The RCMP say the B.C. Prosecution Service has approved 13 charges against a former social worker alleged to have stolen money from foster children in his care. The Mounties say in a news release they began an investigation nearly three years ago into the alleged fraudulent activity of Robert Riley Saunders. They say Saunders was employed with the Ministry of Children and Family Development from 1996 to 2018. Supt. Kara Triance of the RCMP's detachment in Kelowna says the police began their investigation in March 2018. Prosecutors have approved 13 charges against Saunders including 10 counts o

CN Rail says it's investigating why one of its trains derailed overnight Wednesday in the Fraser Canyon. The company says in a statement that seven empty grain cars went off the tracks near North Bend, across the Fraser River from Boston Bar. The statement says there is no danger to public safety and there were no leaks, fires or dangerous goods spilled. It says no one was hurt, no train cars went into the river and rail operations returned to normal yesterday.

Police in Abbotsford say a federal inmate is back in custody following a brief escape. They say in a statement that officers with Correctional Service Canada were escorting a federal offender to a medical appointment yesterday when he escaped. Police say that while officers tried to apprehend the offender, a correctional officer shot a gun but no one was injured. They say the inmate was found with the help of police, police dogs and an R-C-M-P helicopter without incident.

Vancouver's transit authority says it's working to determine how it became the target of a computer system attack and what information may have been affected. TransLink CEO Kevin Desmond says in a statement that a forensic investigation will probe the malicious software known as ransomware, which demands a fee in order to make a system work again. Customers have been unable to pay using credit or debit cards at Compass vending terminals or Tap-to-Pay fare terminals for days, but Desmond says that service is resuming. He says TransLink uses a third-party to process fare payments and does not s

BC is reporting 694 new cases of COVID-19, pushing the number of active cases past 9,000 for the first time. Provincial heath officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has also announced another 12 deaths, raising the total to 481. Dr. Henry says the province is continuing to make progress on Operation Immunize and hopes to begin the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines in the coming weeks. But she says there will only be limited amounts at first for those most at risk of severe illness and deaths. British Columbia's top doctor says seniors in long-term care homes and hospitals will be the first to get a vaccine ag

A team from the Transportation Safety Board will try to figure out why a covered lifeboat suddenly fell from a bulk carrier in English Bay on Tuesday, injuring two crew members. The sailors were badly hurt when the lifeboat fell from the freighter Blue Bosporus as a drill was underway. Quick action by first responders, including the Vancouver police boat and a vessel from the Kitsilano coast guard station, stopped the lifeboat from sinking. It's not the first time a covered lifeboat has fallen from a ship in English Bay, three Ukrainian crew members died and another was hurt when a problem wi

On December 3, 2020 just after 5:30 a.m., the Surrey RCMP responded to a report of a single vehicle collision in the alleyway of the 13700-block of 75A Avenue. A 30 year old female was located with critical injuries, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Despite all efforts by first responders, the woman succumbed to her injuries. Early information indicates a second vehicle was involved in this shooting and police are currently combing the area for any potential evidence, including video surveillance. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) will be investigating this occurrence

British Columbia's provincial health officer says it's crucial that anyone coming to BC over the holidays follows public health rules. Dr. Bonnie Henry says she can't stop anyone from getting on a plane or into a car. But she urged everyone to stay put this holiday season unless the travel is essential. Dr. Henry says cases are levelling off in the Fraser and Vancouver Coastal health regions but have been rising in the North, Interior and to a lesser extent on Vancouver Island. BC's provincial health officer says those who believe COVID-19 restrictions don't apply to them put a crack in the w

Fraser Health says regular admission has resumed through the emergency department at Burnaby Hospital, after a fire there last month. The health authority says some restoration is complete and acknowledged the dedication of hospital staff, who are also dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak. There are 60 patients and 42 staff associated with the outbreak at the hospital. Fraser Health says 10 people have died.