Jane Skrypnek

Medical tools are pictured in an exam room at a health clinic in Calgary on Friday, July 14, 2023. B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced on March 10, 2024 that the province is expanding access to a blood cancer treatment. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh

Access to new blood cancer treatment expanded in B.C.

CAR-T therapy previously only available through clinical trial, now offered in several hospitals

Medical tools are pictured in an exam room at a health clinic in Calgary on Friday, July 14, 2023. B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix announced on March 10, 2024 that the province is expanding access to a blood cancer treatment. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
A black bear mother and her two cubs were sighted at Boer Mountain in Burns Lake on Sept. 23, 2023. A BC Greens MLA and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs are calling on the province to legislate protections for bear dens. (Saddman Zaman/Black Press Media)

BC Greens MLA tables bill to protect bear dens from logging for 3rd time

UVic report finds old growth logging decimating critical hibernation options for B.C.’s black bears

A black bear mother and her two cubs were sighted at Boer Mountain in Burns Lake on Sept. 23, 2023. A BC Greens MLA and the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs are calling on the province to legislate protections for bear dens. (Saddman Zaman/Black Press Media)
A screenshot from a live-streamed video on Kick shows a B.C. teen driving a car into the Burrard Inlet on Monday night (March 4). (@AdinRossEmpire/X)

B.C. teen live-streamed driving car into ocean on apparent paid dare: police

Port Moody Police considering charges of mischief and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle

A screenshot from a live-streamed video on Kick shows a B.C. teen driving a car into the Burrard Inlet on Monday night (March 4). (@AdinRossEmpire/X)
A measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is shown on a countertop at a pediatric clinic in Greenbrae, Calif. on Feb. 6, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Eric Risberg

1st case of measles reported in B.C. over weekend: BCCDC

Instance marks first instance of virus in the province since 2019, disease control centre says

A measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is shown on a countertop at a pediatric clinic in Greenbrae, Calif. on Feb. 6, 2015. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Eric Risberg
University of British Columbia international student Zhenhuan Lei is in a vegetative state following a martial arts tournament, according to his mother. She has filed a lawsuit against the tournament organizers and host. (GoFundMe)

Mom sues, alleging kickboxing tournament put UBC student in vegetative state

Suit claims tournament was unsanctioned and referees failed to enforce ‘light’ and ‘controlled’ rules

University of British Columbia international student Zhenhuan Lei is in a vegetative state following a martial arts tournament, according to his mother. She has filed a lawsuit against the tournament organizers and host. (GoFundMe)
The House of Comedy in New Westminster was set to host a set by Danger Cats Comedy on March 24, but the show has since been cancelled after people discovered the comedy group was selling merchandise making light of serial killer Robert Pickton’s murders. (Screenshot/GoogleMaps)

B.C. comedy show cancelled following anger over Robert Pickton merch

Danger Cats Comedy made light of serial killer’s victims in T-shirts sold ahead of New West show

The House of Comedy in New Westminster was set to host a set by Danger Cats Comedy on March 24, but the show has since been cancelled after people discovered the comedy group was selling merchandise making light of serial killer Robert Pickton’s murders. (Screenshot/GoogleMaps)
A small group of demonstrators gathered outside of a Hikvision event in Burnaby on Feb. 27, 2024, to protest the company’s supplying of surveillance cameras to Israel. (Submitted photo)

B.C. group protests global company supplying surveillance cameras to Israel

Hikvision technology being used to monitor Palestinians, Amnesty International found in 2023 report

A small group of demonstrators gathered outside of a Hikvision event in Burnaby on Feb. 27, 2024, to protest the company’s supplying of surveillance cameras to Israel. (Submitted photo)
The rate of childhood poverty in B.C. saw a sharp increase in 2021, despite an overall downward trend, the latest report card from First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society found. (Lachlan Labere/Black Press Media)

B.C. child poverty rate increases for first time in a decade: advocacy group

Report card finds 14.3% of B.C. children lived in poverty in 2021, up from 13.3% in 2020

The rate of childhood poverty in B.C. saw a sharp increase in 2021, despite an overall downward trend, the latest report card from First Call Child and Youth Advocacy Society found. (Lachlan Labere/Black Press Media)
B.C. is introducing a new measure that taxes home owners who resell their property within two years of purchase. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

B.C. Budget 2024: targets home flipping with new tax on fast resells

Measure will tax owners 20% if they flip a home within 1 year of purchase

B.C. is introducing a new measure that taxes home owners who resell their property within two years of purchase. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
B.C.’s Finance Minister Katrine Conroy speaks during budget lockup in Victoria on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (Lauren Collins/Black Press Media)

B.C. Budget 2024: it’s status quo for mental health and addictions services

New budget commits $215M to maintain expanded services brought in last year for 3 more years

B.C.’s Finance Minister Katrine Conroy speaks during budget lockup in Victoria on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (Lauren Collins/Black Press Media)
B.C. released its 2024 budget on Thursday, February 22, 2024. (Black Press Media file photo)

B.C. Budget 2024: One-off affordability boost for families, small cut to hydro costs

Fiscal plan also expands Employer Health Tax exemption to more businesses

B.C. released its 2024 budget on Thursday, February 22, 2024. (Black Press Media file photo)
The 2023 B.C. Adolescent Health Survey was released on Feb. 21, 2024. (Pixabay)

B.C. adolescents having less sex and using fewer drugs, health survey finds

Those who are using drugs are more likely to have first tried them at a younger age, however

The 2023 B.C. Adolescent Health Survey was released on Feb. 21, 2024. (Pixabay)
This handout photo shows an affordable and supportive housing facility in Victoria, B.C. run by the Victoria Cool Aid Society. B.C. is restricting some of the rights of supportive housing tenants beginning on Feb. 28, 2024. (Victoria Cool Aid Society handout)

B.C.’s new supportive housing rules cite safety but reduce tenant freedom

Tenants will no longer be able to dispute wellness checks or guest bans under Residential Tenancy Act

This handout photo shows an affordable and supportive housing facility in Victoria, B.C. run by the Victoria Cool Aid Society. B.C. is restricting some of the rights of supportive housing tenants beginning on Feb. 28, 2024. (Victoria Cool Aid Society handout)
A report from the Office of the Seniors Advocate released on Feb. 15, 2024 highlights the disproportionate challenges seniors living in rural B.C. face and calls for provincial action. (Pixabay)

Seniors in rural B.C. have worse access to health care and housing: report

Seniors advocate calling on province to address inequity

A report from the Office of the Seniors Advocate released on Feb. 15, 2024 highlights the disproportionate challenges seniors living in rural B.C. face and calls for provincial action. (Pixabay)
The BC Naturopathic Doctors Association is asking the provincial government to allow practitioners to prescribe safer supply and opioid agonist treatment in B.C. (Pixabay)

B.C. naturopaths look to prescribe safer supply, reiterate call to province

Naturopathic doctors say they’re ‘ready’ to fight the toxic drug crisis, but waiting on B.C.’s approval

The BC Naturopathic Doctors Association is asking the provincial government to allow practitioners to prescribe safer supply and opioid agonist treatment in B.C. (Pixabay)
A panel of six B.C. mayors spoke on a panel about housing as the province’s population grows, at the Union of B.C. Municipalities Housing Summit in Vancouver on Feb. 13, 2024. Left to right: UBCM President Trish Mandewo, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, Langley City Mayor Nathan Pachal, Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog, Nelson Mayor Janice Morrison and Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)

Housing the next 1 million residents: B.C. plan has gaps, mayors say

Municipal leaders question whether infrastructure, workforce can keep up with provincial mandates

A panel of six B.C. mayors spoke on a panel about housing as the province’s population grows, at the Union of B.C. Municipalities Housing Summit in Vancouver on Feb. 13, 2024. Left to right: UBCM President Trish Mandewo, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley, Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie, Langley City Mayor Nathan Pachal, Nanaimo Mayor Leonard Krog, Nelson Mayor Janice Morrison and Victoria Mayor Marianne Alto. (Jane Skrypnek/Black Press Media)
The Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops will be home to a new cancer care centreCancer care centre 1 step closer to completion in Kamloops. (DAVE EAGLES/KTW)

Cancer care centre 1 step closer to completion in Kamloops

Construction expected to begin in 2025, following recent approval of business plan

The Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops will be home to a new cancer care centreCancer care centre 1 step closer to completion in Kamloops. (DAVE EAGLES/KTW)
A B.C. lawyer has been banned from practising for seven years after he misappropriated more than $8 million in client funds to feed his gambling addiction. (Pixabay)

B.C. lawyer misappropriated $8M from clients to fund gambling addiction

Russell Sean McDonough banned for 7 years, says he never intends to gamble again

A B.C. lawyer has been banned from practising for seven years after he misappropriated more than $8 million in client funds to feed his gambling addiction. (Pixabay)
Premier David Eby Monday (Feb. 5) announced that he and Selina Robinson have agreed that she would no longer serve as minister of post-secondary and future skills following her comments about pre-1948 Israel. She will remain in caucus. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Robinson to step down as minister after Israel-Palestine comments

Premier David Eby made the announcement during a Monday media event

Premier David Eby Monday (Feb. 5) announced that he and Selina Robinson have agreed that she would no longer serve as minister of post-secondary and future skills following her comments about pre-1948 Israel. She will remain in caucus. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
A 2014 file photo shows a copy of B.C.’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPAA). THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

Wait for FOI requests in B.C. the worst its been in 13 years: commissioner

Province only meeting 30-day benchmark in about 50% of access to information requests, report finds

A 2014 file photo shows a copy of B.C.’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIPAA). THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward