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10/14/2026

Luna, a 10-year-old Jack Russell terrier from California, has been missing in Yellowstone National Park for a month, prompting an urgent volunteer rescue effort before freezing winter weather arrives.

​The Escape: Luna was left in a cabin with a do-not-disturb sign, but housekeeping accidentally opened the door. Staff chased her for over two hours, driving her into the wilderness. Believing she had likely been killed by a coyote, her family eventually returned home before new sightings were reported.

​Survival & Sightings: Relying on instincts from her first year of life spent as a stray, Luna has survived for weeks and is actively retracing her family's footsteps—crossing intersections, roaming employee housing, and entering lodges and eateries through automatic doors.

​The Rescue Strategy: Volunteer Katie Boucher of the Norris Ark Training and Recovery Center is tracking Luna and has set a humane trap baited with her family's scent rather than food, which would attract bears and other wildlife.

​Racing the Clock: With snow already dusting the ground, rescuers have limited time before fatal freezing temperatures hit and seasonal park housing closes.

​Public Appeal: Local business owners have posted signs at park entrances urging visitors and staff not to call or chase Luna, as doing so triggers her fight-or-flight response and drives her further away. Full information on (Global News)

10/14/2026

The death toll from the September 30 collision during a Truth and Reconciliation walk at Tsawwassen Mills has risen to three following the passing of 64-year-old Gwenyth Brigit Dwyn in the hospital.

​Victims: Dwyn joins First Nation Elders Barb Joe and Virginia Splockton, who previously died from the crash and have been honored with a memorial at the site. A fourth pedestrian hit by the pickup truck has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home.

​Ongoing Investigation: The Delta Police Department (DPD) has not yet determined a final cause. While they are still investigating whether the driver experienced a medical emergency, they are also examining the truck's prior movements, including an earlier collision.

​Motive & Charges: Police have found no evidence that the crash was targeted or ideologically motivated, though potential charges will be recommended to Crown Counsel if evidence of criminality is found.

​Public Appeal: Anyone with unspoken information is asked to contact the DPD at 604-946-4411 and reference file 26-18401. Full information on (CityNews)

10/14/2026

Incumbent Surrey Mayor Brenda Locke holds a commanding 17-point lead heading into the October 17 municipal election, largely benefiting from a divided field of challengers.

​Candidate Standings (Decided Voters)
​Brenda Locke (Incumbent): 33%
​Doug McCallum (Safe Surrey Coalition): 16%
​Linda Annis (Surrey First): 16%
​Troy Van-Vliet (SURREY NOW): 12%
​Mike Starchuk (Imagine Surrey): 12%
​Honveer Singh Randhawa (Conservative Electors Association): 9%
​Undecided: 8%
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​A Splintered Opposition: Unlike the 2022 race—where Locke defeated McCallum by just 973 votes (28.14% to 27.31%)—pollster John Wright notes that vote-splitting among challengers, few undecided voters, and McCallum's lingering political "baggage" put Locke on track for a second term.
​Council Dissatisfaction: Despite Locke's comfortable lead, 68% of voters feel she and the current city council are out of touch with community needs—a sentiment shared by 45% of her own supporters and 79% of those backing other candidates.

​Top Voter Concerns: Affordability and the cost of living top the list of resident priorities (46%), followed by crime and policing (32%), housing affordability (30%), and health care access (30%).

​Methodology: The Canada Pulse Insights poll for Rogers OMNI TV surveyed 483 Surrey residents online from Sept. 28 to Oct. 9, with a margin of error of +/- 4.5 percentage points. Full report on (CityNews)

10/14/2026

10/14/2026

Bruno Mars has partnered with TransLink and Warner Music Canada to provide pre-recorded guest voice announcements at Vancouver’s Stadium-Chinatown SkyTrain Station during his five-night concert run at BC Place Stadium.

​Schedule & Messages: Playing periodically on his concert dates (October 14, 16, 17, 20, and 21, 2026), the two recordings feature Mars hyping up riders before the show and thanking them afterward for attending The Romantic Tour.

​Transit Partnership: Following a viral social media emoji puzzle that teased his involvement, the collaboration with Warner Music Canada serves as both a promotional event for fans and an advertising revenue generator to support regional transit operations.

​Celebrity Precedent: Mars is the first recording artist to lend his voice to the transit system, following actor Seth Rogen in 2018 and soccer star Christine Sinclair during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Full information on (DailyHive)

10/14/2026

Surgery and Diagnosis: Pope Leo XIV underwent successful surgery at Rome’s Gemelli hospital to remove the lower lobe of his right lung. The procedure confirmed a diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma.

​Prognosis and Next Steps: Doctors removed all suspect tissue, and oncologists note his prognosis is excellent due to early detection. Medical teams are currently awaiting lymph node test results to determine the cancer's stage and whether additional treatments, such as chemotherapy or immunotherapy, will be necessary.

​Impact on Schedule: The Vatican has canceled the 71-year-old pontiff's audiences through October 20. The proactive surgery was scheduled specifically to give him a three-week recovery window so he can maintain an ambitious, multi-country trip to South America planned for November 6–17.

​Transparency and Health History: The American pope has been unusually transparent about the diagnosis, announcing the discovery of the lung nodule himself during a Sunday prayer. This is his first major health crisis during his 17-month papacy, with his only other notable hospitalization occurring in 1985 when he contracted typhoid fever as a young missionary in Peru. Full story on (Global News)

10/13/2026

Chatbot platform Character.AI has filed for bankruptcy in the U.S. and proposed a $20 million asset sale to Walt Disney. Disney will act as a "stalking-horse" (initial) bidder for a non-exclusive perpetual license to some of the company's intellectual property, though other companies can still submit higher bids.
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​Legal Troubles: The bankruptcy follows severe legal challenges regarding the safety of its chatbots. Character.AI recently settled a lawsuit over a 14-year-old's su***de and faces ongoing lawsuits from Kentucky (for encouraging self-harm) and Pennsylvania (for chatbots impersonating doctors).

​Next Steps: Character.AI hopes to finalize the sale of its assets by late November or early December. The platform will continue running during the transition—with assistance from Disney using former Character.AI staff—but will shut down permanently if a buyer isn't found.

​Financials: The company's U.S. owner, Character Technologies, lists both its assets and liabilities between $50 million and $100 million.

​Company History & Irony: Founded in 2021 by former Google employees, the startup was once highly sought after, landing a tech licensing deal with Google in 2024 and drawing partnership interest from Meta and xAI. Ironically, the current deal with Disney comes just a year after Disney issued a cease-and-desist order to the platform in September 2025 for unauthorized use of its copyrighted characters. Full report on (Global News)

10/13/2026

🚨 BREAKING: Six Flags has temporarily closed nine roller coasters across six parks nationwide after a tragic fatal fall at their Georgia location on Monday.

​A man died and several others were injured after falling from the 200-foot-tall "Goliath" roller coaster at Six Flags Over Georgia. According to witnesses, the man fell and struck the coaster multiple times before falling onto a haunted house attraction below. Passengers on the ride had to be evacuated down the steep track stairways by park staff.
​Out of an “abundance of caution,” Six Flags has halted multiple coasters across the country while Cobb County Police investigate. The tragedy comes just weeks after the permanent closure of another high-profile ride, X2, in California, following separate investigations into safety and past injuries. Full report on (CNN US)

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10/13/2026

Despite a massive influx of new federal funding, the Canadian military is facing another round of internal belt-tightening. The federal Treasury Board Secretariat is currently reviewing the Department of National Defence’s (DND) operational spending with the goal of reducing expenses by 10%.
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​The Funding Paradox: Defense spending is projected to jump from $75 billion to $95.6 billion by 2030. However, defense experts point out that much of this new cash is already absorbed by previous promises and wage increases, leaving the military with far less "disposable cash" than anticipated.
​Shifting Priorities: Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has directed the DND to cut operational expenses—such as outside consultants—and strictly prioritize capital expenditures. The goal is to focus funds on buying new combat equipment and modernizing the Canadian Armed Forces to improve readiness.

​Where Cuts Might Happen: To find internal savings and afford modernization, the military may need to abandon unaffordable IT projects or retire expensive legacy equipment. A prime example is the aging Victoria-class submarines, which carry massive maintenance bills.

​Warnings from Experts: Retired Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie warns that any budget reductions must target DND bureaucracy and headquarters staff, not the front-line troops. He stressed that funding for operations, training, and maintenance must be protected at all costs to ensure Canada is ready for global threats, particularly from nations like Russia. Full report on (CBC News)

10/13/2026

The BC Civil Resolution Tribunal ruled that a University of British Columbia (UBC) student cannot claim her lost athletic scholarship as an income replacement benefit from ICBC following a motor vehicle accident.

​The Incident: Katrina Fink lost her $7,252.60 basketball scholarship after suffering a concussion in a June 2023 car crash, which left her medically unable to participate in team activities.

​The Student's Argument: Fink argued that her scholarship should count as income, pointing to her T4A tax form and the strict obligations (practices, games, minimum GPA) that she equated to employment work.

​ICBC's Position: The insurer maintained that while university athletics require high commitment, they are not a "remunerative occupation." Therefore, the scholarship does not qualify as employment income under the Insurance (Vehicle) Act (IVA).

​The Tribunal's Ruling: The Tribunal sided with ICBC, stating that while scholarships are a form of general income, they do not qualify as employment compensation for the purpose of calculating gross yearly employment income. The Tribunal also noted it must enforce current legislation as written, despite Fink's claim that the law's wording contains gaps regarding student athletes. Full report on (Castanet)