An independent group of researchers analyzing the course of COVID-19 in British Columbia says cases are declining at about two per cent a day but children under 10 could now be more at risk of contracting the virus because they are unvaccinated. The experts in epidemiology, mathematics and data analysis from three universities in B.C. and the private sector say that age group had half the case rate earlier this year relative to those who are older, but that risk may rise. They say in a new report that the use of masks indoors and regional measures in areas with high case counts helped to stabi

Penticton RCMP say a 36 year old man was injured in a shooting in the Indian Rock area, north of Naramata on the eastern shore of Okanagan Lake. The Mounties say the victim was conscious and asked for help when officers responded to a report of shots fired outside a home Tuesday morning. Constable James Grandy says the shooting appeared targeted and drug-related. Anyone with information is asked to contact the RCMP.

The RCMP say 11 more people have been arrested at blockades set up to protest old-growth logging in the Fairy Creek area of southern Vancouver Island. They say nine of those arrested were conditionally released in Port Renfrew and the other two were released without being processed. Last month, a BC Supreme Court judge refused to grant forestry company Teal Cedar Products an extension of an injunction against the blockades, but the BC Court of Appeal granted a stay of that ruling until a full appeal next month. The Mounties say they have made 1,142 arrests since last spring, including 110 peo

British Columbia's top doctor says COVID-19 booster shots will be prioritized for front-line health-care workers, rural Indigenous Peoples and those over 70 because they're at highest risk of experiencing breakthrough infections. Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry says those groups and people who are most immunocompromised were vaccinated first and are getting to the point of waning immunity just ahead of flu season. She says the third dose will be given to those residents until December as part of a program already underway and appointment bookings will be offered based on the time s

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his new cabinet this morning and there are no surprise names from BC on the list but the shuffle has affected all but one of them. Vancouver South member Harjit Sajjan is out as defence minister, moving to international development and minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency. North Vancouver's Jonathan Wilkinson has been replaced in environment, instead taking on natural resources, while Vancouver Quadra MP Joyce Murray makes the biggest jump from president of the treasury board and minister of digital government to the fisherie

The Prime Minister's Office says Justin Trudeau spoke with Premier John Horgan Monday about the launch of BC's plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions. The PMO says Trudeau was pleased to see similarities between the Clean BC roadmap and the federal government's climate plan, including increasing the price on pollution, reducing methane emissions and expanding use of electric vehicles. It says in a statement Trudeau also raised the importance of continuing to work with B-C to prepare for future wildfire seasons and to rebuild the Village of Lytton. Trudeau is among the world leaders headed to Gl

One man is deceased after a fatal apartment fire in James Bay this morning.At approximately 8:30 a.m. this morning Patrol officers were called to a multi-unit residential building in the 100-block of Menzies Street where the Victoria Fire Department was on scene attacking a fire. One person has died as a result of the incident.Detectives with VicPD’s Major Crime Unit and officers with VicPD’s Forensic Identification Services attended the scene to continue the investigation. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. However, this incident is not being investigated as a criminal act

In addition, 90.0% (3,893,775) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 85.0% (3,676,200) have received their second dose.Over a three-day period, B.C. is reporting 1,618 new cases of COVID-19, including 21 epi-linked cases, for a total of 202,516 cases in the province:Oct. 22-23: 613 new casesOct. 23-24: 529 new casesOct. 24-25: 476 new casesThere are 4,966 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 195,055 people who tested positive have recovered. Of the active cases, 366 individuals are in hospital and 149 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recoveri

Vancouver Police have released surveillance video of a man they believe was kidnapped while walking on a quiet west-side street last month, and hope someone has information that can help solve the troubling case."We believe Jeffrey Lee was abducted by force and taken to an unknown location," says Sergeant Steve Addison. "We don’t know exactly why he was kidnapped, but we know there are people out there who have information, and we’re asking them to come forward now."Lee, 33, was last seen by his girlfriend around 10 p.m. on September 23, as he left her downtown apartment to go gambling in