Lacombe

A British Columbia researcher in South Asian affairs said Thursday that concerns about the current India and Pakistan tensions are justified, given that the region has not seen conflicts this intense in more than 25 years. 

M.V. Ramana, professor at University of B.C.'s school of public policy and global affairs, said the last time there was a realistic risk of nuclear weapons being used was the conflict between the two sides in the Kargil region of Kashmir in 1999. 

Alberta's now-former Speaker of the legislature says he's excited to display some partisanship in his last days as an elected official.

Nathan Cooper announced this week that he is to resign his seat in the assembly to become Alberta's representative to the United States in Washington.

The United Conservative Party MLA had been Alberta's legislature Speaker — the non-voting and non-partisan debate referee — since 2019.

A senior medical advisor with the Public Health Agency of Canada says the country could lose its measles elimination status if the highly contagious disease continues to spread into the fall.

Dr. Marina Salvadori warned of the possibility Thursday as cases in Ontario grew by nearly 200 infections, adding that would only occur if prolonged spread continued beyond mid-October 2025.

Wetaskiwin RCMP continue to investigate the fatal hit and run of a 50-year-old woman the evening of May 1, 2025, on Highway 13 near Wetaskiwin.

Police are releasing a photo of a vehicle of interest in the investigation and ask asking for public assistance in locating the vehicle.

The vehicle of interest is described as:

Veterans, diplomats, members of the Armed Forces and political leaders gathered Thursday at events across Canada commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe.

"Nearly every family knows somebody who suffered from the effect of war," said Fraser McKee, a 100-year-old veteran who helped to lay a wreath at the Toronto ceremony.

"This is to remember people that will have to go to war, as well as remembering those that went and didn’t come back."

The Town of Sylvan Lake is updating its 2016 Community Social Master Plan and is inviting residents to take part.

The new plan will help meet the needs and wants of the community for events and programming opportunities, while also supporting applications for provincial and federal grants.

To participate, residents can join a focus group or take surveys before June 30 on the Sylvan Lake website.

The Red Deer Rebels made two selections at today’s 2025 WHL U.S. Priority Draft.

With the sixth overall pick in round one, the Rebels selected forward Eli Bimmerle from Bartonville, Texas.

Bimmerle played the 2024-25 season with Dallas Stars Elite 14U AAA and collected 94 points (50 goals, 44 assists) in 59 games. In four games at the U.S. 14U Nationals he had three goals and three assists. At the 15U World Selects Invitational he led Blue Army with eight points (five goals, three assists) in six games.

A new pope has been elected following the death of Pope Francis. White smoke began billowing from the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, signalling the decision by the College of Cardinals.

A large crowd in the thousands erupted into cheers as the words “Habemus Papam” ("We have a pope") rang out in St. Peter's Square, about an hour after the smoke first poured out. The new pope then came out onto the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica and greeted the crowd.

Red Deer RCMP have located a missing 11-year-old youth and would like to thank the public for their help.

The youth was reported missing, with concern for her well-being. She has now been located and is safe.

To protect her identity, her name and photo have been removed as she is a minor.

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Lacombe County has upgraded the current fire restriction to a fire ban due to extremely dry and windy conditions.  

Effective immediately, Lacombe County will issue no new fire permits or fireworks permits, and existing permits have already been canceled.