-The NDP is looking for a confirmation date on when the provincial government’s inflation relief payments will arrive.
Deputy Leader Sarah Hoffman says Premier Danielle Smith announced back in November that help was on the way, but to this point, no one knows when the payments will be made.
They say people deserve immediate answers.
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-Even though Alberta’s provincial fuel tax is still being suspended to help motorists with inflation, market experts say the price of gas around the world is so volatile right now that the reduction people are expecting, won’t be as big as they had hoped.
It should be 13-cents a litre, but a number of factors mean it’s going to be more like 4-cents.
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-Chinese officials are threatening to carry out countermeasures against countries that are planning to test passengers arriving from China for Covid.
Canada is one of those countries, and testing is supposed to kick in Thursday.
But China claims those entry restrictions “lack scientific basis and are being manipulated for political reasons.”
There’s been a surge in cases in China in the past few weeks.
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-Edmonton police are investigating following another vandalism spree at the Riverbend Community League’s hall.
It was completely trashed inside, while threatening and racist messages were spray-painted on the walls.
It’s the second time it’s happened in the past three months.
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-Police are also investigating an apparent shooting death in central Edmonton.
A wounded man was found around 105-A Avenue and 100th Street yesterday morning, and while he was rushed to the hospital, he died from his injuries.
Police are hoping to speak with anyone who may have more information.
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-There are some very unhappy Saskatchewan residents who say Sunwing left them stranded in airports in other provinces.
Many people who’d gone to sunny destinations for Christmas were stuck because of winter storms, and then last Friday, Sunwing announced it was suspending all flights in Saskatoon and Regina til next month.
One group of 11 people from Prince Albert says they were left in Calgary, so they had to rent three vehicles and drive all the way home.
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-About 2-thousand pieces of luggage are still waiting to be claimed at the Vancouver International Airport following the storms that hit right before Christmas.
Thousands of travellers were affected by delays and suspensions, although flights are mostly back on schedule again.
Airport officials say it could take a few weeks to get everything running smoothly.
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-It won’t be long before the Soul Sisters Memorial Foundation holds its third Farmer’s Appreciation Night in Westlock.
Christine Vachon is with the group:

“Megz Reynolds with Do More Ag will be our keynote speaker. Their group is the national champion of mental health in agriculture. Ryan Snow will be providing entertainment that evening and CFCW’s Jackie-Rae will be the host.”

It’s happening January 20th and you can get tickets now through simplytickets.ca.
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-The annual “Sirens for Life Alberta Challenge” is now in effect, as Canadian Blood Services is asking people to donate blood and plasma, in support of their local emergency service teams.
The Edmonton goal is to collect more than 48-hundred blood and plasma donations this month, and to bring in more than 3-hundred new donors.
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-If you’re a fan of The Avengers movies, the actor who plays Hawkeye was badly injured in a snow-plowing accident in Reno, Nevada this weekend.
51 year old Jeremy Renner suffered blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries after the plow flipped and ran over him.
He’s undergone two surgeries already, and remains in the ICU, in critical but stable condition.