Lacombe

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is scheduled to speak today about her province’s response to U.S. tariffs.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday slapped sweeping 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports and a 10 per cent levy on energy products.

Smith has been tight-lipped for weeks about what measures her government might take, although she has repeatedly said counter-tariffs on the province's energy are off the table.

The premier is also set to give an update on Alberta's security efforts at the Canada-U.S. border, a long-standing irritant for Trump.

Canada's spy agency warns that colliding global developments make the Arctic an "attractive, strategic and vulnerable destination" for foreign adversaries seeking to establish a presence in Canada.

A newly released Canadian Security Intelligence Service assessment flags the environment, critical infrastructure, economic activity and geopolitics as converging factors making the region susceptible to threats from abroad. 

A day into Donald Trump's North American trade war, the U.S. president remained adamant that tariffs would benefit America even as a key member of his team has floated that a compromise could materialize Wednesday.

Trump addressed a joint session of Congress Tuesday night, for the first time since he returned to office in January, by making a case for his massive tariff agenda. 

"We have been ripped off for decades by nearly every country on Earth and we will not let that happen any longer," Trump told lawmakers in Washington.

Due to unexpected gaps in physician coverage, the Sylvan Lake Advanced Ambulatory Care Service will be closed March 5 from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and March 6 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Patients can access medical care for urgent health concerns from facilities in nearby communities, including Red Deer and Rocky Mountain House.

Appointments scheduled with other services at the Sylvan Lake Community Health Centre —including laboratory appointments, or appointments with Public Health or Addiction and Mental Health services — are not impacted.

The Red Deer RCMP Crime Reduction Team was conducting routine patrols this afternoon (March 4) in the area of Gaetz Avenue when they conducted a traffic stop, leading the arrest of one individual.

During the traffic stop, officers determined that the individual had outstanding warrants issued by Drumheller RCMP and the Parole Board of Canada.

With the assistance of Alberta Sheriffs Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods, Jacob Conrad Courtemanche, a 27-year-old resident of Red Deer was arrested. 

On April 30, 2024, at approximately 12:07 p.m., the Rocky Mountain House RCMP responded to a report of a deceased male on O'Chiese First Nation.  

Officers located the 21-year-old victim with a gunshot wound.    

As a result, the Alberta Major Crimes Unit took carriage of the investigation.  

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to escalate the trade war he launched with Canada even further Tuesday, just hours after imposing his first round of punishing import taxes on all Canadian goods.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Trump's imposition of a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian energy and 25 per cent tariffs on all other Canadian goods "dumb" and said Canada is fighting back.

Update:

The Town of Ponoka has restored connection to the water for all the schools and BGC Wolf Creek, allowing all Ponoka Schools to be open on Wednesday, March 5, 2025.

Repairs will continue in the area in front of the Wolf Creek School Division Facilities and Transportation Building located at 4900 54 Street, limiting drop off access.

The Town of Ponoka confirms that the water has been tested and it is safe for consumption.

Former Red Deer Rebels Captain Kai Uchacz has signed with the NHL's Vegas Golden Knights.

Uchacz signed a two-year, entry-level contract, which was announced by the Golden Knights on Sunday.

The 21-year-old is currently playing for the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights.

He has 23 points (12G-11A) in 51 games and is tied for third on the Silver Knights in goals.

Uchacz made the team as a free agent after attending a development camp in July of 2024. He played parts of five seasons in the WHL, mostly with the Red Deer Rebels.

Jill Verwey of Portage la Prairie has ascended to a prominent national role in Canadian agriculture, being named as the first vice-president of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture (CFA) during its recent annual general meeting in Ottawa. Verwey, a seasoned farmer specializing in cash crops, beef, and dairy, also serves as the president of Keystone Agricultural Producers (KAP), Manitoba's leading farm policy organization.