‘Our town’s new £500,000 cycle lane has made the road more dangerous’


‘Our town’s new £500,000 cycle lane has made the road more dangerous’
The massive project has created a headache for many locals (Picture: SWNS)

A council has been blasted for blowing half a million pounds on a cycle lane less than a mile long.

The £500,000 project in the seaside town of Gorleston, Norfolk, has been blasted for being a ‘colossal waste of money’ and drawn ire from cyclists themselves.

Locals claim the new lanes have made the street dangerously narrower and more hazardous, while retailers say the loss of parking spaces has harmed trade.

Mobility scooters have been spotted riding up and down the cycle lanes, delivery drivers regularly block them, and cyclists say they’re now forced onto the pavement to stay safe.

Resident Les West, 83, who lives on Middleton Road where the lanes have been installed, said: ‘It is a disgusting, horrendous waste of money. They have made a busy road into a dangerous one.

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‘It is a colossal waste of money, and I can’t see the point in it at all.’

Julie Hall, who lives on Middleton Road. It is one of Norfolk County Council's flagship projects to encourage cycling.But locals in Gorleston are wondering whether the authority's ?500,000 scheme to install a cycle path along less than a mile of road has not just been a "colossal waste of money".Critics - including some cyclists - claim the new lanes, along Middleton Road, have made the street narrower and more dangerous.Retailers along the busy road also say the loss of parking spaces has harmed their trade. Photo released 13/04/2026
Julie Hall said waste collectors often park in the lane (Picture: SWNS)

Sue Bowman, 53, who works at the Rose Garden florist shop on Middleton Road, said: ‘It has gone from a safe road to a very unsafe, dangerous road. It is awful.

‘I don’t like driving on it now. The lanes you drive on are too narrow, and the road is so narrow because the cycle lanes have been put in. We are still getting people parking in the cycle lanes, and people don’t know where to park.’

Liz Spires, 66, who had come to the florist with her family, said: ‘We think it is bloody stupid. Now you are lucky if you can get two cars parked.

‘We are coming to arrange funeral flowers for my late husband, and it has been a real pain.’

The project had been hailed as Norfolk County Council’s flagship project to encourage cycling.

Delivery truck stopped in new cycle lane on Middleton Road. It is one of Norfolk County Council's flagship projects to encourage cycling.But locals in Gorleston are wondering whether the authority's ?500,000 scheme to install a cycle path along less than a mile of road has not just been a "colossal waste of money".Critics - including some cyclists - claim the new lanes, along Middleton Road, have made the street narrower and more dangerous.Retailers along the busy road also say the loss of parking spaces has harmed their trade. Photo released 13/04/2026
Locals say delivery vans park on the new lane and make it hard for even pedestrians to pass (Picture: SWNS)

The scheme, funded by the government’s Active Travel Fund, has seen the creation of a new cycle lane on each side of the road.

New zebra crossings have been introduced, and new reflective wands have been added to separate the road from the cycle lanes.

Since work has been completed, locals say issues have emerged with cars stopping in the cycle lanes and vehicles blocking them off while making deliveries.

Julie Hall, 64, who lives on Middleton Road and uses her bicycle, said: ‘If someone is parked on the cycle lane, you have to ride on the pavement.

‘I cycle to the James Paget to get to work, and binmen get the waste bins that are parked in the cycle lanes.’

Anthony Hollis, 64 and another bicycle user, said: ‘I think it is a lot of money for what it is. If they had widened the pavement, they wouldn’t have had to do any of this. They could have just made the pavement wider.’

Norfolk County Council told Metro in a statement: ‘As with all road improvements, the changes take time to bed in and for people to get used to them.

‘These upgrades will provide safer cycle access between South and North Gorleston, serving the local college and town amenities. We have also improved the safety of crossings for those travelling on foot.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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The simple tax habit that could save you thousands over your lifetime


NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

It’s April 13, and if you haven’t filed your taxes yet, you’re not alone — but waiting until the last minute could be one of the most expensive financial habits you have.

The difference comes down to timing. Early filers tend to receive refunds weeks sooner and are less likely to rush into errors or miss out on credits. That extra time — and cash — can be used to pay off bills, build savings or earn returns, creating small financial gains that add up significantly over the course of a lifetime.

I would simply say your tax return is your single largest financial transaction each year, and you’ll be developing it for the next 30, 40, 50 and in some cases 60 or more years,” Mark Steber, chief tax officer at Jackson Hewitt Tax Services, told Fox News Digital.

TAX DAY IS THIS WEEK: AVOID THESE 5 COMMON MISTAKES THAT CAN COST YOU MONEY

The simple tax habit that could save you thousands over your lifetime

Filing early can also help protect against identity theft by locking in your return. (PixelsEffect/Getty Images)

“It’s probably a good idea to start to develop some best practices, one of which is not to wait to the last minute to start trying to do your tax return,” he added.

Filing early won’t change how much you owe, but it can shape what you do with your money next. Getting a refund sooner gives taxpayers more time to pay down high-interest debt, build emergency savings or invest — moves that can compound over time.

AVERAGE TAX REFUND TOPS $3,700, TREASURY SAYS, TOUTING NEW TRUMP TAX BREAKS

IRS building sign with American flag flying outside in Washington, D.C.

The IRS still requires payment by April 15, even if you file for an extension. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)

The IRS issues more than 100 million refunds each year, totaling over $400 billion, underscoring how significant that money can be — and how much timing matters for those who receive it.

It can be even more important for those who owe money to the IRS.

“If you’re gonna owe, you should have found that out several months ago, so you can start allocating money aside, and you won’t run the risk of refund shock or disappointment or balance due trauma,” Steber said.

Filing early can also help protect taxpayers from fraud. Once a return is submitted, it becomes much harder for identity thieves to file a fraudulent return in someone else’s name.

“You file early you get your money early, but more important than getting your refund early. You lock up your data, you lock up your personal information with the IRS and your state. That protects you from ID thieves, from refund thieves and a whole lot of other bad things that creep into the system,” Steber added.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

A woman preparing her taxes at a desk with documents and a calculator

The IRS issues over $400 billion in refunds each year — meaning early filers can put that money to use sooner. (iStock)

Last-minute filers are also more likely to rush, increasing the chances of errors or missed deductions and credits — mistakes that can directly reduce a refund or increase what’s owed.

“Give some attention to your tax return each and every year. Can’t really do it this year at the last hour, but some best practices will save you money, lower your stress and put more tax refund dollars in your pocket over time,” Steber said.


Lambton College shooting: Multiple arrests made, search for main suspect ongoing | Globalnews.ca


Sarnia, Ont., police say they’ve made multiple arrests in a fatal triple shooting at Lambton College last week, but the search for the main suspect remains ongoing.

Lambton College shooting: Multiple arrests made, search for main suspect ongoing  | Globalnews.ca

Police issued multiple news releases over the weekend detailing the arrests after 20-year-old Dane Nisbet was killed and two others were hurt in the shooting on Friday.

The incident unfolded overnight. Sarnia police officers were called to a bar at Lambton College at 12:52 a.m. for reports of a shooting and found three people suffering from injuries they described as both life-threatening and non-life-threatening.

Nisbet was taken to Bluewater Health in serious condition. He later died in hospital.

Investigators believe two men were involved in the incident: a man who acted as the shooter, and another who was an accomplice.

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On Saturday, police executed search warrants at two London, Ont., homes. Officers recovered a vehicle used in the shooting and arrested the second suspect wanted in the shooting.

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Oudom Bun, 23, of London, was charged with second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder.

Investigators say 24-year-old London resident Kyaw Doe is their prime suspect. At the time of the shooting, he was subject to a court order prohibiting him from possessing firearms.

He is wanted on charges of second-degree murder, two counts of attempted murder and possession of a firearm while prohibited.

“Investigators believe that Doe went into hiding shortly after the murder and is actively evading police capture,” police said Saturday.

“Police believe Doe has ties to criminal elements in both western and northern Ontario, and who may be assisting him. He is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.”

To find him, officers executed search warrants at a home in Sarnia and at a hotel unit in nearby Point Edward on Sunday.

During the search warrant, police arrested a woman who was one of two females with the suspects the night of the shooting.


When they raided the hotel unit, officers found what they believe was the weapon used in the shooting, which they believe originated from the United States. A man who was in the unit was also arrested.

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Ava-Leigh Lightheart and Johnathan Osborne-Walsh, both 19, are each facing multiple charges, including being an accessory after the fact to murder.

“As his family, friends, and our community continue to mourn the loss of Dane Nisbet, we extend our deepest condolences to all those affected by this tragedy,” Chief Derek Davis said Sunday.

“The Sarnia Police will remain focused on supporting those left behind, while relentlessly pursuing swift justice for all those responsible for his death.”

Meanwhile, Lambton College – which closed on Friday – said in a post on Facebook that it will begin a “phased return” on Monday.

“This phased approach is intended to give students and employees the opportunity to access supports and reconnect with each other,” the school said.

“We recognize that this will not feel like a return to normal, and we will be approaching the end of Winter Term with flexibility and care in recognition of the needs of our student community.”

&copy 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.


As session returns, Eby’s government faces ‘peril’ over DRIPA: political scientist | Globalnews.ca


A political analyst says British Columbia Premier David Eby faces a “moment of real peril” as legislators return to Victoria this week.

Lambton College shooting: Multiple arrests made, search for main suspect ongoing  | Globalnews.ca

Eby has staked his government on plans to suspend sections of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act for up to three years.

The premier has told First Nations leaders in a recent meeting that he plans to introduce legislation to suspend the sections this week.

Stewart Prest from the University of British Columbia says he does not understand why the premier would risk his office on the issue, and that the plans make a promise by the Conservative Party of B.C. to repeal all of DRIPA more appealing.

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Get breaking Canada news delivered to your inbox as it happens so you won’t miss a trending story.

First Nation leaders have voiced opposition to Eby’s plans, and one of them — Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs — has said his wife, NDP legislature member Joan Phillip, won’t be voting for the suspension.

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The B.C. Greens have also signalled their opposition, but Prest says Eby’s government, with its single-seat majority, could still survive a confidence vote by courting the six Independents or finding other arrangements to avoid an election.


The premier has said government faces “very serious litigation risk” from a December court decision known as the Gitxaala ruling.

It says DRIPA should be “properly interpreted” to immediately incorporate the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples into B.C. laws.

Eby said in a letter obtained by The Canadian Press that the ruling means every provincial law can be challenged for being inconsistent with the UN declaration.

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press


For the curly girls: This top-rated Wavytalk blow dryer and diffuser is less than $100


Good hair, but make it fast, fabulous and (finally) under $100.

Listen, I don’t gatekeep a good hair tool, especially not when it’s from a brand I already trust with my life (and my frizz). I’m undeniably obsessed with Wavytalk’s blow dryer brush. It gives me that big, bouncy blowout with minimal effort, which is exactly the kind of low-maintenance glam I aspire to.

So when I spotted the Wavytalk Turblow Pro Blow Dryer — complete with a diffuser for curly hair and a price tag under $100— I was immediately intrigued. And by intrigued, I mean mentally adding to cart.

For the curly girls: This top-rated Wavytalk blow dryer and diffuser is less than 0
Amazon

Because here’s my truth: my naturally curly hair has moods. Some days it’s giving effortless volume, other days it’s giving pure chaos. That’s why a good diffuser is a tool that’s simply worth it.

The Turblow Pro is powered by a high-speed motor that dries hair seriously fast (read: less time sweating in your bathroom), but without blasting your strands with damaging heat. It leans on strong airflow instead, which helps keep curls defined, shiny and frizz-free.

Plus, it boasts negative ion technology that gives smoother, glossier results.


The diffuser attachment is where things get exciting. The accessory is designed to distribute air evenly, which means your curls keep their shape while drying. I cannot stand weird flat spots and overly crunchy pieces, so anything that can lead to soft, cooperating curls is a done deal for me.

Also, can we appreciate a lightweight moment? Because holding a heavy dryer while diffusing upside down is not the arm workout I signed up for. From experience, Wavytalk’s tools are some of the easiest to maneuver, which makes the whole process all the better.

Now, for less than $100, there’s no better time to grab it.


This article was written by Victoria McDonnell, New York Post Commerce Journalist & Content Strategist, who has spent countless hours researching, testing hundreds of products and comparing the latest makeup, skincare, hair and beauty items and trends to determine what’s truly worth your hard-earned cash. She evaluates formulas, textures, ingredients and more, in addition to consulting medical and industry experts. Some of Victoria’s latest conquests include testing the best sheet masks on the market, and a rinse-and-repeat review of the best shampoos for all hair types and budgets. Victoria, who received a beauty industry essentials certification from the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been creating shopping guides for the New York Post since 2021 and previously held positions at Insider Reviews and CNN Underscored.



Two Yukon First Nations looking to take over their own health care needs | CBC News


Two Yukon First Nations looking to take over their own health care needs | CBC News

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Two Yukon First Nations chiefs have written to the Yukon and federal governments that they will be looking to take health care matters into their own hands.

CBC News has obtained letters addressed to Yukon Premier Currie Dixon and Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty. They were written by Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Chief Pauline Frost and Little Salmon Carmacks First Nation (LS/CFN) Chief Russell Blackjack.

Aside from nation-specific wording, the letters are identical. Both chiefs have stated that if the Yukon government either repeals or, in their eyes, weakens the Health Authority Act, the two First Nations will engage the governments to assume health care responsibilities for their citizens.

Per their self-governing agreements, the Yukon and federal governments have until the end of May to create a workplan with the First Nations regarding talks.

A close up of a woman at a microphone.
Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation Chief Pauline Frost is one of two chiefs who have written to Yukon Premier Currie Dixon and federal Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Rebecca Alty. (CBC)

Frost’s letter was tabled in the Yukon Legislative Assembly as a document by interim Liberal leader and Vuntut Gwitchin MLA Debra-Leigh Reti. Blackjack’s letter was provided to CBC News by a third party, and the LS/CFN confirmed its authenticity.

Frost, a former Liberal health minister, was unavailable for an interview, and LS/CFN declined a similar request to speak with Blackjack.

CBC News surveyed the remaining 12 First Nations in the territory, asking if their chiefs have submitted similar letters or have had discussions about submitting a letter.

The Ta’an Kwäch’än Council said it has not submitted a letter, nor has it had discussions about doing so.

In a statement to CBC News, the council of the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun did not answer the questions directly, but said they were “deeply disappointed” in the Yukon government’s decision to pause the health authority and “the overarching authority measures” associated with the updated Health Authority Act. Those changes were passed earlier in the current sitting of the legislature and received assent last week.

Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in declined to comment, and CBC News is awaiting official comment from the remaining nine First Nations.

CBC News is also awaiting a statement from Alty.

Government’s priorities vs. First Nations’ needs

The topic of a territorial health authority has become a contentious issue since the election of the new Yukon government.

The Yukon Party, which won an overwhelming majority government in November, committed to pausing work to create a unified health authority, known as Health and Wellness Yukon or Shäw Kwä’ą. To that end, they announced their plan at February’s Yukon Forum.

Among other things, the amendments to the Health Authority Act let the government re-take control over health services. The government is also planning to formally repeal the legislation in the fall, pending discussions with First Nations and other stakeholders in the interim.

Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers previously said working with First Nations on culturally-safe care is a separate concern to reforming the governance and administrative structure of the health care system. But critics say an arms-length health authority is needed to fix issues in the territorial system, such as systemic racism towards First Nations Yukoners.


Edmonton police emails, documents provide new information on Canada-first AI facial recognition bodycam pilot | CBC News


Dozens of Edmonton police officers patrolled the city’s streets in December equipped with body cameras that used artificial intelligence to scan faces, looking for what the police have deemed “high-risk offenders.” 

Documents and emails obtained by CBC News offer new insight into the Edmonton Police Service’s trial of bodycam facial recognition technology — the first police agency in Canada to do so.

The AI-powered facial recognition software was trained to detect the faces of about 7,000 people on a watchlist, based on mugshots of people police say have serious criminal warrants or are flagged as potential safety risks.

Key details from the documents include:

  • The privacy assessment submitted to Alberta’s privacy watchdog by EPS includes wording that experts told CBC could open the possibility of sharing sensitive information;
  • A “critical fault” system outage prevented matches for several days and may have extended the pilot project;
  • The facial recognition model was supplied by Corsight AI, an Israeli company whose technology has reportedly been used for mass surveillance in Gaza.

CBC News submitted access to information requests for information on the project in December, following EPS’s initial announcement, which left unanswered questions such as the timeline of when the police service submitted its privacy assessment, 

EPS has declined multiple times to answer questions from CBC News regarding the facial recognition project, including specific questions about these documents.

Researchers who spoke to CBC News say the project and the use of facial recognition raises privacy concerns.

“As someone who has been studying algorithmic policing technologies for nearly a decade, and [previously] a lawyer in Canada’s justice system, I have to say that this is likely the most high risk algorithmic surveillance program that I have observed to date in Canada,” said Kate Robertson, a senior research associate with the University of Toronto’s Citizen Lab.

In a statement, Edmonton police commission chair Ben Henderson said the oversight body had no concerns with the pilot and the commission followed its standard process for assessing new technology.

“The commission reviewed the proposal for this project in September 2025 and raised no objections as it was proof of concept testing only and its purpose was to collect data for further assessment,” wrote Henderson.

How it works

Police in Alberta are required to wear bodycams. EPS policy is to only start recording when the officer presses a button during “investigative or enforcement related activities.” 

Likewise, the facial recognition feature would not function unless recording was manually started, nor would it work in poor lighting or if a person is more than four metres away.

The privacy assessment submitted by EPS to the Office of the Information and Privacy Commissioner (OIPC) and obtained by CBC News provides new insight on EPS’s safeguards and legal justification for the project.

An assessment is a legally-required document that maps the flow of information for a proposal, along with potential privacy and security risks, according to the OIPC

The assessment from EPS states the limitations from lighting and distance “further minimizes bystanders from the automated identification of unrelated people.”

EPS submitted its privacy assessment when it announced the project, but privacy commissioner Diane McLeod was critical of EPS at the time for launching the program without waiting for a review. EPS maintained it was not required to do so.

A spokesperson for the OIPC told CBC News in March that “our office is still working with EPS regarding this [privacy assessment],” and declined further comment.

The facial recognition-enabled body cameras were manufactured by Axon, a U.S.-based company that develops and supplies weapons and technology products for military, law enforcement and civilians.

Under the pilot, if the AI found a potential match against a watchlist it would be sent for review by EPS officers trained in facial recognition. 

During the first phase, front-line officers would not be notified even if the human review supported a match. A potential second phase would see officers receive near real-time notifications following human review.

‘Proactive surveillance’

In the privacy assessment, EPS notes that automated facial recognition is a “significant adaptation” of the bodycam technology, creating a “more sensitive category of use of personal information.

“The continuous scanning of faces for comparison against a watchlist constitutes proactive surveillance.”

Images of people who were recorded but not matched “will be purged after the conclusion of the proof of concept,” EPS wrote in the assessment. 

WATCH | Police announce bodycam facial recognition pilot:

Edmonton police test body cameras with AI facial recognition

The Edmonton Police Service says it will become the first police force in the world to use an artificial intelligence product from Axon Enterprise to trial facial-recognition-enabled bodycams. When the cameras record, facial recognition runs automatically in “silent mode,” without alerting officers. Afterward, trained EPS staff review the footage to see if the software worked and whether any matches were made.

EPS also notes that the Charter of Rights and Freedoms limits the collection of biometric data, and that Charter compliance is “required in order for law enforcement actions to be valid.”

EPS believes that the project “can be crafted and framed in a way that may be legally viable,” according to the assessment, through design features such as “the exhaustion of less-intrusive alternatives” and stringent protocol for use.

Robertson, whose research focuses on the intersection of law, policy and technology, questioned the legal foundation for the project.

“There is no legal authority that would justify doing what the Edmonton Police Service is proposing to do in this program,” she said.

Commission chair Henderson, a former four-term city councillor, disagrees. 

“It’s the commission’s understanding that the use of facial recognition software complies with EPS’s privacy policies, privacy legislation, and provincial standards,” wrote Henderson.

Corsight

While Axon manufactures the body-worn cameras used by EPS, the company does not provide the facial recognition model used in the pilot.

According to an EPS email summarizing the project, “Corsight AI is the vendor that Axon has partnered with for the [proof of concept], their model will be doing the initial comparison of faces.”

In 2024, the New York Times reported that Israel had deployed mass surveillance of Palestinians in Gaza that relied in part on Corsight’s facial recognition technology.

CBC News has not independently confirmed the Times’ reporting, but Gideon Christian, an associate professor of AI and law at the University of Calgary, finds those reports troubling. 

“I think the track record of who is providing the technology matters,” he said.

Data shared with Axon will be anonymized “whenever possible,” according to the EPS privacy assessment.

“However, data required to aid in assessing the success or failures associated with the technology will be shared when / if required.”

Christian expressed concern that the qualified language appeared to leave open the possibility of sharing sensitive information with Axon under certain circumstances.

“‘Whenever possible’ is a very loose and ambiguous phrase,” said Christian.

“These are definitely not the kinds of qualifications I would love to see, especially when it comes to sharing of sensitive information collected by a law enforcement agency.”

Axon directed project-specific questions to EPS, but said in a statement that its customers “retain full ownership and control of their data, which is protected through encryption in transit and at rest, strict access controls, audit logging, and agency-defined retention policies.”

Controversial technology

The idea of AI-driven facial recognition on police bodycams is controversial, Christian said. 

The RCMP’s website states that its policy “specifically forbids” the use of such technology.

“Instead of [a] police body-worn camera… watching the police for the public, you now have that camera being retrofitted to watch the public on behalf of the police,” he said. 

“I think that is very concerning reversal of the purpose of that tool.”

In 2019, Axon’s AI ethics board said that its use could not be ethically justified given the state of the technology at the time, emphasizing in a report that it had unequal performance “across races, ethnicities, genders and other identity groups.”

But at the December announcement, an Axon representative said the technology has improved since the 2019 ethics board report.

EPS said at the announcement that AI would not be taking over police work — a point reiterated in the privacy assessment, which notes that a resemblance notification does not provide an officer with “the reasonable and probable grounds to believe that the person” is arrestable or poses a risk, and that officers must still do “their due diligence.”

ATI request handling

After CBC News filed an access to information (ATI) request for emails regarding facial recognition with body-worn cameras, EPS inadvertently released on Feb. 2 an unredacted version of the records to CBC News. CBC News declined a request by EPS to immediately delete the records. 

EPS did not answer a question about how the error occurred. EPS public affairs director Lauren Wozny wrote in a statement that the disclosure “didn’t constitute a privacy incident but did contain other sensitive information that would have been within our statutory authority to disclose.”

CBC News also sent several questions to EPS seeking clarification or comment about specific details of the privacy assessment, EPS emails or aspects of the project. EPS did not address those questions, including:

  • why EPS did not allow time for the OIPC to review its privacy assessment before starting the pilot;
  • when data might be shared with Axon;
  • what training is involved for officers reviewing matches, and who provides it;
  • whether any AI models are trained using images or data collected by EPS.

In response to the initial list of questions from CBC News, EPS said in a statement that the police agency fulfilled its statutory obligations when it submitted the privacy assessment to the OIPC, and has since met with officials to discuss it. “As we’ve said previously, evaluating and mitigating privacy impacts is an important ongoing part of our proof of concept.” 

The statement also addressed CBC’s access to information request. 

“We’ve provided clear, factual information throughout this process and engaged in good faith,” wrote Wozny in a statement. 

“It’s disappointing that, despite this, CBC appears unwilling to reflect on its own ethical responsibilities while continuing to suggest impropriety on EPS’ part.

“Should you have specific, fact‑based questions that require clarification, we’re prepared to respond. Otherwise, we trust that when you proceed with your story, our position will be represented accurately and in full context.”

When asked, Wozny declined to clarify the statement or address follow-up questions and said the EPS would not provide anything more. 

CBC News did not share the unredacted documents with outside parties.

What’s next

While the first phase of the project was supposed to wrap at the end of December, it may have been extended. 

An EPS briefing note submitted to Chief Warren Driechel and dated Dec. 30, 2025, requests an extension of three weeks due to a system outage caused by a “critical fault,” preventing matches for seven days. The extension was sought to provide enough data for “a meaningful final evaluation to support a go/no-go decision to move to a second phase… that would involve officer notifications.”

It is not clear whether Driechel approved the request. EPS did not answer questions about the document.

The Edmonton police commission and EPS leadership will review the results of the first phase of the trial before deciding on its future use.

Henderson said the commission received a verbal update about the project in January but has made no decisions while awaiting EPS’s report on the first phase.


Before it’s torn down, a Cranbrook apartment building is helping train firefighters | CBC News


Two Yukon First Nations looking to take over their own health care needs | CBC News

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A vacant apartment building in Cranbrook, B.C., is getting one last use before it’s torn down.

“We don’t usually get these types of scenarios,” said Capt. Matt Carson with Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services, adding it’s a rare opportunity for crews.

Inside the former Claydon Villa, firefighters move through darkened hallways, navigating tight spaces and unfamiliar layouts as they simulate emergency scenarios.

For crews, it’s a chance to train in a real residential building, something difficult to replicate in controlled environments and participate in training they say can make a difference when responding to emergencies in the community.

The Claydon Villa site has a long history in Cranbrook. The 18-unit townhouse complex was originally used to house low-income families and people at risk of homelessness.

The site is set to be redeveloped into Indigenous housing, with the ʔAqantⱠanam Housing Society leading the project. 

A firefighter’s silhouette moves through thick smoke-filled room.
A firefighter holding a thermal imaging camera, which shows conditions inside the building, as firefighters navigate heat and smoke during a simulated emergency training scenario. (Amber Wang/CBC)

Deputy Fire Chief Murray Robertson says the unfamiliar setting helps crews test their skills in more realistic conditions.

“We’re entering without any prior knowledge and just testing our skills and our training,” he said. “We do have a training building at our station, but this is a nice opportunity to use a facility that we’re not familiar with.”

Fire Chief Scott Driver says training in a real-world environment helps improve operational readiness.

“The building offers a valuable and unique training environment for our firefighters,” he said. 

“Training in a new location allows our crews to enhance their operational readiness, practise realistic emergency scenarios and strengthen their skills, which directly contribute to increased community safety.”

Firefighters in full gear move into a smoke-filled housing unit carrying a hose.
Firefighters enter a unit as part of a controlled training scenario, practising entry techniques and coordination under simulated fire conditions. (Amber Wang/CBC)

Driver added that the exercises are carefully planned and controlled to ensure safety for firefighters, nearby residents and surrounding properties.

Cranbrook Fire and Emergency Services responded to 587 calls in the final three months of 2025, with about 30 per cent of those related to fire rescue.

Inside the building, crews practise navigating smoke-filled spaces and working through unfamiliar layouts, skills that can directly affect how they respond during emergencies.

“Small basements, small floor, here’s the layout, stairwells, kitchens, a couple bedrooms upstairs,” said Acting Capt. Jeremy Bertrand. “This is actually a layout we see in the community. There are other buildings set up very similarly, so you have to know how to move through the space. Muscle memory is the biggest thing in these.”

A row of houses at a residential complex is seen from a courtyard.
The former Claydon Villa townhouse complex in Cranbrook, once home to low-income residents, is set to be demolished and redeveloped into Indigenous housing. (Amber Wang/CBC)

He says training in real buildings helps firefighters better understand the types of spaces they encounter in the community, and respond more effectively under pressure.

With demolition planned for later this month, crews are making the most of the building while they still can — taking advantage of a limited window to train in the space before redevelopment begins.

“The more opportunities we get to train in real buildings in the community, instead of just our own facilities, the more it helps us,” Bertrand said. “It makes us better as a team and as a whole, and the community gets a better department.”


Нацбанк посилив гривню: офіційний курс валют на вівторок


Курс гривні до євро встановлено на рівні 50,75 грн/євро.

Нацбанк посилив гривню: офіційний курс валют на вівторок

Національний банк України встановив на вівторок, 14 квітня, офіційний курс долара до гривні на рівні 43,44 гривні за долар, таким чином українська валюта зміцнилася на 2 копійки.

Згідно з даними на сайті регулятора, щодо євро гривня також посилила позиції: офіційний курс європейської валюти на вівторок встановлено на рівні 50,75 гривні за один євро, тобто українська національна валюта зросла на 16 копійок.  

На міжбанківському валютному ринку України до 16:00 котирування гривні до долара встановилися на рівні 43,44/43,48 грн/дол., а до євро – 50,76/50,79 грн/євро.

Курс валют в Україні – останні новини

Курс долара до гривні в банках України 13 квітня подешевшав на 3 копійки і складав 43,73 гривні за долар, а продати американську валюту можна було за середнім курсом 43,23 гривні за долар. При цьому середній курс євро до гривні подорожчав на 5 копійок і складав 51,25 гривні за євро, а продати європейську валюту можна було за курсом 50,60 гривні за євро.

Водночас курс долара до гривні в “ПриватБанку” 13 квітня не змінився і становив 43,70 гривні за долар, а курс євро також залишився без змін і складав 51,20 гривні за євро. Продати американську валюту в банку можна за курсом 43,10 гривні, а євро – за курсом 50,20 гривень за одиницю іноземної валюти.

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