1. Alberta’s new budget landed with a $9.4‑billion deficit for 2026‑27 and big questions about the province’s tax structure — health spending rises, education gets more money, but expect more fees (tourism levy to 6%, other registry and ticket fees up).
2. Recall petition update: Elections Alberta says about half of the petitions against UCP MLAs so far failed, with 12 still active and several more due next month.
3. Sentencing in Nina Napope’s death: Ashley Rattlesnake got an eight‑year manslaughter sentence (4.25 years credited), leaving about 3 years 9 months to serve; family protested after the judge cited Edmonton Police actions as a mitigating factor.
4. Police recovered most stolen rescue tools after linked break‑ins: investigators say the Jaws of Life and other gear (valued ~$110,000) were used in 14 Edmonton break‑ins that caused $750,000–$1M in losses; three men now face 200+ charges.
5. Good news for wrestling fans: the late British Bulldog’s WWE Hall of Fame ring was found at a pawn shop in Lloydminster and is being returned to his son, Davey Boy Smith Jr.
6. Sports roundup: the Oilers put Andrew Mangiapane on waivers (14 points in 52 games this season); Ottawa beat Toronto 5‑2 (Batherson, Cozens two goals each); and Kevin Koe’s Alberta rink improved to 2‑0 at the Montana’s Brier (event runs to Mar 8).
7. Travel alert — southern Alberta snowfall: Environment Canada warned up to 30 cm in places (Icefields Parkway, northwest of Calgary) and tricky driving/visibility through the weekend.
8. Avalanche at Nakiska ski area: two skiers were caught; one got out uninjured, a youth was found unresponsive and taken to Alberta Children’s Hospital in life‑threatening condition.
9. Innisfail crash: an RCMP traffic officer was hurt when an allegedly impaired driver hit his cruiser on the QEII; the accused blew nearly double the legal limit and faces impaired operation causing bodily harm.
10. Wild pursuit: a handcuffed suspect stole an Alberta Sheriffs cruiser near Whitecourt and drove ~100 km to Spruce Grove before RCMP boxed and disabled the vehicle — the suspect was arrested.
11. LRT stabbing case: a judge denied the family’s request for a judicial review into the decision not to charge after a 13‑year‑old was fatally stabbed at MacEwan LRT (incident Feb. 5, 2025).
12. Online‑sale robberies: EPS says ~15 robberies tied to Facebook Marketplace/Kijiji meetups in a month; three teens were arrested and police urge using Buy & Sell Exchange Zones at station parking lots.
13. Fugitive arrested after rooftop escape attempt: Calgary police caught a man with 25 outstanding warrants after he tried to flee by climbing down building balconies; he now faces 30+ charges.
14. Extortion‑linked shootings in Calgary: two residences were shot at Feb. 22–23 in a series investigators say targets the South Asian community — police identify 28 extortion reports (13 shootings) since 2025 and ask for tips.
15. Tumbler Ridge aftermath: Ottawa summoned OpenAI reps over ChatGPT interactions with the shooter, the shooter’s brother was arrested in Alberta on a Canada‑wide warrant, and families continue to grieve the Feb. 10 tragedy.
16. Housing and mortgages: Canadians’ mortgage debt neared $2 trillion in 2025 (about $1.95T); average new loan rose to $363,778 and starter homes are increasingly out of reach — a Calgary family living in their car highlights local strain.
17. Energy update: Pembina Pipeline approved $425M in projects (a 95‑km NGL line moving 120,000 barrels/day between Birch and Taylor, B.C., plus a Taylor‑Gordondale phase) despite a Q4 earnings dip.
18. Local business moves: Calgary’s iconic Ranchman’s Cookhouse & Dancehall will relocate in 2027 because the property is being redeveloped, and Bridgeland Distillery was told by CFIA to pull some products pending compliance review.
19. Nurses’ deal ratified: Covenant Health care staff voted 89.2% in favour of a new collective agreement that includes a 12% pay increase over four years (retroactive to Apr 1, 2024).
20. Education funding pledge: the provincial government announced $143M to hire 1,600 teachers and 800 support staff (education funding rises to $10.8B), but teachers and critics worry about where staff will come from.
21. University of Lethbridge research: scientists identified a key role for RMRP RNA in cancer cell energy production — a discovery published in PNAS that could open new treatment research paths.
22. Name an RCMP puppy: the Police Dog Services Training Centre in Innisfail plans 13 German Shepherd pups — children 4–14 can enter the naming contest (winners get photos, a plush and other prizes).
23. Measles warning in Parkland County: Alberta health issued a standing advisory after 17 confirmed cases there; provincial totals show 77 lab‑confirmed cases this year so far and officials urge checking vaccination status.
24. Police and AI: Calgary and other Alberta services are using AI tools (Microsoft Copilot, Axon Draft One) to speed reports and analysis, but privacy, accuracy and transparency concerns remain — police stress human oversight.
25. Trade news: China said it will suspend some tariffs on Canadian farm goods (canola meal, peas, and duties on lobsters/crabs) from Mar 1 through the end of 2026 following talks with PM Mark Carney.