From bust to boom: Town of Drayton Valley busy with energy work once again

COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease, people are eager to take off.“I haven’t been on an actual trip for a long time, so I’m really excited, actually,” said McKenna Nameth, heading out of Canada.“We’re at the point where we need a vacation, it’s been a hard time,” said Regan Campbell. Travel bookings up as Albertans take advantage of loosening border measures At the end of February, Canada dropped the PCR testing requirement for fully-vaccinated travellers entering the country.

Justin Trudeau is heading to Europe this weekend to meet with allies over their responses to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Trudeau will travel to London, Berlin and Latvia, where Canada is leading a multinational NATO battle group, and to Warsaw, Poland.More Coming.

The economy grew strongly last year, according to the latest national accounts published by the Central Statistics Office today.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Former Minister Wimal Weerawansa revealed that he will not accept any ministerial position under the government of the incumbent President.Weerawansa was speaking reporters in Colombo, in his first-ever briefing after he and Udaya Gammanpila were stripped of their ministerial portfolios on Thursday (3) evening.Udaya Gammanpila and Wimal Weerwansa were removed from their ministerial portfolios with effect from Thursday (3) evening, said the President’s Media Division.The PMD statement notes that President Gotabaya Rajapaksa removed Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa and Minister of Energy Udaya Gammanpila from their portfolios, as per the powers vested in him by the constitution,Watch the Media Briefing Here: 

WARSAW - The ongoing war in Ukraine has led to one of the largest humanitarian crises in a century, with many fleeing Ukrainians searching for refuge in neighboring countries. The United Nations said Thursday that 1 million people have now fled Ukraine since Russia’s invasion less than a week ago, an exodus without precedent in this century for its speed.The tally from the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees amounts to more than 2% of Ukraine’s population — which the World Bank counted at 44 million at the end of 2020 — on the move across borders in just seven days.

CHICAGO - A lawsuit was filed against the City of Chicago and Mayor Lori Lightfoot Wednesday, claiming she used obscene language and defamed a former Chicago Park District lawyer who was involved in the Christopher Columbus statue controversy in 2021.George Smyrniotis, who served as First Deputy General Counsel for the district, alleged that Lightfoot berated him over a Zoom call, damaging his reputation and leading to the loss of his job as well as causing him emotional distress.The Columbus statue was removed from Arrigo Park in Little Italy in the summer of 2020 after it had become the target of protests and unrest after the murder of George Floyd.DOWNLOAD THE FOX 32 NEWS APPOn behalf of the Chicago Park District, Smyrniotis penned a letter of agreement with the Joint Civic Committee of Italian Americans (JCCIA), allowing them to briefly display the statue at the 2021 Christopher Columbus Day parade.Lightfoot allegedly took umbrage to the agreement, telling an Italian-American leader she would pull the permit for the parade if the statue made an appearance, according to the lawsuit.An Italian American group is suing the city of Chicago to restore the Christopher Columbus statue that was removed during protests last year.She then berated Smyrniotis and his General Counsel Timothy King in a Zoom call on the night of the parade, the lawsuit claims."You d****, what the f*** were you thinking? You make some kind of secret agreement with Italians, what you are doing, you are out there measuring your d**** with the Italians seeing whose got the biggest d***, you are out there stroking your d**** over the Columbus statue, I am trying to keep Chicago Police officers from being shot and you are trying to get them shot.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Minister of Power Gamini Lokuge told News 1st that he was sworn in as the Minister of Energy.He replaces Udaya Gammanpila as the country’s energy minister.Lokuge made the confirmation to News 1st when exiting the Presidential Secretariat on Thursday (3) evening following a meeting, while adding that Pavithra Wanniarachchi would be taking oaths as the Minister of Power.

Facade with sign at Amazon Books retail store on Santana Row in the Silicon Valley, San Jose, California, December 14, 2019. NEW YORK (AP) - Amazon is closing all of its brick-and-mortar bookstores, as well as its 4-star shops and pop up locations, as the online retail behemoth reworks its physical footprint.The Seattle-based company said Wednesday that the move, which affects 66 stores in the U.S.

FILE - A 2022 Ford Mustang Mach-E electric sports utility vehicle (SUV) on a demonstration course at AutoMobility LA ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show in Los Angeles, California, on Nov. 18, 2021.

Canada is going after Russia‘s energy sector, as it imposed additional economic measures Wednesday against Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine.

JetBlue pilot was removed from the cockpit of a Florida-bound plane before departure from New York on Wednesday after Transportation Security Administration agents said they noticed that he appeared impaired.The JetBlue plane was about to depart from Buffalo Niagara International Airport on Wednesday when Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority police removed James Clifton, 52, from the flight after TSA agents alerted them of the possibly impaired pilot, according to The Buffalo News.TSA agents said they noticed that Clifton could have been impaired while he was passing a security checkpoint at the airport.NFTA police gave Clifton a breathalyzer test, and he was recorded with a blood-alcohol level of 0.17%, which is over four times Federal Aviation Administration standards for pilots, according to the report.The flight's scheduled destination was Fort Lauderdale, Fla., according to the report.Following the breathalyzer test, Clifton was taken into police custody before being released to JetBlue security.MORE NEWS: 'It's a nightmare!': Bride's flight to destination wedding canceledClifton could face federal charges after the incident, the NFTA told The Buffalo News.A JetBlue spokesperson told FOX Business that the crew member involved in the incident "has been removed from his duties.""The safety of JetBlue’s customers and crewmembers is our first priority.  We adhere to all DOT rules and requirements concerning alcohol at all times and have a very strict zero tolerance internal alcohol policy. We are aware of the incident that occurred this morning in Buffalo and are cooperating fully with law enforcement.

COVID-19 wastewater data has offered clarity throughout the pandemic, providing glimpses into what cities and hospitals could be facing in the coming weeks. And it remains one of the only sources of timely information regarding the spread of the coronavirus in the province.But the lead scientist at the University of Saskatchewan’s Global Institute for Water Security, which monitors the levels of virus RNA in the wastewater of three cities in the province, told Global News the information is not as helpful as it once was.“What I used to be able to do was get on the (COVID-19) dashboard for the province and take those numbers off of there and put them into my calculations,” toxicologist John Giesy said.“Well, I can’t do that anymore.” Saskatchewan students and teachers react to COVID-19 restrictions lifting Giesy said the numbers can still show trends and overall increases or decreases in the amount of COVID in cities.

While the pandemic has taken a toll on small businesses, one business owner in the Beach neighbourhood says empty store fronts have been a problem in her community for decades and she’s had enough.

Ontario may have dropped proof of vaccination Tuesday, but some businesses like Pomarosa are continuing to implement the program. As a result, the coffee shop says it has been facing backlash online. Brittany Rosen reports.

PHILADELPHIA - The controversy surrounding potentially opening safe injection sites in Philadelphia is once again heating up as Mayor Jim Kenney continues to lend his support to the movement and those opposed have planned protests. The last time a safe injection site was proposed in Philadelphia – about two years ago- a federal appeals court ruled against it. Since then, New York became the first city in the country to open such a site last year. Officials there say the site has already stopped more than 100 overdoses. Mayor Kenney spoke with FOX 29’s Steve Keeley late last month and reiterated that he’s seen such operations work in Canada – in both Toronto and Vancouver.

COLOMBO (News 1st); 32 Sri Lankans who were in Ukraine, have been moved out of the country via four separate borders.This was confirmed to News 1st by the Sri Lankan Ambassador accredited to Ukraine.Earlier, the Sri Lankan Foreign Ministry said that it continues to closely monitor developments in Ukraine.On Monday (28) the Ministry said it was engaged in the evacuation of approximately forty (40) Sri Lankan nationals, including two (02) students in Ukraine via the Ukraine – Polish border.The process is facilitated by the Sri Lanka Embassies in Warsaw and Ankara, the latter being concurrently accredited to Ukraine.The Ministry has strengthened the provision of resources to the Sri Lanka Embassy in Warsaw in order to ensure the effective facilitation of the evacuation process.The Ambassadors of Sri Lanka in Ankara and Warsaw continue to maintain close contact with the Sri Lankan nationals leaving Ukraine, in order to enable their safe passage and return to Sri Lanka.The Foreign Ministry is also engaged in monitoring the status of Sri Lankan nationals in countries which share land borders with Ukraine.Sri Lanka’s accredited missions are in contact with the relevant Honorary Consuls and Sri Lankan nationals in the respective countries.The Sri Lanka Embassy in Moscow which is concurrently accredited to Belarus continues to be in close communication with the approximately 1,600 Sri Lankan nationals, including 1,556 students studying in over eight (08) universities / higher education institutes in Belarus.Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in Moscow is in direct contact with the relevant university authorities, student and parent groups, as well as other concerned institutions in Belarus, with regard to the safety and welfare of the Sri

The unemployment rate was 5.2% in February when adjusted for seasonal factors, unchanged from January, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.

With work-from-home mandates officially lifted in Alberta, companies and their staff are bracing for change. A growing number are reimagining their workspaces to entice people out of their kitchens and back into the office.

WARSAW, Poland (AP) - When Volodymyr Zelenskyy was growing up in southeastern Ukraine, his Jewish family spoke Russian and his father once forbade the younger Zelenskyy from going abroad to study in Israel. Instead, Zelenskyy studied law at home.

NEW YORK - A Queens woman who was struck in the head with a rock in a random attack the day after Thanksgiving died last week, her family confirmed during a news conference Tuesday.QuiYing Ma, 61, was sweeping outside her apartment when Elisaul Perez, 33, approached her and smashed her in the head with the rock, said police.The incident occurred just after 8 a.m. on 89th Street in Jackson Heights.Ma, who was originally from China, was taken to Elmhurst Hospital where she remained in critical condition before dying on Feb.

Saskatchewan entered a new era in the fight against COVID-19 on Feb. 28 with the lifting of all provincial mandates, but many are not quite ready to ditch the mask.

The accommodation and food services sector continued to be heavily reliant on Government Covid supports in the fourth quarter of 2021, according to the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office.

Subsidy rates for the Government's Employee Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) are to be cut further from today.

vaccine mandates expiring Tuesday and mask mandates on March 15 in Manitoba, local businesses are deciding how they want to proceed in order to keep staff and customers safe.Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president Loren Remillard said many of his members are taking a “wait and see” approach when it comes to maintaining — or completely removing — some restrictions.“We are definitely hearing from a lot of our members. We’re reaching out and talking to them and getting a sense of where they’re leaning,” Remillard told 680 CJOB.Businesses have not made a decision one way or the other, he said.“Businesses really are concerned about potential backlash primarily for their public-facing staff,” he said.“There’s significant concern that if they proceed with a vaccine mandate, that some of the issues we’ve seen throughout the pandemic will become even more heightened for their staff, so there is a lot of trepidation in the business community.”If there’s any consensus, he said it’s that many businesses will be moving away from requiring vaccinations, but strongly encouraging customers and staff to continue wearing masks.

Credit: New York Lottery LONG ISLAND - Just call him "Lucky"!A Long Island man has won a $10M lottery for the second time.Juan Hernandez of Uniondale has won a $10,000,000 top prize in the New York Lottery's $10,000,000 Deluxe scratch-off game. And this isn't the first time he's gotten lucky."I'm still trying to spend the $10M I won in '19," Hernandez said.Get breaking news alerts in the free FOX5NY News app!  |  Sign up for FOX 5 email newslettersIn 2019, Hernandez won $10M after claiming a top prize on the $350,000,000 Cash Spectacular scratch-off ticket. Hernandez bought his second winning ticket at a Stop & Stop located at 150 Fulton Avenue in Hempstead.He took a lump-sum payment of $6,510,000 after required withholdings.AdvertisementThere are currently three top prizes left on the $10,000,000 Deluxe ticket, officials said.

New Brunswick lifting provincial vaccination requirements at businesses like restaurants, gyms and salons at 12:01 Monday morning, it’s going to be a more “normal” day than many have seen since last summer.For spots like Rocky’s Sports Bar in Saint John, it might mean seeing some more customers, too.“Proof of vaccination definitely limits the amount of customers we can host in an evening or in a day,” says owner Moe Arsenault.“It’s been a challenge, as everything in COVID has been for everybody.”Arsenault says he’s lost some regulars since proof of vaccination has been required at New Brunswick eateries in September.“It has been a deterrent for some consumers, for sure,” he says. New Brunswick lifting all COVID-19 restrictions March 14, proof of vaccination ending Feb.

Edmonton Downtown Business Association executive director Puneeta McBryan and University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe join Tom Vernon to break down the 2022 provincial budget and where it falls short.

Benenden Health, shared her top 10 foods with great health benefits to include in your diet this year. Check them out below... Live yoghurt has an excellent source of so-called friendly bacteria, also known as probiotics.

Aer Lingus has today reported an operating loss, before exceptational items, of €347m for the year to the end of December, an improvement on the loss of €361m reported in 2020.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lankan Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s Indian visit has been postponed again.Basil Rajapaksa was to fly to India to wrap up credit lines worth a billion US dollars, that would be used for essential goods and medicines.“We are ready to enter into several agreements with India for financial facilities worth a billion US dollars,” State Minister Shehan Semasinghe told the Parliament.Sri Lankan Sports Minister Namal Rajapaksa said personally he has no issue with discussing matters on approaching the International Monetary Fund and other agencies.However, he said the decision on such a matter should be taken by the Finance Minister and the Central Bank.

PHILADELPHIA - The Delaware Valley got an early taste of spring this week, but winter will return to parts of the area Thursday night and into Friday morning. A cold front that moved through overnight brought temperatures back into the 30s across the area Thursday morning. Highs aren’t expected to reach the 30s, but the cold won’t be the only dose of winter the area will see.  The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. The advisory includes Philadelphia and the surrounding suburban counties in Pennsylvania, New Castle County in Delaware, and Mercer County in New Jersey. Parts of the area may see a flurry or a sprinkle in the morning or early afternoon – but the main event will happen Thursday night. DOWNLOAD: Get the FOX 29 Weather Authority appForecasters say a mix of rain, ice, and freezing rain will impact the area beginning around 7 p.m.Areas to the south and east of the I-95 corridor can expect to see a wintry mix turn to rain.

COVID-19 as hospitalizations continued to drop Thursday.Officials say the number of hospitalizations related to the pandemic stood at 1,604, a decrease of 68 compared with the previous day. This includes 96 patients in intensive care units, a fall of six.This comes after 96 Quebecers were admitted to hospitals, while 164 were discharged in the past 24 hours.The province also recorded 1,517 new novel coronavirus cases.

LOS ANGELES - Indoor masking will soon be optional in Los Angeles County for those with proof of vaccination.Los Angeles County Public Health announced starting Friday, February 25, establishments, businesses and/or venues will have the option to allow fully vaccinated customers and workers to unmask indoors if they can provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19.In a major policy shift, Los Angeles County will ease its indoor mask mandate to allow people vaccinated against COVID-19 to remove face coverings indoors at establishments that verify patrons' vaccination status, health officials confirmed Wednesday.The county's department of public health explained in a press release Wednesday that workers and/or customers who are not fully vaccinated or do not have proof of vaccination are required to provide a negative test and continue wearing masks indoors, except when actively eating or drinking. Customers must show a negative test taken within two days of entry if they use a PCR test, or one day if using an antigen test.

Google said on Wednesday it is giving employees in the Bay Area the option to return to office where possible, as COVID-19 cases ease in the United States.

Last week global COVID-19 cases, as well as deaths, continued to decline, except for parts of Asia that are experiencing later Omicron variant surges, the World Health Organization (WHO) said yesterday in its weekly update.

The World Health Organization (WHO), the Republic of Korea and the WHO Academy today announced the establishment of a global biomanufacturing training hub that will serve all low- and middle-income countries wishing to produce biologicals, such as vaccines, insulin, monoclonal antibodies and cancer treatments. The move comes after the successful establishment of a global mRNA vaccine technology transfer hub in South Africa.

Twins Addison and Rylee were born on 2.22.22, a rare palindrome date.  BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The rare palindrome date 2.22.22 is now the birthday of a set of twins born in Pennsylvania on Twosday! According to the Lehigh Valley Health Network, Ryan and Katie, who is a twin, welcomed twin girls Addison and Rylee at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Muhlenberg. Another bundle of joy in North Carolina was also born on the palindrome date, but with an added twist. Judah Grace was born to first-time parents Aberli and Hank Spear on 2.22.22 at 2:22 in delivery room No. 2. Palindrome days are rare and only tend to occur in the first few centuries every 1,000 years. According to electrical engineering professor Aziz S.

Mackenzie County, Alberta’s largest and most northern county, says it is no longer working with local businesses that have a mandatory vaccination policy. Lisa MacGregor reports.

Iron Maiden will commemorate the 40th anniversary of their chart-topping album, "The Number Of The Beast," that catapulted them to international fame and success. (Credit: Iron Maiden) The English heavy metal band Iron Maiden will go old school and release its chart-topping third album "The Number Of The Beast" on cassette tape to commemorate its 40th anniversary. The band will release the tape on March 18 but it can be pre-ordered. The album was first released in the United Kingdom in March 1982, featuring Bruce Dickinson as the vocalist.

Alberta’s largest and most northern county says it is no longer working with local businesses that have a mandatory vaccination policy.Mackenzie County says businesses that require employees, contractors or subcontractors to show proof of vaccination in workplaces or on work sites will not be hired to provide goods or services.The county’s council approved the policy on Feb.

After more than 24 hours, he and a group of other South Asian Canadian truckers approached authorities to find out when they could pass.“That’s when another guy, he came out of his truck and he was, like, being racist. He was saying, ‘Go back to your truck, go back to India,”’ recalled Singh, a 28-year-old driver from Edmonton.Disturbed, he and his co-driver set out for another crossing — an option unavailable to some, since oversize loads can only move through certain checkpoints — on a route that added more than 500 kilometres to their trip.

The blaring horns and snarled streets of the so-called “Freedom Convoy” blockade in Ottawa are no more, but on Monday Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested the work to heal the pandemic divisions in the country that the convoy exposed must now begin.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested on Monday that while protests surrounding Parliament Hill in Ottawa have mostly dispersed and the horns are no longer sounding, the work to heal the pandemic divisions in the country that the convoy exposed must now begin.

The Prime Minister has announced that British workers should "learn from Germany" and not go to work if they are feeling ill.

COLOMBO (News 1st); Sri Lanka’s Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa has hinted that working hours should likely be changed as a solution to the morning traffic in Colombo and suburbs.He made these comments on Monday (21) after he was delayed by traffic in attending an event in Kaduwela.“I was delayed by 15 minutes to reach this location. The reason was the traffic and the congestion of vehicles on the road,” said the Minister adding that there needs to be a focus on reducing traffic ac well.He suggested that consideration needs to be given to travel convenience and work hour convenience, thereby reducing fuel consumption and protecting the foreign reserves.

Minister for Rural and Community Development and Minister for Social Protection Heather Humphreys said there are now 200 remote working hubs across the country.

COVID-19 public health measures descended on Quebec City on Saturday for the second weekend this month.Inspired by the so-called Freedom Convoy protest in Ottawa, horns could be heard as several dozen vehicles, including trucks and tractors, arrived outside the provincial legislature late Saturday morning.It was a mostly festive atmosphere, as some people were dressed up in cartoon character costumes, stuffed animals were handed out to children and music played.It was the second large demonstration against public health measures in the province in two weeks.Since the last one in early February, the Quebec government announced it is phasing out its vaccine passport system and intends to get rid of most COVID-19 health measures by March 14.But protest organizers, addressing the crowd outside the legislature, said they wanted more concessions from the provincial government.Organizer Bernard Gauthier called the tone of the protest “peaceful,” adding he hoped the provincial government would return the favour without specifying any demands.Meanwhile, others called for an end to the provincially-declared health emergency and mandatory masks for school-aged children.Demonstrator Christian Martel said he wanted to see an end to mandatory masking in classrooms.“The pandemic is over, we have to end everything. We’re tired, it’s enough,” said Martel.Some demonstrators said they would also like assurance that the vaccine passport system would not return.Last week, Quebec announced it would be phasing out vaccine passports, but Health Minister Christian Dubé warned it would reimpose the passport system if it’s needed during a new wave of COVID-19.

Provincial officials have loosened capacity restrictions this week in a number of settings. This, as vaccine passports are also soon going to be a thing of the past. Brittany Rosen reports.