2025 7:00 AM EDT | Last Updated: May 3The owner of the City Centre mall in Thompson says reported incidents have dropped since it started playing classical music outside the mall (Sanuda Ranawake/CBC)Social SharingThe City Centre Mall in Thompson has turned to playing classical music from a loudspeaker to deter loitering which it says helps reduce crime in the mall parking lot We had a security guard who was hospitalized after being hit on the head with a shopping cart before we had purchased the property and numerous other illegal activity," said Brock Rogerson the mall turned last November to playing a range of classical music in hopes of keeping people from gathering in the parking lot — a technique that has been used at other stores and malls across the country Rogerson acknowledges the mall had to turn the volume down after being cited by the City of Thompson for a noise bylaw violation there's been a 24 per cent reduction in reported incidents at the mall The City of Thompson confirmed that it has received complaints about the music and issued a citation for a bylaw violation Rogerson said the music is at a reasonable level now there'd be a group of 20 or 30 people and within five minutes they would walk and leave," he said But not all shoppers think the music is a solution to the problem Milt Gobel said he'd like to see more long-term solutions to address the root causes of crime He called the music an "interesting experiment," but said better solutions would be "proper housing and an opportunity for these folks to be where they should be — in a safe place." who lives near Thompson and drives into the city for shopping "I think it's a way to keep people away who they assume aren't paying any money," he said and I really don't need to hear that blasting," he said Wickert said the music makes him want to avoid the mall and says more security officers might be a better alternative Rogerson says the safety of shoppers is his main concern and that the vocal group of people complaining about the music are outnumbered by those who value public safety That's a tradeoff he said many are willing to make "I'll tell you what [customers] 100 per cent are discouraged by "We have two grocery stores at this mall People should be able to get their groceries and not be approached and either verbally or physically assaulted while they're trying to get … their day-to-day necessities." Thompson mall turns to classical music to deter crime 3 days agoDuration 2:10The City Centre mall in the northern Manitoba city of Thompson is playing classical music in its parking lot to stop people from loitering there, which the mall's owner hopes will in turn reduce crime.ABOUT THE AUTHORSanuda Ranawake Sanuda Ranawake works with the CBC bureau in Thompson He previously worked with the CBC bureau in Corner Brook It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem VideoMan rescued after small plane crashes into Lake Ontario near Tommy Thompson ParkCTV News aviation specialist Phyl Durdey says it looks like the aircraft that crashed into Lake Ontario was trying to get back to Toronto's island airport. Twitter feed ©2025 BellMedia All Rights Reserved Goaltending is an integral part of the Stanley Cup Playoffs To better understand the strengths and weaknesses of each goaltender remaining the past 100 goals allowed for each goaltender in the regular season and every goal in the playoffs were charted to see what patterns emerge in the second-round matchups The Eastern Conference Second Round between the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes features the unique challenge of solving Washington’s Logan Thompson and a couple of very different options in goal for Carolina in Frederik Andersen and Pyotr Kochetkov Thompson enjoyed a breakthrough first season in Washington after being acquired in an offseason trade from the Vegas Golden Knights and credits a lot of it to finally adopting the deeper positional philosophies of Vegas goaltending coach Sean Burke That has shortened his routes on lateral movements which fuels an impressive reactive game with his hands even from a compacted stance that can sometimes make him look smaller than 6-foot-4 Traffic and tips: The give-and-take downside of playing deeper in the crease and in a lower stance with active hands is the reliance on seeing the shot release to react and giving up more net when forced into blocking saves behind traffic So it shouldn’t be a shock that screens played a direct role in 21 percent of tracked goals in the regular season above the 15 percent average for the more than 8,500 goals tracked for this project since 2017 With Thompson typically at half to three-quarter depth in his crease rather than out near the edge there is space high if shooters can get pucks up and on net through traffic and holes for tips (19 goals) when he shifts or reaches Lateral and back: It should also be no surprise given Thompson’s positioning and how it puts him in a better position to beat cross-ice passes that his performance on plays across the slot line -- an imaginary demarcation dividing the ice from the goal line to the top of the face-off circles -- is well above the tracked NHL average He’s likely to get across even on one-timers making it important to elevate above the pads to have a chance to score But there is exposure created by his neutral approach to depth from a tendency to come across a bit flat with those movements and not always get the backside hip and shoulder squared This leaves more room for shots back against the grain which were a factor in 21 of the tracked goals Maybe not: Don’t be fooled by the highest numbers on the goal chart being in the top corners Every shot is not tracked for this project so those aren’t indicative of a save percentage Thompson’s good at keeping his hands active and his glove up but that can lead to exposure above the leg pads and off the hips Dead-angle corners: It only cost him on a couple of goals during the season but a tendency to sometimes leave his back leg drifting below the goal line when he uses a reverse-VH post integration can make it harder to push up to the crossbar on sharp-angle shots and that can leave a small area above the short-side shoulder for a well-placed shot Win the scrambles: Thompson managed tough bounces in front of him well during the regular season with 18 percent of goals off broken plays and that makes sense because where and how he plays means he rarely takes himself out of position But four of 11 (36.4 percent) playoff goals have come from those types of plays and his depth can leave him a bit exposed high when those bounces end up on the sticks of unchecked opponents in tight The regular-season sample for Andersen is smaller because he missed almost three months recovering from knee injury that required surgery and his exit after a crease collision with New Jersey Devils forward Timo Meier in Game 4 of the first round means there are questions about whether he’ll be ready to start against the Capitals But playing 517 NHL games during 12 seasons means there shouldn’t be any questions about the tendencies within Andersen’s well-balanced game High and clean off rush: The numbers aren’t as lopsided as two seasons ago when 64 percent of tracked goals came off rush chances but for a second straight season more than 40 percent (41.8) were scored off the rush That includes six of seven clean-shot goals that went in high and Andersen tends to hold his blocker a bit lower than his glove accounting for some of the discrepancy in the high goal totals between high blocker and high glove Against the grain: Shooting back the other way was a factor in 19 of 55 goals in the regular season and three of six in the playoffs but the other factors on those goals varied Andersen now does a better job of shuffling to stay on angle more often but can still get a little flat with his backward flow which leaves the back shoulder and hip off angle as shooters get deeper into the zone wider save-execution stance before shooting can exacerbate this slightly and open holes Andersen’s conservative depth back in the crease can leave more space for other-direction deflections especially if he’s also moving into the initial shot Wide then lateral: Those same shuffles down to the post on plays down the wing closer to the boards can also get Andersen outside his posts and facing the boards as the puck carrier gets below the outside hash marks including the occasional use of an overlap on his post and that creates extra distance and a bigger rotation before pushing on cross-ice passes that can follow Left to right in tight: Every goalie has a side toward which they move better with a tendency to lunge out and get overextended more often when pushing to his right especially on lateral plays below the hash marks which can cause him to lose his net or end up prone on second chances who played six periods’ worth of hockey after Andersen was injured plays a more active and at times aggressive style than Andersen and has the explosive athleticism to pull it off but those tendencies create different kinds of exposure that opponents can try to target Beware of the poke check: There’s a reason they sell “Poke-chetkov” T-shirts in Carolina: Kochetkov is as active with his stick as any goalie going so far as to try a poke check (unsuccessfully) on a clear-cut breakaway for Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy in January He does a good job cutting off passes from below the goal line and through the crease that tendency to reach in one direction delays his movements the other way shoot the other way: Plays across the middle of the ice were a factor in 35 percent of the tracked regular-season goals the number of against-the-grain goals (29 percent) was well above the 18.4 percent average Kochetkov moves very well and can make momentum-changing saves on those lateral plays if you don’t shoot quickly (29 percent of the goals came off one-timers and quick releases) but he also moves more than many of his peers because of his tendency toward aggressiveness and you can catch him moving with shots back in the direction from which he is coming Create chaos: Kochetkov’s rebound goals (seven) were below the average but pucks off sticks and legs that led to scrambles in front of him were a factor on 23 percent of the regular-season goals That same tendency to play near the edge of the crease and be more active plays a role with five-hole exposure as he loads up a lateral push from the butterfly by lifting the knee to grab a skate edge with the push leg low blocker: The goal totals may suggest shooting high on both sides but they do not represent a save percentage and a lot of the clean-look goals (13) and goals on breakaways (14) scored off shots rather than dekes were directed over the pad on the blocker side instead his high hand position makes it tempting to shoot low especially if he’s moving as he tends to get set down lower in his stance Go around him: High totals outside the pads are often an indication of backdoor tap-ins on which the goalie had no chance and though that was certainly true for several of the goals charted on Kochetkov there were also times his positional aggressiveness left him stranded outside his posts allowing patient opponents to go around and tuck the puck in behind him As spring temperatures continue to warm the Thompson Okanagan region health officials are urging residents to be on alert for ticks while enjoying outdoor activities such as hiking with wood ticks being the most commonly encountered species in the area Though Lyme disease is not as widespread in B.C experts say tick-borne illnesses are becoming more prevalent and should not be taken lightly “The bigger wood tick does carry disease … there is absolutely no question it’s just that it’s not quite as bad,” said Janet Sperling president of the Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation Sperling stressed the importance of doing a thorough tick check after spending time outside take all your clothes off… focus in your hair You want to look right down even in between your toes Make sure you have looked for the tick,” she said Early removal of a tick significantly reduces the chances of illness It's also recommended to keep the tick if bitten You could at that point test the tick and the nice thing about testing the tick is you can grind up the whole tick and find out all the bacteria that were in that tick and then that is going to help guide the doctor,” she said Health officials recommend checking pets and children after outdoor excursions and to consult a healthcare professional if you suspect a tick bite or notice unusual symptoms 3 days agoDuration 2:10Thompson mall turns to classical music to deter crime3 days agoNewsDuration 2:10The City Centre mall in the northern Manitoba city of Thompson is playing classical music in its parking lot to stop people from loitering there, which the mall's owner hopes will in turn reduce crime. B.C. moves to speed up energy projects amid growing demand and environmental concerns1 hour agoVideo2:02 Advocates, families call for coroner's inquest into deaths of Indigenous women, girl1 hour agoVideo2:44 Duty free shops fear Trump’s trade war will force them out of businessThe National |1 hour agoTrending NowVideo2:17 Video evidence, NHLer testimony raise questions in world junior sexual assault trialThe National |May 2Video4:45 Trump repeats 51st state taunt as Carney prepares for White House visitThe National |May 5Video11:28 Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. Illustration by Akshita Chandra / The Atlantic The share of jobs posted on Indeed in software programming has declined by more than 50 percent since 2022 For new grads hoping to start a career in tech Read: The job market is frozen The college wage premium was never going to rise forever and the fact that non-college workers have done a little better since 2010 isn’t bad news; it’s actually great news for less educated workers But the upshot is a labor market where the return on investment for college is more uncertain The third theory is that the relatively weak labor market for college grads could be an early sign that artificial intelligence is starting to transform the economy “When you think from first principles about what generative AI can do it’s the kind of things that young college grads have done” in white-collar firms “They read and synthesize information and data a novel economic indicator: the recent-grad gap It’s the difference between the unemployment of young college graduates and the overall labor force young college graduates almost always have a lower—sometimes much lower—unemployment rate than the overall economy because they are relatively cheap labor and have just spent four years marinating in a (theoretically) enriching environment But last month’s recent-grad gap hit an all-time low today’s college graduates are entering an economy that is relatively worse for young college grads than any month on record as firms use the downturn to cut less efficient workers and squeeze productivity from whatever technology is available And even if employers aren’t directly substituting AI for human workers high spending on AI infrastructure may be crowding out spending on new hires Luckily for humans, though, skepticism of the strong interpretation is warranted. For one thing, supercharged productivity growth, which an intelligence explosion would likely produce, is hard to find in the data. For another, a New York Fed survey of firms released last year found that AI was having a negligible effect on hiring told me she’s not seeing clear evidence of job displacement due to AI just yet today’s grads are entering an uncertain economy where some businesses are so focused on tomorrow’s profit margin that they’re less willing to hire large numbers of entry-level workers who “often take time to learn on the job.” the labor market for young grads is flashing a yellow light It could be the signal of short-term economic drag or medium-term changes to the value of the college degree or long-term changes to the relationship between people and AI Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker playShould any NWSL team be ranked in the top-5 of the Global Power Rankings (2:43)Cristina Alexander and Ali Krieger discuss the latest Opta Global Power Rankings The 2025 NWSL season is already five weeks old which can only mean one thing: the return of ESPN's NWSL MVP Tracker We will be checking in on the developing MVP race periodically throughout the season as the form of top players ebbs and flows Who is positioning themselves to be the league MVP Our methodology is a combination of not just data but observation because (1) numbers aren't the entire story and (2) it allows us to analyze players across all positions Yes, goal-scorers inherently get much of the attention and often win the MVP award. There really wasn't any arguing with Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga claiming the award last year after she set a new league scoring record but all players are eligible to win the MVP award and can earn a spot on our shortlist Whether history repeats itself and another goalscorer is named the MVP at the end of the year remains to be seen, but undoubtedly, there are a host of familiar names on our first in-season edition of these rankings. (Several of our preseason MVP predictions look like good shouts early on) The arrival of Bernal added depth and versatility to a Spirit team that came within a whisker of winning the NWSL Shield and NWSL Championship last year The Mexican international can play as a centerback or a holding midfielder providing the Spirit with the flexibility to line up in a three-back or four-back formation and also allowing head coach Jonatan Giraldez to make mid-game adjustments without necessarily burning a substitution All of that has been necessary considering the Spirit's injury list has grown to what could be a competitive starting 11 by itself Bernal ranks third in the league in clearances and eighth in aerials She's still adapting to the league and should only get better in time Kansas City was winning games while bleeding goals The Current's back four was a mess and there were uncertainties in net along with a solidified unit in front of her has made sure that Kansas City's perfect start to 2025 is a holistic offensive and defensive effort The Brazilian newcomer leads the league in goals against but she has also been otherworldly when called upon to make jaw-dropping saves as she did in the team's best win of the season to date If you thought this list would be without a stalwart box-to-box midfielder who embodies much of what the NWSL is about Haley McCutcheon is not a name that will jump out to any casual fan. She provides neither the flair nor the statistical tally of teammates Barbra Banda and Marta but McCutcheon is the do-everything midfielder for an Orlando team filled with stars She has increasingly gotten on the score sheet dating back to last year ranking in the 75th percentile or better in almost every offensive statistical category tracked by TruMedia Roughly the same can be said about her defensive metrics Keeping with the theme -- and not to sound like a broken record from last year -- Kansas City's midfield is so impressive not because of how it controls possession but because of how productive and incisive it is she is authoritative from the penalty spot and always entertaining in the celebration that follows but she is also the heart and soul of a Current team that (stop me if you've heard this before) looks unstoppable right now and LaBonta is the two-way midfielder orchestrating those game-changing moments on each side of the ball The 2021 NWSL Golden Boot winner is back in form after a disappointing couple of years on a personal level Three of her four goals thus far this season have been game-winners, which has helped Washington keep pace in the Shield race despite their many injuries. Her brace against Bay FC in late March was particularly impressive as she adjusted her body to find the ball and evoked memories of the poaching goal-scorer that has given NWSL defenses fits Washington has been without Ouleye Sarr and (mostly) Trinity Rodman which has placed more of the scoring burden on Hatch She is also valuable on the defensive side of the ball as the Spirit's first line of confrontation which is just about the pace to be expected from one of the league's best forwards She remains a game-changing player who can slip behind defenses and drift off of the shoulders of defenders to finish plays spectacularly and her relationship with Marta continues to prove fruitful The Washington Spirit's defensive combination of Bernal and Tara McKeown did well to shut down Banda in last week's NWSL Championship rematch but Banda is still every bit the dominant player she was last year and she's likely to stay right near the top of this list all season long Is any player more improved year over year than Alyssa Thompson The Angel City forward has three goals and one assist in four games as she has menaced opposing defenses on the dribble and in transition Thompson is adept at slipping behind defenders on the back shoulder and increasingly accurate at shooting from distance Her upper-90 banger against the Seattle Reign a few weeks ago was the exclamation mark to her ascent and don't forget: She's still only 20 years old To the point about her value: Look at how Angel City struggled without her last week. They lost 4-0 at home to NJ/NY Gotham FC and they were without an answer for how to fill the void left by Thompson Last year's league MVP is just as dangerous in the new year Chawinga leads the NWSL with 4.3 expected goals She remains the single most exceptional player in the NWSL who can change games a forward who makes almost everyone else on the field look like they are standing still This year looks a lot like last year thus far to the tune of Chawinga recently matching her own previous record of scoring in eight straight games (a streak that began in 2024) Chawinga will challenge for both the Golden Boot and MVP award again. If she can put together a season remotely close to last year's 20-goal output, she will insert herself into Sam Kerr territory as arguably the league's most dominant player She's certainly off to the right start on that journey There really is no other forward like Esther Gonzalez She scored another brace last week against Angel City -- her second in as many games -- all while continuing her trend of being the most free-flowing forward in the league she was literally closer to her own goal than all 11 Angel City players playing a 1-2 passing combination with her centerbacks She continues to score goals with her head despite her listed 5-foot-5 frame and she has a vision for the game that allows her to see plays develop before most other players The "Super Team" designation barely lasted a year and Gotham got off to a slightly shaky start this season We told you to watch out for Cascarino in our preseason rankings Her brace over the weekend added to three assists on the season for one of the best wingers -- and players -- in the NWSL right now Cascarino could be the reason San Diego returns to the playoffs One of the great injustices of the NWSL's history is that Debinha, who was a focal point for arguably the greatest team in league history (the 2018-19 North Carolina Courage) has never been named MVP. She was among the best players in the world at the time. It would be harsh to call last year a relative struggle for Debinha, but undoubtedly, the attention on the Current was elsewhere, namely with Chawinga. It's the opening stretch of a marathon season, but Debinha has set the pace. Joe Thompson worked in the media as a pundit and as a motivational speaker following his retirement Former Rochdale midfielder Joe Thompson has died at the age of 36 He was diagnosed with cancer for a third time in April last year Thompson was found to have stage four lymphoma - a type of blood cancer - which had spread to his lungs after twice recovering from the disease during his playing career The Bath-born player began and finished his career with Rochdale Rochdale said they were "devastated" and that he had passed away peacefully at home on Thursday with his family by his side "We first knew Joe primarily as a talented footballer, but we would soon grow to adore his loving, infectious personality," Rochdale said., external His journey and indomitable spirit have been an inspiration for everyone who has been touched by his story Joe was a loving husband to Chantelle and an incredible father to Thailula and Athena Rae "Our thoughts are with Joe's family and friends at this incredibly sad time." Thompson was first diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma in 2013 and again in 2017 he notably went on to score the goal which saw Rochdale avoid relegation from League One in 2018 He retired from playing in 2019 after making 203 appearances for Rochdale and saying he had "pushed his body to the absolute limit" Thompson's wife Chantelle said during his illness he had "walked every step with courage and pride" "Joe has made such an impact on so many people and we are forever grateful for him blessing us with his presence and for being so strong and staying with us as long as he did against the odds," she said "I know he will be deeply missed by everyone and the world will not be the same without his contagious energy." Joe Thompson scored the goal which kept Rochdale in League One in 2017-18 just over a year after he was diagnosed with cancer for the second time Thompson came through Manchester United's academy from the age of nine before going on to join Dale where he spent the majority of his 13-year career He was first diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma while at Tranmere in 2013 and was given the all-clear the following year After being diagnosed with cancer again in March 2017 during his third spell with Dale he was able to return to football during the 2017-18 season after being told he was in "complete remission" In his finest moment for Rochdale, Thompson scored against Charlton Athletic to secure their place in League One for another season describing his goal as "written in the stars Thompson worked in the media as a pundit as well as mentoring and as a motivational speaker In October 2024, he took part in a 21-mile fundraising walk in order to raise awareness of cancer treatments following his third diagnosis About 300 people took part in the walk from Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium to Rochdale's Crown Oil Arena home Joe Thompson in action for Tranmere Rovers Tributes to Thompson poured in following news of his passing Manchester United described him as "a man who epitomised our club's values," before adding: "We are saddened to share that Joe Thompson has passed away "A warm personality who had a deep connection with our club from a young age our thoughts are with Joe's family and friends at this difficult time." Tranmere and Carlisle both sent their condolences to Thompson's family and said they would be holding a minute's applause at their home games on Friday "Joe was an inspiration to all those who knew him," both clubs said Joe Thompson's contribution to football was recognised by The EFL in 2019 Bury added: "Our thoughts are with Joe's family and friends at this sad time RIP Joe - Once A Shaker Always A Shaker." Southport said: "We are devastated to learn of the passing of former player Joe Thompson We send our deepest condolences to all of Joe's friends and family at this tough time." Thompson received the Sir Tom Finney award at the annual EFL awards ceremony an honour presented to a player who has had an outstanding career and contributed an exception amount to the Football League and game in general The EFL described Thompson as "an inspiration to so many" and added: "The EFL is deeply saddened by the passing of Joe Thompson friends and former clubs at this very difficult time." Trailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt Alpine poised to replace Doohan with Colapinto The final series of Man Like Mobeen has arrived John Simm stars in the provocative 90s drama Warm-hearted comedy with Ben Miller and Sally Phillips Follow two ambitious river restoration projects Who has made Troy's Premier League team of the week Zhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights VideoZhao beats Williams in historic final - highlights 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Match-fixing scandal to Crucible champion - fall and rise of Zhao 'We need to take a look at ourselves' - Arsenal stalling at wrong time Palmer's brilliance could be key moment in Chelsea's Champions League quest Europa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney VideoEuropa League 'papering over cracks' for Man Utd - Rooney Ask Me Anything the new BBC Sport service designed to serve you Bayern's 'James Bond' - how Kane clinched his first trophy Nine bolters with a shot of making the Lions squad How 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool VideoHow 'absolutely outstanding' Palmer 'destroyed' Liverpool Still number one & 'sparring' with Draper - return of Sinner Saints 'punch' favourites Leinster in game for the ages VideoVardy the best £1m ever spent - Shearer Poppy's tears Elton John & Happy Gilmore - McIlroy on Jimmy Fallon show Two opposing views on football's transgender ban Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Over-regulation has rendered progressive change impossible argue the authors of this clear and rigorous book Every political movement has an image of the past that motivates its view of the future it might be the imaginary suburbia of a 1950s coffee commercial; for liberals the solidarity of a New Deal-era Works Progress Administration poster it is the techno-optimism of the 1964 New York World’s Fair “Futurama” exhibit: a vision of commuter flights to the moon desalinisation turning deserts into farmland they argue for a new politics that unlocks the potential of the remarkable technologies that already exist But that future is behind schedule – and Abundance holds late 20th‑century liberalism responsible too – they are themselves liberals – but this book speaks only to their co-partisans with the downside of artificially telling just half the story) nobly fought to redistribute what we have to those without while losing sight of the goal of creating more to redistribute in the first place they sought to protect the public from the unchecked consequences of growth: the bulldozers of urban renewal and the pollution of industrialisation but left the state too constrained to solve the challenges of today When government rouses itself – as with the breakneck effort to invent manufacture and deploy a Covid vaccine – it can perform miracles but readers in other developed economies will quickly see analogies in infrastructure projects and opportunities for innovation stymied closer to home.) Klein and Thompson’s case studies are described with the clarity accessibility and rigour that characterises their policy journalism in the New York Times and the Atlantic respectively they tell how California began studying high-speed rail a clean and congestion-free alternative to cars and planes It took a decade for planning to begin in earnest; another decade-and-a-half to get funded; 16 years after that High-speed rail has been swallowed by procedures erected to prevent every conceivable harm to every conceivable stakeholder The environmental reviews needed just to describe the project’s impacts began in 2012; they still aren’t done They attribute a slowdown in scientific breakthroughs to the paperwork burdens placed on researchers who may spend up to 40% of their time on grant administration In everything from planning regimes that block badly needed housing and solar farms to the ossified processes for writing federal regulations and hiring civil servants they see systems attuned to the harms of action and not its benefits and convincingly argue that the rewards of reform are immense But what should replace these procedural impediments to progress In assembling a brief against creaky and costly aspects of the status quo it leaves unanswered the question of what should be kept – which costs are worth it The authors accuse their opponents of “tradeoff denial” in sketching out a future in which innovation is deployed only wisely Klein and Thompson’s story of sclerosis is of a “system so consumed trying to balance its manifold interests that it can no longer perceive what is in the public’s interest.” Opposing the political scrum their scepticism of non-majoritarian influence extends less frequently to corporate power is that we all agree on what is in the public interest This impatient confidence sometimes shades into a quiet distrust of democracy “The instinct to make science democratically responsible has gunked up the scientific process,” they write in one telling passage This is a book written during the Biden administration and published in the midst of a constitutional crisis As Donald Trump and Elon Musk attack the underpinnings of constitutional democracy Klein and Thompson sometimes share the latter’s Silicon Valley-inflected fear that we must choose between that democracy and a bountiful future and there are virtues in a book focused on 2050 rather than 2025 But those of us seeking a “liberalism that builds” cannot turn away from the work of pluralistic democracy Free weekly newsletterDiscover new books and learn more about your favourite authors with our expert reviews Noah Kazis is a professor of law at the University of Michigan. Abundance: How We Build a Better Future by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson is published by Profile (£16.99). To support the Guardian and the Observer buy a copy at guardianbookshop.com Sign In Subscribe Now Thompson-Nicola Regional Library is asking for the public's feedback on the Barriere Library hours From now until May 25, residents can fill out a short survey at tnrl.ca/survey to share their thoughts on the library's current hours when they would prefer to visit the library and what they think is the best evening to attend library programs Residents can also ask a library staff member about accessing the survey You can also enter for a chance to win a $50 gift card to AG Foods.  the Barriere Library is closed on Sundays and Mondays and is open from 10:30 a.m Dialogue and debate are integral to a free society and we welcome and encourage you to share your views on the issues of the day. We ask that you be respectful of others and their points of view, refrain from personal attacks and stay on topic. To learn about our commenting policies and how our community-based moderation works, please read our Community Guidelines What was scheduled as a preliminary hearing turned into a trial on Friday as Andrew Thompson pleaded guilty to killing Walter Lasher by setting fire to a Napanee rooming house in the summer of 2024 Thompson was initially charged with several counts and two new informations were entered into the record charging him with manslaughter and arson concerning the Saturday Justice Geoffrey Griffin presided over the Ontario Court of Justice at 41 Dundas Street West in Napanee Thompson chose to plead guilty to the charges Griffin first acknowledged that a number of high school students were in attendance at the court as part of a Law class from Napanee District Secondary School (NDSS) and he cautioned them to be on their best behaviour The judge then stated the grave nature of the case: “What’s taking place today is very serious There has obviously been enormous upset and trauma as a result of the events that took place Crown attorney Monica Heine told Griffin there were two new pieces of information before the court and that the original information could be withdrawn Thompson is a strikingly young-looking 32-year-old man with a pale complexion He wore a grey hoodie with a blue Adidas logo The judge asked Thompson if he had discussed the new matters with his attorney and whether he understood what pleading guilty meant The new information was read aloud: that on August 3 Andrew Thompson did unlawfully kill Walter Lasher and thereby committed manslaughter contrary to section 236 of the Criminal Code of Canada (CC); and count two that he did intentionally or recklessly cause damage by fire to the property of Matthew Raham situated at 159 John Street in Greater Napanee Thompson entered a guilty plea on both counts Heine began by stating that the circumstances were “a bit unusual” but that with Zaduk’s “kind assistance and consent,” the Crown’s case would be presented in a PowerPoint presentation narrated by Detective Constable Aimee Neale of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Zaduk warned those present that some disturbing images would emerge as the presentation progressed The Crown’s case relied heavily on extensive surveillance video from inside the residence and throughout the town of Napanee which was provided to the court as part of Neale’s presentation The presentation established that Thompson was in a romantic relationship with a woman who lived at the rooming house at 159 John Street in Napanee Thompson’s partner’s bedroom was on the upper floor of the home across the hall from victim Walter Lasher’s room which consists of 14 rooms rented as “transitional housing” and shared kitchen and bathroom areas The transitional housing is paid for by Prince Edward – Lennox & Addington Social Services (PELASS) “Two of the rooms were paid accommodations by the occupant; one of them was Walter Lasher,” Neale explained Neale noted that Lasher was “known as a kind and friendly simple man” who had mobility issues and no criminal record He also didn’t like some activities at the rooming house and was known to be scared while living there the woman disclosed to Thompson that she had an affair with another man the two can be seen arguing in the upper floor hallway of the rooming house Justice Griffin inquired about a large black dog that interacts with the people on screen Neal noted that this was “Scooby,” Thompson’s partner’s pet Lasher can also be seen moving through the house with some difficulty he engages Thompson in a short conversation but otherwise the three have no interaction it appears in the video that Thompson exchanges money with a male in return for “an object,” Neale pointed out both Thompson and the woman can be observed smoking “a glass drug pipe” outside the rooming house Then they both leave the house at around 4:23 p.m they can both be seen on video captured outside an apartment complex at 369 Dundas Street West Thompson takes a bicycle that is leaning against the wall of the building and rides southbound Surveillance cameras pick him up at several other locations in the downtown core between 6 p.m when he eventually returns to the John Street house the video shows him entering the front door of the residence where he removes a red fire extinguisher from the wall and walks into the south kitchen with it concealed behind his back He can be observed to have a yellow lighter in his hand Then he goes out of sight of the camera into what Neale described as “a little hallway where there are two bathrooms.” flashes of orange firelight are reflected on the kitchen walls for several minutes At 6:43 a butane canister “explodes and goes projectile” through the kitchen a fire-damaged broom was located in the bathroom area and the butane canister was swabbed for DNA at the Forensic Science Centre in Toronto The DNA swab result showed that it was 110 times more likely that it originated from Andrew Thomson than anyone else Thompson can be seen jumping the fence in the backyard of 159 John Street he is observed attempting to use the yellow lighter to light the garage window frame on fire and walks in black socks past the mailboxes attached to the wall of the house and switches an object from one hand to the other smoke can be seen billowing from the window “At one point [the resident of that room] had a tea cloth hanging from the window there Thompson then walks westbound into the Trinity United Church parking lot across from 159 John Street Walter Lasher is last seen on camera at 6:46 p.m. He is now “wearing large red pyjama pants and a maroon sweater.” At 7:47 pm. he is seen at the Circle K convenience store on Centre Street “He appears to make efforts to conceal his face with the turtleneck of his sweater,” Neal described a female resident of the John Street rooming house lets Thompson in the front door he can be seen going upstairs and directly into his partner’s room He is off-camera in her room for 25 seconds he conceals his head by holding the sweater over it he is downstairs; he stops at a male resident’s room but “does not get access,” Neale said so he walks to the north entry door and partly enters a bathroom he holds the sweater with his right hand and appears to be lighting it on fire where there is now black smoke billowing from his partner’s room Other residents are seen reacting to the smoke and moving quickly toward the exit Thompson can be seen going into another man’s room and he comes back out wearing a different set of clothes Thompson expels the fire extinguisher in the main entrance Neale next showed the footage from outside the upper-floor bedroom that occurred simultaneously “obviously alerted and focused on the room,” Neale observed and heavy smoke is billowing from the room there will be zero visibility in the hallway,” Neale noted Neale paused to warn members of Lasher’s family that the next video would likely be upsetting the video shows that the upper floor is engulfed in flames “We believe somebody is trapped on the second floor.” I don’t know if he made it out.” Other voices call Walter’s name A body-worn camera video from a police officer then shows the crowd gathered across the street Andrew Thompson is there watching the fire “He never approaches anyone in uniform to speak about the incident.” Walter Lasher was found unconscious in a common area on the second floor Firefighters extracted him from the building and they began trying to save his life He was pronounced dead at Lennox and Addington County Hospital at 9:22 p.m A postmortem examination confirmed Lasher died of smoke inhalation Ten per cent of his body surface had first and second degree burns but it was unclear whether the burns occurred prior to or after death Neale explained that it was easy to identify and arrest Thompson after the events of the day because he had a distinctive tattoo of a “Canadian mask with crossed baseball bats located on his right arm.” He was well known to police in town and had been arrested previously at 159 John Street in December 2023 His mugshot and distinctive tattoo were recorded then and extensive videos were used to match the man to the crime “It was the sole actions of Andrew Thompson which resulted in Walter Lasher’s death,” Neale concluded saying that he made no effort to alert anyone who had mobility issues and whom Thompson would have known was in the building earlier that day Griffin indicated that Thompson would be convicted on both counts saved the Lasher family and friends from having to endure a trial and the time and expense of the justice system what you have done — and I hope it is true — is that you have indicated remorse for these actions… and feel sorry,” the judge said Griffin finished by saying he would sentence Thompson at a hearing in July at which time victim impact statements would be entered into the record “I was unaware of the enormous amount of surveillance we have in our Town,” the judge observed before adjourning Michelle Dorey Forestell is a Napanee based reporter with the Local Journalism Initiative  behind two goals each from Frank Nazar (Mount Clemens Mich./Chicago Blackhawks/University of Michigan) and Tage Thompson (Orange Conn./Buffalo Sabres/University of Connecticut) earned a 5-2 victory over Germany  here tonight before a capacity crowd of more than 14,000 at PSD Bank Dome in its lone pre-tournament game for ahead of the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship “It was a great atmosphere and a fun game to be a part of,” said Ryan Warsofsky and the game had a lot of different situations which was certainly beneficial as we head into the tournament.” Team USA had a 1-0 lead after the opening 20 minutes thanks to a wrister to the far upper corner of the net off the stick of Mike McCarron (Macomb Mich./Nashville Predators) from the left circle at 17:27 Wis./Michigan State University) and Josh Doan (Scottsdale Ariz./Utah Hockey Club/Arizona State University) drew assists on the play Mass./Seattle Kraken/Arizona State University) made six stops in the stanza including a point blank save on Justin Schutz with five minutes to play in the period Just :12 into the middle frame Thompson fired one home from the right circle to the far side to extend Team USA’s lead Mo./Utah Hockey Club/Boston University) and Jackson LaCombe (Eden Prairie Minn./Anaheim Ducks/University of Minnesota) earned assists On the power play with 7:16 left in the period Nazar zipped one into the back of the net finishing a nice passing play that included Will Smith (Lexington Mass./San Jose Sharks/Boston College) and Matty Beniers (Hingham Mass./Seattle Kraken/University of Michigan) Germany got back in the game with goals at 7:26 But just 1:03 after the second German goal Mass./Vancouver Canucks) made a highlight-reel feed spinning in the far corner and putting a perfect pass on the opposite side of the net to Nazar Thompson added his second of the game at 17:04 to account for the 5-2 final Daccord played the first 33:07 of the contest and picked up the victory without yielding a goal on 14 shots Minn./Western Michigan University) finished the contest and had seven stops The teams played a three-on-three overtime period following regulation with Thompson scoring off a feed from Beniers at 1:32 to end the session Team USA will open play in the 2025 IIHF Men’s World Championship Friday (May 9) against host Denmark at 8:20 p.m games in the tournament can be seen live in the NHL Network Player of the Game … Team USA was 1-3 on the power play Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Deputy Premier and Minister of Justice and Public Safety and Attorney General issued the following statement regarding the retirement of Summerside Police Chief Sinclair Walker: “Summerside Police Services has played an integral part in our community public safety response and the overall well-being of our residents Sinclair Walker has served and protected in policing through various positions such as leading the Major Crimes Section Deputy Police Chief and Police Chief for Summerside Police Services Chief Walker has been someone that I have relied on as Minister of Justice and Public Safety we have progressed many initiatives that have helped protect our residents and ultimately improve public safety in our province His leadership and willingness to participate in joint municipal/provincial initiatives has been welcomed and should be admired by police chiefs in our region I would like to especially thank him for his collaboration on things like establishing cadet training for Summerside Police at the Atlantic Police Academy having a strong and respectful voice at the Chiefs of Police Association and of course his willingness to participate in our Province’s new Joint Enforcement Team – which will directly combat illicit drugs in our Island communities After a full career of 45 years that includes many decorations and achievements I want to wish Chief Sinclair Walker a happy retirement.” DeptJPS@gov.pe.ca Accessing healthcare in Prince Edward Island The page you're looking for does not exist Please try our site search feature to find what you are looking for For a fifth time in under 10 years, Steph Curry and the Golden State Warriors won a best-of-seven series in the NBA playoffs against the Houston Rockets Houston had one of the league’s best defenses throughout the 2024-25 season and its “head of the snake” — as head coach Ime Udoka often puts it — is versatile second-year guard/forward Amen Thompson Thompson was the primary defender on Curry for much of the series the 36-year-old veteran showed clear admiration for the 22-year-old that spent most of the series trying to prevent him from getting quality shot attempts 4 overall draft pick from the NBA’s 2023 first round You kind of saw him develop in front of everybody’s eyes I know people who watch the Rockets play for the last two years have seen the potential I know he’s been trying to develop his game and I think he loves the challenge and loves to be in the fight.So and it’s kind of crazy that the old man got it done As an elite athlete with positional versatility the 6-foot-7 Thompson also made clear strides on offense foul plagued start to the first playoff series of his NBA career Thompson averaged 20.0 points (54.7% shooting) and 2.5 steals per game from Game 4 through Game 7 Those numbers helped Houston overcome a 3-1 series deficit while pushing the Warriors to the brink of elimination but I’m really proud of the team getting it back to a Game 7 and almost being able to win that game,” Thompson said Sunday More: Failure to launch: Rockets’ half-court offense exposed in Game 7 loss to Warriors 2025 – The Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) FireSmart™ program has launched a homeowner rebate as an additional method to support residents doing mitigation work to protect their homes from wildfire property owners in Electoral Areas will be eligible for a rebate of up to 50% to a maximum of $500 for doing fire mitigation work within 1.5 metres of their home Rebates can cover actual costs incurred for mitigation work and/ or costs of labour by the homeowner Funding through this rebate program is available on a first-come first-serve basis between May 1 and October 31 This program is open for TNRD Electoral Area properties only If your property is located in a municipality please refer to your local government’s FireSmart™ program if a rebate program is available To request a free FireSmart™ Home Assessment, use the TNRD’s intuitive FireSmart™ Assessment Request interactive map by clicking here. Those who require assistance using the online form can contact TNRD FireSmart staff at 250-377-8673 or firesmart@tnrd.ca Throughout 2025, TNRD FireSmart™ staff will be conducting free home assessments, hosting or attending community events, hosting free chipping days, and making education materials available to support residents doing fire mitigation work at home. For more information, visit: tnrd.ca/firesmart Colton Davies, Communications ManagerThompson-Nicola Regional DistrictTel.: 250 377-6299Email: cdavies@tnrd.ca Subscribe to get the latest regional news and updates delivered straight to your inbox Home » TRCA Spring Bird Festival at Tommy Thompson Park Follow us on Facebook    Visit our YouTube page  Visit our Instragram page Join us at Tommy Thompson Park on Saturday 2025 for a free community event all about the spring bird migration Located on the Toronto waterfront at the convergence of two major migratory flyways Tommy Thompson Park is Toronto’s largest greenspace and provides critical stopover habitat for migrating birds There have been 334 species of birds recorded at the park LEARN MORE Phone: 416.661.6600 Email: info@trca.ca Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) The Houston Rockets were recently booted from the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs at the hands of the Golden State Warriors In their highly-anticipated Game 7 matchup against the dynastic organization on Sunday night Buddy Hield and Jimmy Butler took over in enemy territory to grab a 103-89 victory and advance to the Western Conference Semi-Finals Houston's Amen Thompson served as the brightest of bright spots in their demoralizing loss spring-loaded star finished the contest with 24 points nine rebounds and three assists while shooting 56.3% from the field in 37 minutes 4 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft ascend to become a legitimate star on the postseason stage the Rockets' front office could look to pull off a massive trade to further build around the promising forward In fact, recent updates indicate that Houston may contact the Phoenix Suns this offseason concerning the availability of their 4-time All-Star guard Devin Booker "Booker has been the proverbial apple of Houston's eye for a while," Bleacher Report's Zach Buckley wrote Monday Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp "When you think about the kind of player who could get this offense rolling "While he hasn't booked a ton of playoff trips he has thrive under the bright lights upon arrival his addition wouldn't put too much win-right-this-second heat on Houston's young core." Booker wrapped up his 10th NBA campaign in 2024-25 with a Suns team that compiled a brutal 36-46 regular season record as the group missed out on the Play-In Tournament as the Western Conference's No Phoenix has been adamant that they will not let go of the elite shot-maker this offseason, though it may be in their best interests to do so in an effort to get a head start on a long-winded rebuild. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard contributed 25.6 points, 7.1 assists and 4.1 rebounds for a struggling Phoenix roster, and his incredible mix of mid-range shooting and improved facilitating skills would hypothetically be a perfect match next to Houston's defensive-minded Thompson. On the offensive end, the threat of Booker's jump-shot could open up lanes for the high-flier with relative ease, possibly transforming the Rockets' offense into one of the best in the Association. If he were to be dealt in any scenario, the Rockets would need to be comfortable with unloading plenty of their most coveted young pieces like Reed Sheppard, Jabari Smith Jr. and Cam Whitmore along with first-round draft capital. Still, the idea of Booker leaving the only franchise he's ever known via trade in the coming months remains highly unlikely.  More NBA: Former Indiana head coach Mike Woodson on verge of landing vital NBA coaching role Jordan Thompson was Stoke City's longest-serving player before his release by the club Stoke City's long-serving Northern Ireland midfielder Jordan Thompson is leaving the Championship club after five-and-a-half seasons The 28-year-old joined Stoke in January 2020 from Blackpool and made 178 appearances He played 23 times in the league this season but missed the Potters' last three games through injury as the club secured survival on the final day following a relegation-threatened campaign Stoke have also released USA international Lynden Gooch and defenders Michael Rose and Enda Stevens Jordan Thompson proud to reach personal milestone Stoke appoint ex-Coventry boss Robins as manager the club exercised an option to extend midfielder Lewis Baker's contract for another season who has been with Stoke since January 2022 spent the first half of this season on loan with Blackburn before returning to the Potteries at the start of the year Stoke sporting director Jonathan Walters said, external Baker "has been an integral part of our side since he returned to the club in January" and had "played some of his best football for Stoke City" under boss Mark Robins Walters said the club were grateful to someone "who gave 100% on each of the 178 times he donned a Stoke City shirt" and called his contribution to the side "significant and valued" Top storiesTrailblazer Zhao set to take snooker to 'another level' in China Logan Thompson dives back across the crease and swats away Jake Evans' fling at the gaping net, preserving the 2-1 lead in the 3rd FLA@TOR, Gm 1: Knies fires a backhand over Bobrovsky to extend the Maple Leafs lead in the 3rd Panthers at Maple Leafs | Recap | Round 2, Game 1 Mic Drop: The best mic'd up moments from the first round Take a look at the first ever live draft lottery Watch every overtime goal from the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs FLA@TOR, Gm1: Nylander wrists it into the cage to put the Maple Leafs up by 2 FLA@TOR, Gm 1: Balinskis rips home a wrister to cut the lead down to 1 in the 3rd FLA@TOR, Gm1: Jones drills in a PPG to put the Panthers on the board FLA@TOR, Gm1: Rielly blasts it into the cage to put the Maple Leafs back up by 2 FLA@TOR, Gm1: Nylander goes five-hole to put Maple Leafs on the board Senators and Maple Leafs clash in First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Mic Drop: Avalanche, Stars conclude back-and-forth series in do-or-die Game 7 STL@WPG, Gm7: Lowry lifts the Jets to victory in double overtime Top 10 Goals from Week 2 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs Wild and Golden Knights battle in First Round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs STL@WPG, Gm7: Perfetti ties it in waning seconds with his second goal STL@WPG, Gm7: Jets and Blues exchange handshakes at center ice STL@WPG, Gm7: Binnington makes a game-saving stop in overtime STL@WPG, Gm7: Namestnikov blasts home a wrister STL@WPG, Gm7: Faksa restores two-goal lead late in the 2nd STL@WPG, Gm7: Kyrou nets one-handed shot for opening goal COL@DAL, Gm 7: Johnston reacts to scoring the game-winner in Game 7 COL@DAL, Gm7: Stars and Avalanche shake hands at center ice following Stars' victory COL@DAL, Gm7: Rantanen notches first postseason career hat trick for 4-point game COL@DAL, Gm7: Johnston rips it home from a tough angle to the put the Stars on top on the power play COL@DAL, Gm7: MacKinnon doubles the lead early in the 3rd COL@DAL, Gm7: Manson rings one off the post and in for a short-handed goal to open scoring John’s East for the Liberals | CBC.ca LoadedJoanne Thompson has ‘elbows up’ as she takes St Logan Thompson started for the Washington Capitals in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Sunday The goalie's status had been in question after he was injured with 6:37 remaining in Game 3 on Friday Charlie Lindgren replaced Thompson and stopped four of five shots in what resulted in a 6-3 loss The Capitals, who lead the best-of-7 series 2-1, were still without Aliaksei Protas in Game 4 when he sustained a skate cut on his left foot against the Chicago Blackhawks He's missed the last six games of the regular season and the first four games of this series Canadiens goalie Sam Montembeault Montembeault left Game 3 with 8:21 remaining in the second period after having a conversation with director of sports medicine and performance Jim Ramsay during a television timeout Montembeault, who appeared to be favoring his left leg, allowed two goals on 13 shots and was replaced by Jakub Dobes Emergency backup goalie Patrick Chevrefils was in uniform a short time later Cayden Primeau was recalled from Laval of the American Hockey League on Sunday and backed up Dobes in Game 4 a .909 save percentage and one shutout in 16 games (15 starts) a 4-0 win against the Florida Panthers on Dec which was one day after he was recalled from Laval He won his first five starts and backed up Montembeault through the end of the season "I think you look at his first three or four games I think they're all some of the top teams in the League and he played well so I have all the confidence in the world in Dobes," Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle said Saturday which I think you need as a young goalie coming into the League I think he believes that there’s no moment too big for him I think he’s ready for anything that was thrown at him Obviously I don’t know what’s really going on with 'Monty,' but if Dobes is in the net tomorrow I think all the boys have confidence in him." NHL.com senior writer Dan Rosen and independent correspondent Sean Farrell contributed to this report Round 1 | Full Coverage🔹Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs 🔹Florida Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Lightning 🔹Montreal Canadiens vs. Washington Capitals 🔹New Jersey Devils vs. Carolina Hurricanes 🔹St. Louis Blues vs. Winnipeg Jets 🔹Colorado Avalanche vs. Dallas Stars 🔹Minnesota Wild vs. Vegas Golden Knights 🔹Edmonton Oilers vs. Los Angeles Kings It was also Hield’s best postseason showing yet Despite a nine-year career and over 700 regular-season games and only in the elimination Game 6 did he show signs of life Golden State brought him in for one reason—floor spacing His career three-point percentage of 39.7% made him one of the league’s elite shooters But he found it hard to carve out a rhythm on a deep Warriors team Hield started just 22 games and posted a modest 11.1 points per game The irony in Hield’s Game 7 eruption is striking He produced a performance reminiscent of Thompson built a reputation for showing up in elimination games One of his notable playoff moments also came against Houston in 2019—27 points on 7-for-13 shooting The Buddy Hield-Klay Thompson comparison isn’t just poetic—it’s becoming relevant Hield’s Game 7 echoed the type of heroics Thompson provided for over a decade The Warriors now turn their attention to a tougher challenge—the Minnesota Timberwolves The question looms: what role will Hield play Steve Kerr didn’t insert Hield into the starting lineup until Game 4 against Houston That change came after a five-three-pointer showing in Game 3 forced his hand Kerr might lean toward Moses Moody against the Timberwolves. Moody’s defense could be crucial in containing Anthony Edwards The Rockets didn’t present the same perimeter threats allowing Kerr to start a more offensive-minded player like Hield These factors could limit Hield’s minutes if his shooting goes cold Hield’s Game 7 proved his scoring could swing games He shot 37.0% from deep during the season on nearly seven attempts per game—good Inconsistent shooting has often kept him off the floor in big moments the Warriors can’t afford to ignore his offensive potential Another thing that makes the Klay Thompson comparisons fascinating is Buddy Hield’s unpredictability He became the first player in playoff history to follow a scoreless game with 33 or more points in a single postseason That volatility makes him a wildcard—dangerous Golden State needs offense. The Warriors struggled against Houston’s zone defense in Games 3 and 4 before cracking it in Game 7. If they want to beat Minnesota’s size and. physicality, they need another shooter to complement Stephen Curry Hield may never be a Splash Brother in legacy but in spirit—and on nights like Game 7—he channels one The Cleveland Cavaliers knew ahead of time that Darius Garland wouldn’t be available for Game 1 of their second-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers The Denver Nuggets surprised many when they turned their series against the Los Angeles Clippers around after trailing 2-1 The 2025 NBA draft is regarded as one of the most loaded in recent memory You will also start receiving the Star's free morning newsletter Michael Thompson speaks with his lawyer Leora Shemesh outside the Bracebridge courthouse on Oct Woman testifies she did not initiate or consent to intimate encounter Thompson expected to take the stand next week In a tense exchange in a Barrie courtroom on Thursday a woman denied having an ulterior motive for going to police with allegations that Coun Michael Thompson sexually assaulted her at a cottage in Muskoka The Scarborough Centre councillor has pleaded not guilty to two counts of sexual assault at a trial that has unfolded over nonconsecutive days spread over months The prosecution has called three witnesses who were guests at the cottage on Canada Day weekend in 2022 two of them the complainants whose identities are protected under a publication ban One woman alleges Thompson touched her inappropriately while applying sunscreen has testified Thompson woke her up in the middle of the night and forced himself on her after “not taking no for an answer.” defence lawyer Leora Shemesh asked the woman if she ever told her friend that she was going to bring a lawsuit against Thompson The witness acknowledged she may have referenced legal action but that she wasn’t serious and was “raging” in the car on the way back to Toronto after her encounter with the veteran politician She continued to firmly deny suggestions that she initiated or consented to an nighttime intimate encounter during hours of tense and heated exchanges with Shemesh whom she accused of “nitpicking at nonsense.” is expected to take the stand next week once the Crown closes its case Shemesh suggested to the witness that hours before the alleged assault she and Thompson were “interacting with one another in a flirtatious manner.” The woman said she “might have been flirty,” which could include laughing at an unfunny joke This prompted Shemesh to ask: “You might have been flirting?” bringing Crown attorney Mareike Newhouse to her feet objecting to the defence lawyer’s “line of questioning” and “tone.” Shemesh put different scenarios to the witness She asked the woman if she recalled kissing Thompson “Disagree,” she responded testily I made it very clear I don’t want to do anything.” She testified she was extremely intoxicated and there are gaps in her memory But she remembers him telling him multiple times no the witness acknowledged she gave Thompson her phone number after he asked “I was never going to ever talk to him again so I don’t care.”  the witness appeared to be reading a court transcript handed to her by Shemesh “You don’t have to read it just yet because I haven’t asked the question,” the lawyer told her “I prefer just to look at anywhere but at you,” the witness shot back Shemesh also asked the witness about her online presence and why if she was so concerned about the goings-on at the cottage she didn’t assert herself and tell Thompson so The witness agreed she is not “shy,” or afraid to express her opinions on the internet She was also asked about her online claims as being someone who is “unreliable.” but rather relates to her unreliability when it comes to uploading videos The judge-alone trial in the Ontario Court of Justice resumes in Barrie on Tuesday Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Account processing issue - the email address may already exist Invalid password or account does not exist Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account and NHL.com has you covered with all the latest news Logan Thompson returned to practice for the Capitals on Saturday and could return for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Montreal Canadiens on Monday (7 p.m Thompson missed the final seven games of the regular season because of an upper-body injury He was 31-6-6 with a 2.49 goals-against average .910 save percentage and two shutouts in 43 games (42 starts) Forward Aliaksei Protas (lower body) and defenseman Martin Fehervary (lower body) did not practice "I'm just going to leave it as we've got a bunch of guys working through some things potentially not," coach Spencer Carbery said I can give you more updates as guys are obviously warming up and are in the lineup or not." Protas missed the final six games after sustaining a cut to his foot in the third period of a 5-3 win against the Chicago Blackhawks on April 4 He finished tied for third on the Capitals with an NHL career-high 66 points (30 goals "He's probably our best 5-on-5 player this year," forward Dylan Strome said Saturday Fehervary left a 3-1 win against the New York Islanders on Tuesday after turning his ankle late in the first period but did not play in a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday Washington recalled defenseman Ethan Bear from Hershey of the American Hockey League Miro Heiskanen was upgraded to day to day for the Stars but did not play Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday The top-pair defenseman has been out since sustaining a knee injury in a collision with Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone on Jan 4 and has recently been skating on his own The optional morning skate Saturday was the first time Heiskanen has been on the ice with the Stars since his injury "That's a development," coach Pete DeBoer said it's at a morning skate so there's no contact that he's in a full practice with us with full contact but definitely a step in the right direction from where he's been the last two 20 assists) and averaged 25:10 of ice time in 50 games prior to the injury "I don't even want to [consider his return] in my head," DeBoer said My focus is on the group we've got tonight to beat Colorado we obviously know the impact he has on our team The Stars were also without forward Jason Robertson who is week to week with a lower-body injury Oliver Bjorkstrand will not play for the Lightning in their first-round series against the Florida Panthers The forward sustained a lower-body injury in a 4-3 overtime loss to the Detroit Red Wings on April 11 and missed the final three games of the regular season Game 1 of the best-of-7 series is at Tampa Bay on Tuesday (8:30 p.m four assists) in 18 games since he was acquired in a trade with the Seattle Kraken on March 5 He has been replaced in the lineup by Conor Geekie who has scored twice in three games since being recalled from Syracuse of the American Hockey League Forwards Luke Glendening (upper body) and Mitchell Chaffee (upper body) were full participants in practice and Cooper said the extra days will help their availability for the best-of-7 series "We were a little nervous about having to play that Thursday game on a one-off trip going all the way up to New York but to get those two more days...it's rest for the guys Who knows how it's going to play out." -- Corey Long Ty Emberson signed a two-year $2.6 million contract with the Oilers on Saturday It has an average annual value of $1.3 million The 24-year-old defenseman had 13 points (two goals 11 assists) and averaged 15:07 in 76 regular-season games He could have become a restricted free agent after the season Traded to the Oilers by the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Cody Ceci and a third-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft on Aug 20 assists) in 106 regular-season games for the Oilers and Sharks Edmonton visits the Los Angeles Kings for Game 1 of the Western Conference First Round at Crypto.com Arena on Monday (10 p.m Jake McCabe will play for the Maple Leafs in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday (7 p.m missed the final seven games of the regular season with an upper-body injury Defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson who missed the final four games with an upper-body injury "felt pretty good the last couple days," and could play Sunday Alexander Nikishin joined the Hurricanes for his first practice with the team Saturday but isn't expected to play in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the New Jersey Devils on Sunday (3 p.m The 23-year-old defenseman was selected in the third round (No He signed a two-year contract with Carolina on April 11 "He's very excited to come to America," Nikishin said using Hurricanes goalie Pyotr Kochetkov as a translator It's a little bit fun and great for him to see the guys for the first time Nikishin recently completed his contract with SKA St Petersburg in the Kontinental Hockey League Carolina coach Rod Brind'Amour cautioned that Nikishin will need time to acclimate before he is ready to play The Hurricanes enter the Stanley Cup Playoffs with seven healthy defenseman who played in the regular season especially with the language," Brind'Amour said We've just got to get him on the learning curve." Nikishin was named KHL Defenseman of the Month seven times over the past three seasons "He just tries to play calm," Hurricanes forward Andrei Svechnikov said "I think he's a physical guy that crushes people sometimes I think he's going to be very good for us." -- Kurt Dusterberg Ondrej Palat will return to the lineup when the Devils play at the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Sunday (3 p.m The forward missed a 5-2 loss to the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday with a lower-body injury sustained when he blocked a shot in the first period of a 5-4 overtime win at the Boston Bruins one day earlier Palat took line rushes with center Justin Dowling and right wing Nathan Bastian at practice on Friday "It was a good practice today with the group The players need to embrace the challenge (of the playoffs) We're playing for Stanley Cup and don't take it for granted." Coach Sheldon Keefe confirmed after practice that Palat would play Sunday A two-time Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning (2020 WASHINGTON -- Logan Thompson had waited for this opportunity and was determined to make the most of it when the Washington Capitals needed him in the third period of their 3-1 win against the Montreal Canadiens in Game 2 of the Eastern Conference First Round on Wednesday With Washington clinging to a 2-1 lead for most of the period, Thompson stopped all 14 shots he faced to hold the fort until Connor McMichael’s empty-net goal with two seconds remaining clinched the victory for the Capitals and a 2-0 lead in the best-of-7 series with Game 3 at Montreal on Friday (7 p.m was the main reason the Canadiens were unable to steal a win Wednesday “I thought he was unbelievable, especially in the last five minutes,” Capitals center Dylan Strome said “We were obviously just hanging on there.” The third period was similar to Game 1 when the Canadiens stormed back from a two-goal deficit to tie it before Alex Ovechkin scored the first Stanley Cup Playoff overtime goal of his career to rescue the Capitals and give them a 3-2 victory “I thought he was the difference tonight in the third,” Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said “He wins us that game in the third period.” Montreal outshot Washington 14-5 in the third period and had a 35-16 advantage in shot attempts. Some of Thompson’s saves were spectacular, such as a glove stop on Josh Anderson on a 2-on-0 at 9:01 and a left skate save on Christian Dvorak’s deflection at 15:38 Gm2: Thompson pounces across the net and denies Evans Thompson also had some luck on his side, particularly on Jake Evans’ shot that went off the left post at 7:10. After taking a pass across from Joel Armia Evans appeared to have a half-empty net in front of him from the left side but with Thompson diving over in desperation “I think I almost knocked it in,” Thompson said “Those are the plays I'll take any day of the week when they're not going in the back of the net.” Thomspon’s heroics came exactly three weeks after he left Washington’s 5-1 loss at the Carolina Hurricanes on April 2 with an upper-body injury Even after Thompson returned to practice on Saturday it was unclear whether he’d start Game 1 against the Canadiens on Monday until he led the Capitals out for the start of warmups Thompson has stopped 58 of 61 shots in the first two games of the series for a 1.47 goals-against average and .951 save percentage “These games, this is where he wants to play,” Carbery said. “He wanted to play in the playoffs. He said: 'I'm ready to go. I want to be in the net in Game 1.' No disrespect to (backup) Charlie Lindgren Thompson has always hungered to shine in big moments like this An undrafted free agent who signed with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2020 he didn’t get to play in the playoffs when they won the Cup in 2023 because he was injured The 28-year-old started Vegas’ first four games in the first round against the Dallas Stars last season and was 2-2 with 2.35 GAA and .921 save percentage before Adin Hill took over for the remainder of the series After the Golden Knights lost that series in seven games Thompson expressed a desire to play more regularly and was traded to the Capitals on June 29 He responded by going 31-6-6 with a 2.49 GAA .910 save percentage and two shutouts during the regular season $35.1 million contract ($5.85 million average annual value) on Jan passing on an opportunity to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason But Thompson still longed to prove himself in the playoffs I'm hungry and thankful for this opportunity just thankful to the Washington Capitals to take me in and let me play." Having the chance to shine on the postseason stage drove Thompson as he worked to get back from his injury He knew he had to be ready when his moment came He had only two full practices to get back up to speed before the puck dropped Monday “I knew I wasn't going to get a game before playoffs,” Thompson said working as hard as I can and just waiting to see if I get my name called the series could easily be tied with Montreal having a chance to take control in the next two games at home Washington is two wins away from winning its first playoff series since it won the Stanely Cup in 2018 “It's a whole different story to go out and execute in the most pressure-packed and that's exactly what he's done in these first two games,” Carbery said credit to him [after] the time off and being able to jump right back into and play your best hockey MONTREAL -- Sam Montembeault left in the second period for the Montreal Canadiens, and Logan Thompson left in the third period for the Washington Capitals in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference First Round at Bell Centre on Friday Neither starting goalie returned in what resulted in a 6-3 win for the Canadiens and it's unclear if they will be available for Game 4 here on Sunday (6:30 p.m left with 8:21 remaining in the second period after having a conversation with Jim Ramsay who is Montreal's director of sports medicine and performance He was replaced by Jakub Dobes in uniform soon after Montembeault left the game The Canadiens did not issue an update on the reason for Montembeault's departure and coach Martin St but it appeared the goalie was favoring his left leg was in the tunnel high-fiving and hugging his teammates as they came off the ice following the win Montembeault went 31-24-7 with a 2.82 goals-against average .902 save percentage and four shutouts in an NHL career-high 62 games (60 starts) in the regular season He allowed five goals on 63 shots (.921 save percentage) in Games 1 and 2 of the series against the Capitals .909 save percentage and one shutout in 16 games (15 starts) "Obviously, he's a massive part of our team," Canadiens forward Josh Anderson said Dobes gave us some good minutes tonight and we have full belief in him The Canadiens have a scheduled day off on Saturday but it's possible they will provide an update on Montembeault's status for Game 4 Thompson was replaced by Charlie Lindgren after he was run into by teammate Dylan Strome just as Juraj Slafkovsky gave the Canadiens a 5-3 lead with 6:37 remaining in the third period Thompson appeared to put little weight on his left leg as he was helped off the ice by Strome and Capitals forward Brandon Duhaime Thompson tried to stand on his own but nearly fell over "Not sure," Capitals coach Spencer Carbery said when asked about the concern level for Thompson I'll get an update and then we'll go from there." Thompson allowed five goals on 35 shots in Game 3 He allowed three goals on 61 shots (.951 save percentage) and earned the win in Games 1 and 2 at home He was not on the ice for an optional practice Saturday Lindgren gave up one goal on five shots in relief "To be honest with you, I didn't see what happened, but we have two good goalies," Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin said "If something happens we always have a backup." .910 save percentage and two shutouts in 43 games (42 starts) this season .896 save percentage and one shutout in 39 games (38 starts) The Capitals also have Clay Stevenson here as their third goalie The 26-year-old made his NHL debut in a 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 17 after playing 33 games with Hershey of the American Hockey League where he went 18-8-4 with a 2.94 GAA and .888 save percentage MONTREAL - The Montreal Canadiens will play without starting goalie Sam Montembeault, while Washington Capitals counterpart Logan Thompson appears to have avoided the worst Both netminders exited with injuries in Montreal's 6-3 win in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series Friday Washington leads the best-of-seven matchup 2-1 Montembeault (lower body) is considered day-to-day Louis announced Sunday morning ahead of Game 4 in Montreal Rookie goalie Jakub Dobes is set to start for the Canadiens after replacing Montembeault with 8:21 remaining in the second period in Game 3 "He's obviously a big part of our team, and has been a big reason that we're here today,” defenceman Mike Matheson said of Montembeault and a lot of confidence in the confidence that he has in himself." Dobes stopped seven of eight shots to earn the win. The Canadiens recalled netminder Cayden Primeau from American Hockey League affiliate Laval to serve as Dobes' backup The 23-year-old Dobes was called up to Montreal on Dec He went 7-4-3 with a .909 save percentage and 2.74 goals-against average in 16 games during the regular season “You guys cannot imagine how a person feels,” Dobes said after his unexpected first playoff appearance Thompson (lower body) is a game-time decision. He skated Sunday morning after needing to be helped off the ice in Game 3 when teammate Dylan Strome crashed into him following Juraj Slafkovsky's goal late in the third period Capitals backup Charlie Lindgren entered the net he’s been great in the series,” head coach Spencer Carbery said of Thompson “I was happy that it wasn’t anything significant that would keep him out for an extended period of time In other lineup news, Canadiens forward Patrik Laine and defenceman David Savard did not practise Sunday morning Laine missed Game 3 with an upper-body injury after being benched the entire third period in Game 2 Louis said he’s “pretty sure” Savard will play after taking a maintenance day For the Capitals, Aliaksei Protas is also a game-time decision The towering winger skated Sunday and is nearing his series debut after suffering a skate cut to his foot on April 4 and then we’ll know if they’re good to go,” Carbery said Primeau returns to Montreal after beginning the season with the Canadiens He struggled with a .836 save percentage and 4.70 goals-against average in 11 NHL appearances this season before Montreal sent him down to Laval in December the 25-year-old won 21 of his 26 starts with a .927 save percentage and 1.96 goals-against average “It’s amazing what he’s done the last three months," St "His play speaks for itself but it’s beyond his play the way he’s been able to have an impact down there This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 27 Amen (left) and Ausar Thompson continue to shine on the playoff stage we’ve watched the Pistons and Rockets earn wins to stave off elimination and extend their respective series to a Game 6 one common denominator between the two teams and their victories has been a Thompson were both crucial in keeping their squads alive in the postseason operating as difference makers on both ends of the floor Their defensive prowess has put each in a significant position tasked with guarding their opponents’ best player Amen of the Rockets has been in charge of making things difficult for Stephen Curry while Ausar of the Pistons has had the assignment of staying with Jalen Brunson and it’s not feasible to fully stop either especially throughout the course of a playoff series each of them was able to clamp down and make things difficult for their adversary Brunson was held to just 4-for-16 shooting and 16 points He had yet to score less than 30 in any of the previous four games Amen aided in holding Curry to 4-for-12 shooting as Houston opened up a significant lead in the game sending Golden State’s starters to the bench for good early They were key contributors on the offensive end Ausar finished the Pistons’ Game 5 win with 22 points on 8-for-10 shooting and earned 12 opportunities at the charity stripe The 22-point performance tied a career-high from his rookie season and was the most points he scored in a game this year He stayed active in cutting to the rim and finding holes in the defense as Jalen Duren and Cade Cunningham earned the defense’s attention in the paint he provided 25 points on 8-for-12 shooting tying his second-highest output of the season His two-way success earned him a team-high +32 rating in the Rockets’ 131-116 win over the Warriors in Game 5 he became the youngest player in NBA playoff history to record a 25+ point Repeating these performances will not be an easy task but their success should build confidence that they can the Pistons and Rockets will be difficult teams to beat Although history suggests it’s highly unlikely for a team to come back from down 3-1 history hasn’t quite seen players like the Thompson twins You can catch Ausar and the Pistons attempt to force a Game 7 against the Knicks tonight at 7:30 ET on TNT. Meanwhile, Amen and the Rockets will take the floor against the Warriors in Game 6 on Friday at 9 ET on ESPN Detroit contains New York's All-Stars Jalen Brunson becomes a bystander late in the 4th quarter and the Pistons force Game 6 Houston pounces on Golden State early and cruises to victory but a testy finish adds extra flavor for Friday's pivotal Game 6 The Joe Dumars Trophy is awarded to the player who best represents the ideals of sportsmanship on the court Doug Christie coached 51 games for the Kings in 2024-25 and led the team to the SoFi Play-In Tournament Breanna Stewart and Jonquel Jones glamour up alongside Angel Reese for the annual fashion event Kenny Atkinson experienced a setback on his coaching journey it fueled the 2024-25 NBA Coach of the Year Follow the NBA Playoffs with our Nightly Pulse blog featuring all the latest news scores and highlights from around the league Atkinson guides Cavaliers to a 64-18 record and the No 1 seed in the Eastern Conference during 1st year at the helm RotoWire highlights the top performers after the 2nd full week of the 2025 NBA Playoffs "He figured out a pattern of success," says Zach Hahn who was coached at Butler by Celtics GM Brad Stevens privately-owned plane lost power soon after taking off from Billy Bishop airport Friday afternoon with a parachute deployed and attached to the plane’s tail A Toronto police boat circles above the crashed plane that sunk nine to 12 metres beneath the water’s surface and about 200 to 300 metres from shore on Friday afternoon was rescued by boaters already in the area near Leslie Street Spit on Friday afternoon then smoke and flames coming from the plane after it lost power on Friday afternoon A Toronto doctor was rescued from Lake Ontario Friday afternoon after the small plane he was flying landed in the water near Tommy Thompson Park A witness described seeing an explosion with smoke and flames coming from the aircraft before it went down The 49-year-old pilot took off from the city’s Billy Bishop airport and was on his way to Pembroke Crews at the airport lost contact with the privately-owned Cirrus plane shortly after 2 p.m Toronto boaters rescue pilot as plane sinks in Lake Ontario off Tommy Thompson Park (Rob Faulkner Video / May 2 suffered non-life-threatening injuries and refused medical attention “We’re very fortunate to see this person come to land safely,” Jongdong said calling the incident “a very close call.” Toronto police’s Marine Unit was sent to the scene after crews at Billy Bishop Airport informed police they had lost contact with a privately-owned the pilot tried to turn back and return to the airport but wasn’t able to make it near the park also known as the Leslie Street Spit a five-kilometre peninsula that is globally recognized as a key area for biodiversity a recreational photographer and former pilot had been enjoying the weather near Ashbridges Bay when he saw the plane coming in “I thought he probably coming into the runway so I was going to take a picture of him and then there was an explosion,” Paulson said He saw “lots of smoke” and small flames coming from the plane before its parachute deployed Paulson said he’s often flown between Toronto and Nashville often and is familiar with smaller-sized aircrafts Paulson said he couldn’t feel any wind but noticed there was enough to catch the parachute and slow the plane to a reasonable speed by time it hit the water Rocket-fired parachutes are a standard safety feature on Cirrus SR-2X aircrafts a component the manufacturer says can reduce the aircraft’s velocity to zero in eight seconds in an emergency “It kept pulling the plane back up so the plane did not sink it’s probably going to sink,” he said Paulson felt like he had stumbled on a film set and was watching a Hollywood stunt in real-time “It was almost like it was staged,” he said Rob Faulkner was on a boat near the mouth of Ashbridges Bay when he heard a loud bang and saw the plane go down got within 20 feet of the of the plane as it was starting to sink and we rescued the individual,” said Faulkner Faulkner said the pilot was wearing a life-jacket and had to jump off the plane into the cold water so they could help him come aboard The pilot told Faulkner his motor had exploded and his back hurt from the impact but otherwise he felt fine Faulkner estimated the whole ordeal — from when the plane first hit the water to when the pilot was moved to a police boat — took about 20 minutes the plane climbed to an altitude of around 4,400 feet and a speed of 175 miles per hour before beginning to drop The same plane had previously made two round-trip flights from Toronto to Kapuskasing The plane is submerged at an estimated nine to 12 metres beneath the water’s surface and approximately 200 to 300 metres from shore where police said it will remain overnight before retrieval efforts begin Equity and Inclusion programs at colleges across the nation while 48% believe in the redeeming values of having diverse perspectives in the workplace Rusty Hills a former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party who teaches at the University of Michigan Gerald Ford School of Public Policy shockingly rare because it came from a man who for a long time helped elect Republicans to major offices across the state Hills takes us on a historical journey to separate fact from fiction and lays out the case for an inclusive America that truly embraces everyone regardless of their background and heritage He offers a comparative analysis that undercuts one of the core arguments being made by the anti-DEI propaganda machine: that most people of color in a position of authority are not deserving of the role His decision to speak out in defense of a more accepting nation is courageous and admirable because there are others in his ilk who out of fear have chosen to remain silent even though they know that the coordinated attacks on DEI are simply political retribution and not based on any empirical data The overall goal of DEI is to establish a mechanism to give more people opportunity to thrive I have known Hills for years and even though we have not agreed on every issue I always appreciated his candor and willingness to find common ground The Republican-controlled state House is in overdrive right now to do Trump’s bidding to ban diversity His thoughtful approach to why DEI should be embraced is what we need DEI is simply an initiative that gives voice to the unheard and lifts people from isolation and underrepresentation in the workplace The band of reactionary forces in Lansing determined to make Michigan less welcoming are undermining the core strength of the state: diverse communities Gretchen Whitmer has chosen to either avoid the debate over the future of DEI or act as if it is no longer suitable to her political aspiration The tide is against DEI and the governor is missing in the discourse to defend a program that is integral to the advancement of Michigan’s diverse communities a Democratic governor who made her political fortune preaching racial equity when she needed Black votes cannot keep silent now And ours is an evolving democratic experiment that has continuously faced challenges to achieve true inclusion Yet we cannot avoid the history of past injustices and systemic barriers that many ethnic communities have faced in the long journey to realize their full participation in the nation That history is well documented and cannot be erased by executive orders or high-sounding pronouncements that are meant to instill fear in educational institutions and corporations bankole@bankolethompson.com Bankole Thompson’s columns appear on Mondays and Thursdays in The Detroit News scoring between seven and 12 points in the other six games and shooting 37.5% or below in each of those contests who led Houston in scoring (21.0 points per game on .423/.354/.813 shooting) during the regular season averaged just 13.3 PPG during the postseason with shooting splits (.372/.295/.667) well below his season-long rates The 23-year-old finished with eight points on 3-of-8 shooting in Game 7 s–t,” Green said when asked to assess his performance in the series According to Alexander, Warriors defensive stalwart Draymond Green said slowing down Jalen Green was a primary focus for Golden State “We did a good job on him to start the series and I think that rattled his confidence a little bit,” said Draymond Green “This isn’t something he’s been apart of before but you’ve got to give the guys credit who were guarding him We know what they are capable of when he’s scoring and so we really wanted to take him out of this series.” Houston signed Jalen Green to a three-year Given the way the offense — and Green — struggled Alexander anticipates “non-stop” questions this offseason about how Houston can improve on that end of the court as well as Green’s future with the team Just gotta get rid of loser Dillion Brooks They played the Warriors tougher than anyone got every cheap whistle while beating the crap out of Steph while GSW got no whistles ever The West was too close to call from positions 2-8 this year GSW finishes at least a top 4 team in the West Man you gotta get over the over the top Dillon Brooks hate He’s a good player and helped this team grow over the last two years Just floors me as a GS fan you can legit hate Brooks to that level while actively rooting for Draymond @CamFrost the fact you think they are the same type of player proves you don’t know ball Draymond is 10000x better than Brooks at every aspect of basketball Dillon Brooks has been a net negative to the Rockets That’s because Brooks is playing top 5 minutes a game instead of 5 mins a game like his skillset and IQ allows him in this league You give ME a break – YOU are the one replying to ME – I wasn’t asking your opinion Well when you put something ridiculous on the internet for anyone to see anyone can respond “lil broski.” You’re emotionally attached to this Dillon Brooks hate and it clouds your ability to see how he’s very obviously a valuable player Draymond is a very good player and always has been You HATE Brooks for what he does while at the exact same time can watch Draymond get multiple techs and flagrant fouls in a 7 game series It believes that Curry winning rings somehow makes him a winner and everyone else losers Rockets fans wanted to trade Jalen Green/fillers for Giannis Amen Thompson is def going to be a star … if he ever develops a consistent jumper or 3pt shot No kidding – at his age (22) he’s probably the best young sf in the league he should be one of maybe 2 Rockets that are untouchable Their 2 best players range can be measured in inches rather than feet (Amen/Sengun) Green Jabari Lawndale Whitmore for KD math works Throw in a couple picks you got a stew baby (Rip CW) Yes 3rd team most likely in any regards so both teams take less money and Hou wouldn’t have to be capped at apron 1 ~ Green can def go anywhere I had Lawndale moving to 3rd team in scenario above but Hou has a ton of routes to chose Cam is 20 and Ime barely played him in the playoffs FVV is overpaid but is one of the few vets I’d try to keep Adams but he’s going to have a lot of interest and Whitmore are the chips they can use to make a big addition if they wanted to… Booker Trade Green allow Reed to workout by putting him in the starting lineup so they a have a deep throat Keep Fred then recruit the best FA to fit their team. Somethings will depend on where they end up in the lottery IF they land Ace Bailey or Derik Queen – you can feel better about moving Jabari Smith instead of paying him a year from now and kicking the can on paying playeres I think you could get a FRP from someone like the Sixers if they landed at 5 or 6 and not looking to draft Queen or Maluach themselves I would think Jalen Green has clearly been the odd-man out for bringing in a legitimate star player Reed Sheppard can be added to that deal – buts already imo IF I was ranking their trade targets – Giannis LaMelo all might be available but come with risk (age I’d only be willing to discuss trades around Booker with the Suns if I was the Rockets The Suns have zero leverage in that discussion but the Rockets can just hold onto the Suns picks as well Log in Register Register 2025 – The newest library within the Thompson-Nicola Regional Library (TNRL) is proving that while it might be tiny the Aberdeen Tiny Library branch will have its weekly hours double and the branch will be open six days per week instead of four The tiny library opened in Aberdeen Mall in 2023 as a pilot program and the branch will continue to operate in this space for an additional three years following approval from the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) Board of Directors “We heard from patrons loud and clear that they love the Aberdeen Tiny Library and wanted to see more open hours,” said Margo Schiller TNRL Manager of Kamloops Libraries & Engagement “The TNRD Board’s unanimous support means that we’ll be open more often to increase the convenience of accessing this library for patrons It also means that all three Kamloops libraries will be open Sundays Please note that the tiny library’s holds locker and vending machine are available during all hours that Aberdeen Mall is open Aberdeen Tiny Library is adding new program offerings Storytime & Craft will join the roster of ongoing programs which already features Teeny Tiny Storytime and Books n Blenz the tiny library will also host two special programs of Storytime & Craft at the West Highlands Community Centre (in place of Teeny Tiny Storytime on these specific days) a weekly Storytime will be held on Friday mornings also at the West Highlands Community Centre “It’s been great to see the growth of the Aberdeen Tiny Library since day one,” said Mike Brown “We’re excited to offer more for patrons – from open hours to programs – and to continue that personalized library experience we’ve become known for.” Aberdeen Tiny Library is an important addition to the TNRL branches; it’s the first new library in Kamloops since 1974 The library is well-positioned to serve south Kamloops which is where the majority of the city’s population growth is projected to occur For more information, visit: tnrl.ca/aberdeen Margo Schiller, Manager of Kamloops Libraries & EngagementThompson-Nicola Regional LibraryTel.: 250 312-4532Email: mschiller@tnrd.ca Mike Brown, Aberdeen Tiny Library Branch HeadThompson-Nicola Regional LibraryTel.: 778 471-2100Email: mbrown@tnrd.ca The Washington Capitals and Montreal Canadiens lost their starting goalies because of injuries in Game 3 of their first-round series Friday night The Canadiens won 6-3 to cut their series deficit to 2-1 "You never want to see anybody go down," Washington defenseman John Carlson said Capitals goalie Logan Thompson couldn't put weight on his left leg and had to be helped off the ice after a third-period collision. Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty ImagesMontembeault left the crease with 8:21 remaining in the second period and the score tied 2-2. Replays showed him reaching for the back of his left leg after making a save on Capitals defenseman Alex Alexeyev he stopped 58 of 63 shots (.921 save percentage) with a 2.49 goals-against average stopped seven of eight shots in relief of Montembeault and earned his first NHL playoff win in his debut "You guys cannot imagine how a person feels," Dobes said Dobes was 7-4-3 in 16 games for the Canadiens in the regular season with a .909 save percentage stopping 15 shots in a 3-2 overtime victory Thompson was helped from the ice by a trainer and teammates after Strome collided with him with 6:37 left in regulation right after Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky made it a 5-3 Montreal lead Thompson attempted to skate off on his own but couldn't put weight on his left leg Capitals coach Spencer Carbery did not have an update on Thompson after the game "It was tough," Capitals defenseman Jakob Chychrun said [Strome] is trying to get back and make a desperate play to save a goal Backup goalie Charlie Lindgren replaced Thompson who had been outstanding for the Capitals in the first two games of the series winning both with a .951 save percentage and a 1.47 goals-against average Information from The Associated Press was used in this report While this is a near complete reshuffling of personnel behind the bench most fans were quick to point out Thompson’s name among those mentioned He has been responsible for the Flyers’ power play for the past three seasons finishing 32nd in the league in both 2022-23 and 2023-24 then 30th to finish the most recent 2024-25 campaign Flyers General Manager Daniel Briere announced today that the club will not be retaining the services of Assistant Coaches, Rocky Thompson and Darryl Williams, and the club's Assistant Coach/Skills, Angelo Ricci. https://t.co/xjvQdSmwd4 — Philadelphia Flyers (@NHLFlyers) April 23, 2025 There is one reasonable argument to the lack of success seen in Rocky Thompson‘s first two seasons overseeing the power play That would be the fact that he wasn’t working with a highly- skilled group setting up in the offensive zone was often difficult for them in all situations A couple aspects that edition lacked were a much needed proper playmaker and offensive defenceman Considering that this was predominantly an issue regarding the team itself despite his unit finishing the season last place in the league the result of another ineffective power play unit would turn the attention to its leadership Thompson then saw the end of his tenure with the Flyers Imagining a power play with an improved Michkov and Drysdale with another highly skilled player alongside them is exciting to think about, especially if such an addition turned out to be a centreman. In that case, Sean Couturier could be moved to their second unit allowing for both units to have solid net-front options and likely increasing their face-off win percentage Philadelphia could potentially have a more talented lineup next year. However, any success on their special teams won’t come without proper direction. For example, Owen Tippett‘s well known for his powerful shot and has already completed three-consecutive It is fair to presume that he’d be a great option for one-time shots on the power play which is why it’s shocking that he didn’t score a single goal during man advantages this year He was often deployed on the flank or bumper instead of utilizing his right-handed shot from the left circle the Flyers’ power play unit is going to need to see a higher emphasis of each player’s strengths for a higher success rate next season Main Photo Credit: Daniel Kucin Jr. – Imagn Images The 2025 NHL Lottery has concluded. We know who will be picking first overall. It is not the San Jose Sharks or Chicago Blackhawks. It Despite a fourth straight trip to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Los Angeles Kings have decided it’s time for a change in the front office. It’s time for another round of NHL rumours. We’re now into the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. However, teams that got eliminated in One of the reasons why the 2024–25 season wasn’t as bleak for Vancouver Canucks fans is because of how great Kiefer Sherwood’s stats were. This A 49-year-old man was fortunate to escape with only minor injuries after being rescued when a small plane landed in the water near Tommy Thompson Park on Friday afternoon We apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Play VideoArticle contentEmergency crews responded just before 2:30 p.m and found a small privately owned plane in the water near the Leslie St Toronto Police said the pilot was the lone person on board Toronto Police Marine Unit responders pulled him from the water near the Leslie St a human-made five-km peninsula that extends into Lake Ontario Cops said the pilot suffered very minor injuries Police said the pilot told them that the aircraft lost engine power while on route to Pembroke He tried to return to Billy Bishop island airport about seven kilometres west of where the plane landed Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience Don't have an account? Create Account UNKNOWN TROUBLE:Tommy Thompson Park2:24 pm- reports of plane landing in water near Leslie spit area- small privately owned plane with one person on board- person has been rescued and is with TPS Marine Unit- will update#GO907831^sc Footage and images show the moment the small plane crashed into Lake Ontario. A red and white parachute is visible as the plane is seen going into the water. The plane involved appears to be a Cirrus SR20, according to a CP24 news report that said it’s the only light aircraft equipped with a parachute system. transmission or republication strictly prohibited This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy You can manage saved articles in your account Thanks for visiting MONTREAL -- Charlie Lindgren feels he's been working all season for a moment like the one he could get for the Washington Capitals in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference First Round against the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Sunday (6:30 p.m Lindgren will be the Capitals’ starting goalie if Logan Thompson is unable to recover in time from the injury he sustained during a 6-3 loss in Game 3 on Friday "Every day I've kept on working to get to moments like this You think about 10-year-old Charlie what he would do to be in a situation like this." That's when Lindgren was bouncing between playing for the Canadiens and Laval There's no way he thought of this possibility at that time being the starting goalie for the road team in a playoff game in Montreal Lindgren got his start in the NHL with the Canadiens and started 24 games for them between 2016-21 before signing with the St Louis Blues in 2021 and then landing in Washington in 2022 "I definitely have got a background with this organization (Montreal) even though there's been a lot of turnover since I left," Lindgren said It's playoff hockey -- I don't care who you're playing against you're always going to get up for it Thompson was injured with 6:37 remaining in Game 3, when teammate Dylan Strome barreled into him after Juraj Slafkovsky scored to make it 5-3 Montreal "I obviously didn't see 'LT,' " Strome said "Never a good feeling when you hit your goalie or you run into your goalie or you hurt a teammate." Thompson appeared to struggle putting any weight on his left leg and nearly fell over when he tried to stand on his own before Strome forward Brandon Duhaime and Capitals head athletic trainer Jaso Serbus helped him off the ice "I think that was just a balance thing," Strome said of when Thompson almost fell down “It's never a good scenario when a guy gets hit like that and then kind of stumbles Lindgren replaced Thompson and stopped four of five shots in what became a 6-3 loss Capitals coach Spencer Carbery didn't have an update on Thompson's status when asked about him Saturday were the two netminders on the ice for the optional practice "It'll be next man up for us and we know 'Chucky' Lindgren," Carbery said there's no concern there of our group having a letdown or from our staff having a lack of confidence He appeared in 39 games in the regular season He went 20-14-3 with a 2.73 goals-against average but Lindgren had a major impact on Washington (51-22-9) finishing first in the Eastern Conference with 111 points Lindgren was arguably the biggest reason the Capitals qualified for the playoffs He went 25-16-7 with a 2.67 GAA and .911 save percentage in 50 games Washington made the playoffs as the second wild card from the East despite a minus-37 goal differential Lindgren started all four playoff games against the New York Rangers The Capitals got swept and he allowed 14 goals on 103 shots (3.58 GAA but it was his first NHL playoff experience "Charlie has proven it to all of us in here over the last two years three years that he's very capable of handling himself in the playoffs Like 'Ovi' (Alex Ovechkin) said last night we've got two really good goalies and I think it would be business as usual (if Lindgren starts) It was arguably the loudest building he’s ever played in and the expectation is it will be that way again "You want to know what you're getting into and coming to Montreal you had a pretty good idea of what you're going to get and they didn't disappoint," Lindgren said getting the taste -- any time you play playoff hockey the level is going to be ratcheted up a few gears I got a taste playing at Madison Square Garden The Bell Centre is probably another level to that." He said he will also be able to pull from his experience playing in the playoffs against the Rangers last season to help him if he plays Sunday He cited the pace of play and the hostile environment as the two biggest elements of his experience that will help him "It's a really cool situation or place to be in," Lindgren said Nearly 70 per cent of Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola voters cast a ballot in the 45th federal election which didn’t return a record voter turnout nationally despite robust advanced poll numbers and a threat to Canada's sovereignty from U.S Early results for the riding show 62,096 of 89,245 registered electors (69.58 per cent) voted in Monday’s election in the reconfigured Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola riding The numbers do not include those who registered to vote on election day The total is a 3.5-point increase from the last election in 2021 which saw about 66 per cent of voters in Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo turn out to vote Numbers were even higher in the Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies riding with 67,496 of 92,185 registered voters casting ballots That represents a significant jump. Under its former name, North Okanagan-Shuswap, the riding recorded voter turnout a shade under 60 per cent in 2021 Thompson River University political science professor told Castanet Kamloops he doesn't think this year's voter turnout should be compared to those in past elections considering the redrawn riding “We might have to wait for another election cycle to get a clear picture on voter turnout increases or decreases,” Hanlon said he noted the national voter turnout is the highest recorded in 32 years Elections Canada said more than 67 per cent of eligible voters cast a ballot across Canada in the federal election — more than 19.2 million people “We haven't had that high of a national turnout since 1993,” Hanlon said “Clearly there's been a big uptick and that's clearly to do with the implications of Trump and the kind of galvanization of people around their different party bases for this election Hanlon said there were similar economic and sovereignty issues at play in the Canadian political landscape to trade tariffs and annexation in the form of Quebec separatism and a recently negotiated free trade deal with the U.S “The political atmosphere in the early 90s is very different than it is today but you can see when there's big questions of unity around the country and sovereignty itself people head to the polls,” Hanlon said adding crises tend to be very politically motivating When it comes to the lower total numbers in the Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola riding given the crisis issues at play Hanlon said the area is generally considered a Conservative stronghold which may generate voter apathy “Having ridings that are so consistently [voting] the same way might create kind of a bit more less incentive for other voters to head to the polls," he said While the 2025 election was widely expected to see increased turnout it did not surpass the record set nationally in 1958 when 79.4 per cent of eligible electors voted But turnout was higher than in the last federal election when 62.6 per cent of eligible voters headed to the polls voter turnout still has some room to climb Miguel Godau says it's a “hard time” for the NDP party and in Canadian politics he netted 2,652 votes in the Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola riding — good for 6.16 per cent He spent election night with his family in Castlegar and obviously I wish there were different results but I'm proud of the campaign we ran and I could not have gone through this process without the voters who supported me,” he told Castanet Kamloops He said he was saddened to see there wasn’t more NDP representation and the party will need to reflect and re-strategize to see what will need to be done differently Godau said this election appeared to be a two-horse race between the Conservatives and Liberals “I think that’s a fear of the States and the fear of electing the Conservatives and the marketing of the Liberals for strategic voting and really won a lot of votes,” he said He thinks it’s important to have broad representation in Parliament but with NDP leader Jagmeet Singh stepping down he said he’s interested in what the next steps for the party will be “I'm interested to see what the next steps for the NDP are with that but he's fought for people and I’m excited for the work that he has done and so thankful for the work he's done,” Godau said He congratulated newly re-elected Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola Conservative MP Frank Caputo and Prime Minister Mark Carney Frank Caputo says he’s overwhelmed after winning a second term as MP The Conservative will head back to Ottawa to represent Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola It’s going to be such a joy to return to the House of Commons,” Caputo told Castanet a few minutes after his victory was declared "I’m going to take tomorrow to clean up then hopefully Wednesday I’ll get back to work.” with Mark Carney’s Liberals forming government He said a lot of the races are still too close to call “Obviously you want to always form government so we’ll have to see where that leads,” he said Of course we want to win The NDP collapse was really big … A minority government was not what anybody had on their radar today so I think I need time to process it.” This story will be updated throughout the evening Conservative Frank Caputo is going back to Ottawa for a second term Caputo will win the Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola riding he is nearly 20 points on second-place Iain Currie Green Jenna Lindley’s 268 and PPC Chris Enns’ 149 The Liberal candidate for Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola was watching the results roll in with party supporters at the Delta Hotel on Victoria Street when Castanet caught up with him at about 7:30 p.m “I don’t think it’s possible that I could be more nervous — I have reached the titration point of nervousness,” he said "It’s just the nature of the beast we’ve got lots of volunteers who are in this room who put our everything into it — and we’ll see what happens.” Currie was trailing incumbent Conservative Frank Caputo by nearly 700 votes the Green Party’s Jenna Lindley with 78 and the PPC’s Chris Enns with 51 The celebration at the Delta is a lively affair, especially after the race was called nationally for Mark Carney’s Liberal Party a private affair at Kamloops Square on Seymour Street The first results are rolling in for the Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola riding and early numbers have incumbent Conservative Frank Caputo out in front very early returns had Caputo in front with 235 votes Green Jenna Lindley with 13 and the PPC's Chris Enns with 10 NDP supporters are watching those results from a table at Tumbleweeds Lounge in the Plaza Hotel Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola candidate Godau is at home in Castlegar but he is at the table thanks to the magic of Zoom Nobody in the NDP camp would talk to reporters before local results were clear Conservative incumbent Frank Caputo is nervously watching the results roll in at a private gathering at Kamloops Square on Seymour Street “Nervous anticipation here,” he told Castanet shortly after 7 p.m., a few moments before the race was called for Mark Carney’s Liberals "Out east it’s a bit of everything — some surprises Right now I’m just trying to digest it all.” so let’s see how things play out,” he said As of 7:25 p.m., Elections Canada's website is showing no results for the Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola riding This story will be updated as more information becomes known Candidates for the Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola riding have their plans set for election night There will be no reporters in the room as Conservative incumbent Frank Caputo watches the results come in but will be posted up at his Kamloops office on Seymour Street with family and friends "No media will be permitted inside," Caputo told Castanet Both Kamloops-area Liberal candidates — Iain Currie for Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola and Ken Robertson for Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies — will watch the results come in at the Delta Hotel on Victoria Street Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola NDP candidate Miguel Godau will be in his hometown of Castlegar on election night but campaign supporters will be gathered at the Tumbleweed Lounge in the 400-block of Victoria Street in downtown Kamloops to watch the results roll in Chris Enns of the PPC said he is spending election night with family and friends hosting a barbecue at his home in Clearwater Journalists are allowed to attend the Liberal and NDP events and Castanet will have reporters making the rounds all evening The race to be the first MP to represent Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola has shown parallels to the national campaign with two would-be contenders emerging and the possibility of the NDP’s historically robust local support slipping Canada’s 45th election campaign has been unprecedented annexation that continued right until voting day with President Donald Trump repeating his call for Canada to elect the man who has the “strength” to see Canada become the 51st state The campaign also saw a record number of Canadians taking advantage of advanced polls The American elephant in the room also pushed the election into more of a two-horse race than in recent years with pollsters showing the NDP possibly losing support — a factor that showed itself anecdotally in Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola sees incumbent Conservative Frank Caputo up against former colleague Iain Currie who is running for the Liberals following two unsuccessful runs for the Green Party Sparks flew between the two rivals during an all-candidates debate last week Rounding out the field is Miguel Godau of the NDP and Chris Enns of the People’s Party of Canada The Green Party named a candidate for the riding but she has not been heard from on the campaign trail Enns has spoken about wanting to implement the PPC agenda with a moratorium on immigration while Godau has said he wants to be an ear for the people of the riding in Ottawa pointing to the Liberals' strong polling and positioning himself as a would-be government MP noting he had a private members bill passed from Opposition — a rare feat — and has numerous others he plans to pursue if elected Check back here for updates on the Kamloops-Thompson-Nicola riding as the election night unfolds. Coverage on the race to represent the Kamloops-Shuswap-Central Rockies riding is available here so I don't mind pretending to be that name when people call me that," Thompson tells EW of being confused for his "Good Burger" costar Jillian Sederholm is Entertainment Weekly's news director and co-host of EW's 'BINGE' podcast covering every season of 'RuPaul's Drag Race.' Follow her on Twitter at @JillianSed to geek out over 'SNL,' guess every celeb on 'The Masked Singer,' or discuss Christian Bale's entire filmography in intricate detail (have you noticed all the dancing?) Tollin/Robbins Productions/courtesy Everett Collection Among the creepy crawlies emerging in the spring The blood-sucking parasites are out across the Thompson Okanagan as wood tick season is in full swing There have been several posts on social media about the small arthropods lately and the impact a tick can have on man and beast should not be underestimated as they can carry some nasty ailments Interior for any length of time has likely had an encounter with a tick or knows someone who has but are most likely to bite from March to June Ticks will lie in wait on a branch or tall grass waiting for an unsuspecting person or animal to brush by They then latch onto their victim and bury their heads under the skin Staying out of the woods is no guarantee you won't encounter ticks Thompson Rivers University Entomologist Rob Higgins said in an earlier interview with Castanet that the most common area to find ticks is on grasslands but they can be found in urban environments as well “You can definitely pick them up in town even when you think you're walking in urban areas because you’re brushing up against grasses on the side of the sidewalks,” he said Higgins says the best way to remove it is to take a pair of forceps or tweezers slide them under the tick and pull backwards firmly – but not abruptly It will often take about 30 seconds of firm pressure to pull the tick out a species which Higgins said exists in low numbers in B.C. there are around a dozen Lyme cases discovered in the province but about half those originate from outside the region this disease mostly affects animals and he said vets and ranchers see cases each year fortunately here we don’t need to worry about them a great deal," he said Here are some top tick prevention tips from Orkin Canada: For more information on wood ticks and how to deal with them, click here. Have you had a close encounter of the insect kind? Email us a picture and we may feature it as our Bug of the Week April brought slightly warmer-than-average temperatures to the Thompson Okanagan with several cities in the region recording above-normal temperatures and lower-than-usual rainfall Meteorologist Bobby Sekhon says most cities were just a few degrees above the seasonal norm Kelowna recorded an average temperature of 10.5°C "compared to the normal of 9.3°C,” Sekhon said noting the city experienced its fourth warmest April on record Kelowna also saw less precipitation than usual recording 26 millimetres compared to the average 29.1 millimetres the average April temperature reached 9.7°C slightly higher than the normal of 9.1°C it was pretty dry in Penticton—only 8.8 millimetres compared to the normal of 25.6 millimetres,” Sekhon added with an April average of 10.3°C compared to the usual 8.7°C recording an average temperature of 10.7°C compared to its normal of 9.9°C not a high month of precipitation in general for Kamloops but pretty close to normal at 14.6 millimetres,” said Sekhon “May is looking like it’s going to be a warm and dry outlook but we will see some cycles of weather just like we have throughout April,” Sekhon said