Saskatoon's Prairie Harm Reduction is asking for the province to get boots on the ground after a week with dozens of overdoses.

Keeseekoose First Nation invited financial advisors from a nearby bank to give a workshop to members earlier this month in advance of the community's treaty agricultural benefits settlement.

Saskatchewan's premier says negotiating a way out of China's planned 100 per cent tariffs on Canadian canola should be a higher priority for the federal government than even an election call.

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Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says workers at canola crushing plants in his province would be out of jobs should China move ahead with planned retaliatory tariffs on canola oil and meal. 

Moe says Mark Carney must immediately engage with China to prevent the levies from being imposed next week. 

Carney is set to be sworn in as prime minister Friday.

Moe says the tariffs would devastate Saskatchewan's canola crushing industry, potentially causing facilities to close, and says Carney should have conversations with Beijing before a federal election is called. 

China is planning to impose 100 per cent tariffs on canola oil, meal and peas in response to Canada putting levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum.

The measures come during a turbulent trade war between Canada and the United States where U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum and is considering additional levies next month. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 13, 2025.

The moon will be undergoing an eclipse tomorrow morning, with the southwest perfectly positioned to see the cosmic event. Unfortunately, the current forecast from Environment Canada is showing that the area will be seeing heavy cloud cover during the time that's supposed to happen.

That's expected to be best seen in the early morning hours, though with the heavy cloud cover there's no good time to catch the event.

Environment Canada Meteorologist Natalie Hasell says that it'll be widespread through the southwest so no area is likely to have a good view.

"We have a number of areas where not only do we expect clouds, but we also expect precipitation. So clearly not expecting to see a whole lot in that circumstance anywhere during this time period."

The closest clear area is Nebraska, which is a pretty far destination for any potential moon watchers.

That system is expected to be heavy throughout the prairies, with a number of locales looking at potentially heavy snowfall.

Three members of the Swift Current Innovation Federal Credit Union Wildcats are all-stars. 

Forward Raela Packet, defender Charlize Hillmer, and goaltender Jordyn Ottenbreit made the Saskatchewan Female U18 AAA Hockey League's second all-star team.

"All three kids well deserved," said Wildcats Head Coach Terry Pavely. "The people that surround those players own a bit of that award.  Your D partner, your linemate, they've all done things to help you achieve this success. When you have three players recognized it's great for them, but I also think their teammates need to be proud of the fact you don't win awards without quality teammates helping you out."

Ottenbreit, a native of Grayson, had a 2.94 goals against average and 0.910 save percentage for the Wildcats this season.

"Night in and night out when she was in the net she gave us an opportunity to win," Pavely said. "You look at the Notre Dame tournament she had the best numbers in the tournament when we were there. She was really solid in the NAX event."

Ottenbreit shone in the first round of the playoffs stopping 69 of the 72 shots she faced in two overtime wins.

Hillmer, an Assiniboia product, is a rookie on the blue line who put up 14 points in 30 games while playing against difficult match-ups.

"Got better and better as the year went on," Pavely said. "Became more confident playing tough minutes against some tough players. For a young kid to be able to handle that responsibility is probably one of the reasons she was recognized."

Packet led the Wildcats with 22 points in 27 games. The Lafleche native also played for Team Saskatchewan at the Women's U18 Nationals in New Brunswick.

"You watch Raela play and she's just a buzz saw," Pavely said. "She works hard every single time she's on the ice. Competes for every loose puck. She's got that skillset where she can make some nice passes... and she's got a really good shot."

The Wildcats start their league semifinal series with the Saskatoon Stars tomorrow on the road.

Game 2 is set for the S3 Arenas West on Monday night. We will have it for you on Country 94.1 FM's Local Sports Live powered by OMT Projects.

Robert Wesley Pich has pleaded guilty to the second-degree murder of Edward Geddes in 2011, and his uncle John Robert Gregoire has pleaded guilty to interfering with human remains.

Some of the brightest young minds in southwestern Saskatchewan displayed their talents inside the Swift Current Comp. High School's cafeteria at the Chinook Regional Science Fair on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Fifty projects were exhibited at the event, all vying for a chance at moving onto the Canada-Wide Science Fair in Fredericton, New Brunswick, from May 31 to June 7. Twenty-six students across 18 projects were awarded medals, with the top two best overall projects in fair earning their ticket to the Maritimes.

Fairview School's grade seven student Siddharth Manivannan was one of four projects in the junior category to capture a gold. The 12-year-old wowed the panel of 25 judges with his "Arduino vs. Fire" idea, earning the overall best project in fair.

Chinook Regional Science Fair Committee co-chair Dawn Caswell said its rare for a first-year eligible student to move onto the national stage, but not unheard of.

"He's not the only grade seven that's gone," she said. "We had a grade seven from Central (School) about seven years ago maybe, it was prior to COVID. I had a student many years ago, a grade seven student, that did a project on ticks and Lyme disease, and she had won best in fair."

Vaishu Venkata, a grade 12 student at the Swift Current Comp., earned second place for overall best project in fair with her "Carbon Footnote: The Future in Your Footprint" project and will join Manivannan as the other local representative in New Brunswick. This was the second time Venkata won second place at the regional science fair with an app-based design.

"This is not part of a science class for her, this is what she does in her spare time, this is her science club and she works very closely with Mrs. Derksen to do that," Caswell said. "I'm so thankful that Mrs. Derksen is available to supervise and allow that to happen. Vaishu is kind of a shining star."

Caswell wishes the entire southwest could see the talented individuals that show up to science fair yearly with a variety of unique and sensational ideas.

"Our committee know (how talented the kids are), we see this every year," she said. "Unless someone is reading the newspaper, or watching stuff online, or listening to the radio, they're not seeing it. When we're here, we get the most bang for our buck because we're in the high school where there are dozens, hundreds of kids cycling through here all the time."

Swift Current Online will have individual stories on Manivannan and Venkata in the coming days.

A complete list of winners from each category can be viewed below.

Overall Best Projects in Fair

1st - "Arduino Vs Fire" Siddharth Manivannan (Fairview)

2nd - "Carbon Footnote: The Future in Your Footprint" Vaishu Venkata (SCCHS)

3rd - "It’s a Match" Sennarey Garven (Hazlet)

4th- "Exercise & Memory: Does Timing Matter" Elise Chalmers (Central)

Senior Category - Grade 11 & 12

Gold: Vaishu Venkata "Carbon Footnote: The Future in Your Footprint" (SCCHS)

Silver: Sennarey Garven "It’s a Match" (Hazlet)

Bronze: Amani Sletten "Muscle Matters: Are you training the right way?" (Hazlet)

Honourable Mention: Claire McIntosh "Green Cities" Hazlet

Medals - Intermediate Category - Grade 9 & 10

Gold: Raleigh Little "The Genetics of Cattle Breeding and DNA" (Hazlet)

Junior Category- Grade 7 & 8 

Gold: Aly Easton & Emmy Nicholson "Crystal Climates" (Central)

Gold: Siddharth Manivannan "Arduino Vs Fire" (Fairview)

Gold: Mya Dowdeswell & Petro Kalousis "Light Isn’t Always Sunny" (Fairview)

Gold: Bryn Jensen "Aquaponics" (Fairview)

Silver: Lara Bang & Ady Todd "Waste to Wonders" (Hazlet)

Silver: Ellie Dahl "How Colour Affects Mood and Emotion" (Fairview)

Silver: Elise Chalmers "Exercise & Memory: Does Timing Matter?" (Central)

Silver: Bronwyn Baan & Avaeah Alexandre "Water Bottle Battle" (Fairview)

Bronze: Leila Hegglin "Insights Into ADHD" (Fairview)

Bronze: Drayden Wilson & Cole MacIsaac "Water Wonders" (Central)

Bronze: Amirtha Ravishankar & Emerson LeBlanc "How Sound Travels" (Fairview)

Bronze: Oneddie Macayayong & Kirby Mirasol "Glow-Topia" (Central)

Bronze: Lee Yanne Ojano "Lemon Battery" (Central)

Bronze: Adalyn Martens & Shahed Etma "You’re a Real Gen-I-Us" (Central)

Honourable Mention:Linden Wagner & Vann Deobald "Tommy John Surgery" (Fairview)

Honourable Mention: Bentley Jensen & Hunter Blohm "CWD" (Fairview)

Honourable Mention: Quinton Morin & Olin Jacobson "Can Bird Flu Affect Cattle" (Success/Stewart Valley)

Residents and families of a southwest town have been notified of annual sewer main jetting that began on Wednesday.

The Town of Shaunavon will be doing the much-needed work, which will continue into next week and will not impact the town's water usage.

Anyone who may notice a slight odour coming from their drains due to the sewer main jetting is advised to run the water down floor drains or any P-traps to help eliminate the smell.

Crews will be out working to complete the yearly project, drivers are asked to yield and slow down around the worksites. 

For more information contact the Town of Shaunavon. 

Foggy conditions in southwest Saskatchewan have a clear source this time around.  

The fog is an early sign of an Alberta Clipper that is pressing its way into the province. More northernly areas like Kindersley have actually gotten some snow out of the deal, while the Swift Current region got to experience a more warm, stable push of atmosphere. Combined with the snowmelt moisture, foggy views abound.  

Meteorologist for Environment and Climate Change Canada, Danielle Desjardins, predicts that things will begin to cool off as the system ramps up.  

"We are going to see a wind shift to the northwest," Desjardins predicted. "For tomorrow and Saturday, daytime highs of -5°C. A little colder than we have seen recently." 

There is a chance for some precipitation, either in the form of sleet or freezing rain, possibly snow.  

By the early afternoon. winds from the southeast will have begun pushing the fog away, alleviating the worst of the conditions. 

A pair of Kindersley residents were recently charged after a drug bust late last week that took place at a residence on Kindersley's Eighth Street West.

42-year-old Cameron Watson and 46-year-old Amanda Watson were each handed one count of possession for the purpose of trafficking under section 5(2) of the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.

Saskatchewan RCMP's Kindersley Detachment and North Battleford Crime Reduction Team executed a search warrant at the home last Friday around 2:00 p.m. as a part of a drug trafficking investigation.

Police seized 135 grams of cocaine, unstamped tobacco, more than $400 in cash, and other drug trafficking paraphernalia. 

Cameron was arrested at the residence while Amanda was later arrested away from the home.

The Watson's first court appearance was on Monday in Saskatoon Provincial Court. 

A new era is beginning for the Miry Creek Golf Course. 

The Town of Cabri recently announced it is beginning plans to revitalize the Highway 32 adjacent course. This came after a vote between three projects, including the beautification of the downtown as well as revamping the lower playground space. 

According to Town of Cabri community development director, Cheyenne Bradford, it wasn't even a close vote. 

"The Miry Creek Golf Course won, and it was absolutely one-sided," said Bradford.

The plan is to update the signage on the Highway, making it more visible. Adjust the golf rates, in order to ensure they can manage the cost of the grounds and facilities. There will be sponsorship options for each hole on the course. The greens will be refurbished, and cactus plants will be tracked down and removed from the grounds. There is even the potential for golf cart rentals. 

"We will also put benches up and pay somebody for weekly upkeep if it's needed," said Bradford. 

In order to fund this project, the Town of Cabri will be pursuing grants. It will also be open to donations from interested members of the public. Simply contact the town office, and inquire with Bradford. 

The Town is set to host its first meeting on this project in a few weeks, so nothing concrete has been planned outside the general overview and vision. 

REGINA – A member of the Regina Police Service (RPS) is facing one charge of Breach of Trust and one charge of Unauthorized Use of a Computer as a result of an investigation by the RPS.

This news release is being issued in accordance with past practice of the Police Service and is consistent with the Service’s commitment to public accountability and transparency.

Sergeant Robert Eric Semenchuck is accused of accessing RPS internal databases for a non-work purpose and using the information from those databases to pursue personal relationships.

Police were made aware of the allegations in early 2023 when a member of the public brought concerns forward to police.

RPS took these concerns very seriously by suspending Semenchuck and removing his access to all police databases.

On March 11, following an extensive police investigation and consultation with Crown Prosecution, Semenchuck, a police officer with 22 years of service, was charged with: Breach of Trust; and Unauthorized Use of Computer.

He will make his first appearance on these charges in Regina Provincial Court on April 22 at 9:30 a.m.

The RPS Professional Standards Section, who have led this investigation, are asking anyone with any additional information to contact them at 306-777-6514.

Local municipalities and rural communities will soon have the opportunity and support to dispose of derelict buildings in a partnership with volunteer fire departments.

The provincial government announced the pilot project earlier this week that will aim to address abandoned buildings and the burdens they put on municipalities, including health and safety concerns, financial implications, rodents, and fire risks.

Travis Keisig, Saskatchewan's Minister of Environment, introduced the project at the 120th annual SARM Convention & Trade Show that took place on Tuesday at Saskatoon's Prairieland Park.

The MLA for Last Mountain Touchwood highlighted that the voluntary initiative is set to take off in the fall but further information on it will be released this summer. 

"This framework allows participating municipalities to work with volunteer fire departments to safely dispose of their problem, municipally owned structures for fire fighting training exercises," he shared. "It will provide municipalities with an alternative way to dispose of these buildings, this project will be a great example of collaboration that benefits many communities."

Southwest Saskatchewan is home to a large number of derelict buildings and a handful of historic, abandoned communities including Robsart, Neidpath, Ravenscrag, and Vidora.

"Derelict buildings pose both public safety and economic issues for municipalities," added Keisig. "This is a very positive step and we will always continue to work with municipalities all across the province."

Members of SUMA were also in attendance at the SARM Convention, including president of SUMA, Randy Goulden.

"This is about safety and providing communities across this province with a great place to live and to be able to generate economic development so that we can thrive," said Goulden. "Thank you very much to the Government of Saskatchewan and our ministers who've worked so hard on this."

Folks looking for more information can head to the Saskatchewan Government's website. 

Gravelbourg RCMP received a report of a serious assault at a residence near the Hamlet of Glenbain around 9:00 p.m. on Monday.

Police responded immediately, locating a significantly injured adult male who was transported to a hospital and an adult female whom they arrested at the scene. 

The 26-year-old woman from Gravelbourg was charged with one count of aggravated assault under Section 268(1) of the Criminal Code and one count of carrying a weapon for dangerous purposes under Section 88(1) of the Criminal Code. 

RCMP have not released the name of the individual charged with respect to the victim's privacy.

Her initial court appearance was Wednesday, March 12 in Swift Current Provincial Court.

Moe said the budget will include money to reduce surgical wait times, add drug treatment beds and hire more police officers.

A provincial senior hockey game in a small Saskatchewan town has gained far-reaching online attention for altercations in the stands that some allege were driven by racism.

SASKATOON—Premier Scott Moe, speaking to the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities members on Wednesday, March 12, at Prairieland Park, is calling on the people of Saskatchewan to remain united against a volatile trade environment with the US and China, two of Canada’s largest trading partners.

The US threatened 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian aluminum and steel and 25 per cent on other goods crossing south of the border. President Trump, however, chose to delay imposing the tariffs until April 2. Despite Trump’s decision, Canada enacted 25 per cent duties on $30 billion worth of US imports, which took effect on March 4.

China, meanwhile, slapped 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian seafood after Canada’s 100 per cent levy on all Chinese-made electric vehicles. This will affect the seafood industry in the Maritime provinces like Nova Scotia.

Though Moe did not identify the officials, he accused several national and provincial leaders of ignoring the situation for almost a decade, which brought about the crisis and problem that the province and Canada are experiencing regarding free and fair trade between the neighbouring countries.

“You cannot ignore the consequences of reality. And that is what we are dealing with here today as we face what is a crisis for our province and our nation where we have free and fair trade that is being threatened by our largest trading partner, as well as our second largest trading partner, the two largest economies in the world,” said Moe.

“We’ve been there all along to advocate, educate, promote, and augment and enhance national-level initiatives, regardless of who the government is. And we’ll continue to do just that. Build those relationships, seek out those export markets, and do everything we can to protect the market share we have in those markets today.”

With trade tensions rising between Canada and the US, Moe made two trips to Washington, D.C.—the first one where he joined the country’s other premiers and the second one with Saskatchewan business leaders—to meet with officials of the Trump administration and other GOP leaders. He also went to Mexico to discuss possible trade deals.

He added that his government’s priority is to increase the value of the province’s exports so that it can deliver on the priorities of the Saskatchewan people: affordability, healthcare, education, and community safety.

“I believe in this province. I have since before I was ever elected, despite where we find ourselves today in this conversation. I believe that the people of Saskatchewan have the power to persevere, succeed, and help lead this nation through a tough time. And there is no better example of that than you in this room,” said Moe.

“Stepping up to represent your community, coming to be part of the SARM delegation and the SARM convention this year, to help and advise, and you’ll probably get much advice in a few minutes, and I appreciate that, but to help and advise the provincial government, to ensure that we are making the very best decisions on behalf of the people that we collectively represent.”

Moe, however, assured that the provincial government is taking a proactive stance in promoting Saskatchewan’s interests on the world stage. The province continues to engage with other trade partners worldwide, expanding its markets and defending its place in existing ones. This unwavering commitment to trade is vital for the province and the broader national economy, he said.

Saskatchewan supplies much-needed commodities like food, fuel, and fertilizer to more than 150 countries worldwide, actively working to increase the value of its exports while strengthening relationships with trading partners, he said. Whether a Liberal or Conservative administration led the federal government, Saskatchewan had remained steadfast in its goal to secure favourable trade conditions for its industries.

“We need to remember that we are stronger when we stand together. However, we need to be firm with our response because what is happening here and imposed by one gentleman in the White House certainly does not indicate the historical trade relationship we’ve had in North America. Our trade relation is set up the way it is for a reason,” said Moe.

“I’ll walk you very quickly through a crop year in North America from the perspective of a Saskatchewan farmer. We set it up this way because it is the most efficient. We provide food and energy security, thus ensuring a secure economy. This is where we’ve been in this trading relationship, not just with the US, but with over 160 countries worldwide.”

A new pilot program has been developed to deal with two issues at the same time, removing derelict buildings in rural municipalities and providing training opportunities for local volunteer fire departments.

Details were announced Tuesday at the beginning of the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities annual convention in Saskatoon.

Derelict buildings pose public safety and economic issues for municipalities hindering development and posing safety hazards.

During the spring legislative session, the provincial government will address any regulatory or legislative changes required. Following several legislative changes, the Province expects the first training sessions to take place in fall of 2025. Details of the pilot framework will be developed and available to municipalities by this summer.

“We are making it easier for municipalities to tackle long-standing concerns about derelict buildings, while taking into account the safety of residents and consideration of environmental concerns,” Environment Minister Travis Keisig said in a news release. “This pilot project will be a great example of collaboration that benefits communities across the province.”

SARM is pleased with the announcement.

“SARM is pleased to hear the provincial government is initiating a pilot program to assist rural municipalities with the removal and remediation of derelict buildings they have been forced to assume title on,” SARM President Bill Huber said in the same news release. “Rural municipalities want to encourage families to live, work and stay in rural Saskatchewan, and nothing is more discouraging than a surplus of abandoned buildings.”

President of the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, Randy Golden, says when left untouched, derelict buildings provide the perfect spot for rodents to live and children to get hurt, so she is excited about the pilot project.

Also pleased with the announcement was Louis Cherpin, the President of the Saskatchewan Volunteer Fire Fighters Association. Cherpin says the pilot project will allow them to bring training to the next level.

“Without it, we’re handicapped to training on wild land because we can burn grass and train on that kind of stuff,” said Cherpin. “For the most part, we all do a pretty good job (putting out) grass fires but typically house fires or structure fires and rescues we don’t do a very good job on it, because we don’t train enough on it and this will give us the ability to train on it.”

Prior to the announcement, Cherpin says certain laws, especially those related to the environment, have been hampering firefighters’ ability to train effectively; he stressed the environmental laws have their place but is glad the province intends to “loosen up the standards”. There are also challenges that come with fighting rural fires compared to battling urban ones.

“A typical firefighter only gets training when it’s live and that’s dangerous because adrenaline kicks in, your tunnel-vision kicks in, and you’re not trained on the other aspects like fallen roofs and those kinds of things.” said Cherpin.

They will only be able to train on buildings that were acquired by the municipality through arrears; properties still tied to a landowner will remain untouched.

(With files from CJWW)

AI-generated videos have sprung up all over social media. Recently, a scam has been using deepfakes of CBC's David Cochrane and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. A deepfake of U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk made headlines last week that involved feet. Here are some ways to detect them.

Dr. Alex Wong became well-known during the COVID-19 pandemic, doing multiple interviews locally and nationally, but his work led to his body breaking down.

A local man has had a bench warrant out for his arrest since failing to appear in court last week on over half a dozen charges from a significant methamphetamine and weapons bust that took place this past fall in Swift Current. 

Swift Current's Brandon Stotz faces a total of seven charges including unauthorized possession of a firearm, tampering with a firearm serial number, and possession of a prohibited weapon with ammo.

He has been out on bail with conditions since his initial arrest in September alongside several other local individuals who were also charged.

The presiding judge, Judge Jacobson, issued the warrant after the 31-year-old failed to appear in Swift Current Provincial Court on Wednesday, March 5. 

As of Tuesday, March 11, Stotz has not been located or contacted police and the warrant is still in place.

Those with information on the whereabouts of Stotz can contact RCMP.

A fun chance to improve financial literacy skills took place on Wednesday in Rosetown.

"Payday Playday" is being presented at Walter Aseltine School by Carmen Ledding, Branch Coordinator/Program Director with the Canadian Mental Health Association in Rosetown, a fun and engaging event for the whole family. Ledding has hosted the event in Rosetown before, as well as Kindersley, Beechy, Unity and Biggar with positive reception every time.

Ledding shared where the day originated.

"It's designed by Foundations Learning in Saskatoon. I have worked closely with them on literacy projects, from back when I was the family literacy coordinator with West Central Literacy," said Ledding before sharing more on the event itself.

"I have put this event on five times... It has been a resounding success."

Learning about how to handle your money is a key part of being an adult.

"Teaching adulting 101, so our second session is on money, money, money, and on budgets," said Ledding. "For a lot of people who find themselves struggling with their finances, the common thing they say is, 'this isn't something we talked about very much as a family'."

Many people may not have been aware of financial struggles growing up, only to face the same problems themselves later in life.

Combine that with some of the new ways of the modern world, Ledding says it can be hard to track what's going in and out of the account.

"More and more nowadays we are dependent on using plastic, rather than cash. We aren't always able to see what's coming in and going out of our account, because we are always tapping."

Financial literacy can be a heavy topic for some, but Ledding wants them to know it's not all that intimidating.

"The other thing too is that a lot of people, because they associate financial literacy with math, if they struggled with math, then it's not something they necessarily want to think about because they don't feel like they are an expert in it."

Local groups, non-profits, and southwest organizations can still register for a spot at this year's upcoming Spring/Summer Registration Night in Shaunavon.

The annual community event is scheduled for Monday, March 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Veren Wickenheiser Centre. 

Alexis Hunt, director of wellness & leisure for the Town of Shaunavon, highlighted that the registration night is a great opportunity for groups to showcase what they do and for folks to check out the community's different activities.

"Everybody can pop up a table with any pamphlets or information that they have available for the public," she said. "We'll also have information about our spring league basketball and some of the pool information, swimming lessons, and things like that."

Hunt noted that the Grand Coteau Heritage and Cultural Centre, KidSport, and more will also be featured at Spring/Summer Registration Night.

"Any group that's available and would like to join is welcome to join us," she added. 

Anyone interested in registering a group or more information can contact the Wellness & Leisure Office at [email protected] or call (306) 297 - 3029.

John Olubobokun, 64, testified in his own defence at his trial in Saskatoon provincial court on Tuesday. The former director at Christian Centre Academy is charged with nine counts of assault with a weapon.