EDMONTON - The Alberta government plans to expand the range of supports available to victims of crime starting this fall. Justice Minister Tyler Shandro said Tuesday that the changes, set to begin Sept. 1, aim to give additional help to victims of violence who face complex and unique problems. Among the changes, victims needing help coping with a severe brain injury would be able to access up to $100,000 with ongoing supplemental benefits of $1,000 a month. Victims of human trafficking would be eligible for up to $1,000 for temporary accommodation and up to $5,000 for relocation expenses. Fam

Albertans over the age of 18 will be able to book their fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine starting July 20. Alberta Health says in a news release that adults can start booking their second booster shot Wednesday, as long as it’s been five months since their first booster. It says the expanded availability will give residents more choices to protect themselves against COVID-19. The department says people can expect to see periods of increased transmission through the summer and into the fall and winter. It says the Omicron BA.5 variant is the most common strain in Alberta right now. Data su

One person was died and four others were taken to hospital after a two-vehicle crash in southern Alberta on Saturday afternoon. R-C-M-P and fire crews were called to the collision at the intersection of Highway 23 and Highway 529 near Vulcan, between Calgary and Lethbridge. They say a pickup truck was travelling south when it was struck on the driver's side by an SUV. The 55-year-old driver of the truck died at the scene, while a man, a woman and two children were taken by ground and air ambulance to hospital in Calgary. A 33-year-old woman who was in the SUV was airlifted by a STARS Air Ambu

The City of Medicine Hat says a severe storm yesterday impacted a number of power lines along the northwest side of the city, causing a power outage to approximately 76-hundred customers. The southeastern Alberta city also says Echo Dale Park saw significant damage and has been closed to the public. Alberta Emergency Alert initially called it a tornado, but later said it was a storm that caused damage to homes and vehicles. RCMP in Redcliff, near Medicine Hat, say they received reports of a possible tornado touching down on Highway 3, overturning a motorhome. But police say they have not had a

EDMONTON - An appeal by a former Edmonton nightclub employee who was found guilty of sexually assaulting five women has been dismissed. Matthew McKnight, who is in his mid-30s, was accused of sexually assaulting 13 women ranging in age from 17 to 22 between 2010 and 2016. A jury found him guilty in five of the assaults in January 2020 and he was later sentenced to eight years in prison. McKnight's defence team filed the notice of appeal of his conviction in August 2020, and it was heard by the Alberta Court of Appeal in June 2021. The decision by a panel of three judges was released today. Pro

A judge has denied bail for the fourth man charged with conspiracy to commit murder at a border blockade earlier this year in southern Alberta. Queen's Bench Justice Johnna Kubik ruled in Lethbridge court today that Jerry Morin, who is 40, must remain in custody until his trial. Morin, Anthony Olienick, Chris Carbert and Christopher Lysak are accused of conspiring to kill police officers at a blockade near Coutts, Alta., in protest of COVID-19 vaccine mandates and other pandemic restrictions. Olienick, Carbert and Lysak had already been denied bail. A trial for all four accused is to be held i

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney has admonished the federal government for its controversial decision to send parts of a Russian natural gas pipeline back to Germany. In a video posted to social media yesterday, Kenney accused the Liberals of impeding efforts to export responsible Canadian energy to Europe while helping Russian leader Vladimir Putin's Russian state-owned energy company Gazprom. Canada agreed earlier this month to grant an exemption to the economic sanctions issued against Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine, allowing six turbines being repaired in Montreal to be returned

Alberta's police watchdog has been called in after a suspect was shot by officers in northeast Calgary Sunday night. Police were called to a home on Coventry Hills Way N.E. near Harvest Hills Blvd. N. at about 9:45 p.m. for reports of an unknown man with a weapon trying to get into the building. When they arrived, police say they attempted to de-escalate the situation, but failed, resulting in two officers discharging their service weapons. The suspect was immediately provided medical care at the scene and taken to hospital in non-life-threatening condition. No officers were injured during the

A horse has been killed after it was injured in a chuckwagon race at the Calgary Stampede. Organizers say in a statement that the horse on Cody Ridsdale's team was hurt during the fourth heat of Thursday night's competition. Following a veterinary assessment, the owner decided it would be humane to euthanize the animal. Chuckwagon races returned to the Stampede after missing the last two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Six horses died in 2019, which led animal rights groups to raise concerns about horses that suffer fractured legs, broken backs and heart attacks. The Stampede has said that