September 2 Edmonton Headlines
Good Friday to you, Edmonton. Ready for the long weekend?
The City released a short update on what City Council did this week. The three and four paragraph stories are great for you and me to get a glimpse at what our elected officials are talking about, and it’s bad news for newsrooms that put out the same length, or shorter stories.
That Council Roundup is an example of media and public relations skipping the middleman of newsrooms. There are a few in Edmonton (and every city) that write very little on City Hall. When they write very little they are often doing no more than what we see from the City itself in this Roundup; a few quick notes on what was on the agenda and what happened. Newsrooms are going to have to add some depth and perspective to their stories or risk people skipping them and just checking on the official Roundup.
*****
I like the gusto of outgoing Premier Ed Stelmach. He says his Conservative caucus is willing to give Edmonton money for a downtown arena, but it’s a decision that he won’t have to give final approval to. Well played.
Speaking of Stelmach…capital region municipalities want to build a better integrated transit system and he doesn’t think that’s a good idea. I take back my kudos. There’s also a consideration for an outer ring road for Calgary?! Geez. I hope Alison Redford or Doug Horner become the next premier and move on some highs-speed rail.
Calgary prosecutors will look at whether a trio of Edmonton police officers went too far during the arrest of an Edmonton shop owner. His own store’s surveillance video will be part of the evidence they can look at.
Surely the irony of attacking the Edmonton salon which produced a domestic violence ad is lost on the vandals. If you want to do something productive to show you don’t think domestic violence is a good way to sell a business, boycott the place or donate to the Bad Ad Fund.
We’ll probably be paying more for water, but it’s not clear if that will be on tax bills or EPCOR bills. Meanwhile…at EPCOR Tower…that utility is already going to try to boost fees for sewer and and drinking water. Of course, they are mulling the decision.
*****
Minimum wage went up with the new month. And it really is a minimum (even more so for those in jobs serving alcohol).
*****
Lloyd Robertson anchored his last national newscast last evening.
April 11 Edmonton Headlines
Welcome to a new week, Edmonton. I am starting to get my hopes up that spring is really, truly here.
Edmonton’s new police chief is now officially known. While he’s currently the top uniformed RCMP officer in the country Rod Knecht does have Edmonton, and Alberta, connections.
A city council committee will look at the LRT expansion plans this week, considering building it in six stages.
Beyond the new Royal Alberta Museum, how much of downtown’s redevelopment has to come from tax dollars? While Vancouver, Montreal, and Toronto are larger cities, they did see new arenas go up without public money.
The City of Edmonton is weighing in on a controversial powerline to built outside the city. Like a lot of others, the City wants to see power lines goes underground.
Edmonton is the site of an interesting study on the cost of eating healthy, and when money doesn’t necessarily mean the best diet.
A big mortgage fraud bust has been made here by the RCMP.
After hearing the hockey program at Concordia would be canceled an Edmonton businessman is throwing some money to the school to keep players on the ice.
Edmonton’s Rwandan community is remembering the genocide that destroyed their homeland.
Women, and their children, leaving abusive situations will soon have a new, affordable place to live.
Let’s take a peek deeper into the news bag to see what’s happening… (more…)
F.Y.I.: Edmonton’s king o’ twitter, Mack D. Male (@mastermaq, for all you twatters), has graciously broken down the province’s new report on the potential for high speed rail between Edmonton and Calgary so that we can all enjoy it. Very much worth reading. Go read it.
…it’s okay; I’ll wait.
