Strathcona County shows off new electric buses

Strathcona County showed off its brand new hydrogen fuel-cell buses at last weekend’s Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Expo in Edmonton. 

The buses are part of a $9.8-million pilot project that will eventually have the buses running in Strathcona County and the city of Edmonton. The hope at the moment is to see these buses hit the road sometime in 2023. 

HBO releases first trailer for The Last of Us

HBO has dropped its first trailer for The Last of Us.

The series is an adaptation of the immensely popular 2013 video game and was shot across various Alberta locales in 2021 and 2022.

That includes downtown Edmonton in October of last year (104 Street and near the legislature).

The Last of Us tells the story of a man who must escort a young girl through a post-apocalyptic United States infested with mutated fungus zombies.

Local author publishes COVID themed self help book

Things haven't been the same since the COVID-19 pandemic began in early 2020, and local author Cassandra Burkart has written a novel to help others face troubling times.

Burkart's first book, Outright Changes In An Outrageous World, 6 Steps To Activating Lasting Change During Your Darkest Days, connects with a broad audience in order to aid those who lack purpose or direction in life.

Burkart was raised on a farm just outside Fort Saskatchewan.

Alberta to change licences in spring, reduce second road tests for new drivers

A graduated driver's licence program in Alberta that has been in effect for the past 19 years is getting an overhaul.

The Graduated Driver Licensing program was introduced in Alberta in 2003. New drivers are not permitted to drive between midnight and 5 a.m. Their licence can be suspended with an accumulation of eight or more demerit points, and there is zero tolerance in the use of alcohol or drugs while driving.

In Port aux Basques, N.L., residents reeling after Fiona destroys dozens of homes

Jocelyn Gillam knows she’s lucky to be alive after coming face-to-face with the post-tropical storm that destroyed part of her southwestern Newfoundland town and nearly swept her away in a surge of rushing water.

Gillam was standing near her home in Port aux Basques on Saturday morning when a storm surge hit, sweeping her off her feet and dragging her underneath a Jeep as she clung to the undercarriage for dear life.

The 61-year-old said she'd been chatting with family and neighbours when she turned her head and “saw Fiona coming.”

Alberta changes weight of diploma exams for 2022-2023 school year

High school students preparing to take diploma exams this year will have a little stress lifted off their shoulders. 

The provincial government announced on Monday (Sept. 26) afternoon that due to some of the lasting impacts of the pandemic, diploma exams will only be weighted for 20 per cent of a student's total mark for the current school year. They expect that weight to go back up to the usual 30 per cent in time for the 2023-24 school year. 

Alberta calls on RCMP not to enforce federal firearm confiscation

Alberta's provincial government is refusing the federal government's request to assist in confiscating about 30,000 firearms from Albertans.

According to Justice Minister Tyler Shandro, the federal government recently requested Alberta aid in the confiscation of 30,000 firearms in accordance with federal legislation.

In an announcement on Monday (Sept. 26,) Shandro announced the province would be ignoring the request and will be advising Alberta RCMP not to do so either.

Military presence in Gibbons for next two weeks

The town of Gibbons has some surprise visitors for the next few weeks; The Canadian Military.

The military will be doing a practice exercise around the town between Sept. 29 and Oct. 05.

Residents can expect to see soldiers in gas masks and hazmat suits around the trails south of Echo Glen Park. The military won't be conducting exercises inside the town, but instead in a development area southwest of Gibbons.

Prairie Gardens approved to resume business

A popular fall attraction is set to resume operations. 

After being ordered to shut down in August due to a levy of safety concerns, Prairie Gardens and Adventure Farm has gotten approval from Sturgeon County to open up its doors to the public. 

This comes after the farm submitted the required technical information and committed to various safety conditions this past Friday (Sept. 23). 

Look up: Jupiter set to be the most visible in 63 years

Amateur astronomers in Fort Saskatchewan will have a night to remember. 

The solar system's largest planet, Jupiter, is set to be the brightest it's been in over half a century tonight (Sept. 26). 

The astronomical event, formally known as an 'opposition', will see Jupiter come within 590 million kilometres of Earth, which is the closest it has been in about 63 years and face itself directly opposite of the sun. 

Eager night-watchers should look east as the sun sets, it will appear as the brightest object in the night sky, outside of the moon of course.