-There was an explosion and fire near downtown Edmonton during the noon hour yesterday.
It happened outside an apartment building on 100th Avenue and 112th Street, when an HVAC van blew up and caught fire.
The blaze then spread to the building.
Residents had to evacuate, but no one was hurt.

Investigators are still looking into the cause of the blast.     (photo and video courtesy of Rene Mayer)

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-RCMP say a collision this morning on Broadmoor Boulevard and the Henday was a deadly one, as a cyclist was hit by a vehicle.
There aren’t any details on the victim, but Mounties are asking people to avoid the westbound lanes of Highway 16 until further notice.

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-Drayton Valley RCMP say two people were killed in a single-vehicle collision on Highway 22, between Township Road 512 and 510 this morning.
Mounties don’t have any other details at this time, but they’re asking everyone to find another route.

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-Stats-Can says the Canadian economy has stalled a bit, as it contracted point-2 percent in the second quarter.
It’s being attributed to a drop in new home construction and spending on renovations.
The Bank of Canada is supposed to take another look at its key lending rate next week.

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-The Premier of BC is asking the Bank of Canada Governor to consider what people are going through right now, if he’s been thinking about hiking interest rates again.
David Eby  says people are affected by rate hikes, and another one will make their situation worse.
But some BC residents say if Eby really cared, he would lower the PST, gas and property taxes, and not worry about the Bank of Canada.

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-The federal NDP leader thinks the Liberal government should send another 5-hundred dollar benefit payment to low-income Canadians.
Jagmeet Singh says the feds haven’t done enough to solve the current housing crisis, and that some people with good paying jobs are still in danger of losing their homes, because they can no longer afford the rent.
A new poll says almost 50-percent of Canadians are “just getting by” each month.

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-Provincial Finance Minister Nate Horner says he doesn’t know exactly how much the wildfires that hit Alberta this year are going to wind up costing.
He did say yesterday the province is looking at a surplus of 2.4-billion dollars, which is better than what they had been projecting in the spring budget.
But the provincial Finance Critic says the update didn’t disclose how much the issue with the DynaLife contract is going to cost taxpayers.

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-Crews battling wildfires near Hay River are crossing their fingers the winds won’t be as strong as the forecast is calling for this weekend.
Wildfire Information Officer Mike Westwick says the risk in that region is severe, because the fire is very close to the community.
He does say a lot of progress has been made in the battle against the blaze near Yellowknife.

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-If you’ve got plans for one last camping trip this long weekend, there are fire advisories in place for most of Alberta’s Forest Protection Area.
The weekend is expected to be dry and windy for many regions, so everyone is asked to be careful, and to check albertafirebans.ca for up to date information.

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-If you’ve got plans to spend some time in Jasper National Park this long weekend or sometime this fall, it’s rutting time for elk.
Park rangers says you’ll have to keep an even closer eye out for the giant animals, because the bulls can be aggressive at this time of year.
Keep your dogs on a leash, and stay at least 30 metres from any elk you may see.

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-The Second Chance Animal Rescue Society is holding a fundraiser this coming Monday that will allow your pooches to enjoy some time in the pool.
It’s the Grosvenor Dog Swim, where admission is a monetary donation, so SCARS can keep helping animals in need.
They, like many rescues these days, have seen a major intake of animals who need help.
The event is happening at the pool at 1-Grenfell Avenue in St. Albert, and runs from noon til 2pm on Monday.

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-A Regina woman who has terminal cancer is trying to find a good home for all three of her dogs before something happens to her.
Susan Dickens says she really wants Olive, Buddy and Sysco to stay together, as they’re all rescue dogs who had been adopted by her late husband.
The three are between 13 and 15 years old, and she says it would mean the world to her to have them live out their retirement years together, with people who love them as much as she does.

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-Jays start a six game road trip tonight, as they meet the Rockies at 6:40pm.

-The “Ultimate Pickleball Showdown” is happening in Edmonton this weekend.
It goes tomorrow and Sunday at the EXPO Centre, as the greatest athletes in the Canadian National Pickleball League face off.
First game goes at 11 tomorrow morning.