Hundreds of people in parts of BC are being told to pack a to-go bag and their most precious belongings in case they must leave due to wildfires. Residents in about one thousand properties south of 100 Mile House have and the entire community of Cache Creek have been put on notice that residents may have to leave as dangerous fires continue to burn in nearby areas. More than 300 wildfires are burning in the province and over two dozen of those are considered a threat to public safety.
Surrey RCMP are investigating two separate incidents of sexual assault from the past week. The first was on July 9 around 9:50 p.m. when a woman was walking in the 14200-block of 104th Avenue and she “met an unknown male.” who followed her into Hawthorne park before attacking her. She was able to fight him off and he fled, and is described as Black, about six-foot-two, 180 lbs., with a “muscular build, and short messy dreadlocks.” The release adds he was wearing black pants and a black T-shirt. The second incident happened on July 12 at 12:34 a.m. when a girl was walking in Tynehead Park and was “pushed from behind and sexually assaulted by an unknown male,” The second suspect is described as a Black male, about six-foot-one, with a “muscular build, and stubble on his face.” The release adds he was wearing a bright red hoodie, black pants and red shoes. RCMP say the two attacks don’t appear related, and are asking anyone who might have more information about either incident to please get in touch with them.
Johnson & Johnson is recalling several sunscreen products over concern of benzene, which can cause cancer with repeated exposure.
The recall affects aerosol sunscreens — the Aveeno Protect Plus Refresh and Neutrogena Beach Defense, CoolDry Sport, Invisible Daily Defense, and UltraSheer sunscreens.
Customers should stop using the products immediately. J-and-J says the benzene was found after testing by the company and an independent lab, and that it is investigating how the chemical got into the products.
One person who was badly burned in a trailer fire at Cultus Lake has been listed in critical condition and the campsite has been evacuated. Witness say the fire broke out just before midnight at Sunnyside Campground and the trailer was engulfed within seconds and someone who was badly burned crawled out. Camper Bryan Miller says his trailer was about 30 metres away and he could see fire coming out of the trailer windows before he and others ran over with their extinguishers to try and put out the flames but the roof was coming off. Emergency Health Services says two ground ambulances and an air ambulance were dispatched to the scene.
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem expects the higher prices we’re experiencing are temporary. He believes the inflation rate will run above three per cent this year before falling back to the central bank’s two per cent target as the economy opens further. But he says the bank will use the tools available to it, including its key interest rate, to rein in inflation if necessary.
As of Thursday, July 15, 2021, 79.4% (3,681,088) of eligible people 12 and older in B.C. have received their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine and 48.6% (2,253,818) received their second dose. In addition, 80.5% (3,481,176) of all eligible adults in B.C. have received their first dose and 51.9% (2,246,289) received their second dose. B.C. is reporting 54 new cases of COVID-19, for a total of 148,282 cases in the province. There are currently 650 active cases of COVID-19 in the province, and 145,859 people who tested positive have recovered. Note that the numbers of total and new cases are provisional due to a delayed data refresh and will be verified once confirmed. Of the active cases, 63 individuals are currently in hospital and 12 are in intensive care. The remaining people are recovering at home in self-isolation.
Admission is free for a July 27 night of comedy at Surrey’s Brownsville Pub, 11940 Old Yale Rd. The Laugh Wild Comedy-hosted “Comedyville” event features Jessica Pigeau with Melissa Walkley, Ed Hill, Justin Chan, Jeremiah Ukponrefe and Arash Narchi, starting at 8 p.m. “Come prepared for a hilarious and rowdy Tuesday night,” says a post on eventbrite.ca, where seats can be reserved. Laugh Wild has staged comedy shows across the region since launching two years ago, according to company founder Nina Wilder. “It’s been a ride,” she said. “This is one of our trial nights (at Brownsville), and we have several other shows planned (at venues elsewhere in Metro Vancouver). We hire the entertainment, organize the night and set up the tickets.” Laugh Wild produces “all things comedy,” according to its Facebook page, including stand-up, improv sketch, dance, music, variety and everything in between. Check laughwildcomedy.com/shows for listings.
Macaroni and cheese and ice cream — 2 great tastes that, apparently, go great together — because the, umm … unique flavor sold out in just 60 minutes!!! Here’s the deal … Kraft and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream joined forces to create a limited-edition mac and cheese ice cream flavor and the demand was so great for the dessert debut, the website crashed within 9 minutes and the entire 2,000 pint inventory was wiped out online within the hour. The ice cream launched Wednesday on National Mac & Cheese Day — yes, that’s a real thing — and, in addition to online sales, they hawked it in Van Leeuwen’s brick-and-mortar shops nationwide. Well, for a brief period, anyway … we’re told it took only 3 hours to sell out of their 9,000 scoops.