Estevan

Alberta has announced plans to invest $1.3 million to strengthen the health, biodiversity, and long-term resilience of the province's rangelands. 

Agriculture Minister RJ Sigurdson says healthy rangelands are the foundation of a strong agricultural sector. 

Every Wednesday morning, weather permitting, a group of locals gathers at the Garden on 4th in Estevan for a cup of coffee and a visit. The weekly event, called “Coffee in the Garden,” is open to anyone who wants to drop by and take a moment to relax and connect with others.

The group was started about six years ago by Gale Tytlandsvik. She is the president of the Estevan Garden Club, the founder of the Garden on 4th, and also runs a dance group. She said the idea came from wanting to see people use the space more often.

The Estevan U18 AA Brewers had a stellar performance over the weekend that fell just short of a first-place finish, with their final game against the Weyburn Beavers on Sunday ending in a loss.

Coach Jeff Kuchinka says that overall, the team played well, with some good performances throughout the weekend.

Nuclear energy and its place in Saskatchewan were one of the key items being discussed during the 79th Annual Midwestern Legislative Conference, taking place in Saskatoon. A panel consisting of Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, Cameco CEO Tim Gitzel, and Westinghouse President John Gorman had some information on the current progress for nuclear development in Saskatchewan.

Currently, SaskPower is working on a site for a Small Modular Reactor for the Estevan area, though a final decision on the project would not come until around 2030.

The Souris Valley Antique Association (SVAA) is preparing for the 59th Annual Heritage Threshing Days in Midale, taking place this long weekend.  

President of the SVAA Glenn McGregor says the weekend will feature events attendees look forward to every year, including the Threshermen’s Parade and live threshing demonstration, with the addition of some new buildings to the Heritage Village as well.  

“We have a few new additions in there this year that we're working on. They're not all going to be ready, but we're definitely working towards getting them there.” 

The latest updates from the province, as wildfires burn, discuss some of their latest progress on the recovery of affected areas and evacuees returning home.

As of 11:00 a.m., there are 60 active wildfires in Saskatchewan. Of those active fires, six are contained, 11 are not contained, 25 are ongoing assessments, and 18 are listed as protecting values. 

Twelve communities are currently under an evacuation order, with the province giving a list of tips for people to consider:

After a June which was disappointingly dry in the southeast, farmers have regained ground in the battle of keeping moisture, as recent rains have proven a big help for fields in the southeast. While the area has lacked a single big, cohesive rain, multiple systems have hit numerous areas to bring back some growing potential to the area.

Southeast agrologist Edgar Hammermeister says most areas have gotten a good helping of moisture so far.

A $25,000 donation from the Carlyle Fire and Rescue Department is helping the Carnduff Fire Department take a major step toward establishing a long-planned training facility in the community.

Carnduff Fire Training Officer Randy Spencer says the donation stems from a recent collaboration between the departments.

"Me and another member, Mike Perry, had gone up and ran Carlyle’s wildland unit at the Weyakwin Fire Base when the Ditch O2 fire was burning through the area," Spencer explained.

This month’s Perfect Pet winner is Zeus, an 8-year-old German Shepherd with a big heart and plenty of energy to spare.

Zeus recently lost his best friend Meekah, a 10-year-old female GSD he was inseparable from—but despite the change, he’s handled the transition to being an only dog with grace. He’s stayed full of life, always bringing smiles to his little humans and keeping the good vibes going. His owner shared that Zeus absolutely loves visiting Dawn at All Creatures—it's his favourite place to go!

The Bank of Canada is expected to make an interest rate decision this morning.

Economists and financial markets widely expect the central bank will keep its policy rate steady at 2.75 per cent.

A surprisingly strong June jobs report and signs of stubbornness in core inflation convinced many economists the bank would remain on hold.

The Bank of Canada left its key rate unchanged at its two most recent decisions as it waits for more clarity on how Canada's tariff dispute with the United States will affect inflation and the economy.