Castlegar has worst air quality in Canada today

Visibility in Castlegar is limited as smoke blankets the city. Photo: Betsy Kline
Only a few places in the world with worse air quality on Thursday

The Nk’Mip Creek Wildfire is over 6,500 hectares and growing. (BC Wildfire Service Twitter)

More burned in 2021 wildfires so far than all of last year
Dr. Penny Ballem, leader of B.C.’s COVID-19 vaccine program, provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix promote new website offering walk-in clinics around the province, at the cabinet offices in Vancouver, July 26, 2021. (B.C. government)

B.C.’s COVID-19 cases up 204 Thursday, half in Interior region
Tennessee Titans’ Julio Jones accused of harvesting, selling millions of dollars in cannabis

Tennessee Titans’ Julio Jones accused of harvesting, selling millions of dollars in cannabis
True Tranquility: Exploring legendary Haida Gwaii

True Tranquility: Exploring legendary Haida Gwaii

In this April 8, 2010 file photo a cross sits on top of a church in Berlin, Germany. A Winnipeg archdiocese says a priest who suggested residential school survivors were lying to get money is no longer allowed to preach or teach publicly. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Markus Schreiber

Manitoba catholic priest accuses residential school survivors of lying
A blood donor clinic pictured at a shopping mall in Calgary on Friday, March 27, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Demand increasing: Canadian Blood Services watching supply as COVID-19 rules eased
Seven-year-old Tonnerre is recovering from burns sustained in a South Okanagan wildfire. (BC SPCA image)

Dog survives burns from South Okanagan wildfire
Scarlett Johansson stars in “Black Widow.” Marvel Studios

Scarlett Johansson sues Disney over ‘Black Widow’ release
Video
A BC Wildfire Service firefighter calls out to a colleague out of frame. Photo: Laurie Tritschler

Firefighters put out grass fire east of Grand Forks

A semi-trailer lies upside down after spilling its load on Highway 3, east of Midway, Tuesday, July 27. Photo: Submitted

Semi-trailer rolls over on Highway 3, near Village of Midway

Mary Simon speaks during an announcement at the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Que., on Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Simon, an Inuk leader and former Canadian diplomat, has been named as Canada's next governor general — the first Indigenous person to serve in the role. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

VIDEO: Mary Simon becomes Canada’s 1st Indigenous governor general

Bill Merilees, a retired B.C. Parks regional information officer, collected mollusk shells from B.C. and Washington state coastlines for 50 years and has donated his 140,000-specimen collection to University of British Columbia’s Beaty Biodiversity Museum. (Chris Bush/News Bulletin)

VIDEO: B.C. man donates 140,000 mollusk specimens to biodiversity museum

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News
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh holds a press conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Singh meets with Indigenous leaders at residential school where unmarked graves found

NDP leader choked up as he described walking near the Kamloops burial site

Helicopter takes off from the B.C. Wildfire Service Southeast Fire Centre in Castlegar, July 21, 2021. (B.C. government photo)

Long-awaited rain, clearing smoke ahead for southern B.C. wildfires

Heat to give way to cooler, unsettled weather over long weekend

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Community
Great Blue Herons Phil Payne photo

Kootenay Conservation Program concerned by declining Great Blue Heron population

Active nests decreasing in the Columbia Basin

John Erickson noted that the forest fuels are exceptionally dry this year. (John Erickson/Special to the News)

See smoke? Here’s how to help crews when you report a wildfire from a B.C. expert

Err on the side of caution, advises B.C. Wildfire Service

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Obituaries

Maria Helen Woodman (nee Cschi)

Jul 14th, 2021

Maureen Jeanette (Lipsett) Grenier

Jul 12th, 2021

Gary Raymond Doucette

Jul 9th, 2021

Dylan Charles Belanger

Jul 5th, 2021

Chuck Tuma

Jul 4th, 2021

Wayne Kenneth Parks

Jun 30th, 2021

See Celebrations of Life See More Obituaries 

Sports
Mexico’s Chelsea Gonzales hits a single in the sixth inning of a softball game against Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Tuesday, July 27, 2021, in Yokohama, Japan (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Mexico boxers accuse country’s softball players of throwing away Olympic apparel

All but one member of Mexico’s 15-woman Olympic roster was born in the United States

Vancouver Whitecaps FC play the Montreal Impact in an empty B.C. Place due to COVID-19 protocols during the second half of MLS soccer action in Vancouver, B.C. Wednesday, September, 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Canadian MLS teams given green light to finish out season using home stadiums

Canada has approved a “National Interest Exemption” for MLS teams crossing the border

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Opinion

The Habitat for Humanity ReStore needs more volunteers. Photo: Submitted

COVID-19’s impact on volunteerism at Castlegar’s ReStore and other charities

It is difficult to find volunteers

Gymnast Simone Biles answers a question during an interview after a training session Tuesday, May 11, 2021, in Spring, Texas. (AP Photo / David J. Phillip)

Elliott: ‘We can all learn from her courage’: Simone Biles not alone in mental health struggle

It’s worth paying attention to people who best understand what Olympic gymnastic star is confronting

eEdition

Castlegar News/West Kootenay Advertiser, Jul 29

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Business
B.C. government program spending, in millions, from 2016 to 2021. (B.C. finance ministry)

B.C.’s tax take continued to climb during COVID-19 pandemic year

Federal billions offset loss in fees, licence revenues

B.C. Premier John Horgan listens as Finance Minister Selina Robinson presents the province’s latest budget, April 20, 2021. The budget forecasts $19 billion in deficits over three years. (Hansard TV)

B.C. budget deficit $5.5 billion, less than half last year’s forecast

Province’s COVID-19 spending tops $10 billion for 2020-21

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Entertainment
This image released by Disney shows Emily Blunt, right, and Dwayne Johnson in a scene from “Jungle Cruise.” (Disney via AP)

Review: Emily Blunt transcends overstuffed ‘Jungle Cruise’

A fine adventure with two genuine movie stars comes across as an earnest and safe homage

The popular animated children’s series Arthur is no longer in production. (arthur.pbs)

‘Arthur’ to end on PBS Kids after 25-season stint

Long-running kids’ show set to end in 2022

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Trending Now
On Aug. 3, Pender Island residents Chris Hall and Stef Lowey will have officially completed a year of only eating what they can grow, harvest, catch or raise themselves. (Courtesy of Chris Hall and Stef Lowey)

From salt to stevia: B.C. couple nears full year without buying food

Pender Island’s Chris Hall and Stef Lowey have produced everything they’ve eaten since Aug. 3, 2020

Christine Connon and Dave Wright will be the first couple to wed at White Rock Seniors Village, in a ceremony July 31. (Contributed photo)

B.C. seniors find love amid pandemic – ‘and I didn’t even know her name’

Christine Connon and Dave Wright’s wedding will be the first at White Rock Seniors Village

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Life
Artist and UBC art instructor Samuel Roy-Bois with some of his artwork in Kelowna, British Columbia. Photography by Lia Crowe

Artist Samuel Roy-Bois on story and the built environment

Exploring architecture and space with sculpture, installation and sound

    Financial wealth manager Dale Lamb. Photography by Lia Crowe

    Financial planning pro Dale Lamb

    A passion for education clients in wealth management

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      Impress
      Interior Health's new 310-MHSU number connects callers directly to the closest mental health and substance use centre in their community.

      Access local mental health and wellness services with a single phone number!

      Improving access to mental health and substance use services is a key priority for Interior Health

        Amy Tucker started cycling near her home in Kamloops during the pandemic, and says it was a big boost to her physical and mental health.

        GoByBike week unites BC cyclists, two wheels apart

        From May 31 to June 6, bike to exercise, bike to destress, and bike to win!

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