Local News

The Saskatchewan Public Safety Agency (SPSA) says it is working with communities and residents impacted by the early and challenging start to the 2025 wildfire season, helping them begin the recovery and rebuilding process.

The SPSA’s Recovery Task Team is coordinating the province’s efforts to assess community needs and provide support following wildfire damage. The team is made up of representatives from the SPSA as well as other provincial ministries, including Environment, Social Services, and Government Relations. Other ministries may be involved as needed.

The tornado watch has ended for all areas of Central Alberta.

A severe thunderstorm watch is still in place for many areas including Ponoka County, Red Deer County and Clearwater County.

Thunderstorms continue over a large portion of Alberta. Some of these thunderstorms will continue to be severe this evening and tonight, giving very large hail, and strong wind gusts.

For the latest forecast click here.

The Lacombe Fire Department is helping residents cool off with free pop-up splash zones while the Kinsmen Aquatic Centre's spray park undergoes maintenance.

The temporary splash pads will be set up on July 9 and 10, running from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the field behind Lacombe Composite High School.

Airdrie’s population reached 90,044 as of April 1, 2025 — an increase of 4,239 residents over the previous year, according to results of the city’s annual municipal census presented to council Wednesday.

There will be a power outage in the community of Imperial tomorrow, Thursday July 3 from 10 am until 5 pm.  

The power outage will allow workers to improve the power system in the area. 

For updates on the outage, you can visit saskpower.com/outages 

SaskPower apologizes for the inconvenience and thanks residents for their patience. 

Rimbey RCMP executed a search warrant on a local business earlier today, finding multiple illegal drugs.

After a lengthy investigation into illegal drugs and cigarettes being sold, Rimbey RCMP, in a joint operation with the AGLC Tobacco Enforcement Unit, executed a search warrant at The Vault Sports Pub in Rimbey.

As a result of the search, police seized:

• Over 46 cartons and many packages of illegal cigarettes

• Quantities of cocaine, fentanyl, psilocybin, and marijuana

Canada Day drew thousands to Wiley Athletic Park and Seaman Stadium on Tuesday (July 1) for a full slate of festivities.

Those included face painting, stage performers, and a big win for the Okotoks Dawgs.

As always, a fireworks show lit up the sky to cap off the night.

Related: Canada Day celebrations saw crowds, dogs, and sunshine

June is usually the wettest month of the year, giving the prairies a good dose of rain as the summer stretches on, but this month was a bit drier. Environment and Climate Change Canada took a look at their data, gathering up the rainfall totals from a number of systems that passed through Estevan.

The total is a lot lower than what we usually get, says Meteorologist Crawford Luke.

A growing number of rural municipalities in southwest Saskatchewan have declared states of emergency as relentless drought conditions continue to strain farms, ranches, and rural communities.

The RMs of Maple Creek, Fox Valley, and Enterprise have joined the RM of Big Stick in officially declaring emergencies due to extreme dryness, lack of feed, and increasing fire risk.

The unfolding drought has forced livestock producers to make difficult decisions, with many reducing herd sizes and stretching already tight resources. 

The City of Grande Prairie has advanced its 2025 capital construction season with road rehabilitation work beginning today (Wednesday, July 2) on Crystal Lake Drive between 124 Avenue and Lakeland Drive, helping extend the life of the roadway and improve driving comfort. This work includes asphalt overlay paving in areas requiring surface improvements but not full reconstruction.

Additional work in Crystal Ridge is scheduled to begin around July 7 at the following locations:

·123 Avenue between Crystal Ridge Road and 97B Street.