Multiple cars from a loaded CPKC train derailed early Tuesday morning. It happened just after midnight in a rural area near Caron, Sask., about 25 kilometres west of Moose Jaw.

Last Sunday, the Lafleche Woodriver Fire Department responded to a fire on Highway 13.

A grain truck caught fire, with the call arriving at the fire department at roughly 11:30. Fire Chief Avery Rusk and his team responded and safely extinguished the flames, having everything cleaned up off the highway by 4 p.m.

Rusk was happy to report there were no injuries to the vehicle operator or his crew in this incident. 

"The fire started in the heating core," revealed Rusk. "There were mice (a nest) in the heating core. You run your heater and it starts it up."

Rusk made note that since last summer, they have been busy at the fire department. There was a structure fire in the town of Lafleche, which his team managed to put down, even after it smouldered for 45 minutes before the firefighter's arrival.

"Sadly, the house wasn't salvageable," noted Rusk. 

Outside the town was busy as well. Multiple large grass fires were tackled by himself and his team, with aid from rural producers via water trucks and haulers. 

"A good response from farmers in the area," highlighted Rusk. 

Rusk pointed out that in many of his grass fire calls, the initial spark is machinery-related or directly from the machinery itself. He encouraged operators to keep a fire extinguisher with them while using equipment, in order to quickly respond to these kinds of incidents. 

"Everything is sealed up nowadays (limiting the possibility of mouse nests starting fires)," said Rusk. "(Fire extinguishers) come standard on equipment now."

A train has derailed near Caronport, west of Moose Jaw.

CPKC confirmed that multiple cars loaded with shipping containers had tipped off the track. This incident occurred shortly after midnight on Tuesday. 

Specifically, this incident happened 25 kilometres west of Moose Jaw in the RM of Caron. No injuries have been reported, and the total amount of intermodal rail cars involved is 18. 

At least one container was carrying batteries. No other dangerous goods were involved. CPKC reports no threats to public safety from any leaks. 

Crews and CPKC personnel are working to clean up this incident. The cause of the derailment is still under investigation. 

Residents and families of a southwest town can now access an upgraded method of transportation with the Shaunavon Courtesy Van's recent purchase of a vehicle with power doors.

The upgrade was made possible with the Rural Transit Solution Fund and Affinity Credit Union, who provided a $5,000 donation to the organization.

Kim Anderson, chairperson of the Shaunavon Courtesy Van Board, noted that they're extremely thankful for the financial support through the Rural Transit Solution Fund.

"This upgrade will greatly increase acessibility for individuals with mobility issues," she shared. "Additionally, these funds have allowed us to keep the cost to riders low so that all individuals can use this service."

The grant covered nearly 80 per cent of the cost for the white minivan, while the Shaunavon Courtesy Van paid the remaining amount. 

"[The vehicle] has become an essential service for many local residents, offering an affordable and convenient way to complete daily tasks," added Anderson

The grant was approved in February 2024 and the new van began operations on February 10, 2025.

Southwest residents, animal lovers, and more can enjoy sweet treats and support the Swift Current SPCA this Wednesday for National Cupcake Day.

A handful of local businesses will be selling cupcakes including the SPCA Bookstore, W.W. Smith Insurance, Goldenwest Broadcasting, Cowtown, Canadian Tire, Sport Chek, the Frosty Bean, Pawsitivley Pampered, Coast Hotel, and Leona's Baked Goods in Shaunavon.

Bailey Berglund, fundraising manager at the Swift Current SPCA, noted that the participating businesses will sell cupcakes at a cost that they see fit and the proceeds will go to supporting the shelter. 

"To partner with the SPCA this year, we've been asking that different local businesses do a cupcake bake sale," shared Berglund. 

For more information, check out the Swift Current SPCA on Facebook or Instagram.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer confidence plummeted in February, the biggest monthly decline in more than four years, a business research group said Tuesday, with inflation seemingly stuck and a trade war under President Donald Trump seen by a growing number of Americans as inevitable.

The Conference Board reported that its consumer confidence index sank this month to 98.3 from 105.3 in January. That’s far below the expectations of economists, who projected a reading of 103, according to a survey by FactSet.

The seven-point drop was the biggest month-to-month decline since August of 2021.

Markets on Wall Street immediately dropped. The S&P 500 fell 0.6% in midday trading, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average was flat. The Nasdaq declined 1.1%.

Respondents to the board’s survey expressed concern over inflation with a significant increase in mentions of trade and tariffs, the board said.

The Conference Board’s report Tuesday said that the measure of Americans’ short-term expectations for income, business and the job market fell 9.3 points to 72.9. The Conference Board says a reading under 80 can signal a potential recession in the near future.

The proportion of consumers expecting a recession over the next year jumped to a nine-month high, the board said.

Consumers’ view of current conditions tumbled 3.4 points to a reading of 136.5 this month and views on current labor market conditions fell again.

“Views of current labor market conditions weakened,” the group said Tuesday. “Consumers became pessimistic about future business conditions and less optimistic about future income. Pessimism about future employment prospects worsened and reached a ten-month high.”

Consumers appeared increasingly confident heading into the end of 2024 and spent generously during the holiday season. However, U.S. retail sales dropped sharply in January, with cold weather taking some of the blame for a dent in vehicle sales and at retail stores.

Retail sales fell 0.9% last month from December, the Commerce Department reported last week. The decline, the biggest in a year, came after two months of healthy gains.

Inflation has also remained sticky. So much so that the Federal Reserve has taken a more cautious approach to interest rates, leaving its benchmark borrowing rate alone at its last meeting after cutting it at the previous three. Fed officials have also expressed uncertainty over the new administration’s policies.

The most recent economic data and a pessimistic turn among American households does not bode well for the U.S. economy, experts say.

In a note to clients, Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Economics, wrote: “Based on all the indicators showing declining consumer and business confidence and sentiment, we are expecting a slowing economy.”

The consumer confidence index measures both Americans’ assessment of current economic conditions and their outlook for the next six months.

Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of U.S. economic activity and is closely watched by economists for signs about how the American consumer is feeling.

There has been a head-on collision on the 2nd Avenue Northeast overpass.
 
The incident occurred in the southbound lane, just before the end of the guard rails on the south end of the overpass.
 
RCMP are responding to the crash, having shut down the southbound lane, and are present at the turn to Friesen Street.
 
Swift Current Online will provide any updates as they are made available.

Update - 8:00 a.m.:

RCMP have confirmed they responded to a collision this morning at the north end of the 2nd Avenue Northeast overpass.

The incident involved two vehicles and appears to have also involved contact with the guard rail.

Swift Current Online will continue to provide any updates. 

Original Story - 7:34 a.m.:

There has been a head-on collision on the 2nd Avenue Northeast overpass.
 
The incident occurred in the southbound lane, just before the end of the guard rails on the south end of the overpass.
 
RCMP are responding to the crash, having shut down the southbound lane, and are present at the turn to Friesen Street.
 
Swift Current Online will provide any updates as they are made available.

People involved in Regina's Black music scene say it has become a lot better over the years, but there is still a lot of work to get to the level of a big city like Toronto.

Outdoor rinks are beginning to melt away for the year. 

This week will be the last chance for Swift Current residents to enjoy most of the rinks. The warming weather has already begun laying into the ice surface, with only more deterioration to come. 

City of Swift Current parks manager, Michael Newell, predicts that even if there is a refreeze next month, the odds of the City going ahead with redoing the ice surfaces is very low.

"It becomes kind of like a thankless task trying to keep the rinks open because you can go flood at night when it gets a little cold by the next day it's +4 or +5 and all that work you did the night before just kind of melts away," said Newell. 

For now, the rinks remain open. Anyone using them should be cautious of any dry spots where they can damage their equipment. 

A legendary local band is looking to add some more accolades to its resume.

The Hunter Brothers have been named finalists for three Saskatchewan Music Awards (SMA); Country Artist of the Year, Single of the Year, and Music Video of the Year.

In a post on Facebook, the Shaunavon-based group said "Always an honour to be nominated for the Saskatchewan Country (sic) Music Association Awards!"

They're looking for their third SMA Single of the Year Award, previously winning in 2018 with "Born and Raised" and again in 2019 with "Lost". This time they've been nominated for "Train (Station Edition".

The group of five are also looking for their third Country Artist of the Year honours. They won the award in 2019 and 2022, having been nominated in 2020, 2021, and 2023 as well.

Finally, they're up for the Music Video of the Year for the first time. "Train (Station Edition", which had footage shot in Swift Current, is one of 10 videos vying for the award.

"Big shoutout to our buddy @irwin films (Adler Irwin) for his incredible videography skills on the Train (Station Edition) music video," the Hunter Brothers said on Facebook.

The SMAs are on March 2 at the Regina Performing Arts Centre.

The special moment when Bryce Sherring found out that her engagement ring was handcrafted by her father.

A handful of southwest rural residents can expect a power outage on Tuesday afternoon as a couple of power poles are replaced.

The planned outage is scheduled south of Swift Current from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., impacting customers in Rosenhof, Hallonquist, Wymark, and other nearby rural areas.

Joel Cherry, spokesperson for SaskPower, noted that doing this work proactively can prevent unplanned outages down the line.

"During this outage, 81 customers are going to be affected," shared Cherry. "We thank customers for their patience, as always."

For outage updates and a list of both planned and unplanned outages across the province, visit SaskPower's outage map.

A road closure in downtown Swift Current has carried into today.

Crews are still working on water repairs on 2nd Ave NE between Herbert St. E and Sidney St. E. 

They plan to have that section of the street closed all throughout the day.

The City of Swift Current apologized through a media release for any inconvenience. 

A barn fire in Rosenhof resulted in the loss of the structure and the animals inside.

The fire occurred last Friday, February 21st. 

"We got a call just after 5:00 PM and we sent to apparatus out," said RM of Swift Current Fire Chief Pete L'Heureux. "Usually those are a little further out of town and a little harder for us to get to. We are there for quite a while fighting a structure fire that was well underway by the time we get there."

This time some good samaritans stepped in to help.

"Two neighbours one with a tractor mounted snowblower and one with a front-end loader were in the area or working in the yard," L'Heureux said. "They used the snowblower and front-end loader to shoot snow into the fire and keep the fire at bay and protect the travel trailer and do a pretty good job of reducing the fire that was in the structure."

While the barn appears to have been a loss, crews were able to protect any other property in the area. 

"My understanding is that it was an older structure," L'Heureux said. "There was significant damage to the building but for the most part it was kept from spreading first by the neighbours and then the firefighting crews to eliminate the tail end of the fire and extinguish."

Their efforts were too late to save the goats and livestock dogs inside the barn. 

There is a GoFundMe put together by Normand Arkesteyn-Vogler to raise funds for the couple impacted by the fire and the loss of their animals. 

They are attempting to raise $15,000 to help the Allie Buffone and her fiancé rebuild their barn.

Swift Current Online will share the story from the couple's point of view later today. 

The warm weather this week likely isn't the full-on start of our spring melt.

"You need a sustained period of above zero over night as well," said Water Security Agency spokesperson Patrick Boyle. "That +5 to -5 swing gives us a more gradual melt. If you get into 10 degrees and it doesn't freeze at night at all things really start to accelerate then. We're probably not at that stage yet."

He noted Swift Current has a larger than average snowpack this year, but they will have a better idea just how much after conducting some tests for the March report. 

"There's about 130 sites across the province," Boyle said. "Typically, in a rural area with permission of the landowner. We have a device that goes out and extracts the snow. We take that underneath, move it around it, measure that and do a calculation that actually gives you how much water is in that snow."

After a very cold February, we are expecting daytime highs well above at least for the next seven days. 

Kinesiology professor are studying the effects of pea milk on osteoporosis in men and women over 50.

Regina police say a recent investigation led to officers seizing 7.5 kgs of fentanyl, 476 grams of cocaine, multiple weapons and $151,000 in case.

It was a solemn milestone being marked on Monday at the legislature, as the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was recognized.

Members of the legislature as well as those from the Ukrainian community were on hand for the ceremonies. Those in attendance included representatives with the Saskatchewan-Ukraine Relations Advisory Committee and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Saskatchewan Provincial Council.

Those in attendance spoke of the pain and suffering the Ukrainian people faced, and also their resistance.

“Three years ago the Russian regime embarked on a war of conquest and they boasted it would last three days,” said Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Saskatchewan Provincial Council President Elena Krueger. “Three years later however, Ukraine still stands. Kyiv the capital remains free. Ukrainian people remain united in defiance to Russian tyranny. And we in Saskatchewan and Canada remain steadfast in our resolve to stand with Ukraine.”

Krueger described the actions of Russia as genocide, and said Russia and its leaders “must attend for its war crimes.”

This was among a number of events across Saskatchewan marking the anniversary of the invasion. In Regina on Sunday, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress had organized a car rally that wrapped up with ceremonies at the Holodomor Monument located just to the southeast of the Legislature building.

At the event Monday, Legislative Secretary Responsible for Saskatchewan-Ukraine Relations Jamie Martens made an important announcement regarding that memorial. She said funding of $50,000 from the Provincial Capital Commission would go towards restoring the brickwork and platform of the Holomodor Monument.

The monument, titled Bitter Memories of Childhood, was put up in 2015 in memory of those who suffered through the Holodomor famine brought on by the Soviet Union in 1932 and 1933.

Martens and her family have a strong connection to Ukraine, and spoke of what the anniversary meant.

“I think that it shows the resilience of the Ukrainian people, that Russia was a little bit too confident and unfortunately the invasion has shown that the Ukrainian people will stand together and from all over the world,” Martens said.

“I think that so many people respect the Ukrainian people and especially here in Saskatchewan, we’re very, very happy to have hosted as many displaced Ukrainians as we could.”

It was noted in a provincial news release that Saskatchewan has taken in over 8,000 displaced Ukrainians since the war began. 

Among those sharing her story at the commemoration was Yuliia Rahat. She was an obstetrician in Ukraine who fled with her family to Saskatchewan. She noted her father was among those captured by the Russians in the war and is now in a Russian prison.

“It’s just one of a million stories, you know,” said Rahat to reporters. She added: “I think a lot of people have stories worse than my stories, you know, because I didn’t live in occupation. I didn’t (have) all the problems that a lot of people (had).“

Rahat said she was “happy that I’m here” in Saskatchewan, and grateful for all the people that supported them, but notes a lot of people still wake up to “airstrikes and missiles in my country.”

As for the recently-embarked peace talks, with President Donald Trump apparently shutting Ukraine’s leadership out of the process to this point, Rahat was not happy. 

“I think all Ukrainian people are in shock, you know, about all this situation,” said Rahat. She said a lot of Ukrainian people had paid a very big price and there “should be justice.”

From museum exhibits to candle light vigils, ceremonies are underway in Saskatchewan to show solidarity with the Ukrainian community three years after Russian's invasion.

 The first ever Ronald McDonald House for Regina is officially going ahead.

At an announcement Monday morning at Hotel Saskatchewan, the province confirmed that $6.5 million in funding is going to the build of Regina’s Ronald McDonald House. The construction is expected to start next month with completion expected in early 2027.

The building will go up at the corner of Scarth Street and 15th Avenue, not far from Regina General Hospital which is a hub in southern Saskatchewan for pediatric care, particularly with its labour and delivery unit. 

This will be the second Ronald McDonald House in the province, with one already located in Saskatoon; there is also a Family Room located in Prince Albert. According to the province just under 30,000 families have been served by these two programs. 

Ronald McDonald House will serve as home for families whose children will require medical care in Regina. In particular, it will help those who must come in from out of town for extended periods of time, saving those families considerable expense in finding accommodations. 

“You know, at the end of the day, the house is going to be in Regina. But who it’s going to serve is the people that live in Carlyle, Estevan, Maple Creek, Eastend,” said Health Minister Jeremy Cockrill.

“These are people who are going to be bringing their children and their family in to Regina for specialized care in general. And, you know, the reality is many families are still going to have to travel to Saskatoon to go to Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital… But the reality is that the closer that we can treat a family and a child closer at home, that is what we want to do when it comes to health care in this province. And so, again, having this service available in the southern half of the province is really key.”

Tammy Forrester, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Saskatchewan, said this marks the first gift from the province of Saskatchewan to Ronald McDonald House Charity Saskatchewan.

“And we are truly and sincerely grateful. The investment into the capital build in Regina will enable us to provide support to another 824 families each year, in a 20 room house that will be located close to the Regina hospital near to the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre, so that families travelling from southern Saskatchewan and other parts of this province to Regina for medical care can stay at the house where they will receive wraparound family centred care. Which includes accommodation, meals, family programs and emotional support, while lifting the financial burden that families carry when dealing with a sick child — saving families millions of dollars in out of pocket expenses each year. This is a true investment into family centred care.”

Cockrill talked about the affordability piece, saying that the “reality is that when your child’s sick, life doesn’t necessarily stop. You still have a job. You still have obligations. You still got bills to pay. And I think having an affordable place in really the southern city of the province is going to be really key for families that are trying to walk a very difficult road with their children.”

Ronald McDonald House Charities Family Ambassadors, Craig and Tricia Slobodian, spoke of the positive impact Ronald McDonald House had on their lives. They utilized Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon while their daughter received pediatric radiation treatment for cancer of the pituitary gland.

“From the moment you walk in the door, you feel the love,” Craig said. “The love of the staff, the other families, and most importantly, the love that goes between the children.”

He said Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon is a 34-room house within walking distance from the Royal University Hospital, the Cancer Clinic, and the Jim Pattinson Children’s Hospital. Those from a community outside of Saskatoon who have a child receiving medical treatment are eligible to stay at the house for $10 per day. 

The house also has a kitchen to allow families to enjoy healthy meals every day during their stay.

“Walking into Ronald McDonald House feels like a warm hug. It feels like home. It does not make the journey easy, but it does make it easier,” Craig said. 

“Kids get involved in many different activities at the house. You would see kids smiling, laughing, developing friendships. They were being kids. Our daughter never looked forward to her next procedure, treatment, or test, but she always looked forward to Ronald McDonald House.”

He reports their daughter is now seven years cancer free. 

While this latest announcement from the province allows the project to go ahead, the fundraising effort is not yet complete. Forrester says the $6.5 million gets them to over 80 per cent of their fundraising goal, so they are continuing efforts to raise the remaining 20 per cent to get the project “over the finish line.”

The Saskatchewan government is providing $6.5 million to build the facility, which will be close to the Regina General Hospital.

Monday marks the start of the City of Swift Current's budgetary meetings.

Over the next six or so weeks, Swift Current city council and the City's admin team will all work together to construct a budget for 2025. 

Swift Current Mayor Al Bridal confirmed that Monday and Tuesday's meetings are the first meetings that the whole of city council will be together to discuss the many facets of the budget. 

"By the time we (reveal) it, there are revisions and things will have changed," said Bridal. 

The budget will be revealed during a regular council meeting. Bridal predicted that it may be the only item on that council agenda, which is expected in late March or early April.

City of Swift Current admin staff have been working for months on preparing the budget information. They, alongside each division's general manager, have compiled the information into digestible portions and packets, which will be consumed by city council in order to feed their understanding of what will be needed this year. 

City councillors have had the information, in the form of hard-cover binders, for a week to comb through individually. Monday they will convene, and begin deliberations. 

"That's where the hard talk is going to take place," said Bridal. "For things like taking on debt, what do we do with our current debt, and if we do take more on, for what? Those kinds of things."

Cowboys versus Indians is a format celebrated with great gusto in Maple Creek every year.

The 42nd Annual Battle of the Little Big Puck took place on Friday night, with over 600 people in attendance. This game is as southwest Saskatchewan as they come, being held each year as a chance for registered rodeo cowboys to face off on the ice against treaty number-holding Indians in front of the crowd. Each team plays a serious first two periods before the third period sees everyone come out in traditional outfits and regalia. 

This year, the game went to the Cowboys, with a score of 13-3. That's before the final few minutes, in which the pucks are dumped and the game becomes a free-for-all. 

The spirit of the game has been that of friendly competition, ever since it first began in the early 1990s/late 1980s. The first few games were undocumented, making the true start a little fuzzy. Nevertheless, the game has grown to attract people from all across southwest Saskatchewan and beyond. 

Mayor of Maple Creek, Michelle McKenzie, helps organize the event, alongside Joe Craniff, captain of the Cowboys team, and Bradley Goodwill, captain of the Indians team. 

"This is a generation-after-generation hockey game," said McKenzie. "People bring their kids to see it, they have their fun, and it's an exceptionally good time."

The family-friendly event, which this year had roughly 50 children in the crowd, aims to showcase the story of Maple Creek. A community of cattle-driving cowboys and indigenous people living in cooperation, communally, and as family. Going back to the late 1800s, when many First Nations were being disrupted by efforts of the Canadian government to kidnap children and send them off to residential schools, it's noted that locally in Maple Creek, European immigrants bucked the norm, giving bad directions, misdirecting, and outright lying to government officials in order to preserve their friends families on the Nekaneet First Nation. Ever since then, both cultures have offered each other mutual respect and evolved into the community Maple Creek is today. 

The money raised by the event was $5,865. That money is always split between the Southwest Trust Board, which helps generate money for the local hospital, and a cause of that year's deciding team's choice. This year is the Indian's turn, so $2,932.50 will be given to the Thunder Hills Athletics from the Nekaneet First Nation. 

McKenzie issued a special thank you to the Dr. Noble Irwin Regional Healthcare Foundation for running the evening's 50/50 draw, and to all the volunteers who made the night possible. 

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe is travelling to Washington, D.C., again to push against proposed tariffs from the United States on Canadian goods. 

Moe was scheduled to leave Monday with a delegation of Saskatchewan business leaders in the steel and energy sectors. He’s set to return Thursday.

The premier was in the U.S. capital earlier this month and says he’s going back to lessen tensions around the threat of tariffs. 

“Saskatchewan companies play a critical role in North American food and energy security,” Moe said in a press release.

“The relationship between our jurisdictions has mutual benefit, and we are working with key stakeholders, industry leaders and government representatives on both sides of the border to build and protect our economies.”

U.S. President Donald Trump said he plans to impose 25-per-cent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum next month and is considering additional tariffs on other products.

Saskatchewan exported $26 billion of goods to the U.S. in 2023, with potash and oil among its major exports. Agriculture products represent about 22 per cent of the province’s total exports to the country. 

Business leaders on the trip include representatives from steelmaker Evraz North America, uranium producer Cameco Corp., and oil and gas producers Cenovus Energy Inc., Enbridge Inc. and Whitecap Resources Inc.

Representatives from the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce are also attending. 

“Through this mission, we aim to shape perspectives and inform decision-making by highlighting the economic consequences of tariffs on both of our economies,” the chamber’s CEO, Prabha Ramaswamy, said in the statement.

Cameco CEO Tim Gitzel added that Canada and the U.S. have had a long-standing relationship. 

“The Trump administration’s pursuit of energy dominance and its support for domestic nuclear power will require Saskatchewan uranium — and Cameco’s expertise and capacity across the nuclear fuel cycle,” he said.

Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Daryl Harrison is also travelling Monday to Washington, D.C., for the National Association of State Department of Agriculture conference. 

Harrison said he’ll have an opportunity to meet with U.S. officials and showcase Saskatchewan’s contribution to North American competitiveness and food security.

“The future of Saskatchewan’s agricultural sector is built on strong international relationships and our trade mission to the U.S. reinforces our commitment to open markets and collaboration,” he said.

A watermain has burst near Dorie's House. 

Motorists travelling by on Herbert Street East will find City of Swift Current trucks and equipment working to repair the main. The intersection of 2nd Avenue Northeast and Herbert Street East is closed for the work. 

In the meantime, it is recommended that anyone walking in the area stay clear. 

No timeline for the completion of the work has been released.