Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment, travel, lifestyle, weather, and events for Kamloops, Vernon, Kelowna, Penticton and the Okanagan.

The sign outside the Penticton Law Courts.

January 25 2026 04:00 AM

‘Career criminal’ attacked former friend with axe, skipped trial: Sentenced to time served

The court heard about a “great deal of animosity” after his friend of seven years began dating his long-time but former partner. That's certainly one way to describe it.

As the planet warms, how can the Winter Olympics and Paralympics adapt?

TORONTO — Climate change is rapidly shrinking the number of reliable hosts for the Winter Olympics and Paralympics, say Canadian…

A chain link fence it covered with feathery ice crystals.

January 24 2026 06:00 PM

iN PHOTOS: Conditions right for fanciful frost formations in Kamloops, Okanagan

The crystals are a striking sight to see in the grey winter months in our region.

A photo of a brick building with signage reading Kamloops Law Courts.

January 24 2026 02:00 PM

House arrest for Kamloops dealer who tried flushing drugs at police station

She clogged a toilet at the Kamloops RCMP detachment trying to flush a bag of cocaine.

January 24 2026 01:01 PM

Researchers find Antarctic penguin breeding is heating up sooner, and that’s a problem

WASHINGTON (AP) — Warming temperatures are forcing Antarctic penguins to breed earlier and that’s a big problem for two of…

January 24 2026 10:00 AM

BC engineer ‘cut corners’, outsourced structural calculations that ignored snow loads: regulator

The regulator found his calculations for a geodesic dome were incorrect.

January 24 2026 08:01 AM

Sri Lanka unveils a rare purple star sapphire claimed to be the biggest of its kind

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — A Purple Star Sapphire weighing 3,563 carats which is claimed to be the world’s biggest…

A brief explanation of the BC extortion crisis

The shootings have become an almost daily occurrence.

January 24 2026 04:00 AM

BC lottery winners now score a bonus prize — some anonymity

BCLC quietly changed its policy this year.

A court official works at a laptop computer.

January 23 2026 06:00 PM

Golden motel worker who sexually assaulted guest loses appeal, faces deportation

A 19-year-old woman turned up at a motel after driving all through the night, exhausted. The clerk helped her to her room, then refused to leave. "He just wanted to touch her."

January 23 2026 04:30 PM

We watched the Kelowna version of ‘Jersey Shore’ so you don’t have to

"It's scorching hot. My makeup is falling off my face."

Accused Lake Country drug dealer Jesse Michael Valentino Bou-Saleh is escorted by Costa Rican police.

January 23 2026 02:20 PM

Okanagan gangster, high level drug dealer, arrested in Costa Rica

He was on the lam for two years while the BC government started seizing his many, many Okanagan assets.

A carbine rifle with a scope on the tail gate of a truck.

January 23 2026 10:35 AM

RCMP gang squad helps Kelowna officers with guns and drugs crackdown

“We continue to target individuals within our community who are involved in organized crime and to remove weapons and toxic drugs from our streets."

January 20, 2026 3:40:48 PM

iN PHOTOS: Why Okanagan, Kamloops socials are lit up with amazing hot chocolates

Vendors are turning hot chocolate into tasty works of art.

January 22, 2026 10:25:32 AM

Shelter approved, funds unclear after Penticton denied tiny homes

Although Penticton council opted to keep leasing the current homeless shelter, there's no guarantee it'll stay open this spring.

January 22, 2026 2:00:00 PM

Lower speed limits not coming to Kamloops anytime soon

Kamloops council voted against a speed reduction pilot project.

January 19, 2026 3:15:00 PM

It’s possible to get addicted to pot. Here’s what to know

Dr. Smita Das often hears the same myth: You can’t get hooked on pot. And the misconception has become more widespread as a growing number of states legalize marijuana. Around half now allow recreational use for adults and 40 states...

Opinion

January 20 2026 03:38 PM

iN DISCUSSION: The impact of rising police budgets in Okanagan, Kamloops

Hard times are coming, it's time to prepare.

A journal open to a list of New Year's resolutions.

January 19 2026 01:21 PM

THOMPSON: Why I gave up making New Year’s resolutions

"Research says fewer than 10 percent of those making New Year’s resolutions keep them. I have no research to back my claim that at least half of those folks are lying their asses off."

January 13 2026 12:00 PM

iN DISCUSSION: Okanagan winter inversion recipe for the blues

"There have always been homeless people with mental illness or drug addiction or both but now I expect to see some sort of confrontation whenever I am out in public."