Estevan

A new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is dismissing moves by the federal government and Canada's premiers to break down internal trade barriers as little more than "political theatre."

It lands just ahead of the country’s internal trade ministers meeting in Quebec City this week, where they are expected to talk about their next steps as they rush to remove rules hampering cross-provincial trade.

Canada’s top soldier is looking forward to a boost in military spending that includes a pay raise for military personnel at a time when uncertainty on the world stage is high.

NATO leaders — including Canada — have approved a plan to dramatically increase defence spending across the Western alliance to five per cent of gross domestic product over the next decade.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the move to five per cent of GDP — 3.5 per cent for core military spending and 1.5 per cent for defence-related infrastructure — will take place over the next 10 years.

The province of Saskatchewan is celebrating breaking its previous record for CT and MRI scans, with over 250,000 performed during the 2024-25 period. 

That breaks down to 187,163 CT exams and 63,299 MRI exams performed in Saskatchewan, a 9 per cent increase or 20,000 more exams over the previous year. Scans were provided to more than 206,000 patients across the province.

Some of the latest data coming out of the province's weekly crop report is showing that Saskatchewan farming is dealing with a number of issues at the same time. While thunderstorms bringing hail stretched across some areas, others received limited rainfall, which has stressed out crops.

Some of the areas that did receive significant rainfall last week included the Archerwill area, with 115 millimetres falling there, followed closely by the Beatty area with 85 mm. There was also notable rainfall in the Kinistino and Middle Lake areas, with 75 mm and 65 mm, respectively.

I had the incredible opportunity to hang out with Judah Wardrope, a local country singer from Carlyle, to talk about his music, his songwriting process, and his admiration for Bailey Zimmerman. 

He was so generous with his time that he even gave us a never-before heard acoustic set of his upcoming single 'Sundown', set to be released in about a month or so. 

Judah's current single 'If I Die Tomorrow' is spinning on Country 106.1 right now, as well as seven other radio stations in Canada and one in the United States. You can stream it now on:

Former Estevan Bruins hockey player Mason Strutt’s court case was adjourned to July 29 during proceedings Wednesday in Moose Jaw Provincial Court. 

Strutt did not appear in person. Estevan lawyer, Kathryn Gilliss, appeared by phone on his behalf. 

Michael “Mike” James Bolen
1960 – 2025

It is with heavy hearts that Mike’s family announces his passing on Saturday, June 28, 2025 in Estevan at the age of 65 years, with Arlene by his side.

A private family Celebration of Life will take place at a later date.

Donations in memory of Mike may be made to Hospitals of Regina Foundation in support of Acute Stroke Pathway, 225-1874 Scarth Street, Regina, SK S4P 4B3 or online at https://www.hrf.sk.ca/

This weekend we'll be free from the oppressive summer heat, but that'll be replaced by more adverse conditions as smoke is streaming down into the southeast. Environment and Climate Change Canada put Saturday as the starting point for smoke to trail down from the wildfires up north into our area.

Meteorologist Crawford Luke details some of the recent conditions that have led to a puff of smoke heading to the southeast.

An investigation has begun by the Saskatchewan Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT) following a shooting on a southeast first nation on the weekend.

On Sunday, June 29, at around 5:53 p.m., SIRT received a notification from the RCMP that an officer-involved shooting had just taken place on Flying Dust First Nation, just north of Stoughton. 

The notification was accepted as within SIRT's mandate, and an investigation began.

County of Newell takes over Crop Diversification Centre South and hopes to attract dozens of tenants for the $100 million facility

Like the mighty Phoenix, the County of Newell is hoping the Crop Diversification Centre South in Brooks, Alta., will rise from the ashes and regain the prominence it once had in agricultural research.