🚑 Breaking & Incidents
- Airdrie man charged after six women groped at big-box stores. RCMP say a 30‑year‑old from Airdrie was arrested Tuesday and charged with six counts of sexual assault after incidents at two Airdrie Walmarts, a No Frills grocery store and two Calgary locations; investigators say video captured the suspect and two No Frills victims have not yet been identified.
- Former detainees were dropped on Edmonton streets, minister blames ‘human error’. Alberta Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis called two recent downtown Edmonton drop‑offs by provincial corrections transport vans “human error” after surveillance footage surfaced; Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack and municipal leaders say they want clearer province‑municipal processes.
🏛️ Government & Politics
- 673,000 Albertans have applied for mail‑in referendum ballots; deadline is tonight. Elections Alberta reported 673,000 mail‑in requests as of Thursday and will stop accepting applications at midnight, with ballots due back by Oct. 16 at 5 p.m. and in‑person advance voting set for Oct. 13–17 ahead of the Oct. 19 referendum.
- Alberta NDP files court challenge to restrict voter‑list rules. The opposition asked an Edmonton court on Thursday to strike a provincial regulation that limits what voter information Elections Alberta can share with parties, arguing it exceeds government authority and weakens the voter‑list purpose set in law.
- Ipsos poll: 70% of Albertans plan to vote to remain in Canada. An Ipsos online survey of 600 Alberta residents (part of a 1,500‑person Canadian sample, Sept. 18–22) found 70% will vote to stay in Canada in the Oct. 19 referendum, with 20% favouring a binding independence referendum.
🚨 Crime & Public Safety
- Calgary rapist sentenced to 12 years for causing 'life‑altering injuries'. A Calgary court handed a 12‑year prison sentence to the man convicted of a sexual‑assault offence described in court as causing “life‑altering injuries” to the victim.
- Police warn parents after two youths allegedly stalked via Snapchat location. ALERT’s internet child‑exploitation unit says an alleged offender tracked two Edmonton youths’ locations via Snapchat, then travelled to their family home; investigators arrested a suspect and urged parents to review app location permissions.
- Alberta municipalities ask province for surplus to fund infrastructure. Municipal leaders are calling for a share of the provincial surplus to pay for local infrastructure projects, the provincial municipalities’ briefing said.
💼 Economy & Business
- Province pledges $38.5M to build infrastructure for Beaumont innovation park. Alberta announced $38.5 million to Beaumont for roads, utilities and servicing tied to a planned Alberta Motor Transport Association Safety Campus on 160 acres south of Highway 625 between Highways 814 and Range Road 241.
🏈 Sports
- Redblacks seek first win in rematch after 40‑38 loss to Stampeders. Ottawa (0‑13) plays Calgary (6‑8) in a rematch Saturday after Calgary beat Ottawa on a 62‑yard walk‑off field goal by Rene Paredes with two seconds left.
- Elks’ home dominance (6‑1 at Commonwealth) pushes them into playoffs. Edmonton’s Elks are 6‑1 at Commonwealth Stadium this season, a factor the team credits for clinching their first playoff berth since 2019.
📰 Also Today
- Argos beat Bombers 30‑28 on last‑second 36‑yard field goal, Lirim Hajrullahu winner.
- WCB data suggests violence against health‑care workers in Alberta is rising, agency analysis reported.
- Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk headed to ISS next week, mission announced.
- Poll shows Danielle Smith’s popularity has dipped; UCP now tied with NDP, poll results.
- New poll indicates Alberta separatism support slipping, recent survey.
- Alberta education minister unveils plan to strengthen school safety measures, minister announced.
- TSB calls for new railcar‑wheel identification process after 2023 Alberta derailment, safety recommendation issued.
- Calgary rolling out new pedestrian safety measure at intersections across city, city announced.
- Calgary Police Service laid 160+ charges in Operation Restore this summer, CPS reported.
- Father of former Calgary Flame Andrei Kuzmenko reportedly killed in Russian bear attack, media reports.
- Calgary police say drone first‑responder pilot program is already paying off, police reported.
- Alberta separation group releases report on affordable transition to independence, group published study.
- (Duplicate) Ipsos poll: 70% of Albertans plan to vote to remain in Canada.
- Calgary declares Sept. 25 'Dolly Parton Day', city proclamation for 9/25.
- Calgary‑area company behind Balzac landfill fire ordered to temporarily close second Balzac facility, regulator order.
- (Duplicate) Minister calls detainee street drop‑offs 'human error', Ellis statement.
- (Duplicate) Alberta NDP seeks court to block restricted voter‑list rules, court filing.
- (Duplicate) ALERT arrests suspect after two youths stalked via Snapchat, ICE unit release.
- (Duplicate) $38.5M provincial funding for Beaumont innovation park, provincial announcement.
