News

bmiller@medicinehatnews.com Advocates seeking to raise hens in their backyards are not asking the city for a long drawn-out process that could potentially include lengthy pilot projects and studies, they just want council to change the wording of an existing animal bylaw to include chickens. During open council Monday, Krsiten Mann delivered a presentation to councillors [...] Read More »

asmith@medicinehatnews.com Cypress County council approved the 2026 budget at its regular meeting Tuesday, setting the stage for the new council ahead of the election. The new budget reported increased income, reaching $51.9 million through a higher tax base. Because of this, council chose to set aside $8.6 million into reserves, to be used when needed [...] Read More »

asmith@medicinehatnews.com Coun. Shila Sharps has put her name back in the pot, determined to continue what council started in this last term. In the past four years, Sharps says she feels she has shown the reality of transparency; that while good governance requires that level of openness, it can sometimes be uncomfortable to see the [...] Read More »

asmith@medicinehatnews.com Facing increased policing costs and ongoing issues with service, Cypress County moved Tuesday to send a letter requesting discussion with Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services Mike Ellis. There have been several reports of a lack of officers available in the region when required, such as after the county’s peace officer had attempted [...] Read More »

bmiller@medicinehatnews.com A public hearing was held Monday at council over a proposed campsite development that would be located east of the Medalta Museum, with 70 full- and limited-service sites. The proposed campground is split into three land zones and would require a re-designation of the land located at 620 Porcelain Avenue. At this time in [...] Read More »

OTTAWA — British Columbia Premier David Eby is in Ottawa to push the federal government for more investment in major infrastructure projects in the province, and it included dinner with the prime minister on Wednesday. The premier’s office said in a statement that Eby is leading a mission to Ottawa that will last until Thursday, [...] Read More »

RICHMOND — An RCMP member stationed at the Coquitlam, B.C., detachment says he regrets making “stupid” and “ugly” comments in group chats with other officers that included stereotypes about Asian drivers, slurs about gay people and inappropriate remarks about Crown prosecutors. An RCMP code-of-conduct hearing being held at a hotel in Richmond, B.C., continued Wednesday, [...] Read More »

MONTREAL — The federal government is asking the Supreme Court of Canada to set limits around how provincial governments can override the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Ottawa brought forward the request in a factum filed at the court on Wednesday, as part of the landmark case on Quebec’s secularism law, known as Bill 21. [...] Read More »

TORONTO — Toronto Public Health says it has the results for about a quarter of the patients potentially exposed to blood-borne viruses at a downtown gynecologist’s office, and that none of them contracted infections there. The public health unit is releasing its final report on Dr. Esther Park a year after it was notified of [...] Read More »

OTTAWA — Details of the Liberal government’s gun buyback program will be released over the next few weeks, the public safety minister said Wednesday. Gary Anandasangaree said the government will provide information on next steps and the mechanics of the program very soon. Anandasangaree told reporters he is confident collection facilities will be available in [...] Read More »

Over 200 Blood Tribe members took part in The Blood Tribe Resource Fair Thursday in Standoff. The event was the first of its kind, says Levi Little Moustache, Director of Blood Tribe Employment and Skills Training (BTEST). “The event today was a collaboration of all the HR departments (including) all the departments under Blood Tribe, [...] Read More »

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com Misconduct allegations from more than five years ago finally culminated in a disciplinary hearing for Lethbridge Police Service Chief Shahin Mehdizadeh this week. The Lethbridge Police Commission held the hearing Thursday at City Hall to address misconduct allegations against Mehdizadeh regarding an incident that took place in March 2021. The allegations were made [...] Read More »

LETHBRIDGE HERALDjmanio@lethbridgeherald.com A perpetual challenge for not-for-profit organizations is funding for their charitable work. In support of its continuing mission, Lethbridge Family Services (LFS) is hosting an inaugural gala called “Spring to Light” on April 25 at the Agri-Food Hub and Trade Center, featuring Canadian comedian, television personality, political satirist, and author Rick Mercer. “This [...] Read More »

Some Lethbridge homeowners might be surprised to see an almost 14 per cent increase in their education taxes when they get their property tax bill this spring. According to the Government of Alberta website, education property taxes are increasing for 2025-2026 after being frozen in 2024-2025. For Lethbridge residents, this will amount to a 13.8 [...] Read More »

LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com Efforts to raise $30 million to improve cardiac care in Lethbridge and Medicine Hat are paying off. Three new donation commitments totalling $350,000 mean a fundraiser to establish the Southern Alberta Cardiac Centre of Excellence has reached about a third of its goal. Campaign manager Jordan Cleland said Wednesday about $10 million has [...] Read More »