Brendan Shykora

A smartphone and a television receive visual and audio alerts to test Alert Ready, a national public alert system. A test of the alert system will take place across B.C. at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

This is only a test: Emergency alert going off in B.C.

On Wednesday a B.C.-wide test will be conducted

A smartphone and a television receive visual and audio alerts to test Alert Ready, a national public alert system. A test of the alert system will take place across B.C. at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday, May 10, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
Brendon Ogmundson, chief economist of the BC Real Estate Association, spoke at the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) conference in Vernon Thursday, April 27, 2023, about the path to recovery in the housing market. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Economist describes highs and lows of path to B.C. housing recovery at SILGA

Brendon Ogmundson explains the factors affecting the B.C., Okanagan housing markets

Brendon Ogmundson, chief economist of the BC Real Estate Association, spoke at the Southern Interior Local Government Association (SILGA) conference in Vernon Thursday, April 27, 2023, about the path to recovery in the housing market. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
Angela Ackerman (left) and Monique Gray Smith are the two keynote speakers for this year’s online B.C. Writers Summit, which runs from May 8 to 13, 2023. (Submitted photos)

B.C. Writers Summit to feature 2 accomplished keynote speakers

Monique Gray Smith and Angela Ackerman are both bestselling authors

Angela Ackerman (left) and Monique Gray Smith are the two keynote speakers for this year’s online B.C. Writers Summit, which runs from May 8 to 13, 2023. (Submitted photos)
A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Doreen Koch, 92, of Lumby, who has spent over $100,000 in legal fees fighting for the right to own her property after her son signed a contract to sell the property before dying of liver failure in 2020. (GoFundMe photo)

B.C. senior in legal battle over property

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched for Doreen Koch, 92, to help her pay her lawyer bills

A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support Doreen Koch, 92, of Lumby, who has spent over $100,000 in legal fees fighting for the right to own her property after her son signed a contract to sell the property before dying of liver failure in 2020. (GoFundMe photo)
Vancouver Coastal karate athlete Haumi Tarighatbin (red) faces off against Cancouver Island Central Coast athlete Hudson Ball Saturday, March 25, 2023, during the Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games at Kalamalka Secondary School. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

PHOTOS: Athletes dazzle on Day 2 of B.C. Winter Games in Greater Vernon

Competition in the Games continued Saturday; run through to 12 p.m. Sunday, March 26

Vancouver Coastal karate athlete Haumi Tarighatbin (red) faces off against Cancouver Island Central Coast athlete Hudson Ball Saturday, March 25, 2023, during the Greater Vernon B.C. Winter Games at Kalamalka Secondary School. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
More than 900 athletes are competing in the B.C. Winter Games from Friday, March 24, to Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Let the games begin: B.C. Winter Games in Greater Vernon officially underway

The torch is lit and over 900 athletes are ready to compete from Friday to Sunday

More than 900 athletes are competing in the B.C. Winter Games from Friday, March 24, to Sunday, March 26, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
A woman has shared her encounter with a nurse at Vernon Jubilee Hospital in a pair of videos on TikTok, saying she received insufficient care while experiencing a mental health crisis at the hospital. (Savanna Hedstrom/TikTok)

Woman facing mental health crisis says she was refused a face-to-face with doctor at Vernon hospital

The woman’s TikTok video has been viewed more than 218,000 times

A woman has shared her encounter with a nurse at Vernon Jubilee Hospital in a pair of videos on TikTok, saying she received insufficient care while experiencing a mental health crisis at the hospital. (Savanna Hedstrom/TikTok)
Vernon’s Ashley Wadsworth was murdered in the U.K. Feb. 1, 2022, just days before she was scheduled to return home. (Ashley Wadsworth/Facebook photo)

Documentary on B.C. teen’s murder airs on British TV

‘It’s too late to save Ashley but it’s not too late to save yourself or someone you love,’ says Ashley Wadsworth’s mother

Vernon’s Ashley Wadsworth was murdered in the U.K. Feb. 1, 2022, just days before she was scheduled to return home. (Ashley Wadsworth/Facebook photo)
Paula Brown, a community health worker with Minneapolis’ Hennepin County Medical Center, consults with a patient. (Michael Ollove/Pew Charitable Trusts/TNS)

New union agreement increases wage for B.C.’s health-care workers

UFCW 1518 community health workers ratified the agreement

Paula Brown, a community health worker with Minneapolis’ Hennepin County Medical Center, consults with a patient. (Michael Ollove/Pew Charitable Trusts/TNS)
One driver has died and another has been taken to hospital after two semi trucks collided on Highway 5 north of Kamloops around noon Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. (Roy Parker/Facebook photo)

UPDATE: Highway 5 reopened after fatal collision north of Kamloops

Two commercial vehicles collided near McLure Thursday; the other driver was taken to hospital

One driver has died and another has been taken to hospital after two semi trucks collided on Highway 5 north of Kamloops around noon Thursday, Feb. 2, 2023. (Roy Parker/Facebook photo)
Police in Vernon seized nearly 1.5 million contraband cigarettes after a traffic stop was conducted on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. (RCMP photo)

Police seize 1.5 million illegal cigarettes after B.C. traffic stop

A North Okanagan man was arrested and released from custody pending a future court date

Police in Vernon seized nearly 1.5 million contraband cigarettes after a traffic stop was conducted on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. (RCMP photo)
Vernon chiropractor Murray Stephen Kievit is facing two charges of sexual assault from incidents alleged to have occurred in December 2021 in Vernon. (whitehousewellness.ca photo)

B.C. chiropractor charged with 2 counts of sexual assault

The charges against Murray Stephen Kievit stem from alleged incidents in December 2021

Vernon chiropractor Murray Stephen Kievit is facing two charges of sexual assault from incidents alleged to have occurred in December 2021 in Vernon. (whitehousewellness.ca photo)
Police in Vernon are investigating after a sex trade worker was sexually assaulted in an SUV in downtown Vernon Thursday night, Jan. 12, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)

Police investigating sexual assault of sex worker in Vernon

The suspect’s vehicle is a newer, large, white SUV

Police in Vernon are investigating after a sex trade worker was sexually assaulted in an SUV in downtown Vernon Thursday night, Jan. 12, 2023. (Brendan Shykora - Morning Star)
An example of a skier falling into a tree well at Big White Ski Resort on December 30, 2018. (Todd Ganie photo)

‘It’s like you’re drowning in snow’: Teen saves father who fell into tree well at B.C. ski resort

By happenstance, the teen had recently watched a video explaining how to safely get out of a tree well

An example of a skier falling into a tree well at Big White Ski Resort on December 30, 2018. (Todd Ganie photo)
Two women escaped a stalking cougar by jumping into Kalamalka Lake Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (File photo)

Pair of women jump into lake to escape cougar in Okanagan

The women entered Kalamalka Lake after the cougar continued to approach them

Two women escaped a stalking cougar by jumping into Kalamalka Lake Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022. (File photo)
Lumby’s Cole Derry took the next big step in his kidney journey, receiving a transplant on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022. (Cole’s Kidney Journey/Facebook)

B.C. man has successful kidney transplant surgery

Both Cole Derry and his living donor, Pam, are doing well post-surgery

Lumby’s Cole Derry took the next big step in his kidney journey, receiving a transplant on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022. (Cole’s Kidney Journey/Facebook)
A man hanging from the back of a transport truck took a nasty fall on Highway 97 at the south end of Vernon in a video posted to Facebook Monday, Nov. 21, 2022. (Nathan McAllister/Facebook)

VIDEO: Man hanging from transport truck falls on B.C. highway

Stunt was posted to Facebook, “Just another day in Vernon”

A man hanging from the back of a transport truck took a nasty fall on Highway 97 at the south end of Vernon in a video posted to Facebook Monday, Nov. 21, 2022. (Nathan McAllister/Facebook)
Traci Genereaux’s remains were found on a farm on Salmon River Road near Silver Creek on Oct. 21, 2017. No charges have been laid to date in connection to the 18-year-old’s death, now five years after the discovery.(Submitted photo)

Family still waiting for answers 5 years after B.C. teen’s remains found

The family has received no word from police in relation to the death of Traci Genereaux in 2017

Traci Genereaux’s remains were found on a farm on Salmon River Road near Silver Creek on Oct. 21, 2017. No charges have been laid to date in connection to the 18-year-old’s death, now five years after the discovery.(Submitted photo)
The Supreme Court of Canada is seen, Wednesday, August 10, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Supreme Court of Canada restores conviction of B.C. man in Japanese student’s murder

William Schneider’s conviction restored in the slaying of 30-year-old student Natsumi Kogawa

The Supreme Court of Canada is seen, Wednesday, August 10, 2022 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
Vernon Vipers player Will Blackburn waited nearly an hour for an ambulance to arrive after suffering an apparent head injury during a road game against the Prince George Spruce Kings, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. (Chuck Chin photo)

Injured Vernon Viper lies on ice for nearly an hour waiting for ambulance

The ambulance arrived after Prince George’s announcer drove to the hospital to seek help

Vernon Vipers player Will Blackburn waited nearly an hour for an ambulance to arrive after suffering an apparent head injury during a road game against the Prince George Spruce Kings, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. (Chuck Chin photo)