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Good morning, Edmonton.

While we’re not trying to doom and gloom you, we are going to begin with homicides; stories that are most prevalent in Edmonton news right now.

Overall, Edmonton’s got 33 homicides on record in 2011. That’s the most of any city in Canada. Though, with stories like this and this from the Edmonton Sun you’d think we lived in a war zone. I doubt a death penalty would reduce one year’s higher than usual homicide rate. Let’s remember – ALL newsrooms - that our crime rate is down,down, down.

Also, I think I’ve mentioned this before in Headlines, but the Sun’s staffers should know that the highest penalty for murder in Canada is life in prison with no chance at parole for 25 years. Not 25 years and you’re out. We can also send people away as “dangerous offenders” in Canada, which means they do not have a release date at all. These tiny bits of information, usually added at the end of a story or an opinion piece, do have an impact on how people perceive crime and criminals.

After this weekend’s (and today’s) stories I am now officially pleading with Edmonton newsrooms to stop talking to criminologist Bill Pitt. “Everybody in this city is armed” sounds like the worst crime research ever.

There are connections to Edmonton’s Somali community within our high homicide rate, and within the homicide rate for the last number of years. Police continue to try and work with members of the community to solve the many murders and killings within this population. Though, the crimes reach right across Canada inside of Somali gangs. There are, of course, many Somali-Edmontonians willing to help police, and who want to see the city operate in a peaceful manner.

Detectives, and extra Edmonton Police officers brought in to help solve homicides, are busy. An excellent point made in this story that paramedics and medical staff likely help keep the homicide number down.

While police try to solve as many killings as they can, prevention of crime is going to be the key to keeping homicide rates down on a more permanent basis.

We might have started things off with homicide, though I do hope you don’t think I’ve switched to a “If it bleeds, it leads” approach with the Headlines. I mean, I don’t want to scare anyone into thinking Edmonton has a murder around every corner. It doesn’t.

Hopefully, by compiling a lot of the weekend stories (good ones, interesting ones, ones the Edmonton Sun had) we can have a fuller conversation about what’s going on in our city, and see the work of police, community groups, and individuals to bring killers to justice and keep things as safe as possible.

Now, just for criminologist Bill Pitt, let’s put away all of our knives and continue with the day’s stories.

While it’s not yet deemed a homicide investigation, a fatal fire after midnight at a senior’s home is suspicious.

There are plenty of ways to help Edmonton’s homeless and those struggling. Giving them the cash out of your pocket is probably not the best way.

Edmontonians, and not just those that own heritage properties, need to start thinking about what our city could look like in 20, 40, 100 years. If nothing of our past is preserved we will always be a city without history, a city in transition to some greater future that might not arrive. It shocked me the last time I was in Toronto, actually kind of left me with a feeling of awe, at how many older homes and buildings still stand. Edmonton’s got an exciting and interesting history and an easy way to keep that around is to protect older buildings that say something about where we’ve come from.

Amber Alerts no good? They always need to be examined, and police need to make sure they make the right calls, but I don’t think an Amber Alert that ends nicely means the system doesn’t work. And, to avoid fearmongering and scaring people reading the news, you need to explain the system and the individual case at hand after the alert.

The Edmonton Indy registered a 0.60 rating on U.S. television. That sounds terrible, but it does mean 640,000 viewers, which is an increase over the 2010 race. I expect them to show up any day now.

Did the Indy hurt attendance at Capital Ex? The rain was likely more of a culprit. But, with attendance down, cue the people who will ask that it return to being Klondike Days.

Your power bill will rise this month, for a number of varied and business-y factors.

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All of our potential premiers like the drilling incentive program which is now being questioned as an effective stimulus program.

For all of the terrible things oil may contribute to, and the extra gross things oilsands products may have, it’s not worse on pipelines. This is, apparently, a new argument on the green side of things. I don’t think I had heard that one yet.

I think the call to get rid of a publicly-funded Catholic school system is going to get louder, especially if oil and energy revenues don’t bail the Alberta PC government out of deficit. There’d likely still be a few Catholic schools, but I think most of them would simply drop the religion and join an amalgamated public board. That would end up saving Alberta Education a few dollars though. (While this is happening, public money should probably also not go to other, smaller separate and private schools.)

Speaking of public money…those spend-crazy New Democrats don’t want to help pay for a downtown arena. They probably want more money for frivolous things like healthcare and teachers.

Still on Alberta money…The final payouts and severance are now known and I expect at least one headline to the effect of “That’s one expensive cookie.”

Big Valley Jamboree played on this weekend, as workplace charges were just laid in a stage collapse two summers ago that killed a woman.

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Edmonton’s Christian Bullock could just be a franchising genius.

Hey, we were just talking last week about the Edmonton writer that helped on the Cowboys & Aliens comic.

Technology shouldn’t kill libraries. It will change them, but they should be able to find a place in a digital world.

It's a double rainbow dudes. (Photo: Deja Springfield)

Welcome to a new week, a sunnier week, Edmonton.

So, last week there was a bit in the Progressive Conservative leadership debate about not funding a new downtown arena in Edmonton. Now the wording is getting a little, let us say, tricky.

Now, for the second time in a week, a columnist who was in favour of a downtown arena is having second thoughts.

Chinatown is again at the centre of debate and discussion around the downtown LRT connnector.

There’s been a lot of talk about historic and heritage buildings in the news recently. Another way we could lose these great old gems is the same way we can lose any building; fire.

This is one of the worst summers for mosquitoes in recent memory, and Mike Jenkins is among those at the head of the battle against the bug.

Edmonton newsrooms need a new crime expert. The one always cited, Bill Pitt, doesn’t believe the crime rate is going down. I haven’t seen any studies or figures he might have to back that up though.

There was some sort of car race this weekend. I’ll find out what kind after the jump.

Will Power won the race. And now the numbers have to be crunched on the success of Indy 2011. Though, I don’t think they release attendance figures.

There’s good news for anyone who uses the pool at Grant MacEwan University.

It’s not your imagination, there are more trees in Kinnaird Ravine.

After one year missing, a local family will say goodbye to a disappeared couple.

A man, last living in Edmonton, suspected of being a war criminal from Honduras, was arrested shortly after the Canadian government issued a call for the arrest of alleged war criminals hiding in Canada.

Edmonton’s Norwegian community members are among those in shock over a terrorist attack and mass murder in Norway.

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Nothing wrong with a little democratic renewal. Let’s shake things up! And since the President of the U.S. has a two-term limit I highly doubt losing 1/3 tax exempt status on an MLA salary or any other minor changes to keep it from being a lifelong job would hinder all the best candidates. You might even get better ones.

All things being considered equal, is the thing the Alberta government best at keeping rats from populating the province?

The County of Barrhead is under water and declaring disaster.

The Big Valley Jamboree is back this week, and the concert, its promoters, and the City of Camrose, are all being sued over a stage collapse two years ago.

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Did you see the base jumpers downtown on Saturday?

The Journal’s got a look at the colourful and playful Edmonton paintings of local artist Jason Blower. And how you can get his prints at Vivid Print, along with other Edmonton and Alberta art, photos, and prints. What a neat story. Though, I do think I saw something like this, in some sort of TV show… produced by two highly attractive people.

You’ll also want to check out the artwork at the new Queen Elizabeth Pool.

This guy is always ready to party.

I know it’s raining. A lot. But, there’s some sun in the weekend forecast, and not everything that’s happening is outdoors, so we can still have fun this weekend. Come on, it’ll be fun!

We’ve got plenty of festivals on. Rain or shine, they’ll be going all weekend (well, most of them, so watch for venue changes and cancellations if the rain never stops).

Our annual summer exhibition, Capital Ex, begins today. So, get your cotton candy on.

A Taste of Edmonton is in Churchill Square. (As it always coincides with Capital Ex, which is a one-stop LRT ride away). Get your eat on from lots of Edmonton restaurants. Or take your food home and deep fry it. Anything goes!

The Freewill Shakespeare Festival winds down for another summer, in Hawrelak Park. Of course, there’s the Edmonton Indy and Race Week Edmonton events (most of the events are downtown, the race is at the City Centre Airport).

On Sunday, Fork Fest begins part 2 of its summer run. Time to get your local eat on.

In arts…Year of the Rabbit wraps up this weekend. It’s a combination of visual arts and a play, at the Catalyst Theatre. Wicked is also playing in Edmonton. There’s burlesque at The ARTery tomorrow night, with the River City Review. This is also the weekend for Edmonton: The Musical.

Pretty solid music weekend, so you can stay dry. The New Music West conference and festival is in Edmonton, and will have plenty of shows around the city. The Frolics, The Burning Sands, and Hook ‘Em Revue are at Wunderbar…Kenny Shields and Streetheart are at the Century Casino…Warning to Avoid, GBM, and rhodes play at New City Legion…Manraygun is at The Empress…

The Taste of Edmonton and Race Week Edmonton festivals also have their share of music.

And there’s the Sasquatch Sweet Sixteen Festival, at Rangeton, Alberta. Bring the rubber boots!

The Campus Community Garden is planning a second shot at an open house. They are certainly hoping for a sunny Saturday.

In sports…the Edmonton Capitals are home to the Chico Outlaws this weekend…and the Edmonton Prospects are home to Medicine Hat, at John Fry Park…there’s also the Kokanee Edmonton Canada Cup in Kinsmen Park, so expect a muddy good time on mountain bikes!

If you’re into local government and transit, you could also check out the Downtown LRT connector workshop happening Sunday afternoon.

It’s Race Week Edmonton, Edmonton!

Leading into the Indy race on Sunday, there are plenty of events and concerts downtown, at West Edmonton Mall, and up in the Kingsway area, to try and make the Indy more of a festival than just a race.

Among the events and fun:

The Ford Fun Zone in Centennial Plaza (behind the Stanley A. Milner Library)

Race Week Street Festival in Rice Howard Way

Nazareth

The Old Spice Guy and DJ Pete Tong (which always makes me think of the fantastic movie “It’s All Gone Pete Tong“)

A show and shine

Castrol Raceway is racing

And more!

The race, by the way, is at the City Centre Airport on Sunday.

Hey there, Edmonton, let’s do this news thing.

You’ve only got a few more days to let the City know what you think of The Way We Green. That’s the environmental plan for the next number of years.

The Edmonton Catholic School District may be facing tough budget decisions without a lot of money coming from the Alberta government, but it is looking at expanding its French immersion school.

While arson is down this year, so far, May 4 was declared “Arson Awareness Day,” in the hope of bringing more light to what is not in fact a victimless crime.

Edmonton Police have charged a man after three women alleged to have been sexually assaulted when heading to a home for a job interview. Even if a business is in a home, I think it’s probably still a good idea to meet people from the Internet in a public space.

The second annual Victims of Homicide Conference begins today in Edmonton.

Edmonton’s industrial real estate market is picking up steam.

The Valley Zoo begins a new chapter today, trying to re-brand when zoos sometimes feel like relics of a different place, a world where information about any animal is readily available at the click of a mouse. (The computer kind of mouse.)

If you take a buzz by the Kingsway area, you’ll notice construction on the LRT line to NAIT, and also on the new Indy racetrack.

Edmonton’s urban landscape could be improved by small things like a little more lighting here, more open space there, art on more walls.

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Alberta’s largest oil spill in a generation may be affecting people living in a nearby community.

Your health information will, one day soonish, be at your fingertips. Right now, the Alberta government has simply launched a website full of general health information. There’s also a new wait time website.

Alberta’s Workers Compensation Board is providing coverage for four more cancers for firefighters.

The workplace safety blitzes continue to turn up lots of violations, and next on the inspection list is places young people will be found in larger numbers over the summer months.

Partners are being sought to help the provincial government build up to $100-million in affordable housing.

We are more likely here, in Alberta, to default on our mortgage payments than anywhere else in Canada.

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There’s nothing wrong with admiring someone’s great pair of short-shorts, but let’s remember that they are actual people. And let’s remind the Badminton World Federation of that.

Happy Masturbation Month!