Lacombe

With the arrival of warmer weather and longer days, children are spending more time outside — whether walking to a friend’s house, heading to the park or just enjoying the outdoors.

The Alberta RCMP is reminding parents and guardians that this is a good time to check in with children about staying safe and being aware of their surroundings.

Canada Post customers may face delays as tens of thousands of workers swear off overtime shifts, though a much bigger disruption was averted after the union backed down from a strike threat.

Nonetheless, the possibility of escalating job action could continue to scare off customers who pulled their shipments over the past couple of weeks, draining more business from the cash-strapped organization.

“I’m scared for the future,” said Edmonton mail carrier Dustin Ellis, who recently went on leave to study for a new career in social work.

Top officials at the Canada Revenue Agency say mounting job cuts will impact how the agency is able to deliver services.

Commissioner Bob Hamilton and deputy commissioner Jean-François Fortin said in a message to staff Thursday that up to 280 employees will lose their jobs at the agency.

The agency has been examining its operating budget for more than two years to meet a demand from the government to find savings. 

Alberta’s government is investing nearly $7 million to create six new Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) teams to protect communities at risk from wildfires.  

In response to increased wildfire activity in recent years, Alberta’s government is acting to better safeguard communities and strengthen the way emergencies are responded to. This includes record investments in equipment and personnel, as well as targeted strategies to enhance local firefighting capacity, readiness and resilience. 

Crop would be eligible for biofuel tax credit under recent budget proposals in Congress

U.S. President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” could contain some beautiful news for Canada’s canola growers.

The U.S. House of Representatives’ ways and means committee has released its draft proposals for the U.S. budget reconciliation bill.

The proposals include provisions to amend the controversial 45Z clean fuel production tax credit so that canola oil-based biodiesel and renewable diesel would be eligible for the credit.

Construction is underway at the University of Saskatchewan that will see critical facility improvements within the College of Agriculture and Bioresources.

Two new facilities are being built - the Harrington Plant Growth Facility and the Soil Science Field Facility - while a portion of the Crop Science Field Lab is being renovated to provide additional workspace for the Crop Development Centre. 

The Education Services Team with Wolf Creek Public Schools (WCPS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Shelagh Hagemann as the new Director of Indigenous Education and Reconciliation, beginning in August 2025.  

The Red Deer and Lacombe communities and their local McDonald’s restaurants raised a total of $36K for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and other local children’s charities during McHappy Day. 

They collected items for the Red Deer Food Bank during last year’s holiday season, raising over $6,400 for those in need. They also work with local junior kids’ hockey teams to supply equipment, food and smiles.   

The Lacombe Performing Arts Centre (LPAC) is hosting an opening reception tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. for "Showcase", an exhibit highlighting work created during the centre’s workshops throughout the year.

Alison Clayton, the community programmer for LPAC, said the event is a celebration of the centre’s visual arts and literary programming.

“Showcase is celebrating everything that's been happening on our visual arts and literary side of things from the past season,” said Clayton. “We've invited all class participants to include something.”

The Kasohkowew Child Wellness Society (KCWS) is hosting its annual traditional powwow today from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Four Nations Arena in Maskwacis.

Dancers and drummers will be in attendance, along with vendors selling crafts.

Kasohkowew, which means “the voice for children of the Maskwacis Territory,” is a Delegated First Nation Agency (DFNA) that delivers child intervention services to children and families living on Samson Cree Nation.

The agency ensures that children maintain connections to their community, family and cultural heritage.