Lacombe

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of central Alberta, warning that thunderstorms are developing through the afternoon and into the evening.

Some of these storms may become severe, producing large hail, flash flooding, and locally heavy rainfall.

Local travelers may experience delays, as heavy rains can make for difficult driving conditions.

Residents are urged to go indoors at the first sound of thunder, as lightning kills and injures Canadians every year.

High school football doesn’t officially begin until fall, but the Iron Ridge Secondary Bisons are already laying the foundation for their inaugural season.

More than 30 players took part in spring camp from May 23 to 25 — the Blackfalds school’s first since announcing it would join league play this September. While spring sports commitments led to a slight dip from full registration, athletic director and head coach Joe McQuay said the camp achieved what it set out to do.

Almost a decade after 24 Sussex Drive was abandoned as the official residence of the Canadian prime minister, taxpayers are still shelling out tens of thousands of dollars a year to maintain the vacant property, and the new prime minister has signalled he's in no rush to deal with the crumbling building.

Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters in May that it's up to the National Capital Commission to decide what to do with 24 Sussex.

Curtain rises on theatre program’s first year at new Blackfalds high school.

Iron Ridge Secondary Campus (IRSC) is taking to the stage for the first time with the student production "10 Ways to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse".

The one-act play, written by Don Zolidis, marks the debut of the theatre program at the new high school in Blackfalds.

Drama instructor and director Quinto Gawdun said the play serves as an accessible and fun introduction to theatre for both the students and himself, a first-time drama teacher.

With summer around the corner and road traffic expected to increase, Alberta RCMP are reminding both commercial and passenger-vehicle drivers to take extra care when sharing the province’s highways.

Driving around semi-trucks, tractor-trailers, buses and other large commercial vehicles requires added caution. To help reduce the risk of collisions, Alberta RCMP have issued the following safety tips:

For commercial drivers:

• Conduct regular trip inspections and carry the required certificates.

The federal public service shed almost 10,000 people last year, with the Canada Revenue Agency and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada losing the most employees.

The last time the public service contracted was in 2015, when the number of people employed dropped just slightly from 257,138 to 257,034.

The number of public servants employed by the federal government fell from 367,772 to 357,965 over the last year.

Canada's fentanyl czar says the fight against the deadly opioid would get a boost from proposed new tools for law enforcement in the Liberal government's recently tabled border bill.

Kevin Brosseau, the federal point person on fentanyl, welcomes provisions in the Strong Borders Act to increase inspection powers, give police easier access to information, crack down on money laundering and improve control of chemicals used to make the drug.

Lacombe Police have charged a 42-year-old man in connection with the sexual assault of two underage girls in the City of Lacombe and surrounding area.

In December 2024, police responded to a report alleging that a 41-year-old man had sexually assaulted two girls, aged 14 and 15. An investigation determined that the suspect had established an online relationship with the two teenagers through a social media chat platform. This communication ultimately led to in-person meetings during which the assaults occurred — both at a residence in Lacombe and at a location outside the city.

Alberta's government announced Friday residents who are not immunocompromised or on social programs will soon have to pay to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

In a late afternoon news release, the government said that since provinces took over responsibility for procuring the shots in April, it has wanted to cut down on waste and recoup costs.

It said an estimated one million COVID-19 vaccine doses, or just over half of Alberta's supply, were not used during the 2023-2024 respiratory virus season. It said $135 million worth of shots were wasted.

A water main break in Sylvan Lake has closed parts of 48 Street as crews work to restore service.

Some homes may be without water until 8 p.m., and a precautionary boil water advisory will be in effect once service is restored.