WestCentral

Prime Minister Mark Carney's popularity may be cooling off in the summer but remains broadly positive, a new poll from Abacus Data suggests.

The Carney-led Liberal government's approval rating dipped to 50 per cent in the firm's latest polling, down two percentage points compared to mid-July and the lowest level since March.

With 48 per cent viewing Carney favourably and 19 per cent disapproving, the prime minister maintains a positive net approval. That figure is a couple percentage points lower than in Abacus's previous poll.

They have a bad reputation thanks to carrying 'weapons' on their bums — but wasps are doing more for the prairie ecosystem than most people realize. Dr. James Tansey, an entomologist with the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, says stinging wasps like yellowjackets and bald-faced hornets are actually important contributors to biodiversity.

Here’s a look at the top five most-read stories on West Central Online from July 31 to August 7. From a man arrested for trying to ignite cars and trees in Saskatoon, to a Biggar boat repair saga that ended with a refund after police got involved, these stories captured local attention. Tragic news included the death of a Saskatchewan teen in a rollover crash near Morrin, Alta., and the outpouring of community support for his family in Eatonia.

Saskatchewan’s economy continues to outpace the rest of the country, with 22,200 full-time jobs added year over year in July, according to the latest labour force data from Statistics Canada.

The province now holds the lowest unemployment rate in Canada at 5.0 per cent, well below the national average of 6.9 per cent. While other provinces experienced modest employment growth or declines, Saskatchewan led the nation in job gains.

After years of navigating crater-sized potholes and mounting safety concerns, visitors to the Kindersley Health Centre can now park without worry, thanks to a grassroots effort that turned frustration into fresh pavement.

The treacherous parking lot at the Kindersley Hospital and Manor has finally been resurfaced, not through government support, but through old-fashioned rural resolve and generosity.

Despite repeated efforts, the Saskatchewan Health Authority did not allocate funds for the long-needed repairs. That’s when the community stepped in.

Two men are facing numerous charges following a drug trafficking investigation led by Saskatchewan RCMP’s Battlefords Crime Reduction Team-Gang Task Force (CRT-GTF), part of the Saskatchewan Enforcement Response Teams (SERT).

Saskatchewan's Ministry of Highways is keen to remind rural residents and land owners that all hay bales must be removed from ditches.

After Friday, August 8, any bales in ditches are subject to being disposed of or removed at the discretion of the Ministry of Highways. 

David Horth, director of communications for Saskatchewan's Ministry of Highways, shared that bale removal allows for hay salvage and mowing, which helps control harmful weed growth, provides free hay to farmers, improves visibility, and more.

The union representing front-line RCMP members wants the force to ease requirements for foreign applicants to help attract experienced police officers from agencies like the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation and counterparts in the United Kingdom and Australia.

The RCMP currently requires that applicants be Canadian citizens or have permanent resident status in Canada. Applicants with permanent resident status must have lived in Canada as a permanent resident for three of the last five years.

Farm groups are asking for federal action on regulation and trade amid mounting financial pressures and tariff fears

Keystone Agricultural Producers and the Canadian Federation of Agriculture want governments to consider agriculture more often when setting priorities.

They are ramping up pressure on governments to prioritize agriculture in trade, regulation and disaster response as farmers face worsening drought and mounting financial strain.

A total of 73,080 trees have been planted in Narrow Hills Provincial Park as part of forest renewal efforts following a recent wildfire in northern Saskatchewan.

Five workers planted 60,120 jack pine trees and 12,960 white spruce trees between July 7 and 15, replenishing parts of the park burned by the fire.