Read my latest from today.

Postmedia nominated for four news awards by Canadian Association of Journalists The IJB/National Post, Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal and North Bay Nugget all received nods from the Canadian Association of Journalists

"In the category of data journalism, the Edmonton Journal is nominated for its investigative work delving into Alberta’s lacking food inspection system." #yeg #yegmedia
@cajournalists.bsky.social

edmontonjournal.com/editors/post...

Lawyer for de Ruiter said his client was the victim of an "overzealous prosecutor."

Said de Ruiter will be seeking relief to recoup costs.

Crown prosecution service said internal review of what happened is underway.

'No viable path forward'; Charges stayed against Edmonton spiritual leader John de Ruiter Charges stayed against Edmonton spiritual leader John de Ruiter

New from me today:

Crown stays charges against Edmonton spiritual leader John de Ruiter.

edmontonjournal.com/news/no-viab...

Alberta's online gambling market to launch July 13, with 32 providers asking to join Minister Nally told reporters it is exciting to see that company, along another online gambling provider, theScore, express interest to join

The province has confirmed July 13 will be the opening date for its online gambling market after sports betting company DraftKings announced its intent to join that market Thursday.

edmontonjournal.com/news/alberta...

Dedicated school for autistic students scrapped by Edmonton Public School Board In a Tuesday meeting, the Edmonton Public School Board voted five to three to scrap plans for a $25-million school for students with autism.

Plans for a dedicated school for students with autism have been scrapped after trustees for Edmonton Public Schools voted Tuesday to nix the $25-million project.

edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...

Edmonton Journal Read latest breaking news, updates, and headlines. Edmonton Journal offers information on latest national and international events & more.

New from me today,

Edmonton man who killed St. Albert teen on dog walk pleads down to manslaughter:

edmontonjournal.com

From @liamnewbigging.bsky.social — The new event park coming to Ice District just hit a major milestone, as OEG Sports and Entertainment and the City of Edmonton have now drafted the project’s design team. #yeg #yegdt #LetsGoOilers

edmontonjournal.com/news/its-a-b...

While downtown Boston Pizza buckles, traffic shifts towards Ice District, and some see signs of recovery As a longstanding Boston Pizza on Jasper Ave. shuts its doors, questions rise about Ice District sucking energy from the rest of downtown.

Wayne Jones, co-owner of the Rocky Mountain Ice House, just down the avenue from the Boston Pizza, said he’s seeing a turnaround in business in the daytime lunch crowd, but it doesn’t yet extend into the evening. #yeg #yegdt

edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...

Edmonton man pleads guilty to making death threats to Jewish community, sentenced to three months in jail An Edmonton man has been sentenced to three months in jail for threatening to kill Jewish people.

In a single day, an Edmonon man made over 100 posts to X threatening the Jewish community.

Those posts? Still visible. Only some were flagged by X, even after the man pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 3 months in jail for making the posts.

edmontonjournal.com/news/crime/e...

'Our Central Park': After three years Hawrelak Park reopens on frosty March morning A popular greenspace and festival destination is back in service, as Edmonton's William Hawrelak Park re-opened Friday morning.

From @liamnewbigging.bsky.social — “You can’t imagine New York City without Central Park. You can’t imagine Edmonton without Hawrelak Park.”

After three years Hawrelak Park reopens on frosty March morning #yeg

edmontonjournal.com/news/our-cen...

Story callout for #yeg!

We are on the cusp of pothole season... come across any gnarly ones?

Got any thoughts on how we deal with them?

DMs and email open!

LNewbigging@postmedia.com

Baby name dynasty: Olivia and Noah clinch top baby names for Alberta again Olivia and Noah clinch top baby names for Alberta again

In Alberta, a baby name dynasty has formed. Will the names Olivia and Noah ever be beaten?

We'll have to wait for next year to find out...

Read my latest on the top baby names of the year:

edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...

The dynasty continues! Olivia and Noah remain the top names for Alberta.

Olivia has held this spot for 13 years straight, while Noah has been the top boy name for seven years now.

The province is set to announce Alberta's top baby names of 2025.

Olivia and Noah have reigned supreme for a number of years now, will that dynasty finally be toppled?

Stay tuned.

Man found guilty of killing woman while driving U-Haul in chaotic police chase A judge has found a man guilty on multiple charges related to a dangerous flight from police that resulted in the death of a woman in 2024.

From @liamnewbigging.bsky.social — Man found guilty of killing woman while driving U-Haul in chaotic police chase #yeg

edmontonjournal.com/news/man-fou...

'A scourge on sports': Edmonton senator joins effort to ban sports betting ads An Edmonton senator is joining 40 other members of the Senate in calling for a ban on all advertising related to online sports betting.

Latest from @liamnewbigging.bsky.social — 'A scourge on sports': Edmonton senator @KristopherWells joins effort to ban sports betting ads #cdnpoli

edmontonjournal.com/news/a-scour...

'A lot of historic buildings come down': City plans to preserve old power plant "We can't just rip out walls and knock things down and reinvent it into something modern and new," Johnston said.

The City of Edmonton wants the old Rossdale Power Plant repurposed into something new.

Yesterday we got a peak inside.

#yeg #yegnews #Edmonton #urban

edmontonjournal.com/news/a-lot-o...

'Gold in addition with green': Aging Butterdome to sport new look in $27 million facelift The University of Alberta revealed a fresh batch of renderings on Wednesday for the coming $27 million construction project.

Wonder if we should call it the "riverdome" now.

Read about the Butterdome's upcoming makeover in my latest:

edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...

NAIT academic staff prepared to strike but hoping to bargain NAIT staff voted yesterday to strike.

New from me today:

Job action from NAIT's academic staff is now on the table. But a deal might still happen.

edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...

Edmonton police facial recognition pilot may end before privacy commissioner vet The OIPC may not finish vetting an assessment of the Edmonton police AI-powered facial recognition pilot project until the trial is over.

From yesterday:

EPS' trial of face-recognizing body cameras might be over before the privacy commissioner can vet the project.

edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...

#yeg #yegnews #yegcrime

Edmonton police first in world to test Axon facial recognition body worn video cameras EPS is the first in the world to test facial recognition body worn video cameras from Axon Enterprise Inc.

This story reminded me of Cyberpunk 2077, where you can scan NPCs to check for active warrants and bounties.

Police in Edmonton will begin testing something similar starting tomorrow.

Read more here:
edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...

Doing a story callout!

Is anyone worried about/prepping for porch robbers in #yeg this year? Or maybe you've experienced porch robbers in the past already.

Feel free to give me a shout if you want to talk about it for a possible story.

LNewbigging@postmedia.com

Space crunch at public schools beyond suburbs, hits central Edmonton A persistent space crunch continued last year at Edmonton public schools. But now capacity issues are showing up in mature neighbourhoods.

First story in the Edmonton Journal!

edmontonjournal.com/news/local-n...

Started on Monday as a fulltime general assignment reporter, in case you missed that.

I know there is no shortage of news today, but...

Proud to say after being done classes since summer, today I got to officially graduate from J-school!

Also, big career-type news coming soon....stay tuned.

I'm going to be working the news desk at CBC Edmonton for the next bit here.

Got news? Send tips to liam.newbigging@cbc.ca

Annexation blues: Residents in Edmonton's future growth area grapple with growing pains | CBC News Residents in Edmonton's future growth area, annexed in 2019, are experiencing issues like construction waste, garbage dumping, and deteriorating roads. The area, mostly farmland, lacks urban infrastru...

Read my latest from this morning:

Annexation blues: Residents in...
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...

Indigenous groups in Alberta step up legal action over possible separation referendum The Onion Lake Cree Nation says it is going ahead with a challenge to the province’s sovereignty legislation in response to separatist rhetoric, which it says threatens treaty rights

Read yesterday's piece in The Globe and Mail here: www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic...