Around Alberta
Stories from Lethbridge, Red Deer, Edson, and beyond.
Trending This Week
1
Missing Alberta Woman Diane Cooper, 82, Found Dead in Saskatchewan After 13-Day Search
2
A Worker Is Dead After a 300-Ton Crane Crashed Through the Wapiti River Bridge Railing and Plunged Into the River South of Grande Prairie
3
Lethbridge Man Facing Child Sex Charges Caught With Teen at Pool Parking Lot, Police Say
4
Calls for Class Action Lawsuit Grow After Massive Alberta Voter Data Leak
Alberta
Province-wide news, culture, and stories from across Alberta.
Alberta
Amber Alert Cancelled, but 6-Year-Old Lanakai Morrison Is Still Missing: RCMP Say the Public Can No Longer Help
Beaverlodge RCMP cancelled the Amber Alert for six-year-old Lanakai Morrison on the afternoon of July 10, but the boy is still missing, along with his mother, her partner, and a four-year-old child. Police say the alert was pulled because there is no reasonable expectation the public in Alberta can act on it. The last confirmed sighting was in Fort St. John, B.C. Anyone with information is still asked to call 911.
Alberta
Online Gambling Becomes Legal in Alberta This Monday, July 13: The Rules, the Brands, and What It Means for Albertans
Alberta opens its regulated online gambling market this Monday, July 13, becoming the second province after Ontario to let private betting and casino companies operate legally. Big brands like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM are lined up, the province takes 20 percent of their revenue, the legal age is 18, and a new tool lets people block themselves from every licensed site at once. Here's what actually changes.
Edmonton
Tornado Warning Near Edmonton: Alberta Emergency Alert Issued for Barrhead County and Thunder Lake Tonight
Environment Canada issued a tornado warning the evening of July 9 for the County of Barrhead near Thunder Lake and Holmes Crossing, about 120 km northwest of Edmonton. Meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm that may be producing a tornado, with damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rain also possible. Officials call it a dangerous, potentially life-threatening situation. Take cover immediately if the storm approaches.
Alberta
Medicine Hat Approves Affordable Seniors Housing for Indigenous Elders on Spencer Street: What's Being Built and When
Medicine Hat city council has unanimously approved donating a surplus parcel at 301 Spencer Street SE to the Miywasin Friendship Centre, along with a $412,000 transfer from capital reserves, to build affordable housing for Indigenous Elders. The project will bring 16 to 20 independent-living units to a piece of city land that has sat empty since the 1970s. Here is what's planned, how it's funded, and the timeline.
Red Deer
The midpoint between Calgary and Edmonton, with a solid arts and food scene.
Alberta
Medicine Hat Bodybuilder Jonn Schoolkate Finishes Second at Alberta Open Bodybuilding Competition in Red Deer
Medicine Hat's Jonn Schoolkate competed at the Alberta Open Bodybuilding Competition in Red Deer on May 30, finishing second in the Men's Classic Physique Novice division. He also placed sixth in Men's Classic Physique Open Class C and eighth in the Masters 40+ division across three categories in a single day.
Red Deer
Midday Armed Robbery at Eckville Hotel Bar: RCMP in Sylvan Lake Seek Suspect and Video
RCMP in Sylvan Lake are asking for tips and video after an armed robbery at the Eckville Hotel bar on May 9, where a masked suspect walked in at lunchtime, demanded cash, and left through a back door onto 50 Street.
Red Deer
Red Deer’s Madden Daneault Goes First Overall In WHL Draft After Record-Breaking Season
Red Deer forward Madden Daneault was selected first overall by the Kelowna Rockets in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft after putting up a record-setting 149 points with the Red Deer Rebels U15 AAA.
Red Deer
Red Deer RCMP Asking for Help Finding Missing 13-Year-Old Blake Ross
Blake Ross, 13, was last seen in Red Deer on May 14. RCMP are asking anyone with information to contact them at 403-406-2200.
Lethbridge
University town with a vibrant cultural scene.
Lethbridge
Lethbridge Drug House Shut Down for 90 Days After Neighbours' Complaints
A north Lethbridge home tied to persistent drug activity has been ordered closed for 90 days after a SCAN investigation that started in March 2025. The property was boarded up and fenced off at noon on July 7 and stays closed until October 5, with conditions in place for two more years. Police seized drugs at the home last year and arrested four people.
Lethbridge
Lethbridge Firefighters Rescued Six People from the Oldman River Weir. Their Raft Had Deflated. None Were Wearing Life Jackets.
Lethbridge Fire and Emergency Services responded to the Oldman River weir on the evening of July 5 after six boaters were caught in dangerous high-water conditions when their inflatable raft deflated. None of the six were wearing personal flotation devices. Crews from four stations, eight emergency apparatus, and 18 firefighters responded. The Water Rescue Team deployed two boats and brought all six safely to shore. No injuries were reported. A boating advisory remains in effect for the Oldman River.
Lethbridge
ASIRT Clears Lethbridge Police After Woman Dies in Custody in 2023. The Report Details Missed Checks and a Fatal Overdose
ASIRT has released its findings into the September 2, 2023 death of a woman in Lethbridge Police Service custody. No criminal charges will be laid against any officer or staff member. The report documents missed wellness checks, a supervising officer who nudged an unresponsive woman with his foot and left, and a commissionaire who recorded checks she did not complete. The woman died of acute p-fluorofentanyl intoxication. The investigation took nearly three years.
Lethbridge
Lethbridge Urges Residents to Stay Away from the Oldman River on Canada Day as Flows Hit 900 Cubic Metres Per Second
The City of Lethbridge issued an urgent update at 9:45 a.m. on July 1 warning residents to stay away from the Oldman River after significant rainfall caused flows to rise to 900 cubic metres per second. That is higher than the peaks seen during the June flooding events and well above the normal Canada Day flow of 200 to 250 cubic metres per second. Pavan Park, Popson Park, Alexander Wilderness Park, and Cottonwood Park are all closed. No flood risk to homes or infrastructure has been identified
Medicine Hat
A distinct community with its own culture.
Alberta
Medicine Hat Approves Affordable Seniors Housing for Indigenous Elders on Spencer Street: What's Being Built and When
Medicine Hat city council has unanimously approved donating a surplus parcel at 301 Spencer Street SE to the Miywasin Friendship Centre, along with a $412,000 transfer from capital reserves, to build affordable housing for Indigenous Elders. The project will bring 16 to 20 independent-living units to a piece of city land that has sat empty since the 1970s. Here is what's planned, how it's funded, and the timeline.
Alberta
You Can Now Drink Beer at a Picnic Table in Medicine Hat. Here Is Everything You Need to Know
Starting July 2, 2026, Medicine Hat residents can consume alcohol at designated picnic tables at fireplaces in three city parks: Strathcona Island Park, Kin Coulee Park, and Echo Dale Regional Park. The pilot runs until September 30. All spots are first come, first served. A resident survey launches at medicinehat.ca. Council will decide whether to make it permanent once the pilot ends.
Alberta
Medicine Hat Natural Gas Rate Dropped in July After June’s 76 Percent Spike. Here Is the Full Breakdown
Medicine Hat's natural gas rate spiked 76 percent in June. In July it is coming back down — but not all the way. The City set July's rate at $1.362 per gigajoule, down from June's $1.721 but still 39 percent above May's historic low of $0.979. Here is the full 2026 rate history, what it means on your bill, what is happening with faulty meters, and how Medicine Hat's rates compare to the rest of Alberta.
Alberta
Medicine Hat Has Launched an Independent Investigation Into the Death of an 11-Year-Old Child at Echo Dale Regional Park
The City of Medicine Hat announced June 30 that the Lifesaving Society of Alberta and NWT Branch will begin an independent review of the incident at Echo Dale Regional Park that resulted in the death of an 11-year-old child on June 15. The review begins July 2 and includes a documentation review, a site inspection, and interviews with staff. The final report could take up to 60 days. The swim lake at Echo Dale remains closed.
Grande Prairie
The largest city in the Peace Region, gateway to northern Alberta.
Grande Prairie
Grande Prairie Driver Clocked at 202 km/h on Highway 43 Near Wembley, Nearly Double the Limit
Clairmont RCMP say a 46-year-old Grande Prairie driver was caught going 202 km/h in a 110 zone on Highway 43 between Grande Prairie and Wembley late on July 6. The driver was hit with a mandatory court summons for speeding and careless driving. At that speed, a car covers the length of a football field in under two seconds.
Grande Prairie
Alberta Amber Alert Still Active for 6-Year-Old Boy Taken Near Grande Prairie: RCMP Now Searching for a Red Ford F350
The Amber Alert for six-year-old Lanakai Morrison, abducted near Grande Prairie on July 7, remains active into Thursday evening. RCMP have updated key details: the group is now believed to be in a 2006 red Ford F350, Alberta plate CXW8820, after officers found the black Toyota Tundra from the original alert. Police say the case stems from a family court order and are urging anyone who sees them to call 911, not approach.
Grande Prairie
Grande Prairie Crane Recovery Begins on Highway 40, Three Weeks After the Fatal Wapiti River Bridge Crash
Crews have started pulling the crane out of the Wapiti River south of Grande Prairie, three weeks after it went through the Highway 40 bridge railing and killed the operator inside. RCMP are asking boats to stay off the river and warning drivers to expect delays. The operator has still not been recovered, and the cause of the crash remains unknown.
Grande Prairie
Grande Prairie Fire Advisory Lifted June 30. Fire Pits, Campfires and Burn Barrels Are Permitted Again.
Effective 9 a.m. on June 30, 2026, the County of Grande Prairie Regional Fire Service lifted the fire advisory for the entire county and the towns of Beaverlodge, Sexsmith, and Wembley. The City of Grande Prairie lifted its advisory the same morning. Alberta Wildfire also lifted all restrictions in the Grande Prairie Forest Area the same day. Here is exactly what you can and cannot do now that the advisory is gone.
Other Communities
More from Alberta — Fort McMurray, Canmore, Drumheller, and more
Alberta
Alberta Tornado Tears Through Dillberry Lake Campground Near Lloydminster, Campers Sent to Hospital
A confirmed tornado touched down at Dillberry Lake Provincial Park on the evening of July 8, flipping a trailer, damaging structures, and sending campers to hospital. Everyone at the campground has been accounted for, RCMP say, and neighbours turned out with saws and tractors to clear the roads. It hit the exact area we flagged under an emergency alert hours earlier.
Alberta
Alberta Emergency Alert Near Lloydminster: Tornado Warning and Funnel Cloud Reported at Paradise Valley Tonight
Environment Canada issued a tornado warning the evening of July 8 for the County of Vermilion River near Paradise Valley, after a funnel cloud was reported. The severe storm line is tracking east toward Lloydminster with damaging winds, ping-pong-ball hail, and flooding rain. Officials call it a dangerous, potentially life-threatening situation. If the storm reaches you, take cover immediately.
Alberta
Alberta Is Putting $15 Million Into Highway 63 After Fort McMurray Residents Filled the Potholes Themselves
The Alberta government announced $22.4 million in additional highway maintenance funding on July 5, with $15 million directed specifically to Highway 63. The announcement follows months of complaints from Fort McMurray residents about potholes damaging vehicles, a June 12 volunteer pothole-filling operation, and pressure from local MLAs, the RMWB mayor, and the Conservative MP for the region. New repaving contracts are being expedited for 48 kilometres near Wandering River and 30 kilometres in the Fort McMurray area.
Alberta
Lloydminster's Costco Just Confirmed a November Opening. Location, Jobs, Gas Bar and What to Expect
A Costco manager confirmed at a pop-up membership event in Lloydminster that the new warehouse is on track to open in the second or third week of November 2026. The store is under construction at 75 Avenue and 19 Street. It will be approximately 160,000 square feet with 900 parking stalls. Local hiring of 100 to 150 people begins around September. The gas bar will offer diesel, gas, and propane. Lloydminster has been waiting for this since 2019.
Alberta
Amber Alert Cancelled, but 6-Year-Old Lanakai Morrison Is Still Missing: RCMP Say the Public Can No Longer Help
Beaverlodge RCMP cancelled the Amber Alert for six-year-old Lanakai Morrison on the afternoon of July 10, but the boy is still missing, along with his mother, her partner, and a four-year-old child. Police say the alert was pulled because there is no reasonable expectation the public in Alberta can act on it. The last confirmed sighting was in Fort St. John, B.C. Anyone with information is still asked to call 911.
Alberta
Online Gambling Becomes Legal in Alberta This Monday, July 13: The Rules, the Brands, and What It Means for Albertans
Alberta opens its regulated online gambling market this Monday, July 13, becoming the second province after Ontario to let private betting and casino companies operate legally. Big brands like FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM are lined up, the province takes 20 percent of their revenue, the legal age is 18, and a new tool lets people block themselves from every licensed site at once. Here's what actually changes.
Grande Prairie
Grande Prairie Driver Clocked at 202 km/h on Highway 43 Near Wembley, Nearly Double the Limit
Clairmont RCMP say a 46-year-old Grande Prairie driver was caught going 202 km/h in a 110 zone on Highway 43 between Grande Prairie and Wembley late on July 6. The driver was hit with a mandatory court summons for speeding and careless driving. At that speed, a car covers the length of a football field in under two seconds.
Edmonton
Tornado Warning Near Edmonton: Alberta Emergency Alert Issued for Barrhead County and Thunder Lake Tonight
Environment Canada issued a tornado warning the evening of July 9 for the County of Barrhead near Thunder Lake and Holmes Crossing, about 120 km northwest of Edmonton. Meteorologists are tracking a severe thunderstorm that may be producing a tornado, with damaging winds, large hail, and heavy rain also possible. Officials call it a dangerous, potentially life-threatening situation. Take cover immediately if the storm approaches.
Grande Prairie
Alberta Amber Alert Still Active for 6-Year-Old Boy Taken Near Grande Prairie: RCMP Now Searching for a Red Ford F350
The Amber Alert for six-year-old Lanakai Morrison, abducted near Grande Prairie on July 7, remains active into Thursday evening. RCMP have updated key details: the group is now believed to be in a 2006 red Ford F350, Alberta plate CXW8820, after officers found the black Toyota Tundra from the original alert. Police say the case stems from a family court order and are urging anyone who sees them to call 911, not approach.
Alberta
Medicine Hat Approves Affordable Seniors Housing for Indigenous Elders on Spencer Street: What's Being Built and When
Medicine Hat city council has unanimously approved donating a surplus parcel at 301 Spencer Street SE to the Miywasin Friendship Centre, along with a $412,000 transfer from capital reserves, to build affordable housing for Indigenous Elders. The project will bring 16 to 20 independent-living units to a piece of city land that has sat empty since the 1970s. Here is what's planned, how it's funded, and the timeline.