Hurricane Ian's most damaging winds have begun hitting Florida's southwest coast as the storm approaches landfall. The Category Four hurricane is lashing the state with heavy rain and pushing a devastating storm surge. Deanne Criswell with the US Federal Emergency Management Agency says Ian will cause a lot of water issues. Fuelled by warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Ian grew to a catastrophic Category 4 hurricane overnight with top winds of 250 kilometres per hour.US President Joe Biden is warning oil and gas companies against price gouging in the middle of the storm preparations.

Vancouver Police are investigating after a 19-year-old woman was assaulted while walking downtown yesterday morning, and police believe the incident may have been racially motivated. At 9:50 Tuesday morning, a young Asian woman was walking near Dunsmuir and Cambie streets when a man she didn’t know hit her over the back of the head with a pole. The suspect used a racial slur, then fled the area as he continued making offensive comments."Although there were other people walking in the block at the time of assault, they couldn’t have prevented the attack because it was so sudden," says Const

Premier John Horgan has issued the following statement:"Today, Minister Melanie Mark advised me of her decision to resign her cabinet portfolio and go on medical leave to focus on pressing and urgent personal matters. While I regret that she will not be at the cabinet table, I respect her decision and her commitment to her constituents."I have asked Lisa Beare, Minister of Citizens' Services, to assume responsibility for Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, effective immediately, in addition to her current portfolio."

Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, has released the following statement regarding the BC Coroners Service report on illicit drug toxicity deaths in August 2022:"In August, we lost 169 people to the poisoned drug supply. These are devastating losses for families, friends, communities and loved ones. My heart is with everyone who had such a tragic loss. "We are working hard to build a system of mental-health and substance-use care where there wasn't one five years ago. We are offering innovative harm-reduction solutions, like prescribed safe supply - the only province i

Tomorrow morning, police across Delta, Surrey and Langley will be looking for distracted drivers during a one-day enforcement blitz as part of a provincial distracted driving education and enforcement campaign. Police will be joined by ICBC road safety & community coordinators and local Cell Watch volunteers, who will be reminding drivers of an important message: leave your phone alone while driving.Distracted driving is the second leading contributor in fatal crashes in B.C., behind speed and ahead of impaired driving, and is the top contributor in police-reported injury crashes. Who: Lan

Surrey RCMP is seeking additional information to further an ongoing sexual assault investigation. On July 18, 2022, Surrey RCMP received a report that a woman had been sexually assaulted while undergoing a physical exam by a doctor at a pain clinic located in the 6600-block of 152A Street.Surrey RCMP Special Victims Unit took conduct of the investigation and recently submitted a report to BC Prosecution Services recommending charges. On September 13, 2022, 54-year-old, Olumuyiwa Bamgbade was charged with one count of sexual assault. He later turned himself into the Surrey courthouse where he w

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday congratulated Giorgia Meloni, the leader of a right-wing coalition for winning the Italian general elections. The prime minister said he looks forward to working together to strengthen bilateral relations. "Congratulations @GiorgiaMeloni for leading your party @FratellidItalia to victory in the Italian general elections. We look forward to working together to strengthen our ties," PM Modi tweeted. The right-wing coalition scored an overall victory in the country's general election to form a new parliament. Party leader Giorgia Meloni will most likely

R-C-M-P say arrests have been made after a shooting in central Alberta. A man was shot outside the Leland Hotel in Ponoka a week ago. The Mounties say they, with the help of Calgary police, arrested two people at Cascade Ponds in Banff National Park on Monday. Eldon James Junior Saddleback of Maskwacis (mask-wah-CHEEZ') and Anthony Kelsey Lee Omeasoo of Wetaskiwin (weh-TAH'-ska-WIN') are both charged with attempted murder with a firearm and a number of other offences. Both Saddleback and Omeasoo have been remanded in custody with their next court appearance set for Sept. 29 in Wetaskiwin.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the Central government for not taking any decision so far on the mercy petition of Balwant Singh Rajoana, who was awarded the death sentence for the assassination of the then Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh in 1995. A bench of Justices Chief Justice UU Lalit, Justices S Ravindra Bhat and PS Narasimha was irked over the Centre not taking any clear stand on the mercy petition despite being given time by the court to do so, and now seeking adjournment in the case. Earlier in May, the apex court had directed the Centre to decide within two months mercy p