Powerful storm system forecast to hit Southern California hardest Monday



Powerful storm system forecast to hit Southern California hardest Monday
Officials with the National Weather Service are forecasting heavy rains, possible thunderstorms and strong winds as a powerful storm system that’s expected to last well into the week makes its way into Southern California. A winter storm warning has already been issued for the Eastern San Gabriel Mountains and Northern Ventura County Mountains as much as two feet of snow could blanket higher elevations. At lower […]


Games Inbox: When will Super Smash Bros. be on Nintendo Switch 2?


Games Inbox: When will Super Smash Bros. be on Nintendo Switch 2?
Is Super Smash Bros. coming to Switch 2? (Nintendo)

The Monday letters page realises that the next gen Xbox will be able to play PS5 games, as one reader hopes Bluepoint Games isn’t working on God Of War.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Nintendo logic
So, Sony has had a successful State of Play, their best in years I’d say, and Xbox’s was good too (I’ll be honest, I can’t remember anything about it, but I remember the buzz was decent). That means that Nintendo is the next one to have a showcase, but we still don’t have a date for it.

I’ve seen some rumours that it’ll be March, but I feel that’s just the obvious guess anyway. But my question is what will they be talking about? All we know about from them at the moment is Fire Emblem and Splatoon Raiders and while I don’t think many people here would consider them a particularly big deal you just don’t know with Nintendo.

But surely they must be preparing to announce at least one new triple-A game (or whatever you’d call them with Nintendo). It’s probably not Animal Crossing or Zelda, because the timings don’t work out, so to me the two obvious options are Super Mario or Smash Bros.

You might say Mario is the most obvious, but Nintendo has been so weird about it so far I don’t think there’s any guarantee they’ll suddenly become predictable. My bet would be on Smash Bros., with some new characters and other minor new content. Not the most thrilling choice, in my opinion, but the logical choice. I would expect it to be the big game for Christmas.
Ishi

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Perfect prelude
There was a lot of good stuff at the State of Play but it didn’t shake my opinion that Resident Evil Requiem is the most exciting game at the moment and the one I’m most looking forward to. The new footage looked great and so has everything else before it. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a game not make a single mistake before release and always look like a must have.

If it turns out to be a dud after all this I will actually be really impressed that Capcom has been able to hide it so well. I don’t expect that will be the case though and while I’ll still wait for the reviews I’m predicting this will be one of the best game of this year and probably the whole generation. Don’t let me down now!
Purple Ranger

Stuck in Sparta
I tend to agree with the Reader’s Feature about God Of War. Sons Of Sparta looks bad and a remake trilogy does sound like a big wasted effort, given those earlier games were nothing like the new ones in terms of gameplay or story. It’d be tragic if Santa Monica Studio were wasting their time on it, but it’d be just as bad if it were Bluepoint Games, doing it – which is something I’ve heard fans talking about.

It’s not that remaking the game itself is a terrible idea, it’s just that by doing that you’re locking out talented developers for five years or more. Developers that could be busy moving the franchise forward or just generally not redoing something that already exists and you can play as remasters. I just don’t see any good outcome, because if they get a no-name dev, like with Sons Of Sparta, then that drastically decreases the odds that it will be any good.
Focus

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Two Keanus
I didn’t think much of the state of play. The hair on the back of my neck when the John Wick trailer started playing. It would have been obvious to anyone that has watched at least one of the films it was a John Wick game.

But that’s tempered by the fact that I’m an old gamer that remembers when movie tie-in was just another way of saying a game was a poor quality, rushed cash-in. Remember The Matrix game?

GoldenEye 007 was the first game I remember that was based on a film that turned out to actually be good.
TomTom

For the love of the game
Interesting comparison of Sony and Valve’s attitude in the Reader’s Feature at the weekend. I would not have thought of the comparison myself, but it does work. I think the problem for both companies is that ordinary games – basically anything but a mega hit – have become too small for them to bother with.

This seems a mistake to me though, as in Sony’s case they lose out on a key incentive in buying their console. But for both companies it’s a waste of talent and knowledge that has taken years to build up and is no longer being used properly. As long as a profit is made why not make them anyway, for the kudos alone?

That worked for Astro Bot, which wasn’t a big hit but made people think better of Sony for a while. Soras will probably be similar, but I feel we need a lot more of that, multiple times a year.
Tenna

Only on PlayStation
Perhaps I’m just being slow here, but I realised that if the next gen Xbox is just a PC in console’s clothing, as it were, then that means that all PlayStation 5 games will, eventually, be on Xbox. I guess it doesn’t really mean much, since Microsoft doesn’t get a cut of the sales or anything, but we may finally have our all-in-one single format (except for Nintendo, but that was never going to happen).

For years that seemed like something to really wish for but now that it’s actually close to happening it feels like nobody will actually care. In the end, the PC has been the single format all along (especially for those using emulators) and Microsoft putting the Xbox logo on a different machine isn’t going to change that.

I think we’ll soon begin to realise that, in terms of consoles, single format domination is a bad thing. People are upset about Sony not releasing more first party games but now that the Xbox has slipped into irrelevance they have no incentive to change.

Why spend all that money when you’ve already proved it doesn’t matter to whether your game Is a success or not? Sony won by doing nothing so there’s no incentive to do more next time.
Tom Meadows

Last gen
I’ve been watching Nioh 3 a bit on Twitch and wondered whether or not it should have been a dual console release. I can’t see any reason it couldn’t work on the PlayStation 4. Surely they could lower the resolution or whatever it was that stopped a version on PlayStation 4. It seems like Sony left money on the table with this decision. To me at least it still looks the same as Nioh 1 and 2.

Pretty sure there’s still millions of PlayStation 4 users out there.
Bobwallett

GC: It’s not Sony’s game.

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Positive recap
I’m still thinking about Thursday’s State Of Play, because it was more than a few steps ahead of the usual disappointments that we are usually served by Sony. It absolutely began with a bang. Death Stranding 2 on PC; Ghost Of Yōtei: Legends in March; Kena 2; the reveal of a John Wick game, with Keanu Reeves returning in the role of the Baba Yaga. Silent Hill Townfall was revealed and it’s first person; that was quite the surprise. It’s also set in an island inspired by Scotland, so that’s a nice change of pace to see locations from Japan to the UK being used. It’s a very fresh take on the series.

Metal Gear Solid 4 is free from PlayStation 3 jail. I’ve wanted for this for many years and to see it finally happen is just unbelievable. Saros continues to look stunning and I can’t wait for it, personally. Pragmata looks charming and I actually have played the demo; very enjoyable and a fun hacking romp – Diana is a charmer as well. Project Windless is quite interesting. A chicken with a bone to pick and dual swords. Yep, I’m sold.

The anime titles and Marathon were my low points. I’m not particularly interested in either title. Control: Resonant and 007 First Light continue to impress. Crimson Moon sounds like a lot of fun and I look forward to seeing more. The final reveal was the remake of the God Of War trilogy, which was a win for me personally. It’s obviously years away, and it did just begin development, but spoken as a massive fan of the franchise I’m absolutely pumped for this.

However, it was disappointing to see no Phantom Blade 0 at the event. At least pre-orders could have been revealed. Since it does have a release date, after all. We didn’t see Final Fantasy 7 Remake Part 3 or Kingdom Hearts 4. That was a let down on Square Enix’s part. Maybe we’ll see those at the Tokyo Game Show.

Wolverine will be shared in the spring, so I wasn’t expecting that. All in all, it was a fantastic event and the games look very stellar. There’s much to be excited for and I can’t wait to see more. I’ll also say that I would have liked to see more from Judas and Tides Of Annihilation and Lego Batman, but I can wait longer. To a wonderful 2026 and the release of Resident Evil Requiem in two weeks!
Shahzaib Sadiq

Inbox also-rans
I’ve got a lot of sympathy for the Highguard dev complaining about ‘gamer culture’. It’s not my type of game, so I wouldn’t be interested in it whatever happened. But I never saw any explanation for why everyone turned on it except that they were hoping for something else to be revealed at The Game Awards – which is hardly the developer’s fault.
Kakem

Am I the only one that thought the latest trailer for Marathon made it look like Splatoon? Not necessarily a bad thing but why do they have blue blood?
Gonk

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You can also submit your own 500 to 600-word Reader’s Feature at any time via email or our Submit Stuff page, which if used will be shown in the next available weekend slot.

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Department of War transports next-generation reactor in nuclear energy milestone


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The Department of War on Sunday transported a next-generation nuclear reactor aboard a C-17 from California to Utah, advancing President Donald Trump’s executive order to modernize America’s nuclear energy infrastructure and strengthen U.S. national security.

The reactor was flown from March Air Reserve Base in California to Hill Air Force Base in Utah and is expected to be transported to the Utah San Rafael Energy Lab in Orangeville for testing and evaluation – a key step in assessing how advanced nuclear systems could support military installations and remote defense operations.

The Department of War shared images on X showing the reactor loaded onto the C-17 aircraft.

“We’re advancing President Trump’s executive order on nuclear energy,” the post read. “Moments from now, we will airlift a next-generation nuclear reactor.”

TRUMP ADMIN POURS $1B INTO MASSIVE EFFORT TO RESTART NUCLEAR REACTOR AT HISTORIC MELTDOWN SITE

The Department of War said the successful delivery and installation of the reactor will open new possibilities for energy resilience and strategic independence for the nation’s defense, highlighting what officials described as an agile, innovative and commercial-first approach to addressing critical infrastructure challenges.

“By harnessing the power of advanced nuclear technology, we are not only enhancing our national security but championing a future of American energy dominance,” the agency said in a press release. “This event is a testament to the ingenuity of the American spirit and a critical advancement in securing our nation’s freedom and strength for generations to come.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of War for additional comment.

THREE MILE ISLAND NUCLEAR PLANT MAKES COMEBACK WITH $1B IN FEDERAL BACKING TO MEET INCREASING ENERGY DEMANDS

Department of War transports next-generation reactor in nuclear energy milestone

The Department of War airlifted a next-generation nuclear reactor to Utah, advancing President Trump’s push to modernize U.S. energy and strengthen national security. (U.S. Department of War X)

In May, President Donald Trump signed several executive orders aimed at expanding domestic nuclear energy development. At the time, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said America led the postwar world on “all things nuclear” until it “stagnated” and was “choked with overregulation.”

War Secretary Pete Hegseth added that the U.S. was “going to have the lights on and AI operating when others are not because of our nuclear capabilities.”

One of Trump’s nuclear directives called for reforming Energy Department research and development, accelerating reactor testing at national laboratories and establishing a pilot program for new construction.

ENERGY SECRETARY REVEALS HOW US NUCLEAR TESTS WILL WORK

Nuclear energy, the White House said in the order, “is necessary to power the next generation technologies that secure our global industrial, digital, and economic dominance, achieve energy independence, and protect our national security.”

The nuclear expansion effort is part of a broader administration push to reinforce domestic energy production and grid reliability across multiple sectors.

Days later, Trump signed another executive order directing the Department of War to work directly with coal-fired power plants on new long-term power purchasing agreements, arguing the move would ensure “more reliable power and stronger and more resilient grid power.”

The order, “Strengthening United States National Defense with America’s Beautiful Clean Coal Power Generation Fleet,” states, “The United States must ensure that our electric grid … remains resilient and reliable, and not reliant on intermittent energy sources,” calling the grid “the foundation of our national defense as well as our economic stability.”

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“It is the policy of the United States that coal is essential to our national and economic security,” the order adds.

Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr and Charles Creitz contributed to this report.


B.C. 2026 budget ‘neither’ big cuts nor tax increase, minister says | Globalnews.ca


British Columbia’s finance minister says this year’s upcoming budget is focused on protecting core services, but added it is a budget that is neither full of big cuts nor a large rise in taxes.

B.C. 2026 budget ‘neither’ big cuts nor tax increase, minister says  | Globalnews.ca

Brenda Bailey told reporters during a pre-budget presentation Sunday that the budget was one crafted for “very serious times.”

“There are many who have expressed to me that now is the time to make big cuts and bring the deficit down quickly and there are others who strongly hold the view we should be raising taxes and doubling down on providing even more services than we’re doing right now, and this budget is neither of those things,” Bailey said.

Bailey’s comments come days after Shannon Salter, deputy minister to Premier David Eby, said in an email that B.C. has an “unsustainable provincial budget deficit.”

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A recent background briefing authorized by the premier’s office and delivered to reporters noted that the deficit is too high, but the government is committed to protecting core services while creating financial room for any unforeseen economic eventualities.

Current forecasts peg the provincial deficit at $11.2 billion.

Asked if this year’s deficit would be higher or lower than last year’s, Bailey said she would talk about it in the budget but said the plan is for it to decrease year over year and something that will “take time.”

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The minister told reporters that the government has been investing in building for the province – ranging from new hospitals and schools to post-secondary education and housing – something they plan to protect with the budget.


Click to play video: 'B.C. warns of public sector job cuts in upcoming budget'


B.C. warns of public sector job cuts in upcoming budget


She said those investments would continue, with education and health care named as the primary core services the government aims to protect. She added that commitments have also been made to public safety, noting recent investments to tackle extortion threats in places like Surrey, B.C.

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Bailey said she recognizes the need to bring the deficit down.

Though she would not give a number, she credited attrition in the public service for a reduction of 1,000 full-time equivalent positions (FTEs) and said “that work goes further” in the budget.

“We need to go further than we’ve been able to go so far and you’ll see that reflected in the budget,” Bailey said.


Eby has previously said the government would continue to reduce the size of the public sector.

The opposition Conservatives have said the provincial debt has “exploded” under Eby. When he took office in 2022/23, the debt was $89.4 billion, the Conservatives said in a release, but it is now projected to top $155 billion this fiscal year.

Conservative finance critic Peter Milobar said recently that questions need to be raised as to where all the money has gone.

“When the government is previewing cuts and new difficulties for families in the upcoming budget, it’s a question that must be asked,” Milobar said in a release. “Under this Eby government, announcements haven’t translated into actions or outcomes.”

Sunday’s preview of the budget was the first real glimpse into what was coming. The speech from the throne, delivered this past week, focused on helping the community of Tumbler Ridge recover after a school shooting left nine people dead, including the killer. Six of the victims were under 13 years old, five of whom died at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.

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Bailey was asked Sunday about supports for the community, including a new school after it was decided students would not return to the building following the shooting.

She said that the budget had been “in the can” prior to Tuesday’s tragedy, but said there is a contingency fund available for unexpected needs. She said either contingencies would be used to help the community, or adjustments would be made in the education budget, noting commitments have been made by the government.

The budget, which Bailey described as “disciplined, focused and serious,” is set to be delivered Tuesday.

with files from The Canadian Press

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


Cops, grieving parents, blast California’s soft drink driving laws, LA lawmakers after horror crashes



As California’s deadly drunk driving problem has exploded in recent years, with the state being home to six of the country’s 10 worst cities for DUIs, the Los Angeles police union is now placing the blame squarely at the feet of socialist politicians for slashing resources and soft on crime policies.

After three LAPD officers were hospitalized during a suspected DUI pursuit in the San Fernando Valley Saturday night, the police union released a fiery statement to The California Post, condemning lefty lawmakers.

“Driving while intoxicated is not a victimless crime and when Los Angeles politicians such as Councilmember Nithya Raman and Eunisses Hernandez repeatedly vote to cut police officers, stop enforcing DUI laws and end most other traffic enforcement, in the name of criminal justice reform, it only makes our streets less safe for every Angeleno,” the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles Police Protective League said in a statement.

And while the officers were lucky to be released from the hospital without any major injuries, some families aren’t so fortunate.

Jennifer Levi knows the pain of losing a love one all too well. Her 18-year-old son was killed by a suspected repeat drunk driver, and thanks to laws regarding non-violent crimes and good behavior, offenders can serve little jail time and find themselves quickly back behind the wheel — something she is afraid will happen in her case. 

Braun Levi, 18, was a nationally ranked tennis player slated to play at the University of Virginia before he was struck and killed by a suspected drunk driver in May. Jennifer Levi

“The safety of our roads is deteriorating to a point where everyday it feels like there’s a death from a drunk driver,” said Levi, who lost her son Braun back in May after he was struck and killed while walking home by Jenia Resha Belt, 33, who faces one count of murder.

The California Post has reached out to Raman and Hernandez’s offices for comment but did not hear back.

Jennifer Levi, the mother of Braun, has championed Senate Bill 907 to strengthen California’s drunk driving laws. Jennifer Levi

Now, Levi is one of several victims stepping up to push lawmakers to crack down on California’s lax drunk driving laws, including Democrat State Senator Bob Archuleta, whose eldest granddaughter died from a head-on crash with a drunk driver in 2024.

“You’re intoxicated and you cause great bodily injury to someone, that is considered a violent crime, but the killing of that person would not be a violent crime under current law,” a spokesperson for Archuleta said. 

But it’s not just drunk drivers who are are getting let off the hook, Allison Layman is fighting to revoke another soft law that went into effect in 2021. That law, Assembly Bill 3234, expanded the misdemeanor diversion program to include vehicular manslaughter after her 23-year-old son was killed by a drunk driver.

“What’s happened in the last five years, is judges are, I mean, almost handing it out like candy,” Lyman said of the program that allows offenders to receive less punishment than a speeding ticket in some cases.

Drunk driving continues to be a major problem across the state — with a DUI rate of 3.68 per 1,000 drivers, San Jose is second on the list for worst cities in America, followed by Sacramento, according to recent data from LendingTree. Fresno came in at fifth on the list with a DUI rate of 3.31, followed by Long Beach at seven, then Bakersfield, and Oakland.

Levi’s son, Braun, was one of those tragedies that happens too often in California.

“He was gonna go play tennis at the University of Virginia. He loved life, he was a great kid, he worked hard,” Levi said. “It’s completely devastating to us, and I couldn’t believe it happened to us and it’s just so sad that that our state is like this.”

Braun was a nationally recognized tennis player, who was killed just a week before his high school graduation. 

Just over 1,300 people were killed in an alcohol-involved crash in 2023, representing a more than 50% increase over the past decade, according to the California Office of Traffic Safety. Thousands more were injured, and more often than not, it’s a result from repeat offenders, according to a report from CalMatters

“What shocks me the most is how little time they serve in jail for killing somebody,” Levi told The California Post. “Right now, you are drunk and you injure someone, you will most likely spend more time in jail than if you kill somebody, because it’s called an accident. Braun’s death certificate says accident. That was not an accident.” 

Levi said her son, Braun, was a “great kid” who “loved life.” Jennifer Levi

While Levi’s case is still ongoing, there are even more recent examples of vehicular manslaughter that resulted in early release. Over the weekend, a California woman who killed a 21-year-old cyclist in her fourth distracted-driving crash was set to be released early on Valentine’s Day for good behavior. She began serving a nine-year prison term in 2023. 

“Because the way credits work, for good behavior and doing certain things while you’re incarcerated, non-violent felonies you can get up to 50% of your time taken off, while a violent felony you can only have 15% taken off,” a spokesperson for Archuleta told The Post. 

Senator Bob Archuleta (D-Pico Rivera) lost his eldest granddaughter in 2024 during the holiday season when she was killed by a drunk driver. MediaNews Group via Getty Images

Archuleta introduced Senate Bill 907, which aims to strengthen California’s DUI enforcement and sentencing laws. 

The bill would target repeat offenders and add gross vehicular manslaughter and vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated to the violent felony list, ensuring those who killed someone while drunk driving serve more time than someone who injures a person. 

Levi told The Post, while nothing will ever bring her son back, she is pushing for change so the roads are safe for future generations. Jennifer Levi

Another key provision of the bill is “Braun’s Law,” which mandates Watson Warnings in cases where the perpetrator pleas down from a DUI to a hit and run — following the warning, if a person kills someone while drinking and driving they face second degree murder charges. 

“The Watson Warning is not read consistently throughout California,” Levi said. “The woman who killed our son, she had a previous DUI but made a misdemeanor plea deal for a hit and run and was never read the Watson Warning.”

While the bill, which has bipartisan support, would be a major enhancement on the state’s drunk driving laws, it doesn’t address 2020’s Assembly Bill 3234, which expanded misdemeanor diversion programs to vehicular manslaughter — something Lyman has urged lawmakers to reform after her son Connor Lopez was killed by a distracted driver. 

Conor Lopez. Allison Lyman

Lyman, who lost her son last summer, said because of this diversion program, speeding tickets can come with more penalties than vehicular manslaughter. 

“We think it’s to empty the jails, that’s been kind of the consensus as we’ve spoken about it — is there was a big soft on crime push, and they didn’t want to pay to put people in jail,” Lyman told The Post.

An investigation by CalMatters found that because of the misdemeanor diversion program, some people charged with vehicular manslaughter were able to keep the case off their driving record. 

Connor’s mother, Allison Lyman, is fighting to revoke the misdemeanor diversion for vehicular manslaughter. Allison Lyman

Lopez, a pianist, was killed in April in Elk Grove when a driver turned into oncoming traffic and hit him while riding his motorcycle.

“He died on the road, that driver never got out of her car,” Lyman said. “She sat there as others ran to cover his body.” 

The driver, Harjit Kaur, was charged with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. Connor’s family was told to brace themselves for the likely chance a misdemeanor diversion is granted. 

“We’re just anticipating at one of the hearings that will be part of her defense,” Lyman said. “It’s like the moment you find out about it, you start living that nightmare. It hasn’t even happened yet and you know, we’ve been told brace for it.”

Lyman is now trying to raise as much awareness as possible to revoke the eligibility of diversion programs for vehicular manslaughter convictions, even starting a petition that has garnered nearly 13,000 signatures to push lawmakers to act. 

Conor Lopez, 23, and Braun Levi, 18 were both killed in tragic accidents and their families are now pushing to reform California’s drunk driving and vehicular manslaughter laws.

California has a history of deadly roads, and a criminal justice system that Lyman said “it’s like the compassion goes toward the criminal and not the victim.”

And while no sentence or justice will ever bring their children back, Lyman and Levi are making it their mission to make the state’s roads safer for future generations.

“The woman who killed our son had a suspended license,” Levi said. “Our family will be disappointed and nothing will ever bring our son back and no sentencing or charge will ever feel like enough, but I feel so strongly about changing California for the future.” 


Alberta RCMP report more calls of people with weapons in wake of Tumbler Ridge shooting | Globalnews.ca


Mounties in Alberta say there’s been an uptick in calls for people with a weapon and school lockdowns since the mass school shooting in Tumbler Ridge.

B.C. 2026 budget ‘neither’ big cuts nor tax increase, minister says  | Globalnews.ca

An RCMP spokesman says that he can’t say with certainty that the increase is connected with the shooting that left nine dead last Tuesday, but it is unusual and Mounties believe people have been more sensitive to the tragedy.

“Having those (calls) in that short amount of time is more than what is standard,” Cpl. Troy Savinkoff said in a phone interview on Sunday.

“We certainly can’t disprove that the recent event in Tumbler Ridge has brought those sensitivities … Obviously, due to the recent extremely unfortunate incident, we’re trying to be accountable to that.”

Savinkoff said Mounties received four calls for a person with a weapon in the last week in the southern town of High River, the northern city of Fort McMurray, in the west-central town of Edson, and in Sherwood Park, a hamlet located east of Edmonton.

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The calls forced several surrounding schools into either a lockdown or a hold-and-secure status for hours, he said.

In lockdowns, students, teachers and staff remain in place until a call has been resolved, while a hold-and-secure status means a school has locked its doors but classes are proceeding as usual.

Savinkoff said only the call in Edson resulted in charges after a suspect threw beef jerky at students while screaming Bible verses and then shot what sounded like a gun three times in front of a principal before fleeing the scene.

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“That firearm ended up being a cap gun and the suspect who is a 39-year-old from B.C. was charged with multiple offences,” Savinkoff said.


Mounties responded to the second call for a student with a weapon a day after the Tumbler Ridge shooting on Wednesday in Fort McMurray.

Although the student was not carrying a gun, Savinkoff said investigators believe he previously brought one to school.

“That investigation is ongoing,” he said.

On the same day, officers responded to a call for a person believed to be carrying a firearm in a Sherwood Park park near two schools, that were later ordered to lockdown.

That report was deemed unfounded.

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Click to play video: 'MLA Larry Neufeld on community resiliance following Tumbler Ridge tragedy'


MLA Larry Neufeld on community resiliance following Tumbler Ridge tragedy


“We don’t believe that the caller was trying to mislead police. We just think that they were mistaken,” Savinkoff said.

A fourth call was made to Mounties two days after the Tumbler Ridge shooting.

The RCMP spokesman said the caller told police a shooter was coming to school that day and Mounties believe the caller was using a software to disguise their voice.

Adam Lankford, a professor in the University of Alabama’s criminology and criminal justice department, says the uptick is not surprising as his research in the United States has found that the emotions people feel after a mass shooting are strong.

“And in some cases, fear may be causing people to overreact or err on the side of caution … so they’re reporting more,” said Lankford, who is also chair of his department.

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“Likely the answer is both.”

Even though the chances of another mass shooting are low, the fear communities feel in the aftermath is high.

“It’s kind of like an earthquake or other natural disasters where what you have to lose is so great that it’s not necessarily reassuring that it is unlikely to happen,” he said.

And while people in the United States or war-torn countries may become numb to certain types of tragedy, in a place like Canada, where school shootings are rare, the fear can linger.

“If you live somewhere with the idea that this can’t happen here, and then it does, it can be kind of shocking to your world view.”

Savinkoff said Mounties are encouraging people to continue calling police guilt-free if they do believe someone is armed.

“Early detection of these incidents is extremely important. It’s truly the type of file where seconds count,” he said.

RCMP in Alberta did respond to the shooting in Tumbler Ridge and so the deaths in British Columbia have hit the service hard, he added.

“Even though it’s a different province, it was close to Alberta so it has been a tough last week for all police.”

&copy 2026 The Canadian Press


‘He was a man on a mission’: Eddie Carvery remembered for keeping memory of Africville alive | CBC News


‘He was a man on a mission’: Eddie Carvery remembered for keeping memory of Africville alive | CBC News

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Eddie Carvery, the activist who crusaded for reparations for the former residents of Africville, N.S., has died of cancer.

Carvery was born in 1946 in Africville, a Black community that stood on the shores of the Bedford Basin.

The town was bulldozed in the 1960s after decades of mistreatment and neglect from the City of Halifax to make way for industrial developments, including the MacKay Bridge.

Carvery, 79, lived in a trailer on the grounds of Africville Park for more than 50 years in protest of the destruction of the community.

“He was an anchor of memory, a reminder that Africville has not gone away, it was not destroyed,” said El Jones.

“His trailer in Africville was a site you’d bring people to see when they went out to Africville, to understand that Africville is still living and the people are still connected.”

Several trailers sit on a hill in front of the sea
Eddie Carvery’s trailers rest on the shore of Bedford Basin, the site of the former community of Africville in Halifax on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2015. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)

Residents who had deeds to their property were compensated according to the market value of their homes, but those who didn’t, which was much of the town’s population, were given $500.

Carvery began his protest in 1970, taking up residence on the site of the former town in what was then Seaview Park.

He called for individual financial compensation for the former residents and the restoration of the land to them.

A man with frizzy hair and a beard looks at the camera
Carvery is shown in a Feb. 25, 2015, photo. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)

“He was on a mission. Nothing could deter him from the path that he was on,” said Eddy Carvery III, his grandson. “There was lots of suffering, but he somehow found a way to keep pushing forward, and that was through the love of his community.”

Carvery III said that he intends to carry on his grandfather’s fight for reparations.

“Most people get to inherit some kind of wealth, a home. I inherited a duty, but I couldn’t be more proud of it,” he said.

Despite multiple eviction orders, most recently in July of 2025, and the destruction of his trailers in 2019, Carvery maintained his protest. He did reduce his time at the Africville site in recent years due to health concerns, living part-time in an apartment.

WATCH | Eddie Carvery vows to fight eviction notice:

Longtime Africville activist vows to fight latest eviction notice

Activist Eddie Carvery has vowed to fight another eviction notice to remove his trailer from land owned by the Africville Heritage Trust Society. Carvery has spent 50 years fighting for individual reparations for the people of Africville, a historic Black community the city of Halifax bulldozed in the 1960s.

Carvery faced legal issues beyond the evictions.

A 1990 Nova Scotia Court of Appeal decision said he had an “extensive” criminal record going back to 1964, which included convictions for robbery and assault.

In 1990, Carvery pleaded guilty to aggravated assault against his partner.

“He was far from perfect, but none of us are,” said Carvery III. “My grandfather was very open about his past and things that he did, but he made his atonements.”

Carvery III said a public funeral will be held in the coming weeks at the New Horizons Baptist Church on Cornwallis Street.

A sign resting up again a rock with cranes in the background.
Africville was founded in 1848, but was bulldozed by the former City of Halifax in the 1960s to make room for the MacKay Bridge. (Jeorge Sadi/CBC)

The City of Halifax issued a formal apology to the former residents of Africville and their descendants in 2010, and pledged $3 million, along with a hectare of land, to the Africville Heritage Trust.

Some members of the community said that that wasn’t enough.

Some of the former residents of Africville are currently suing Halifax for the damages caused by Africville’s destruction, and are seeking individual financial compensation.

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