Cochrane

Premier Danielle Smith and one of her ministers are calling on Alberta's electoral officer to reverse course and sign off on a proposed referendum question on separation, saying it shouldn't be held back by red tape.

This week, chief electoral officer Gordon McClure announced he had referred the proposed question to the courts so a judge could decide if the question contravenes Canada's Constitution.

This week’s Adorable Adoptable is bringing the fun, the sass and the snuggles. Meet Jiggy, a sweet and social kitty who’s sure to get your home feelin’ jiggy with it.

Jiggy came into the shelter with her lifelong pal Frog, and together they’ve transformed from shy cats into total cuddlebugs.

A fog advisory has blanketed Cochrane this morning, making for a slow and cautious commute.

Environment Canada warns of near-zero visibility as dense fog has settled over the area.

Drivers could face reduced visibility that could suddenly drop to almost nothing in some areas.

The advisory says travellers should be prepared for hazardous driving conditions and to adjust their speed and focus on the road.

The fog is expected to lift by late morning, with conditions gradually improving into the afternoon.

A thunderstorm that rolled through Cochrane Monday night brought plenty of lightning and heavy rain, but it wasn’t classified as severe.

A heavy downpour and frequent lightning lit up the skies just before 7 p.m., rattling the community for about an hour. Vehicles navigated through pooled water, and large puddles formed throughout town. Once the storm passed, residents were treated to a stunning sunset before the clouds rolled back in.

The 15U AA Cochrane Crush are Baseball Alberta Tier 9 provincial champions after going undefeated over the weekend in Fort McMurray.

Sponsored by Sure West Roofing, the team emerged from pool play without a loss, then rallied from a 6-1 deficit to defeat the Westlock Wild 16-9 in the semifinals. They shut out the host Fort McMurray Oil Giants 12-0 in the final to hoist the championship cup.

Head coach and Cochrane Minor Ball president Jackie Nickel says she’s proud of the team, which also included a few players from Canmore.

Poor conditions may have delayed the grand re-opening of the Riverfront micro bike park on July 26, but once things dry out from last night’s pounding thunderstorm, the park will be ready for riders.

Bike Cochrane had planned to mark the park’s completion with a few remarks and plenty of ice cream on Saturday afternoon. President Robert Martens says the celebration will likely be rescheduled.

Today marks the start of AgSmart 2025, the educational agriculture expo is now being held at Olds College.

The event falls under the direction of the Agri Trade Equipment Expo Group. Show Manager Tracy Gardner says this year's event is going to look a little different. 

Rocky View County (RVC) is ramping up efforts to manage high-flow conditions impacting Bragg Creek’s wastewater system, as inflow volumes continue to exceed treatment capacity despite recent improvements.

Crews are actively hauling excess wastewater and using all available system storage to prevent overflows. RVC officials say water conservation efforts by residents have contributed to a slight reduction in inflow, but volumes remain well above what the system is designed to handle.

Reproductive health advocates say the federal government's failure to commit to funding pharmacare in all provinces and territories is leaving people with a lot of uncertainty, and could create inequality across the country.

"It's really disappointing, honestly," said Liz Thompson, advocacy lead for Cover Contraception.

"It seems like they don't really know what they're going to do."

Alberta and the union representing thousands of provincial government employees say they have agreed to a new round of mediated bargaining.

Alberta Union of Provincial Employees president Guy Smith says the renewed talks are considered the final opportunity for getting a new deal for some 23,000 government workers after 18 months of bargaining.

Smith credits Finance Minister Nate Horner for stepping in to restart talks and recognizing the importance of continuing negotiations.