Sentencing arguments begin today for 62-year-old Richard Mantha, who was convicted of sexually assaulting three vulnerable women and drugging one of them. Mantha was found guilty of six offences following a trial that lasted more than two years. The full day has been set aside for the Crown and defence to present their arguments on what sentence he should receive. He was convicted of two counts of sexual assault, as well as choking while committing a sexual assault and administering a noxious substance. Mantha was also found guilty of assault with a weapon and uttering threats against a fourth

Elections Alberta has confirmed that a by-election in the Calgary-Shaw provincial constituency will be held Sept. 14. The official writ for the election has now been issued. The seat has been vacant since May, when former Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz resigned following a recall petition launched against her. The United Conservative Party has nominated Mike Dery to contest the riding, while the NDP has nominated Kyle Campbell. NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi said electing Campbell would send a message to Premier Danielle Smith about her government's approach to separatists.

Police in Edmonton are investigating a weekend shooting that claimed the life of a 16-year-old girl. Officers were called to an area in northeast Edmonton on Sunday morning, where they found the teenager suffering from serious injuries. Paramedics pronounced her dead at the scene. The Edmonton Police Service said homicide investigators have taken over the investigation.

Calgary police are asking for the public’s help in locating a 22-year-old suspect wanted in connection with an assault that sent three people to hospital. Police were called to Spanky’s Saloon on Friday night, where officers found three injured men. One of the victims appeared to have suffered a stab wound. Investigators believe all three men were assaulted by the same suspect. Police say the 22-year-old is currently wanted on a warrant for multiple charges and are asking anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact authorities.

The Alberta government has issued a request for proposals for a $400,000 study examining the long-term security of the province’s water supply. Environment Minister Grant Hunter says the study will look 100 years into the future and explore new ways Alberta should invest in and build water infrastructure, while also helping guide future water-management policies. Hunter says Alberta’s population, industrial sector and agricultural industry are all expanding, making reliable access to water essential to sustaining economic and population growth. The study will also examine major water infra

The Alberta government is expected to record a budget surplus of billions of dollars this fiscal year, driven by higher crude oil prices. According to University of Calgary economics professor Trevor Tombe, the province has already accumulated a $3.8-billion surplus so far this fiscal year. He said every $1-per-barrel change in oil prices can make a difference of about $680 million to the provincial treasury. Tombe estimates that if oil prices remain above $66 per barrel, Alberta could end up with a surplus of around $6 billion, instead of the previously projected $9.4-billion deficit. Alberta

The Alberta government is sending additional firefighters and support crews to British Columbia today to help battle wildfires across the province. Alberta’s Ministry of Forestry and Parks says 186 firefighters have already arrived in B.C. and are assisting with wildfire response efforts, while another 40 personnel are being deployed Tuesday. The province is also providing air support, including two airtankers, two helitankers and a helicopter. An additional 45 support staff members, including an Incident Management Team, are also being deployed. More than 100 wildfires are currently burning

Calgary police say the man who shot at officers and struck one officer twice during a traffic stop yesterday had ties to organized crime. Police have not identified the suspect, who was later found dead in the Bow River from what they describe as a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Investigators have not provided details about the type of organized crime group he was allegedly connected to. The officer was shot twice and is expected to make a full recovery. The shooting happened shortly before noon near Spruce Cliff and Edworthy Park, west of downtown Calgary.

Correctional Service Canada says two correctional officers and an inmate have died during a transfer from the Edmonton Institution for Women. The federal agency announced the deaths Thursday in a social media post, describing the incident as a "tragic accident." It did not say when the deaths occurred or provide details about how the three people were killed. According to Correctional Service Canada, the transfer involved the Edmonton Institution for Women, a multi-level facility in west Edmonton that houses minimum- and medium-security inmates. No additional information about the circumstance