🏛️ Government & Politics
- Alberta will cut education property-tax rates in 2027 by nearly 7% for homes and farms. The province says residential and farmland owners will pay almost 7% less while non-residential property owners will pay almost 5% less, with the new rate frozen for three years and nearly $100 million in taxpayer savings in the first year; Calgary municipal leaders had publicly pushed back after prior hikes.
- UCP revokes separatist Jeffrey Rath’s membership after code-of-conduct ruling in Calgary. Premier Danielle Smith confirmed the party executive director removed Rath, citing his public calls to turn the UCP into an independence party; Rath called the move evidence of authoritarian behaviour and said it validated his criticisms.
- Court of Arbitration for Sport orders Russia reinstated in international hockey, clouding Alberta’s World Juniors. CAS ruled Friday that Russia must be allowed back into international competition; Canada’s Secretary of Sport Adam van Koeverden said Canada opposes the decision and will maintain federal restrictions on Russian athletes at Canadian events receiving federal funding, affecting tournaments in Edmonton and Red Deer.
- Calgary Police Service continues to promote Crime Stoppers after a data breach at U.S. vendor. Navigate360 reported unauthorized access to its system between Nov. 21, 2025, and March 5, 2026; CPS says it engaged Crime Stoppers Canada, is satisfied with new security measures, and is continuing to accept tips.
🏈 Sports
- Flames goalie Devin Cooley placed on injured reserve and is week-to-week after lower-body injury. Coach Ryan Huska said Cooley was hurt Wednesday in Edmonton when Oilers forward Colton Dach crashed the crease; Cooley had a 1.50 GAA and .955 save percentage during a recent four-game winning streak and is out for an unspecified number of weeks.
- Argonauts receiver Tyler Kahmann named CFL Most Outstanding Rookie after 1,092 yards. The 26-year-old had 77 catches, 1,092 yards and eight touchdowns this season and earned 186 of a possible 260 points on 52 ballots; the Argos host Winnipeg in the East semifinal Saturday.
- Elks sign GM Ed Hervey to an undisclosed contract extension after a 13-5 turnaround season. Hervey returned in November 2024 and has guided Edmonton from last place to first in the West with a 13-5 record; the Elks will host their first home playoff game since 2015 next weekend.
- Trevor Harris says he’s ready as Saskatchewan faces B.C. in West Division semifinal Saturday. Harris led Saskatchewan to last season’s Grey Cup and will start against a B.C. offence that averaged 416.7 yards per game and featured Nathan Rourke’s 4,614 passing yards this season.
- Dru Brown to start for Winnipeg in East semifinal after replacing injured Zach Collaros. Brown completed all 11 passes for 185 yards and two TDs in last week’s 34-10 win; Chad Kelly will start for Toronto after practicing fully this week.
📰 Also Today
- Century-old general store could be haunted, still attracts Albertans.
- Some Alberta pharmacists report shortages of COVID-19 vaccine stock.
- Canadian astronaut Joshua Kutryk says spacewalk changed him, reflecting on Earth view.
- Experts and a Liberal MP push for a full ban on sports-betting ads.
- University course focuses on horror-film craft, a textbook-based film studies class.
- Russia reinstated at world hockey championships after sports court ruling.
- Halloween candy prices up this year, with some sweets notably costlier.
- Record-high diesel prices hit Alberta farmers during fall harvest.
- Calgary police chief warns of 'major impacts' on public safety if budget ask fails.
- Woman on trial says witness 'must be mistaken' in alleged sex-with-teen case.
- Police and military escorted the body of a fallen Wainwright soldier through Calgary.
- Eight senior leaders dismissed at Acute Care Alberta.
- Official results: 70% turnout for Alberta separation referendum question.
- (Duplicate ID noted) Experts and Liberal MP hope for full ban on sports betting ads.
