Estevan

Former federal environment minister Catherine McKenna says the Justin Trudeau government's efforts to explain the consumer carbon price to Canadians were "half-hearted" — and just getting a meeting with the prime minister to discuss it "seemed impossible."

McKenna offers those behind-the-scenes details in her new autobiography, Run Like A Girl, which is being launched next week.

The NextAcre Real Estate Grain Rush made another stop this harvest season, this time at Marvin Hagel Farms. Marvin says his crew is “just over halfway done” with harvest, working steadily through a busy stretch of late summer.

On the farm, Marvin and his team are growing yellow peas, hard red spring wheat, canola, and flax. With about half a dozen people pitching in at different times, Marvin says the workload is heavy but the progress is steady.

Estevan residents had the chance to brighten someone’s day during the Community Wellness Group’s “Ripple of Kindness” event, held yesterday at the Estevan Public Youth Centre (EPYC). Originally planned outdoors, the event was moved indoors due to rainy weather.

The Saskatchewan RCMP Major Crimes Unit is investigating what it deems a "suspicious death" after a woman was fatally shot while riding as a passenger in an SUV just outside of Weyburn Friday night. The incident is currently believed to be random in nature.

Shortly after 8 p.m. on Friday, two adult women, who were friends, were traveling together in a black Ford Explorer on Highway 39 near the grain terminals on the northwest edge of town, heading towards Weyburn. They were the only occupants of the vehicle when, according to police, a large crack was heard.

Michelle Assoumbang, Associate Owner and pharmacist at Shoppers Drug Mart in Estevan, says the community’s support during their first year of business inspired the store to give back. “We’re still in our first year of business, and we’re really thankful for the community that has come out and really embraced us as a new business in the community, and we just thought it was time for us to give back and just be thankful for what we’ve been given,” she explained.

Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) has renewed its partnership with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI), based in South Korea, with a focus on post-pandemic global health.

The signing was witnessed by Warren Kaeding, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Trade and Export Development and Minister Responsible for Innovation, during his trade mission to South Korea.

Global Affairs Canada summoned Russian ambassador Oleg Stepanov over the incursion of Russian drones into Poland this week, as Ottawa looks to help a new effort by the NATO military alliance reinforce its eastern flank.

The summoning occurred hours after Poland reported multiple Russian drones had entered Polish territory between Tuesday and Wednesday. NATO allies shot down some of the devices.

As Ottawa gears up to launch a new agency to build homes faster, internal government documents describe how dire the housing situation has become in Canada.

Briefing materials prepared for incoming Housing Minister Gregor Robertson this past May and released this week acknowledge that costly housing is hurting the economy and making it difficult for people to find places to live.

"Vulnerable populations and lower-income households are struggling to have their basic housing needs met due to a lack of suitable affordable housing," the documents say.

Ottawa's chief data officer says he thinks the introduction of artificial intelligence to federal government operations will lead to "some" job cuts in the public service.

In a recent interview with The Canadian Press, Stephen Burt said he thinks the impacts are going to vary widely and will be job-specific, with different outcomes in different areas.

While he wouldn't identify the risk of job losses in specific areas of government, Burt said the goal will be to ensure employees receive opportunities to retrain and change jobs.

Avian Influenza has been detected in three commercial poultry operations in Alberta. 

Earlier this week, the CFIA identifying one infected premise in Strathcona County and one in Beaver Country - both areas are located near Edmonton.
which is located near Edmonton. Another infected premise was confirmed on Wednesday in Minburn County.

Avian influenza - H5N1 - can affect wild bird and domestic bird populations.