A death-panel report from the BC Coroners Service makes several recommendations in response to the 619 heat-related deaths recorded last year as temperatures in parts of BC climbed above 40 degrees for more than a week. The report says government and social agencies responded too slowly after the weather office issued heat warnings as temperatures soared at the end of June. It says a heat-alert system is needed and the province has already announced plans for a two-step alert process that will release heat warnings in the same way Amber Alerts or tsunami warnings are issued now. The report al

The River Forecast Centre has lifted high streamflow advisories across southern BC as the risk of spring flooding drops, but it is maintaining flood watches for several river systems in northwestern and northeastern BC. Flood watches remain in effect for a section of the Dean River on the central coast east of Bella Coola and for sections of the Skeena River near Terrace, the Bulkley River around Smithers and the Liard River and its tributaries in northeastern BC. High streamflow advisories are also maintained for many rivers and streams across the extreme northwest corner of BC. In the Terra

The man who rolled a Dodge Durango on a Burnaby street, then left his severely injured passenger inside, has been handed a two-year jail term. Burnaby RCMP say charges were approved less than a year after the June 2020 crash. Police in Laval, Quebec identified 33 year old Moussa Daoui and worked with police in this province to return him to BC to face charges. RCMP say Daoui pleaded guilty on May 30th to criminal negligence causing bodily harm and he has been sentenced to the two year term.

Metro Vancouver police are reporting a resurgence of a phone scam that has snared several local seniors. Linda Annis, executive director of Metro Vancouver Crime Stoppers, says police are investigating 20 known cases recently and want to stop seniors from becoming victims. Typically, someone calls a senior and claims a grandchild or family member is being held in custody and a large amount of cash is needed to get the person released. Annis says they're urging anyone who has information about the scam to call Crime Stoppers anonymously.

British Columbia is introducing a two-tiered heat alert and response system to help people and communities stay safe this summer when temperatures rise.Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says during periods of extreme heat emergencies, the government is prepared to issue alerts through the national Alert Ready system, which is already used to issue Amber Alerts and tsunami, wildfire and flood warnings.Temperatures surpassed 40 C for days in last summer's so-called heat dome in B.C., resulting in almost 600 heat-related deaths, most of them elderly and vulnerable people living in buildings w

Monkeypox has spread to another part of Canada. The BC Centre for Disease Control has announced the first case in British Columbia, bringing the national total to almost 80 cases. The BC case is in a man in Vancouver. On Friday, the National Microbiology Laboratory said 77 cases of monkeypox had been confirmed in Canada. The BC centre says the risk to the general public is very low.

A man from the Netherlands has pleaded not guilty on all counts at the start of his trial in New Westminster on charges related to the alleged extortion and harassment of Port Coquitlam teen Amanda Todd. Aydin Coban faces five counts related to Todd, who died by suicide in October 2012 after posting a video online using a series of flash cards to describe the bullying and harassment she endured for posting an intimate photo online. The jury has been told the charges against Coban relate to his alleged communications with the 15-year-old between November 2009 and February 2012. Coban was extra

The lead singer for the Abbotsford-based pop rock band Hedley has been convicted of sexual assault causing bodily harm against an Ottawa woman but acquitted of the same charge against a teenage fan. Jacob Hoggard was found guilty yesterday after a Toronto jury deliberated for six days and twice reported it was deadlocked, before finally reaching its verdict. Bail conditions for the 37-year-old performer were tightened during a court hearing this morning, with a large bond posted by his wife and a requirement that Hoggard stay in B-C except for his upcoming court dates in Ontario. A sentencing

A 77-year-old man has come forward to police in Mission after four people taking part in a memorial march on Saturday were hit by a pickup truck in that Fraser Valley city. RCMP say the driver is not in custody but his truck has been seized by investigators. Participants attending the March for Recognition for Residential Schools temporarily blocked the only eastbound lane of the Lougheed Highway through Mission while walking to the site of the former St. Mary's residential school. An initial release from the Mounties said an ``impatient'' driver tried to pass the march and made contact with