Elevate your local knowledge
Sign up for the iNFOnews newsletter today!
Kelowna
Campers rejoice, fire ban rescinded
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Recent cool, wet weather means that as of today, Thurs. Aug. 21, you can once again have campfires in the Kamloops Fire Centre one week ahead of the long weekend. B.C. Wildfire lifted the ban, which was put in place more than five weeks ago, following a decrease in wildfire risk thanks to...
UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch ends
UPDATE: A severe thunderstorm watch for the Okanagan, South Thompson and Nicola areas has been lifted. Environment Canada states the conditions required to produce severe weather no longer apply. THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Torrential rains, strong winds and hail are all possible as an unstable airmass moves over the region. Environment Canada has again issued a severe...
Dancing in the Park final party set to swing
KELOWNA – With the third season of Dancing in the Park coming to an end this month, organizers say interest in the free outdoor dance event continues to grow. The program is intended to promote active living in the community and has taken place every Wednesday evening since July 2. With professional instructors and an...
Paralyzed FMX rider Bruce Cook gets stolen bike back thanks to social media
KELOWNA – Thanks to social media and the quick actions of a friend, paralyzed freestyle…
Take a bite out of the grasshopper population
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - With the abundance of grasshoppers in our yards and parks right now it’s the perfect time to try a new recipe. The leaping insects are common cuisine in many countries so get your nets and mason jars and get to catching some of these tiny treats. They can be baked, deep fried and...
Grasshoppers take over the Interior
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - While they are an important food source in parts of Africa the overwhelming number of grasshoppers gracing our yards, parks and roads have not been nearly as welcome in the Southern Interior. Karla Hoffman, Integrated Pest Management Coordinator for Kamloops says while the city itself is not dealing with the grasshoppers as a...
UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch ended
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - UPDATE: 8:49 p.m., Aug. 14 The severe thunderstorm watch for the South and North Thompson and Nicola regions has ended. Short-lived storms passed through the region late afternoon and early evening, but no major damage has been reported. UPDATE: 6:07 p.m., Aug. 14 The severe thunderstorm warning has been downgraded back down to...
The cat who can open doors
While Mulder's owner may not be so impressed by his kitty's talents, many are fans of his ability to open doors - even when there's risks involved. Watch this cat take on his owner's tricks. Then on trending now, check out a family's way to cheer up their grandfather as he deals with the death...
Athletes race in 32nd Apple Triathlon
KELOWNA – One of the Okanagan’s most historic and recognized sporting events is back this weekend for the 32nd year in a row. The Kelowna Apple Triathlon is a 10 km run, 40 km bike and 1.5 km swim event that takes athletes along Lake Okanagan, up Knox Mountain and back down through Glenmore. The...
UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch ended, again
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - For the second day in a row the risk of severe thunderstorms in the Interior passed before any damage could be done. Much of the region received at least some rain overnight or this morning. While it stopped by mid-morning, a 30-40 per cent chance of showers remains tonight. Environment Canada issued the...
Elliott Road reopens to public after seven month closure
WEST KELOWNA – The section of Elliott Road between Main Street and Dobbin will reopen to vehicle and pedestrian traffic Monday after being closed for more than seven months for construction of a new transit exchange. Construction of the Westbank RapidBus transit exchange won't be completed until the end of the month and motorists are...
Traffic reduced to one lane on Okanagan Connector
PEACHLAND - Central Okanagan Traffic Services are responding to two separate minor crashes west of Trepanier Creek Bridge on Hwy 97C - the Okanagan Connector. The crashes are 500 meters apart. There are no injuries to report. Both lanes remain open for traffic travelling westbound. The eastbound traffic has been reduced to one lane. The...
UPDATE: Smoky skies advisory ends
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - After more than a week under a smoky sky advisory, the smoke has finally cleared. There have been more than 1,100 wildfires this year and more than 252,000 hectares have burned. Six of those fires have been more than 10,000 ha in size with the largest reaching more than 88,000 ha. Smoke from...
UPDATE: Severe thunderstorm watch ended
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A system threatening to bring strong winds and heavy rain to the region this afternoon is no longer a concern according to Environment Canada. Meteorologists warned the system, which was developing over Washington, could produce wind gusts in excess of 70 kilometres per hour and dump 15 millimetres of rain in a short...
Suncor gets official green light to fly employees out of YLW
KELOWNA – Suncor Energy received permission Monday to continue to run their own airline for their employees out of Kelowna International Airport. The energy company has previously been using the airport on an ad-hoc basis however the new agreement will allow the city to collect airport improvement fees at a rate of $15 per passenger....
Perseids peak tonight
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - A nearly full moon may make it difficult to see the full impact of the Perseids meteor shower tonight, but one of the best meteor showers of the year is still worth staying up for. The Perseids are visible from July 17 through Aug. 24 and produce longer trails and fireballs as an...
Peachland’s Drought Hill fire now 100% contained
PEACHLAND – B.C. Wildfire crews along with the Peachland and West Kelowna fire departments are currently mopping up the scene of the Drought Hill fire, which has already burned for four days but is now 100 per cent contained. “It’s still 40 hectares in size. There will be 50 personnel on site today,” says Kelsey...
Second supermoon lights up the sky
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Full moons often catch a photographers eye but supermoons seem to bring out the photographer in everyone. Sunday night the second of three consecutive supermoons filled the sky. A supermoon also made an appearance in July and another is set for Sept. 9. A supermoon occurs when the full moon is about 50,000...
Heat, rain in forecast
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Have both your sunscreen and umbrella on standby, we are expecting two more days of high heat but then we are heading to below normal temperatures and rain later in the week. Monday we are looking at temperatures of 34 to 36 Celsius across the region and while Tuesday's temperatures for most of...
Grant could ease rural patients’ access to health care
KELOWNA – A $20,000 grant from the Canadian Institute of Health Research will help an interdisciplinary team from UBC and Interior Health continue research and development of 'telehealth' communications. The pilot is set to help patients with atrial fibrillation – a common heart condition – in rural areas. “Often the only option for older adults...
ICBC to mail letters and refunds to users following database error
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN – ICBC is ready to pay-up after over-charging some car insurance users over the past six years based on incorrect vehicle descriptions. The investigation has concluded after two external reviews. They checked 24 million individual optional insurance transactions and now the company will mail 441,000 letters and applicable refunds to its customers. The average refund...
Australia to send support for B.C. Wildfire
THOMPSON-OKANAGAN - Several wildfire specialist management teams from Australia will touch down in Vancouver this weekend to help respond to several wildfires across the province. “The high number of active wildfires in the province is stretching our firefighting resources,” said Minister of Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Steve Thomson. “In addition to the support...
Cyclist on sidewalk collides with car
KELOWNA – A female cyclist was taken to KGH with minor injuries Tuesday after she collided with a car at the entrance to Future Shop. Kelowna Fire Capt. Steve Roshinsky says the woman, estimated to be in her 40’s, was travelling eastbound along Harvey Ave. Roshinsky says after the impact, she went over the hood...
Drowsy drivers do have options
THOMPSON - OKANAGAN - July and August are peak months for driver fatigue-related incidents. While you may be bumper to bumper with everyone else rushing for the best beach spot, it’s important to recognize the signs of tired driving. “Living in Kamloops, I know how hot B.C. summers can get,” says B.C. Minister of Transportation...