Syria, the story thus far
William Blum – “Today, many Americans are asking — indeed I ask myself,” Hillary Clinton said, “how can this happen? How can this happen in a country we helped liberate, in a city we helped save from destruction? This question reflects just how complicated, and at times, how confounding the world can be.” 1 The […]
Venezuelans re-elect Chavez with overwhelming voter turn out
The incumbent president of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez, has been re-elected for a fourth term as the country's president with a 54.66% share of the vote in the presidential election held Sunday. Chávez gave these remarks from the presidential palace: "Truthfully, this has been the perfect battle, a democratic battle. Venezuela...
From pot to patient care, UBCM a mixed bag for Castlegar councillors
Councillors Dan Rye and Gord Turner returned from the UBCM (Union of BC Municipalities) AGM disappointed over the resounding defeat of Castlegar's single resolution that the government roll back its increase on cross-border shopping allowances. Previously, the government allowed shoppers to return to Canada with $400 of...
Kootenay CSI: Drug recognition experts bode ill for local stoned drivers
RCMP Cpl. Phil Mager (ironically, pronounced ‘Major’) just came to the Koots in July, and drug users will want to know about him – he’s a drug recognition expert. Mager is the non-commissioned officer in charge (NCOIC) of the West Kootenay Integrated Road Safety Unit, and part of his mandate is to ensure drug-impaired drivers […]
Complex expansion once more up for discussion
The issue of Recreation Complex expansion is once more becoming one for public debate, as user numbers increase and the demand for more equipment and space becomes increasingly urgent, according to city councillor Kevin Chernoff. This, roughly two years after a referendum regarding a $25-million Complex expansion project...
Egypt's Morsi Takes UN Center Stage on Syria and Palestine
President Morsi attempts to play broker of the Syrian conflict, including Iran in a contact group; pressures US on Palestine (corrected audio)
Iranian news outlet publishes Onion article as fact
The Fars News Agency (FNA), an Iranian news agency, yesterday reported an article from US satirical news website The Onion as fact. The article reports “a Gallup poll” suggesting, “the overwhelming majority of rural white Americans” would prefer to vote for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, the president of Iran, as opposed to US President Barack Obama. The Onion article reports “77 percent of rural Caucasian voters” saying they would prefer […]
Deadline still looming for Marshall Lake dam
With rumours growing about a deadline for Marshall Lake’s ultimate demise activists, politicians and land owners continue to meet with key provincial staff to save the lake. Greenwood resident Christopher Stevenson, one of the key people leading the charge to protect the small lake which lies between Grand Forks and Greenwood...
Do lights = action? Cobra Climb controversy for council
Roughly 10 people, along with two city councillors and two senior city staffers, gathered at the community forum this evening to discuss the future of the Cobra Climb... and it's as tough now to predict the end result as it was at the beginning of the public feedback session. The Cobra Climb is a huge stretch of covered outdoor...
Vote for decriminalization of pot splits delegates at UBCM convention
Delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities in Victoria Wednesday voted in favour of a resolution calling for the decriminalization and taxation of marijuana. Resolution A5, brought forward to the annual convention by the municipality of Metchosin, calls for UBCM to lobby the appropriate level of government to decriminalize cannabis and research its regulation and […]
