ih777 Farmers are plotting a New Year supermarket blockade to ramp up . Under plans drawn up by radical elements of , tractors could block supermarket distribution centres across the country, The Telegraph understands. The coordinated action to block the hubs, a key part of the supermarket supply chain, could take place as soon as mid-January and risks leaving shelves empty. Campaign sources said the action would increase incrementally but could result in a “complete shutdown” until the Government negotiates. It marks a significant escalation in what has been a fierce backlash to plans announced by Rachel Reeves in . The Chancellor placed a 20 per cent inheritance tax on farmers’ assets worth more than £1 million in her first Budget. Previously, tax breaks designed to allow family farms to pass down the generations were exempt from the divisive 40 per cent duty. The move resulted in a mass protest in Westminster in November attended by thousands of farmers including , the former Top Gear presenter. Since then smaller protests have occurred in the capital, while tractor ‘go-slow’ protests have taken place in Dover and Suffolk. Some farming groups are expected to organise a national day of action on Jan 25 alongside the , with tractor rallies and roadside banners targeting marginal Labour constituencies. But now some are plotting a more radical course of action as they try to pile pressure on the Government to scrap the policy. One with knowledge of the blockade, which could happen as soon as mid-Januaury, told The Telegraph: “The first time will be for a short period to show it can be done. Then a 12 or 24-hour shutdown, and ultimately if it gets that far, a complete shutdown until the Government come to the table. “It could ultimately shut down the economy, no food means serious chaos. The Government have picked a fight with the wrong sector!” Distribution centres are large facilities that store and process a wide range of products for a supermarket and are a key part of the supply chain. Over 2 billion cases are moved through ’s distribution network each year, with 95 per cent distrusted centrally. Elsewhere, Asda has 21 distribution centres across the UK that store goods before they are sent to individual stores. As of 2023, had 10 distribution centres and warehouses in locations including Welham Green, Bradford, Stoke, Swindon and Thurrock. Cllr Tim Taylor, leader of Pro Farmers United, who besieged the Welsh Labour conference said it was important the campaign does not lose public support but that Labour was now learning “the hard way”. He said: “We have to keep it in the public eye. Labour won’t cave but if that pressure is on and on and we have the public support, then keep your eye on the county council elections in May. “They are not going to do anything regardless of how we step up but now they are learning the hard way, we are not going to be messed about with.” Supermarkets and food suppliers are watching the situation closely and the Government is thought to have drawn up contingency plans to keep supermarket shelves stocked. In November, when ministers feared farmers would seek to disrupt the supermarket supply chain, Louise Haigh, the Transport Secretary, said the would ensure “food security is treated as the priority it deserves to be”. A government source added: “As any responsible government would, we would rightly prepare for a range of scenarios to ensure that consumers are not affected.” Andrew Opie, director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium last night said retailers were working hard to minimise disruption. He said: “Retailers are closely monitoring the impact of the potential interventions, including strikes, but are adept at dealing with disruption and are working hard to ensure customers aren’t impacted.” The Government has so far refused to reverse the planned changes to agricultural property relief, which would see a 20 per cent inheritance tax on estates worth more than £1 million. Farming and rural groups say the tax could be devastating for family businesses, and risks creating a mental health crisis among older farmers. It comes as has been warned his ratings have suffered a “catastrophic” fall among countryside voters angered by his “family farm tax”. Just one in five voters believe Labour cares about people who live and work in the countryside, polling for The Telegraph has found. A survey of more than 2,000 adults conducted by Public First, the political consultancy, found only 22 per cent believed Labour cared about those in rural areas. Ministers are understood to have drawn up contingency plans to minimise disruption and deal with any food shortages. A Government spokesman said: “Our commitment to farmers remains steadfast – we have committed £5 billion to the farming budget over two years, including more money than ever for sustainable food production, and we are developing a 25-year farming roadmap, focusing on how to make the sector more profitable in the decades to come “Our reform to Agricultural and Business Property Relief will impact around 500 estates a year. For these estates, inheritance tax will be at half the rate paid by others, with 10 years to pay the liability back interest free. This is a fair and balanced approach which fixes the public services we all rely on.”

London: For all the rousing revelry and festive fizz that Christmas Day can bring, for some it only ramps up the confusion and anxiety. Older relatives may find it more of a slog to host than they are used to; if they are the guests, a lively new setting can compound the feelings of bewilderment and grumpiness. But when do signs of stress actually signify something more serious? Elizabeth Leonard, 58, recalls how a few years ago, her previously capable, cheerful mother, then aged 71, had an uncharacteristic outburst a few days before Christmas – picking a fight when normally she would do anything to avoid confrontation. On Christmas Day itself she said she couldn’t cook the turkey because there was something wrong with the oven. Elizabeth took over the cooking and found it was working perfectly. It marked the beginning of a long road to accepting that there might be something wrong, followed eventually by a diagnosis of dementia. A Christmas meal disaster could be a clue. Credit: Getty Images/iStockphoto “It’s a time for making memories, but it’s often during Christmas that we realise that something isn’t quite right with someone,” says Simon Wheeler, a senior knowledge officer at the Alzheimer’s Society. “At first it may seem like a momentary lapse – perhaps just a sign of getting old – but after a while you start to become concerned.” Different types of dementia can cause varying symptoms – from memory loss to difficulty with everyday tasks – that can often be picked up on in a social setting. The most common kind of dementia is Alzheimer’s (early symptoms include confusion and short-term memory problems), followed by vascular dementia (problems with planning and concentration) and Lewy bodies dementia (this includes Parkinson’s dementia, difficulty focusing and delusions). Some symptoms, such as memory loss, are common to many dementias – especially in the early stages. Here’s what to look out for and what to do if you’re worried about a relative this Christmas. Forgetfulness Forgetfulness, as a symptom of dementia, generally applies to short-term memory. “People might be able to sit there and talk about Christmas 10 years ago and remember all the details,” says Angelo Makri, also a senior knowledge officer at the Alzheimer’s Society. “But if you ask them what they did yesterday and they can’t answer, that’s where you know [there may be a problem]“, as well as forgetting people’s names, or their relationship with someone; for example a nephew or niece that they haven’t seen for a year. Of course, as we get older, it is normal to experience an element of memory lapse – so when should you worry? “It will be things that are out of character for that person. With dementia, it is progressive and so can affect daily living. “The person that forgets to put the turkey in the oven, or burns the turkey, may be forgetting to put the oven on for dinner every day.” Repeating questions “As with memory loss, this is quite consistent across all types of dementia and it can happen quite early,” says Makri. “Someone might ask a question over and over again, and it gets to a point where you realise they’re not retaining this information. It’s quite upsetting to witness.” Wheeler adds: “The first noticeable sign of Alzheimer’s disease is typically failing episodic memory. This is when a person has trouble encoding new memories of events and is caused by damage to regions of the brain called the hippocampus and the entorhinal cortex. “It’s declining episodic memory that causes the ‘saying the same thing, over and over’ symptom because the person doesn’t recall having said it previously. They never stored the memory in the first place so it doesn’t inform their future thoughts and actions.” Difficulties in carrying out old family traditions may hint at difficulties with daily tasks. Credit: Getty Images Difficulty carrying out familiar daily tasks While a complex matter like making a whole Christmas dinner would be enough to confuse a lot of us, there may be a problem if someone has difficulty carrying out one familiar job. “For example, if the same person always does the stuffing every year and then they forget to bring the ingredients, or they forget the process of how to do it. People will begin to have difficulty remembering the process of something, or planning, or concentrating.” Difficulty with tech “Confusion with technology is not, of course, specific to people living with dementia,” says Wheeler. “However, people with dementia can – and do – struggle with technology. “As their condition deteriorates over time, their brain will increasingly struggle to process information and think clearly, meaning that technologies that were once easy to use and navigate, for example a mobile phone or a laptop, may become increasingly difficult to use.” Time spent at end-of-year celebrations can bring comfort to the elderly and also a greater understanding of where they are at. Credit: Tribune Difficulty following a conversation “People can have difficulty finding the right word, or just following the thread of a conversation.” says Makri. “They might take longer to process the information they’ve heard, or they might just not be communicating very much. Sometimes they will become a bit withdrawn. They retreat slightly because, actually, they can’t follow the thread of the conversation any more.” Wheeler adds that although people with vascular dementia may not have problems with memory at first, in the context of a conversation they may easily lose the thread, either because they get distracted, they get overwhelmed by too much information, or because their working memory – the ability to keep a thought in your head for a few seconds or more – isn’t working as well as it used to. Spatial and temporal awareness This can be a symptom of all types of dementia. “Sometimes people might be confused about the time or the place,” says Makri. “They might not realise whose house they’re in, or not remember where the loo is. They might know it’s Christmas because they’re sitting at a Christmas table with a turkey in front of them, but they might not remember what year it is.” Difficulty controlling emotions The key is whether their behaviour is out of character. “If this is someone who’s always got really angry or anxious about politics, then you might not worry. But if this is someone who doesn’t normally react this way at that point, if they’re suddenly having mood swings and having difficulty controlling their emotions, then this might be an early sign [of some forms of dementia].” People with vascular dementia in particular tend to be more prone to mood problems as well as fatigue, and difficulty concentrating. Inappropriate behaviour This is more of a problem with frontotemporal dementia, a less common type of dementia that involves degeneration in the frontal or temporal lobes of the brain. Early symptoms include changes in personality and behaviour, and/or language difficulties. “You may find a person becomes less inhibited; they might suddenly start saying or doing inappropriate things,” says Makri. Being suddenly suspicious Although this isn’t present with Alzheimer’s, vascular or many other types of dementia, Lewy body dementia – a broad term which includes ‘dementia with Lewy bodies’ and Parkinson’s dementia – can cause delusional beliefs or hallucinations. “Having incorrect beliefs could potentially be an early symptom,” Makri explains. “At that point it’s generally quite mild, but certainly saying something like ‘the neighbours keep having a go at me’, or having a suspicion that the neighbours are talking about them,” could be a sign that something is amiss. What should you do next? Firstly, how much should you worry? “Many of the early symptoms can be caused by other things,” says Makri. “We always say you can’t make a diagnosis at the dinner table. But if someone is presenting with a lot of these symptoms it is a good idea for them to speak to the GP.” The GP will generally carry out tests to rule out other causes, including thyroid deficiencies, urinary tract infection (UTIs) and vitamin B12 deficiency, which can all cause confusion. But how to broach the topic sensitively? Makri suggests that, after speaking to other people who were present, to nominate one close family member to bring this up with the person in question. It’s also helpful to keep notes of the symptoms. MRI brain scans showing different dementia types. Credit: Boston University Ideally, the person themselves will go to the GP, who may then follow up with a referral to a memory clinic and possibly a brain scan. If the person is in denial – which can itself be a part of dementia – a family member can ring the GP and pass on their concerns, and while the GP won’t be able to comment because of patient confidentiality, they may be able to follow up with the patient. The Telegraph, London

Coal ash is currently a hot topic in United States politics. , the Supreme Court ruled to allow the Biden administration to move forward with a plan to address toxic coal ash, in the latest update in a drawn-out legal battle over monitoring and remediation of the toxic substance. But while coal ash is a noted hazard to public health and the environment, it could also be a key new resource for the clean energy transition. Millions of tons of coal ash, a byproduct of burning the world’s dirtiest fossil fuel, are currently sitting in ponds and landfills across the United States. The U.S. alone produces around 110 million tons of it each and every year, and then stores it in basins known as ponds. These ponds are vulnerable to leaks and spills, with for the communities that house them. “Coal ash contains significant concentrations of chemicals like arsenic, boron, lead, selenium and mercury, each of which poses serious dangers to human health and the environment,” a group of environmentalists stated in a for the aforementioned Supreme Court case. “Among other things, exposure increases rates of skin, liver, bladder and lung cancer as well as risks of neurological, psychiatric and cardiovascular harm.” But one man’s neurological, psychiatric and cardiovascular poison is another man’s treasure, apparently. The high concentrations of metals found in coal ash, while dangerous for human and planetary health if left to leach into groundwater and blow into the air, could be critical for the renewable revolution. Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin recently analyzed coal ash collected from power plants across the country and found that the country’s coal ash reserves could contain up to 11 million tons of rare earth elements. That’s nearly eight times the amount of rare earths that the United States already has in reserve, and could be worth approximately $8.4 billion. “Even though the level of rare earth elements in coal ash is relatively low when compared with those mined from geological deposits, the fact that the ash is readily available in large quantities makes it an attractive resource,” Texas Geosciences reports. The paper’s co-author Davin Bagdonas, a research scientist at the University of Wyoming, adds: “There’s huge volumes of this stuff all over the country,” Bagdonas said. “And the upfront process of extracting the (mineral host) is already taken care of for us.” Tapping into this resource could have major implications for the domestic clean energy revolution, and even for U.S. national security. Currently, the world relies on China for about 75% of its rare earth minerals, as Beijing has a veritable chokehold on supply chains and refining capacities. This is already shaping up to be a major geopolitical issue. Just last week, China on the export of certain rare earth minerals to the United States. The decision came as the latest development in an escalating tech trade was between the world’s two largest economies, and was announced just one day after the Biden administration placed increasing limitations on Beijing’s access to advanced U.S. technologies. “This is just the first step and a warning to the incoming administration in Washington,” says Zhiqun Zhu, a political scientist at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. This rare-earth trade war is certain to escalate under Trump’s upcoming second presidential term, which promises to usher in a new era of competing tariffs and geopolitical posturing between Washington and Beijing. “China’s quest for a larger share of critical minerals is significant because it is expected to use them as retaliatory tools against the U.S. if Washington decides to dramatically increase tariffs on Chinese goods, as President-elect Donald Trump has said he would do,” Voice of America this week. In light of this geopolitical minefield, the discovery of a veritable treasure trove of easily extractable rare earths here on U.S. soil couldn’t have come at a better time. By Haley Zaremba for Oilprice.comOTTAWA — Cowessess First Nation Chief Erica Beaudin says she is “disappointed’ that Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer used clean drinking water legislation as a political “tactic.” Bill C-61 recognizes First Nations have an inherent right to clean drinking water and commits the government to providing “adequate and sustainable” funding for water services in First Nations. It remains stalled at third reading in the House of Commons because of an ongoing privilege debate that has prevented the consideration of bills since late September. Today Liberal MP Jaime Battiste asked for unanimous consent to forward the First Nations Clean Drinking Water Act to the Senate but several MPs said no. Scheer, who’s riding includes Cowessess, rose immediately afterward for a similar motion that also condemned the Liberal government for inaction but it was also defeated. While Cowessess doesn’t currently have a boil water advisory, Beaudin says people in her community rely on bottled water because they don’t trust what comes from their taps.

Robert Braswell scores 19 to help Charlotte earn 77-63 victory over Georgia State

One of the country’s largest health insurers reversed a change in policy Thursday after widespread outcry, saying it would not tie payments in some states to the length of time a patient went under anesthesia. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield said in a statement that its decision to backpedal resulted from “significant widespread misinformation” about the policy. “To be clear, it never was and never will be the policy of Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield to not pay for medically necessary anesthesia services,” the statement said. “The proposed update to the policy was only designed to clarify the appropriateness of anesthesia consistent with well-established clinical guidelines.” Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield would have used “physician work time values,” which is published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, as the metric for anesthesia limits; maternity patients and patients under the age of 22 were exempt. But Dr. Jonathan Gal, economics committee chair of the American Society for Anesthesiologists, said it’s unclear how CMS derives those values. In mid-November, the American Society for Anesthesiologists called on Anthem to “reverse the proposal immediately,” saying in a news release that the policy would have taken effect in February in New York, Connecticut and Missouri. It’s not clear how many states in total would have been affected, as notices also were posted in Virginia and Colorado. People across the country registered their concerns and complaints on social media, and encouraged people in affected states to call their legislators. Some people noted that the policy could prevent patients from getting overcharged. Gal said the policy change would have been unprecedented, ignored the “nuanced, unpredictable human element” of surgery and was a clear “money grab.” “It’s incomprehensible how a health insurance company could so blatantly continue to prioritize their profits over safe patient care,” he said. “If Anthem is, in fact, rescinding the policy, we’re delighted that they came to their senses.” Prior to Anthem’s announcement Thursday, Connecticut comptroller Sean Scanlon said the “concerning” policy wouldn’t affect the state after conversations with the insurance company. And New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said in an emailed statement Thursday that her office had also successfully intervened. The insurance giant’s policy change came one day after the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, another major insurance company, was shot and killed in New York City.Giants topple Colts 45-33 to eliminate Indy from the playoff race

Maura Higgins opened up on her romantic life as she admitted to falling in love. The Love Island star has been seen getting cosy with former TOWIE star Pete Wicks in recent months and they were said to be 'close pals' before their friendship turned romantic. She even confirmed she is 'seeing someone' to her I'm A Celebrity campmates but they have yet to make it exclusive. Pete, who is taking part in this year's Strictly Come Dancing, has been facing rumours he is in a relationship with his professional dance partner Jowita Przystal. However, Maura has been dropping hints to her campmates about her mystery man, believed to be Pete. When Reverend Richard Coles asked if she and her mystery man - who she confirmed was a familiar face - were an item, a slightly red-faced Maura admitted she wasn't sure, because she "doesn't know the rules" and was still officially single. READ MORE: I'm a Celeb star Coleen Rooney mocked by Rebekah Vardy with thinly-veiled jibe READ MORE: Barry McGuigan hailed as 'father figure' for Danny Jones in I'm A Celeb Camp In an exclusive clip shared on spin-off show I'm A Celebrity...Unpacked, Maura opened up to former Strictly Come Dancing professional Oti Mabuse. Oti probed Maura on her love life as they cryptically seemed to talk about Pete's stint on Strictly and if he would be in Australia to meet Maura. The reality star revealed she had been friends with her new man for five years before things turned romantic after he persisted. Oti asked: "What made you say yes then?" Maura shared: "He wouldn't give up." She then shared details of their first date as she confessed: "I actually brought my friends with me and I was like, 'see it is a friendship date'. "Then the next time I went, just me." Oti probed: "Did you go somewhere or just at the house?" Maura told her: "No we went out for oysters and wine." Oti quipped: "Come on, come on. Do you have fun?" Maura shared: "Yeah, we just die laughing with each other 24/7. We have got the very same humour." Pete, 36, has also hinted at his feelings for Maura on social media. Pete reposted a meme urging his 1.8 million Instagram followers to vote for her as Queen of the Jungle and was quick to comment (with three clapping emojis) on another post calling for votes. Initially, friends of the duo played down the romance rumours, which started after they were seen kissing outside a London hotel in August. However, there's now plenty of evidence suggesting they're more than just mates. Last week, Maura discussed the public's fascination with her love life with jungle campmate GK Barry, 25, five years on from her Love Island stint. When quizzed about her status with Pete, Maura clarified: "I'm single. People can date and not be in a relationship and take things slow." Maura went on to add: "What’s the point in getting them involved too soon, when you just don’t know where it’s gonna go, you know?" Pete and Maura raised eyebrows with their closeness at the Pride of Britain 2024 afterparty in Grosvenor House Hotel's Red Bar in October. A source at the bash said: "Pete did look cosy with Maura at points but he wasn't shy about telling people he was single," adding that Pete was openly declaring his single status on the red carpet and even joked about it post-awards in the bar. Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads . Join the Irish Mirror’s breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice .For many of the women attending My Sister’s Place (MSP) in London, Ont. the holidays are a difficult time. “I'm here alone in London. I have no family here,” says Serena Millward, whose family is in B.C. “It's a bit of a hard time because it’s a time to be with family, so it can be a little emotional.” Most of these women living on the street, or in shelters don’t receive anything for Christmas. That’s where the Shoebox Project comes in. For the past 15 years, they’ve supported women with a personally crafted gift, essentials and/or everyday items wrapped in a shoebox. Emily Brewer, left, of the Shoebox Project watches Serena Millward open a gift at My Sister’s Place in London, Ont. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) “We’ve already reached our target right in time for Christmas,” says Emily Brewer, the London chapter coordinator of the Shoebox Project. “We have made about 1,200 shoe boxes, supporting around 25 agencies in London and surrounding area.” Brewer was at MSP to hand deliver the boxes to women, after the organization held it’s Christmas dinner. “Being able to be here and see them open this gift, it's really a full circle moment,” says Brewer. “It just shows us that all of the work that the community put in is going to a great cause, and it's making a huge impact.” That impact is felt by women like Terry O’Loughlin. “I can use the shampoo, I can use a hand cream and I can use nail polish,” says O’Loughlin who is currently living in a shelter. “You can tell the girls like it because you're not expecting it. They don't tell you when it's coming, and you're not expecting it at all.” The boxes the women opened contained items like bodywash, a hairbrush, soaps, games, as well as winter items like hats, gloves and scarves. The contents of a shoebox gift from the Shoebox Project in London, Ont. (Brent Lale/CTV News London) “These women have a lot of struggles, and we just want to make their holiday season,” says Brewer. “It can be very isolating, but we want to make a small part of it better for them, and just let them know that there's people out there that that care about them and are thinking of them during this time.” Going through a difficult time after losing her ex this year, O’Loughlin was appreciative of the gift for her, and her “sisters.” “it's just like a surprise for us all,” says O’Loughlin. This year’s Shoebox drive has come to an end, but the need continues to grow each year. These are some of the agencies the project supported in 2024. Shopping Trends The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us. 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Either way, Canadians should brace for a spring election Canada appears to be barrelling toward a spring election now that the NDP is vowing to vote down the government early next year -- whether Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stays on or not. Woman seriously injured after stabbing in Moss Park: paramedics A stabbing in Toronto’s Moss Park neighbourhood Tuesday morning has left a woman with serious injuries as police search for a suspect. Police in York Region thwart alleged car theft in Stouffville, Ont. A suspect from Quebec who was allegedly trying to steal a luxury car in Stouffville, Ont. last Friday was caught with a key fob programmer, police say. Montreal Snowfall in Quebec leads to multiple road accidents Quebecers travelling on Christmas Eve should do so with caution as snow continues to flurry in the early morning. Quebec doing better job at retaining immigrants, Atlantic Canada still struggling Immigrants are increasingly choosing to stay in Quebec, according to a new report from Statistics Canada, but the same isn't true in the Atlantic region, which continues to lose newcomers to the rest of the country. What's open and closed in Montreal during the holidays Here's a list of what's open and closed for the holidays in Montreal. Atlantic RCMP investigating break, enter and theft at business in Janeville, N.B. RCMP in New Brunswick are investigating after a business in Janeville was broken into and a number of items were stolen. CTV's Katie Kelly solves decades old mystery involving 'anchor' tattoo It’s been almost two decades since a 21-year-old man from New Glasgow, N.S., got a tattoo of CTV’s Bruce Frisko, but it’s a piece of Maritime history that hasn’t been forgotten. 'Can I taste it?': Rare $55,000 bottle of spirits on sale in Moncton A rare bottle of Scottish whisky is for sale in downtown Moncton, with a price tag reading $55,000. Winnipeg Manitoba to receive more equalization money, but the increase is smaller than in 2024 The Manitoba government is set to receive $337 million more in equalization payments from the federal government in the next fiscal year. ‘Choosing your own adventure’: Winnipeg’s Select Start readies Exchange District for brand new ‘barcade’ experience A new ‘barcade’ in the heart of the Exchange District is hoping to be a successful launch title for a new generation of players. 'Stop postponing our bucket list': Churchill continuing to grow as Manitoba's hotspot The province of Manitoba prides itself on being the heart of Canada, and as the heart, it has many arteries just waiting to be explored. Calgary Glenmore Trail closed for several hours due to serious crash involving crane truck Calgary police shut down Glenmore Trail Monday night and into Tuesday morning for a crash between a car and a crane truck. Fundraiser aims to help family of Calgary's latest homicide victim A fundraising effort has been established to help the family of Jalisa Maschki, a woman who was found on a Calgary pathway and later died in hospital. Skier seriously injured in avalanche near Revelstoke, B.C. A skier was seriously injured after an avalanche near Revelstoke, B.C., over the weekend. Edmonton 'Serious safety issues': Edmonton building where security guard was killed evacuated An apartment building where a security guard was killed earlier this month has been evacuated. A look back at the most-read stories for Edmonton and northern Alberta in 2024 From the wildfire in Jasper to Danielle Smith and the United Conservative government and its policies to alleged and confirmed professional misconduct of police officers, teachers and doctors, these are the top 10 news stories for 2024. WEATHER | Josh Classen's forecast: Warm and melty again, but cloudy and breezy We should get back to some sunshine in the Edmonton area and across much of central and eastern Alberta for Christmas day. Regina 'A nice way to connect': Christmas card exchange between Sask. friends spans 60 years What started out as a little holiday fun between two Regina friends has turned into a tradition that now spans six decades. Dog lost in Saskatchewan during cross-country trip reunited with family A family moving from Ontario to Alberta in November had a scare when their family dog got loose during a stop in Dafoe, Sask. and ran away. More drivers opt for personalized plates in Sask. — and behind every one there's a story You may have noticed a few more vanity plates on Saskatchewan roads in recent years, and every one of them comes with a personal story. Saskatoon More drivers opt for personalized plates in Sask. — and behind every one there's a story You may have noticed a few more vanity plates on Saskatchewan roads in recent years, and every one of them comes with a personal story. 'People prop the doors open': Saskatoon resident concerned as people shelter in her stairwell With the number of homeless people in Saskatoon at an unprecedented high, it’s no surprise people are looking for places to warm up. Saskatoon-born comedian Brendan Flaherty returns for to ask, 'what'd I miss?' As a Saskatoon-born comedian pursuing a career in the Six, Brendan Flaherty says he often hears the same question from friends back home. Vancouver B.C. friends nab ‘unbelievable’ $1M lotto win just before Christmas Two friends from B.C’s lower mainland are feeling particularly merry this December, after a single lottery ticket purchased from a small kiosk landed them instant millionaire status. Storms to continue rolling through B.C.’s South Coast over Christmas Day The tempestuous weather that descended on southern B.C. Monday afternoon will linger for the next few days, with a storm forecast for Christmas Day. Year-end interview: B.C. Premier David Eby reflects on nail-biting 2024 election It was a year that saw David Eby elected B.C. premier for the first time, and lead his party to government for a third consecutive term. Vancouver Island B.C. woman sentenced for impaired driving crash that killed retired Mountie A Vancouver Island woman who was high on drugs when she crashed a car into a pickup truck, killing a retired Mountie and injuring his two passengers, "did not realize what was happening and took no steps to avoid the accident" a B.C. Supreme Court judge found. 5 rescued after avalanche triggered north of Whistler, B.C. RCMP say Emergency crews and heli-skiing staff helped rescue five people who were caught up in a backcountry avalanche north of Whistler, B.C., on Monday morning. Cleanup underway after rockslide derails train in B.C. No injuries were reported after a rockslide derailed a freight train, sending railcars into British Columbia's Fraser River, on Sunday night. Stay Connected

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