Cochrane

Environment Canada has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for parts of Rocky View County, including Cochrane,  as conditions become favourable for the development of dangerous weather.

Thunderstorms are forming in west-central Alberta and are expected to push eastward through the day. Some of these storms may become severe, bringing damaging wind gusts and large hail.

The agency warns that the storms may move quickly—potentially exceeding speeds of 60 km/h—and there is also a slight risk of a tornado developing.

A former teacher at Springbank Community High School is facing additional charges as part of an ongoing investigation by Cochrane RCMP and the Southern Alberta Internet Child Exploitation Unit.

Timothy Bailey, 49, of Calgary, was first arrested in January after a female student reported inappropriate behaviour. He was initially charged with child luring, sexual exploitation, and making explicit material available to a minor.

Alberta has the most measles cases in North America on a per-capita basis, worrying experts who say summer events could push case counts even higher. 

The province’s former chief medical officers of health Dr. Mark Joffe says that’s twice the rate of confirmed cases in Ontario.

Ontario has been deemed Canada's epicentre of the outbreak in absolute case numbers, reporting 1,910 confirmed infections since its outbreak began in October, but with a population three times the size as Alberta.  

The third annual CochraneNow Stampede Pancake Breakfast was a resounding success, drawing an incredible crowd of 910 people for a morning of food, fun, and community spirit.

Under perfect summer skies, dignitaries, families, and community members gathered to celebrate the season in true western style. Held at Cochrane GM, the event featured a full morning of entertainment and family-friendly fun.

A former teacher at W.G. Murdoch School in Crossfield has been charged with 16 sex-related offences following an extensive RCMP investigation, and police believe there may be more victims.

Rodney Reisner, 47, of Airdrie, was arrested July 9 and charged with eight counts of sexual assault and eight counts of sexual exploitation. Airdrie RCMP say eight victims have been identified so far, and investigators believe others may come forward.

The hot sun beating down on the rodeo athletes on Tuesday didn't affect the overall scores.

However, it did heat up the standings in the aggregate, with Wednesday being the last day for Pool B contestants to qualify for Championship Sunday.

As far as local Albertans and Canadians, all eyes were on the Saddle Bronc riders as former Champion Zeke Thurston is in the hunt for another Championship.

Thurston, from Big Valley, Alberta, is a 3-time Calgary Stampede Saddle Bronc champion.

Last year's Rangeland Derby winner, Jason Glass from High River, made up some ground last night at the Rangeland Derby.

After suffering some penalties earlier in the week, he has rebounded from 13th in the aggregate to 7th overall.

Only the top 3 wagons and drivers in the aggregate after Saturday night will move on to the Championship heat on Sunday.

Chanse Vigen is still leading the charge, with Jamie Laboucane nipping at his heels for the top two positions, with the coveted third and final spot still being waged over.

Alberta's government is jumping on board a federal initiative aimed at saving Canadians a buck if they stay close to home this summer.

The province says it's offering its own free and discounted admissions as part of the Canada Strong Pass program, introduced by the federal government last month.

First promised as a way to promote Canadian tourism in response to the U.S. tariff war, the federal pass includes free access to national parks and historic sites, along with free rail tickets and museum admission for those under 18.

Ottawa is expected to miss its 2026 deadline to implement $10-a-day child care services across the country, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives said in a new report published on Wednesday.

The analysis concluded that just six provinces and territories are meeting that fee target now.

David Macdonald, an economist with the centre, said even though fees have dropped significantly everywhere, the federal government is unlikely to meet its self-imposed deadline.

Two active members of the Canadian Armed Forces are among four people arrested and charged on Tuesday for allegedly participating in an anti-government plot to forcibly take possession of land in the Quebec City area.

Three of the suspects, motivated by "violent extremism," planned to start a militia and "took concrete actions" to facilitate terrorist activity, the RCMP said. Two 24-year-olds and a 25-year-old allegedly took part in military-style training that included shooting, ambush, survival and navigation exercises, using a variety of firearms and high-capacity magazines.