March 12, 2010

Medicine Hat's unemployment rate has shown a big jump between February this year and last.

A year ago, the rate for the Lethbridge-Medicine Hat region was 4.7 per cent.

Today it's at 6.4 per cent.

Provincially, the unemployment rate went up in February to 6.9 per cent.

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Police have taken down a marijuana grow op in Redcliff.

A search warrant on a home on 7th street s.e Redcliff last night revealed a hydroponic grow op.

81 plants were seized along with a small amount of cannabis resin.

As well - 5 long barrel 22 calibre rifles and 5 thousand dollars in cash were seized.

The value of the operation is estimated at over one hundred thousand dollars.

Police have charged a woman with a number of drug production, possession and trafficking and firearms offenses.

More charges are expected.

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Swear or spit in Medicine Hat -- and you could soon be fined.

The city is looking at introducing a new behavioural bylaw.

It would give officers the power to hand out tickets.

Offences would include loitering.

Similar bylaws exist in other Alberta municipalities.

The bylaw has already been reviewed by the office of the city solicitor.

It's expected to make its way to city council for first reading, within the next month.

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Medicine Hat and area didn't factor into the warmest winter in 63 years.

Environment Canada meteorologist Brian Stephora says the November to February period was actually colder this year - compared to last.

But Stephora says March has been about six degrees milder than last year -- so - the overall average for this winter may still come out even.

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The president of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers says the government has taken a major step in the right direction.

Dave Collyer was commenting on plans by the provincial government to reduce royalty rates for conventional oil and natural gas next year.

Energy Minister Ron Liepert says the province was lagging behind other jurisdictions in terms of competitiveness.

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Canada has recorded its 17th case of mad cow disease in an animal born in 2004 in Alberta.

Ted Haney, of the Canada Beef Export Federation, says this case isn't affecting markets.

But he says it will delay Canada's ability to move into a better status with the World Organization for Animal Health.

Right now, Canada is categorized as being a controlled risk for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, which Haney says is costly for producers.

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A Calgary Co-op store has been victimized again by food tampering -- the third time in two months.

This time, metal objects were found pushed into packages of deli cheese and flatbread at its outlet in the southwest community of Oakridge.

The store says the objects were clearly visible to staff before they opened for the day.

No one has been injured and police have not made any arrests.

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A brain-injured baby whose parents dropped a court battle to keep him on life support has died in their arms in Edmonton.

The parents of Isaiah May allowed their son to be unhooked from the medical equipment that kept him alive after two doctors gave them an independent assessment of their son's health.

The assessment said there was no chance the baby's condition would improve.

Isaiah was born last October with severe brain damage after his umbilical cord got wrapped around his throat, which deprived him of oxygen.

Doctors at Edmonton's Stollery Children's Hospital were planning to disconnect the boy from a ventilator on January 20th, but his parents persuaded a judge to give them time to get a second opinion.

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Saskatchewan farmers whose livestock is killed or injured by predators will be compensated by the federal and provincial governments.

For animals that are killed, producers will be paid 100 per cent of their market value.

Farmers will receive up to 80 per cent for injured animals.

There will also be compensation enhancements for producers whose crops and feed are damaged by wildlife.

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It's time to ''spring forward.''

This is the weekend clocks go ahead one hour.

Much of the country switches from Standard Time to Daylight Saving Time.

Sleep specialist Dr. Nicholas Rummo says the onset of daylight time can be a health hazard.

There's evidence car accidents increase the Monday after the change, presumably due to driver sleep deprivation.

The official time change occurs at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday.

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