Bearspaw Progress, New Radiopharmaceutical Centre & 10-year Sentence — Calgary Thursday

🚨 Crime & Public Safety

1. Driver who fled Calgary police in stolen minivan sentenced to 10 years. Duane Nepoose, 32, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and fleeing police after a Boxing Day 2024 crash that killed nine-year-old Victoria Desjardins; the Crown had asked for 9½–10½ years while the defence sought seven to nine years. The sentence imposed is 10 years in federal custody.
2. Parole Board denies unescorted absences for man convicted in 2001 child murder. Harold Anthony (Tony) Gallup, convicted of first-degree murder in the 2001 killing of five-year-old Jessica Koopmans, had his first request for temporary absences denied; Gallup was 31 at the time of the crime and told the board he killed the child after becoming aroused, according to the hearing record.

🏛️ Government & Politics

1. Premier Danielle Smith to join virtual town hall on AI data centres Thursday. Smith and Technology Minister Nate Glubish are hosting the third of four town halls about attracting and regulating data centres, including Meta’s proposed $13-billion campus north of Edmonton; the government says town halls will identify "blind spots" on water use and farming impacts. The premier is scheduled to attend this session only.
2. New Calgary radiopharmaceutical facility and cyclotron under construction adjacent to Tom Baker Cancer Centre. The site will add a third cyclotron to serve southern Alberta, reducing the 3.5-hour drive from Edmonton that wastes short-lived isotopes with 109-minute half-lives; Jan Andersson and Dr. Stella Koumna described daily production needs and theranostics benefits during a Global News tour.

💼 Economy & Business

1. Bearspaw feeder main replacement entering home stretch, on schedule and on budget. Calgary has laid about 3.7 kilometres of carrier pipe of the planned six-kilometre replacement between Sarcee Trail and the Shaganappi Pump Station, with roughly two kilometres of steel pipe inserted so far; Mayor Jeromy Farkas said earlier this month Bearspaw will be closed for less than (article notes closure timeframe). Sixty percent of treated water for 1.6 million residents comes from Bearspaw.
2. Alberta now forecasting a $2-billion 2026 surplus after oil price surge. The province says West Texas Intermediate averaged just above US$88 per barrel since April, reversing a $9.4-billion deficit projection and creating a $2-billion surplus; Finance Minister Jason Nixon warned the gains are temporary and pledged not to use temporary revenues for permanent expenses.

📰 Also Today

• Peter Pocklington’s former Edmonton mansion at 8638 Saskatchewan Drive listed in City of Edmonton tax auction.
• Motorcyclist killed in Calgary crash was travelling more than 200 km/h, police say.
• Police arrest man in connection with suspicious death of a Calgary woman.
• Enbridge signs financing deal with KKR and Apollo for Westcoast pipeline expansion.
• Oil prices swing Alberta’s $9.4B deficit toward surplus, finance minister cautions.
• Enbridge buying Salt Creek Midstream crude gathering business for US$600 million.
• First phase of Bearspaw feeder main replacement wrapped; water restrictions coming this fall.
• Man who killed 9-year-old while fleeing police to be sentenced for dangerous driving causing death.
• Analysis: How Canada selects targets for counter-tariffs amid global trade tensions.
• Consumers report stronger resolve to buy Canadian, reviving patriotic shopping movement.
• Mount Robson’s Berg Glacier no longer reaches the lake, described as climate-change symbol.