Reach

The Kelowna RCMP is advising the public of a text message scam that has been circulating recently and appears to be sent from the RCMP.

In these incidents, these unsolicited text messages claim that the RCMP is unable to deliver court documents and to click a link to reschedule a court date. The text message includes a Canada logo, a Canadian flag and the RCMP logo in an attempt to deceive the person receiving this fake text.

The Bank of Canada delivered another interest rate cut on Wednesday, reducing its policy rate by a quarter-percentage point to three per cent. But looming U.S. tariffs are weighing on the central bank’s economic outlook.

The cut, the central bank's sixth consecutive one since June, comes as the bank said inflation is sitting around its two per cent target and the economy is picking up speed.

"There are signs economic activity is gaining momentum as past interest rate cuts work their way through the economy," Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem said in prepared remarks.

The union representing RCMP members is calling on Canada and the U.S. to make it easier to buy new technology, boost staffing and improve collaboration to deal with security challenges at the Canada-U.S. border.

In a news release published Tuesday, the National Police Federation says it met with Canadian and U.S. police and public safety unions to talk about illegal migration, drug and firearms smuggling and human trafficking.

The union says that the discussions helped it draft a set of recommendations for the Canadian and U.S. governments.

Duck Dynasty's Silas Merritt Robertson, AKA Uncle Si, recently spent three days in the hospital after a hunting incident. 

The 76-year-old recently went hunting in Arkansas when he fell out of a boat. Normally Robertson hosts a weekly podcast called "Duck Call Room" with cohosts Justin Martin and Phillip McMillan. After the incident, he took a few weeks off so the other cohorts updated fans. 

U.S. President Donald Trump's press secretary says the plan to slap Canada with tariffs on Saturday is still in play, as NDP leader Jagmeet Singh called for Parliament to return to prepare for the threat of devastating duties.

Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the White House that she spoke with the president Monday night and he indicated Feb. 1 was "still on the books" for imposing tariffs against Canada and Mexico.

Mark 9:35

"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.'"

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Leviticus 26:14, 18, 21, 27, 40-46; Luke 8:4-18; John 4:1-26; James 1:19

It is impossible to overemphasize the immense need humans have to be really listened to, to be taken seriously, to be understood. No one can develop freely in this world and find a full life without feeling understood by at least one other person....

Listen to the conversations of our world, between nations as well as those between couples. They are for the most part dialogues of the deaf.¹

The federal public inquiry into foreign interference is calling on the leaders of all political parties to get top-secret security clearances — a recommendation that Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre is not following.

In her final report, commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue said party leaders should seek such clearance as soon as possible after they are elected. She recommended that all parties in the House of Commons ensure at least two of their members have top-secret clearance.

If you're planning to escape the cold this winter on a lengthy vacation, you might want to safeguard your home while you're away. 

The Grande Prairie RCMP want to provide the public with tips and best practices to protect your home. Here are some of their vacation security tips to consider:

-Use a security or alarm system if available or practical. Wide-angle cameras near external doors are especially useful 

-Use automatic timers to turn on lights and radios

-Ensure that the snow is being shovelled while you are away

On Jan. 24, 2025, Fairview RCMP responded to a report of a suspicious person and vehicle in the area of Range Road 43 and Township Road 824, and initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle.

RCMP located inside the vehicle, Friedrich Schmidt (30), a resident of Fairview, who was then charged, for failing to comply with his recent release order conditions. 

Schmidt was brought before a Justice of the Peace, where he was remanded with a court date of Feb. 3, 2025 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Peace River.