Lacombe

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of Central Alberta.

Showers and thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon. Some storms may become severe, bringing large hail, heavy rain, and strong wind gusts.

The affected areas include:

• Clearwater County near Rocky Mountain House and Crimson Lake

• Clearwater County near Caroline and James River Bridge

• Mountain View County near Sundre

• Mountain View County near Olds and Didsbury

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers is urging workers to reject Canada Post's latest contract offer.

Union national president Jan Simpson says a strong no vote would not only reject the offer, but also protect the integrity of the bargaining process.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board will hold the vote on the proposed deal starting next week.

Canada Post is at an impasse with the union representing roughly 55,000 postal service workers after more than a year and a half of talks.

Alberta's auditor general says the provincial government has not done the work to ensure daycares getting public funds use them to lower fees for parents or top up staff wages.

Doug Wylie, in a report released Thursday, says without proper verification, Alberta could be overcompensating operators with federal and provincial funds meant to lower the average cost of daycare to $10 per day.

"There is a risk that public funds may not be used as intended — leading to parents overpaying for child-care and educators being under-compensated," the report says.

A Lacombe police officer who has resigned following allegations of fraud is now under investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team (ASIRT).

On July 3, the Lacombe Police Service launched an internal investigation under the Police Service Regulation after receiving a report involving the officer.

According to ASIRT, the investigation involves allegations of fraud potentially totaling more than $200,000 and believed to have occurred over several years.

No additional details will be released while ASIRT’s investigation is ongoing.

A new residential development is officially underway in Olds.

The six-storey, 92-unit rental building, located on 65 Avenue near local shopping, dining and services, will offer residents more affordable housing options.

The project will include pet-friendly apartments, with studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units available and is expected to be complete by the summer of 2026.

The new development comes as the Town continues to respond to growing housing pressures.

The Alberta Sports Hall of Fame has welcomed two new members to its board of directors: Dr. Tom Thompson and Destiny Whitney.

Dr. Thompson brings extensive experience in post-secondary education, athletics and organizational governance.

He has served in leadership roles at institutions such as Olds College and Grande Prairie Regional College, as well as with the CFL and USFL.

Destiny Whitney is a respected Indigenous sport leader and LPGA Class A member.

An Independent candidate running in a rural Alberta byelection says she has stopped door-knocking because of death threats.

Sarah Spanier, 33, of Castor, Alta., says she has told Mounties about the online threats, which include a social media comment saying she would be met with a shotgun if she showed up at someone's door.

She attributes the threats and other derogatory messages she has received to her advocacy for transgender people during her campaign in the Battle River-Crowfoot riding, which encompasses communities such as Camrose, Drumheller and Wainwright.

The head of an Ottawa-based Canadian Army regiment has been temporarily removed as part of an investigation into alleged online behaviour that the commander of the army says disgraced the military.

The commanding officer of the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa has been removed from his post in connection with a probe into the "Blue Hackle Mafia" social media group, Lt-Gen Michael Wright said in a statement to army ranks Wednesday and shared with The Canadian Press Thursday.

Systematic government collection and analysis of data about mysterious sightings in the sky could help Canada better prepare for incidents like the sudden appearance of several high-altitude balloons over North America two years ago, says a report from the federal science adviser.

One of the balloons, which wafted above western Canada in early 2023 before being shot down off the U.S. coast, apparently originated from China and carried sophisticated equipment.

The balloon episodes generated intense public speculation before fading from the headlines.

The All Canada Classic Sheep Show returned to Brandon this past weekend, bringing together sheep producers from across the country to showcase breeding stock and connect with fellow industry members.

With about 250 sheep for sale and attendees from Nova Scotia to British Columbia, the event marked a milestone for the national sheep industry.

A local success story

Brandon last hosted the national show in 1981, and the event remained here for three years before moving westward across the country.