Edmonton Daily Digest — Feb 25, 2026

Big education boost — but teachers stay wary. Alberta’s Budget 26 promises $143 million to hire 1,600 teachers and 800 support staff and a record $10.8 billion for schools (a $722-million or 7% increase from last year); funding is to reach $11.5 billion by 2028–29 to help hire more than 5,000 staff over the next three years. ATA president Jason Schilling called it "historic" but cautioned success depends on real hires and targeted supports, while NDP education critic Amanda Chapman warned the province still faces trouble attracting and keeping teachers after last October’s three-week strike by about 51,000 teachers.

Heartbreaking crash kills two teen hockey players. Danica Hills, 18, and teammate Kayla Peacock, 17, died after a pickup and a semi collided on Highway 16 east of Jasper around 7:15 p.m. Monday, hours after practice; both lived in Hinton (about 75 km east of Jasper) and were beloved members of the U18 Jasper Bearcats. Communities are mourning with memorials, a fundraising game planned Friday and GoFundMe pages to help families; slippery road conditions are believed to be a factor.

Family’s bid for review denied in LRT stabbing case. Justice Wayne Renke dismissed a request to review Edmonton police and Crown decisions not to charge a man in the Feb. 5, 2025, death of 13-year-old Eric Omeasoo, who was stabbed on the MacEwan LRT platform; police say the evidence points to self‑defence after a brawl. Omeasoo’s family had disputed police findings and sought access to evidence, but the judge rejected the review.

RCMP puppies need names — kids invited to enter. Thirteen German Shepherd puppies due at the RCMP Police Dog Services Training Centre in Innisfail, Alta., are part of the annual "Name the Puppy" contest for children aged 4–14; entries are online and winners are announced in late April. Prize winners get an 8×10 photo, a plush dog named Justice and an RCMP water bottle — and last year’s winning names included Arctic, Action, Atim and Agent.

Suspect in handcuffs steals sheriff’s cruiser and leads chase. Just after 10 p.m. near Whitecourt (about 160 km NW of Edmonton), a man in handcuffs got into an Alberta Sheriffs patrol vehicle and drove roughly 100 km southeast toward Gunn on Highway 43, prompting an RCMP pursuit. Police used a spike belt, boxed and rammed the cruiser near Spruce Grove to stop it; a 42‑year‑old Spruce Grove man was hospitalized and now faces charges once information is sworn.

Publication ban lifted; victim named in tragic child death. The little girl found dead in a hockey bag in April 2023 is now publicly identified as eight‑year‑old Nina Napope after Justice Jody Fraser lifted a publication ban at the family’s request. Sentencing is underway for Ashley Rattlesnake, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter in Sept. 2025; Crown asked for nine years (defence asked for eight), and the autopsy showed blunt‑force head trauma plus evidence of chronic abuse and sepsis.