WestCentral

Saskatchewan currently has the lowest unemployment rate in Canada according to the latest numbers from Statistics Canada. Despite the US and Chinese tariffs, the provinces unemployment rate sits at 4.9 per cent, well below the national average of 6.9 per cent. In June the province added 20,500 jobs, looking at the year-over-year.

This last week saw everything from arrests to the expansion of tools for Saskatchewan. The RCMP were kept busy, making arrests in local armed robberies to youth committing break and enters in nearby cities. Saskatchewan also saw boosts in local medical numbers and the federal government promising boosts in rural internet. Here are the top five stories from the week.

While most crops are progressing nicely around West Central Saskatchewan, it's forage that's been behind the eight ball so far this year in terms of quality and progress.

West Central still has the most haying left with 72 per cent of the first crop still standing according to the July 1-7 crop report. Of the 18 per cent that is cut, only 10 per cent has been baled or silaged. Its quality is relatively average in comparison to the rest of the province with ratings of six per cent excellent, 56 per cent good, 30 per cent fair, and eight per cent poor. 

Another great year of local softball has come and gone in the Eagle Creek Softball League.

The ECSL has two divisions, U11 and U13. There were nine teams in the U11 division this year, Dundurn, Delisle, Elrose, Lucky Lake, Hanley, Outlook, Biggar, and two teams from Rosetown. Eight teams are in the U13 division, Biggar, Dundurn, Hanley, Outlook, Rosetown, Elrose, Asquith. 

A scam involving STARS was flagged by the Oyen RCMP earlier this week.

"Recently, there have been reports of unknown callers saying they are calling on behalf of the STARS Lottery." shared the Oyen detachment in a Tuesday release. "The caller tells the intended victims that they have won a prize and must send a payment to claim the prize. The caller ID even displayed STARS Lottery” to add legitimacy to the call."

The Department of National Defence is looking at the possibility of complementing its incoming F-35 fleet with uncrewed combat aircraft.

Unclassified documents obtained by The Canadian Press show the department is researching various options for acquiring the emerging technology.

The documents suggest that purchasing a fleet of aerial combat drones that could fly alongside fighter jets could cost as much as $16 billion and would require hundreds of staff.

Canada’s provincial and territorial energy and mines ministers wrapped up their annual conference this week in Charlottetown, P.E.I., with a renewed focus on boosting the country’s resource exports and strengthening its position as a global energy leader.

Two youth are facing manslaughter and arson charges after a fatal house fire in Wetaskiwin late last year.

Wetaskiwin RCMP say officers were called to a residential fire near 53 Avenue and 45 Street at about 5:12 a.m. on Dec. 15, 2024.

When police arrived, they found the body of a man inside the home. He has been identified as 67-year-old Donald Robert, a resident of Wetaskiwin.

RCMP say the circumstances around Robert’s death were deemed suspicious and the Alberta RCMP Major Crimes Unit took over the investigation.

Jujube, a nine-month-old spayed female cat, is looking for a quiet home where she can reign in comfort and shower her people with affection.

This little “sweet treat” was found as a stray in Unity and has charmed everyone she meets with her big personality. With her striking looks and love of perching up high, Jujube brings to mind an ancient Egyptian cat goddess watching over her kingdom.

But behind her regal pose is a playful spirit. Jujube is known to hop into the sink to watch water flow or tilt her head to admire the tap, even if she ends up a bit wet.

Prime Minister Mark Carney's chief of staff and the country's top public servant will be responsible for maintaining an ethics screen preventing him from making decisions that benefit his former employer, says a disclosure issued by the office of the ethics commissioner on Friday.