Jenny Hagan

The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) will begin a virtual hearing next week to review two major solar power proposals that could bring more than 400 megawatts of renewable energy to eastern Alberta.

The hearing, set to begin Monday, Aug. 11 at 10 a.m., will consider combined applications from UK Solar East Ltd. and UK Solar West Ltd., both subsidiaries of Universal Kraft Canada Renewables Ltd. A test session is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 5 to ensure technical access.

Saskatchewan hunters are being urged to gear up for the 2025-26 season, with the provincial government releasing its annual hunting guide and opening licence sales for the year.

“Hunting in Saskatchewan offers exceptional recreational opportunities, not only for our residents, but also for visitors across the world,” said Environment Minister Travis Keisig in a news release. “Our government values the vital role hunters play as stewards of our natural landscapes and as contributors to local economies through tourism and community engagement.”

As food prices continue to climb across the province, the Saskatchewan Trucking Association (STA) is calling on the provincial government to scrap what it calls an “unfair road tax” on diesel fuel used to power refrigeration units in truck trailers.

The STA says trucking companies are being forced to pay a 12-cent-per-litre road tax on diesel used to run refrigeration units — equipment that never actually touches the road, while other industries such as agriculture and forestry are permitted to use tax-exempt dyed diesel for similar off-road operations.

Frustration is growing across rural Saskatchewan as residents rally behind a veteran trucker’s call for real change on the province’s deteriorating highways.

Following Wayne Whitney’s blunt critique of road conditions in West Central Saskatchewan, the response from the public has been swift and passionate. HResidents have taken to social media to echo Whitney’s concerns and to demand action.

“We deserve better,” reads a headline from West Central Online's original report. For many, that sentiment hits home.

The Government of Saskatchewan is investing $560,000 to support union-led apprenticeship training for construction electricians, aiming to grow the province’s skilled trades workforce and strengthen energy infrastructure.

Crown Investments Corporation Minister Jeremy Harrison made the announcement Monday, highlighting the role of qualified tradespeople in maintaining Saskatchewan’s power grid and meeting future energy demands.

The Government of Saskatchewan is fulfilling its two-year, $2 million funding commitment to food banks across the province, as part of ongoing efforts to combat food insecurity and rising grocery costs.

In August 2025, the province will provide the final $1 million installment to Food Banks of Saskatchewan, as announced in the 2025–26 provincial budget. The funding will be distributed to local agencies based on population and average usage in the communities they serve.

From traffic collisions to violent crimes and everything in between, the voices on the other end of the line at Saskatchewan RCMP’s Operational Communications Centre (OCC) are a lifeline for thousands in crisis each year.

In 2024, the OCC answered 366,737 calls for service, a four per cent increase from the year before. More than 4,400 of those were Priority 1 calls, meaning they involved urgent or life-threatening situations that demanded immediate police intervention.

As storm season rolls across the Prairies, weather watchers might hear meteorologists talk about a “cap” — and no, it’s not the kind you wear on your head.

Capping, also known as a “capping inversion,” is a layer of warm air higher up in the atmosphere that acts like a lid, preventing thunderstorms from forming, at least for a while.

Think of capping like a lid on a pot of boiling water. The atmosphere underneath is trying to bubble up, but that warm layer above holds it down. Storms that are capped will have a soft, flat top to it.

Saskatchewan’s provincial parks are offering visitors a full slate of free family-friendly activities and special events as part of their Discover Sask Parks initiative, running July 23 to August 6.

The two-week celebration highlights the beauty, adventure and heritage that the province’s parks have to offer — with something for everyone, from guided nature hikes to turn-of-the-century fairs and outdoor cinema nights.

Federal, provincial and territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture met virtually on July 17 to discuss strategies to strengthen the resilience and competitiveness of Canada’s agriculture sector and food supply chains.

The meeting focused on supporting producers and processors amid emerging challenges in international trade and exploring opportunities for increased interprovincial trade.