgary at 1 p.m. Friday. The briefing will be held at the city's Emergency Operations Centre. Officials said earlier this week bylaw officers will begin patrolling popular city parks and areas, where they will ticket people not following proper social distancing protocols of staying two metres away fro other people. Groups are limited to a maximum size of 15 people, as pe
  
  Read more

• Ban on public events in Calgary extended until Aug. 31

  24-04-2020 20:15
  
  The City of Calgary is extending its ban on public events until Aug. 31 due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Mayor Naheed Nenshi made the announcement during Friday's regular update. Along with the cancellation of the Calgary Stampede — which was announced Thursday — Nenshi said the extension also means Canada Day celebrations will be cancelled this year. This is a breaking news update - an earlier version of this story appears below Officials said earlier this week bylaw officers w
  
  Read more

• 2020 Whoop-Up Days officially cancelled, farmers market still being explored

  24-04-2020 20:12 via globalnews.ca
  
  Officials with Exhibition Park have announced the 2020 edition of Whoop Up Days, scheduled for August 18-22, has been cancelled.
  
  Read more

• Whoop-Up Days joins growing list of cancelled Alberta festivals

  24-04-2020 20:11
  
  Now that all summer gatherings, including festivals, have been banned as per the order of Alberta's chief medical officer of health, organizers of Lethbridge's Whoop-Up Days have announced this year's event will not run. "Due to ongoing developments regarding the COVID-19 pandemic it is with heavy hearts that we announce the cancellation of the 2020 edition of Whoop-Up Days Family Festival," said Rudy Friesen, Exhibition Park CEO in a release Friday. While the news is hard to take, Friesen says
  
  Read more

• Police in Halifax area responding to multiple weapons complaints

  24-04-2020 20:08
  
  Police in the Halifax area are responding to weapons complaints in at least three separate communities. The RCMP is on scene in a wooded area between the Haliburton Hills and Highland Park Heights subdivisions in Hammonds Plains, N.S. Police are also on scene in the Glen Arbour neighbourhood. Police responded to the area Friday afternoon after receiving a report that shots had been fired. Police are also investigating a report of shots fired in the Omega Court area of Hubley, N.S., which is loca
  
  Read more

• N.S. RCMP say no evidence of shots fired in Hammonds Plains, Hubley after emergency alert

  24-04-2020 20:08
  
  The Nova Scotia RCMP say they have found no evidence that shots were fired in the Hammonds Plains and Hubley areas. This is a breaking news update and will be updated shortly. A previous version of this story is below. The Nova Scotia RCMP is investigating weapons complaints in Hammonds Plains and Hubley. Police are on scene in a wooded area between the Haliburton Hills and Highland Park Heights subdivisions in Hammonds Plains, N.S. Police responded to the area Friday afternoon after receiving a
  
  Read more

• N.S. RCMP say no evidence of shots fired in Hammonds Plains, Hubley

  24-04-2020 20:08
  
  The Nova Scotia RCMP say they have found no evidence that shots were fired in the Hammonds Plains and Hubley areas. This is a breaking news update and will be updated shortly. A previous version of this story is below. The Nova Scotia RCMP is investigating weapons complaints in Hammonds Plains and Hubley. Police are on scene in a wooded area between the Haliburton Hills and Highland Park Heights subdivisions in Hammonds Plains, N.S. Police responded to the area Friday afternoon after receiving a
  
  Read more

• Union calls on Kenney government to improve working conditions in grocery stores, processing plants

  24-04-2020 19:16
  
  The recent outbreak of the novel coronavirus at meat packing houses and the potential risk of exposure grocery store employees face on a regular basis has prompted the food workers union to call for increased safety measures. In a letter to Premier Jason Kenney dated April 23, Tom Hesse, president of United Food Commercial Workers (UFCW) Canada Union Local 401, asked the province to treat food workers — who have been designated by the province as contributors to an essential service &mdash
  
  Read more

• Homeless Calgarians worried about COVID-19 in shelters

  24-04-2020 19:13
  
  There are a number of homeless shelters in Calgary but some people still opt to stay outdoors, even when the temperature dips. It’s been 12 years of living on the streets for one Calgarian. He has asked CTV to not use his name due to embarrassment and a fear of being denied services if he publicly complained. He sleeps outside and prefers it to any of the shelters, especially during the pandemic. “I’m scared of catching COVID-19 due to the fact there’s a lot of homeless p
  
  Read more

• Coronavirus: Province launches online tool, connecting Albertans with volunteer opportunities

  24-04-2020 18:45 via globalnews.ca
  
  The Alberta Cares Connector is an online tool that helps connect organizations with volunteers across the province.
  
  Read more

• Alberta’s chief medical officer of health to provide update on COVID-19

  24-04-2020 18:34 via globalnews.ca
  
  Alberta's chief medical officer of health is scheduled to provide her daily update on COVID-19 at 3:30 p.m. Friday.
  
  Read more

• ‘It has been hectic’: First Nation in Alberta fighting COVID-19 case, annual floods

  24-04-2020 18:32 via globalnews.ca
  
  It is believed to be the first confirmed case of the virus on a First Nation in Alberta. 
  
  Read more

• Kenney promises action for economy, energy sector

  24-04-2020 17:47
  
  The Alberta government is expected to announce on Friday economic and energy sector supports. Premier Jason Kenney, Energy Minister Sonya Savage and Environment Minister Jason Nixon will speak about the plan at 11:10 a.m. MT.Watch the announcement live on CTVNewsEdmonton.caThe announcement comes at the end of a week of unfortunate developments: a first-in-history negative Western Canadian Select oil price, a slashing of an extra $700 million in spending by Calgary-based Husky Energy, and a Progr
  
  Read more

• Headline: Alberta planting representative in D.C. to advocate for Canadian energy

  24-04-2020 17:47
  
  A former Edmonton Member of Parliament is being sent to Washington, D.C., to advocate for Alberta and a coordinated strategy across the continent for oil and gas.  James Rajotte chaired the House of Commons finance committee between 2008 and 2015 during a 15-year term as an MP.  Premier Jason Kenney called Rajotte a phenomenal candidate for the job given his American connections and political experience.  “Sometimes in the United States, they take Canada and Alberta for gran
  
  Read more

• Alberta planting representative in D.C. to advocate for Canadian energy

  24-04-2020 17:47
  
  A former Edmonton Member of Parliament is being sent to Washington, D.C., to advocate for Alberta and a coordinated strategy across the continent for oil and gas.  James Rajotte chaired the House of Commons finance committee between 2008 and 2015 during a 15-year term as an MP.  Premier Jason Kenney called Rajotte a phenomenal candidate for the job given his American connections and political experience.  “Sometimes in the United States, they take Canada and Alberta for gran
  
  Read more

• Boundary city of Lloydminster facing unique challenges while navigating COVID-19 pandemic

  24-04-2020 17:38 via globalnews.ca
  
  Lloydminster's mayor says the city, which straddles the Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary, is in the middle of its biggest challenge yet as it grapples with how to handle the COVID-19 pandemic.
  
  Read more

• Jason Kenney to make announcement on supports for Alberta’s energy sector

  24-04-2020 17:35 via globalnews.ca
  
  Alberta Premier Jason Kenney is scheduled to make an announcement Friday morning about actions to support the province's economy and energy sector. 
  
  Read more

• Alberta launching oil site rehab program May 1, expects it will create 5,300 jobs

  24-04-2020 17:35 via globalnews.ca
  
  Energy Minister Sonya Savage said it's primarily about job creation and also about cleaning up environmental liabilities. 
  
  Read more

• Lethbridge County approves new procedure for public hearings during pandemic - Lethbridge News Now

  24-04-2020 17:33 via lethbridgenewsnow.com
  
  Lethbridge County approves new procedure for public hearings during pandemic  Lethbridge News Now
  
  Read more

• Alberta Blue Cross commits $500000 to support vulnerable communities during pandemic - Lethbridge News Now

  24-04-2020 17:10 via lethbridgenewsnow.com
  
  Alberta Blue Cross commits $500000 to support vulnerable communities during pandemic  Lethbridge News Now
  
  Read more

• Rural doctors exempt from overhead billing as Shandro rolls back changes

  24-04-2020 16:21
  
  Alberta’s health ministry says it is rolling back changes to how rural doctors are paid. Minister Tyler Shandro said the province will inject more money into a rural-remote northern program that provides top-up payments to doctors in rural and remote communities. The program used to pay a flat amount plus a variable premium on fees doctors bill patients, but the$60,000 cap on the variable will now be lifted immediately, Shandro said. He said the changes will make it “the most generou
  
  Read more

• Province to announce supports for rural health care, physicians

  24-04-2020 16:21
  
  Health Minister Tyler Shandro will announce new supports to improve rural health care on Friday. The province says the changes will also "strengthen rural physician recruitment and retention."Watch the announcement live on CTVNewsEdmonton.ca at 1:30 p.m.Changes to how Alberta physicians are paid went into effect on April 1. The Alberta Medical Association has been voicing concerns about the new funding framework for months and launched a legal challenge in March. Doctors are concerned that the c
  
  Read more

• RCMP detail killer's path through Nova Scotia

  24-04-2020 16:09
  
  RCMP have confirmed the Nova Scotia killing spree began with the beating of a female, but did not specify a relationship. She was described at a Friday morning press conference as a "key witness" who emerged from hiding in the woods Sunday morning and confirmed to investigators that Gabriel Wortman was driving a replica RCMP cruiser and wearing a police uniform. She indicated he had a number of weapons. RCMP are providing a timeline of the shooter's travels over more than 12 hours Saturday and i
  
  Read more

• Giant asteroid flying by Earth next week looks like it's wearing a face mask

  24-04-2020 15:43
  
  An asteroid estimated to be 1.2 miles (1.9 kilometres)wide will fly by Earth next week, but it's not expected to collide with our planet. And if an asteroid could be aware of such things, it appears to be wearing a face mask in deference to the pandemic, according to new images from Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. The asteroid is called 52768 (1998 OR2), and it was first spotted in 1998. On April 29, it will pass within 3,908,791 miles of Earth, moving at 19,461 miles per hour. That's s
  
  Read more

• Where to watch the historic 'Stronger Together' special Sunday night

  24-04-2020 15:21
  
  Dozens of all-star Canadian artists, activists, actors, and athletes will share their stories of hope and inspiration in a national salute to front-line workers fighting COVID-19 for a historic multi-platform concert, ‘Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble,’ on Sunday night. More than four dozen big-name Canadians have signed on for the historic, star-studded broadcast, ‘which will air commercial-free Sunday April 26, at 6:30 p.m. across all markets/ 7 p.m. NT. You can watch the bro
  
  Read more

• Prince William's reason for not watching 'Tiger King' will make you laugh

  24-04-2020 15:14
  
  Like the rest of us, Prince William is shut in and has time to binge-watch TV, but don't expect him to be watching "Tiger King." The buzzy Netflix docuseries about a big cat enthusiast has been a hit for the streaming service, but Prince William doesn't sound like he will be adding it to his queue. The future king of England made an appearance on Stephen Fry's "Big Night In" where he had a bit of fun chatting about life in quarantine. Fry, playing his TV character Lord Melchett, asked about home
  
  Read more

• 'Support and love': Virtual vigil for Nova Scotia victims airs tonight

  24-04-2020 14:27
  
  An organizer of a virtual vigil for victims of the mass killing in Nova Scotia said shock still pervades the communities where 22 people lost their lives. But the virtual vigil, called “Nova Scotia Remembers,” is a time for both Nova Scotians and Canadians to come together in support and love, said Tory Phinney. “The feeling of shock is still very much the feeling in the community,” Phinney told CTV’s Your Morning on Friday from Bass River, a short drive from the Po
  
  Read more

• A summer like no other: Canada’s COVID-19 crisis puts festivals, concerts, fun on ice

  24-04-2020 13:57 via globalnews.ca
  
  But while it's likely that even more hot-weather past-times will be cancelled or curtailed, experts say that doesn't mean summer 2020 has to be a dud.
  
  Read more

• Lysol maker urges people not to inject disinfectants after Trump claims

  24-04-2020 13:52
  
  The company that makes Lysol is urging customers not to consume its cleaning products after President Donald Trump suggested the possibility of injecting disinfectants to protect people from coronavirus. Reckitt Benckiser, a British company, warned Friday that human consumption of disinfectant products is dangerous warned. It issued the statement following "recent speculation and social media activity. "As a global leader in health and hygiene products, we must be clear that under no circumstanc
  
  Read more

• Alberta health minister to announce measures to enhance rural health care

  24-04-2020 13:00 via globalnews.ca
  
  Alberta's health minister is scheduled to make an announcement Friday afternoon regarding rural health care in the province.
  
  Read more

• PM Trudeau to follow up on commercial rent assistance plan

  24-04-2020 10:35
  
  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to use his daily address to elaborate on the promised rent assistance program for businesses. First unveiled last week with few details, the federal government is collaborating with the provinces and territories to launch a Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program. It is meant to help small businesses cover their rents for April, May, and June. The program will provide loans, including some forgivable loans, to commercial property owners who a
  
  Read more

• Feds to unveil rent relief for businesses forced to shut down during pandemic

  24-04-2020 10:35
  
  Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is expected to announce today significant rent relief to help businesses that can't afford to pay their landlords at a time when their operations are shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The federal help is expected to be provided in partnership with the provinces and territories, which have jurisdiction over rents. Small- and medium-sized businesses, most of them shuttered since mid-March, have been clamouring for relief as the May 1 deadline for their next rent
  
  Read more

Follow @Lethbridge_News on Twitter!