WestCentral

Ukraine and its allies held a virtual meeting Sunday as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy prepares for a high-stakes discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C., on Monday.

Prime Minister Mark Carney's office said in a Sunday afternoon statement that he took part in the call with the "Coalition of the Willing," a group of nations that have agreed to support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian's full-scale invasion. The statement did not indicate that Carney would be part of Monday's discussions.

The RCMP Federal Policing Northwest Region (NWR) is stepping up efforts to secure the Canada–U.S. border by launching a new Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) corridor. The initiative, which begins at 9 p.m. today, will initially be trialed in Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba.

From rare prairie songbirds to severe summer storms, this week’s top stories from west-central Saskatchewan capture a mix of environmental calls to action, courtroom outcomes, hunting season preparations, and weather events that had communities on high alert. Here’s a look back at the five headlines that shaped the region over the past seven days.

Saskatchewan’s provincially funded specialized policing teams seized dozens of guns and kilograms of illegal drugs in the first six months of 2025, according to new mid-year results released Thursday.

Between January and June, municipal Crime Reduction Teams (CRTs) and Saskatchewan Trafficking Response Teams (STRTs) seized 73 firearms, more than 14 kilograms of cocaine, and 2.7 kilograms of methamphetamine from operations in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina. Officers charged 91 people with 445 offences.

Hay yields are looking strong around West Central with operations now complete for many producers.

The latest crop report tagged dryland alfalfa at 1.20 tons per acre, brome hay at 0.91, tame hay at 0.77, while greenfeed yielded 2.04 tons per acre. Irrigated alfalfa yielded 3.00 tons per acre, the further statistics showing 2.00 for irrigated brome hay.

Saskatchewan posted the second-largest year-over-year growth in building permits among Canadian provinces in June, according to new data from Statistics Canada.

The value of permits issued in the province rose 37.4 per cent from June 2024 to June 2025, seasonally adjusted. Only one province recorded a higher increase.

Trade and Export Development Minister Warren Kaeding said the figures reflect a growing economy and demand for construction.

When Prime Minister Jean Chrétien got hit in the face with a pie 25 years ago, the only thing hurt was his pride.

A quarter-century later, Canada's security landscape has changed radically. Threats of violence against politicians have become far more common. What seemed like a harmless prank then looks more like a warning now.

"There is this view that you're a politician, it's all fair game," said Catherine McKenna — who was herself the target of multiple threats of violence while she served as a federal minister.

The Pan American Health Organization says Canada has the highest number of measles cases on the continent and more action is needed to address low vaccination rates.

The regional agency within the World Health Organization, which covers North and South America, says there has been an exponential rise in measles this year. 

As of Aug. 8, it recorded 10,139 confirmed measles cases across ten countries, representing a 33-fold increase compared to the same period in 2024, when there were 311 cases. 

A new study from the Shoppers Foundation for Women’s Health suggests many Canadian women are underestimating the seriousness of their own health issues, from menstrual problems to mental well-being.

The research, released Tuesday, found that nearly three in four women admitted to downplaying their symptoms and hesitating to seek professional help. Women aged 23 to 43 were particularly likely to ignore warning signs, while 80 per cent of those aged 44 to 50 said they were more likely to consult a medical professional.

Other findings included:

This week's review has a heavy focus on sports — from the pool to the ball diamond, and even the hockey rink!