Estevan

The countryside in the southeast is so colorful right now. The canola is glowing in the summer sun, the flax is showing that beautiful blue as you pass by, the smell of fresh cut hay is in the air. Everyone is busy and it won't be long, and we'll be into harvest.

The trees and grass are very lush due to the amount of rain we have received.

More photos can be viewed on McGillivray Moments Photos For You on Facebook. Feel free to like and follow my page!

Hay producers have had a tough couple of years in some areas of the southeast, with drought conditions impacting yields greatly.

That's changed this year, with a combination of ample moisture reserves and some well-timed heat causing a jump in yields.

Agrologist Edgar Hammermeister says that's got producers very happy, even as the season has had some problems.

The southeast has seen a few severe weather systems roll through over the last couple of months, with funnel clouds and hail setting residents on edge.

Another system that came through on Sunday missed Estevan, but hit areas to the north and south, splitting over the city.

Environment Canada Meteorologist Natalie Hasell takes a look at the system that brought hail and gusting winds to the area.

"It was devastating news to hear, especially 'cause we didn't know how to move forward."

The shadow of violence in the United States will be hanging over Canada's political scene this week in the wake of an attempted assassination on former president Donald Trump.

A shooting at a rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday left one rally attendee dead and two others critically injured, while the shooter was also killed.

Trump has said he's fine, and is now in Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention. 

While school may be out for the summer, the Estevan Comprehensive School (ECS) Elecs football team is already gearing up for what promises to be an exciting season.

Chris Bayerle will take over as head coach this season, bringing with him 13 years of experience. He previously served as an assistant head coach, defensive coordinator, and strength conditioning coach.

The Community Initiatives Fund (CIF) has approved 416 grants totaling $5.3 million with its latest grant application intake. The grants will be distributed to 151 communities, providing a financial boost to local initiatives.

"The CIF supports a wide range of organizations, programs, people, and communities in all regions of the province," said Community Initiatives Fund Executive Director Tracey Mann. "The creativity and resilience of these organizations and communities strengthen our province, and CIF is proud to provide its support."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he was sickened by the shooting at former president Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania, as Canadian politicians condemned the attack.  

"It cannot be overstated — political violence is never acceptable," Trudeau said in a post on social media Saturday evening. 

"My thoughts are with former president Trump, those at the event, and all Americans."

Politicians denounced the attack in Butler, a city north of Pittsburgh. 

Motorists passing through Chamberlain heading to Country Thunder had to be on their best behavior. For the eighth year, the Saskatchewan RCMP had a check stop set up in the village on Wednesday and Thursday before the big country music festival. 

The check stop included Saskatchewan RCMP, Combined Traffic Services Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Conservation Officers, and Saskatchewan Highway Patrol. 

The Assembly of First Nations finalized a deal with Ottawa late Wednesday night that will see the federal government spend $47.8 billion to reform child welfare programs over the next 10 years.

AFN National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak made the announcement on the final day of the AFN's annual general assembly in Montreal, just two days after she told chiefs there was an offer on the table but that she could not yet discuss it publicly.