A new tool is being tested in Edmonton to detect distracted drivers, but it won't lead to any tickets right now. A trailer and camera are parked on the side of a busy road as part of a University of Alberta research project that will capture high-resolution images through windshields. The technology, developed by Australian company Acusensus, then uses artificial intelligence to compare the images to millions of others in an effort to detect drivers who use cellphones behind the wheel. The company claims that after police started using the system in Australia, traffic deaths went down.

The pilot of a crop dusting plane has died in a crash just east of Donalda, Alberta. RCMP say they were alerted to the crash just before 10 yesterday morning. The lone occupant has been identified as a 39-year-old man who lived in Bawlf. The Transportation Safety Board says it is deploying a team of investigators.

Two people are dead, including a paramedic, following a collision involving an ambulance southwest of Edmonton. RCMP say members responded to a report of a crash between an ambulance and an older Buick Skylark on Highway 39 just west of Thorsby early Saturday. Police say the driver and lone occupant of the Buick, a 27-year-old man from Edmonton, as well as the 51-year-old woman who was driving the ambulance, were both pronounced dead at the scene. Alberta Health Services later identified her as a paramedic but released no other details. A male passenger in the ambulance, who AHS said was also

Calgary police's hate crime and extremism team is investigating a recent act of vandalism that caused damage to a statue outside a church. Police say a man damaged a religious statue in front of Sacred Heart Church on September 1st before fleeing the area on foot. The suspect is described as about five feet 11 inches tall, with possible tattoos on his left arm and a slim build. Police say the man was an orange T-shirt, baseball cap, sunglasses, dark construction pants and construction boots. They say investigators have not determined a motive for the vandalism.

Alberta Emergency Alerts says a break near the water treatment plant main line in the town of Bow Island has been repaired. But it says the water is currently unsafe to drink or consume. A boil water advisory is in effect in the town, which is located about 50 kilometres southwest of Medicine Hat in southern Alberta. The alert says water line flushing is in progress and the advisory will remain until water tests are completed and acceptable results are obtained.

A 25-year-old man was taken into custody yesterday after Edmonton police said one person was killed and two were injured in what they called random attacks. Police have identified the suspect as Clarence Lawrence. Police asked people in the area of Hermitage Road and Henry Avenue NW to shelter in place while they investigated.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says he won't sit idly by while what he calls a ``half-baked,'' ``banana republic'' plan is hatched for more provincial independence. Kenney was commenting on a promise made by Danielle Smith, who is running to replace him as premier in the United Conservative Party leadership race. Smith says if she wins the race in October, she will introduce a bill to have Alberta ignore federal laws and court rulings deemed not to be in its best interests. Kenney has joined with law professors to call that a profound attack on the fundamental rule of law. Smith says Kenney is b

The Jasper townsite in Jasper National Park has been experiencing power outages due to a large out-of-control wildfire. Parks Canada says the fire was estimated to be just over six-thousand hectares in size yesterday. It said over the weekend that specialized crews were working at at protecting a utility line that supplies electricity to the community. ATCO Electricity, the utility that supplies the townsite, said yesterday that it was switching critical sites to generator power including the waste water treatment and water treatment plants, traffic lights, the hospital, and the Jasper Activit

A 59-year-old woman was flown to hospital by STARS Air Ambulance Thursday afternoon after a multi-vehicle crash north of Edmonton. According to RCMP, three vehicles were involved in the crash around 3 p.m. at Highway 18 and Range Road 40, near Barrhead. An RCMP spokesperson could not confirm how many people were assessed by EMS on scene and released, but could confirm two people were taken to hospital by ambulance and a third in more serious condition was airlifted by STARS. It's not known what caused the crash. Highway 18 was closed in both directions for several hours on Thursday.