Monday, March 30, 2026

📰 News

BC’s Avi Lewis is the new federal NDP leader. The filmmaker and grandson of party founder David Lewis won on the first ballot Saturday with 56% of the vote, beating Alberta MP Heather McPherson. He’s in no rush to enter the House — says he’ll build grassroots support first. (CFJC Today)

TRU has now cut nearly $47 million since fall 2024 — about 20% of its operating budget. The board approved another $17 million in reductions Friday, on top of $30 million already slashed. VP finance Matt Milovick: “We’re pretty tight to the bone.” (Castanet)

Westmount Elementary reopens today after a five-month closure. A suspicious fire on Oct. 26 damaged the roof and disturbed asbestos, displacing about 250 students across three other schools. Contractors finished remediation ahead of schedule. (CFJC Today)

The Blazers are in a 2-0 hole heading home. Kelowna put up 49 shots and won Saturday’s Game 2 five goals to one. JP Hurlbert scored the lone Kamloops goal; Logan Edmonstone turned away 44. Games 3 and 4 are in Kamloops. (KamloopsBCNow)

Smoke around Kamloops over the coming weeks is likely controlled burns, not wildfires. BC Wildfire Service is clearing debris piles at more than a dozen recreation sites — East Barriere Lake, Johnson Lake, North Barriere Lake, and others — starting as early as today. (BC Wildfire)

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🏛️ City Hall

East Kamloops now has a business improvement association — and it just wrapped its first year. The BIA covering Valleyview, Dallas, and Campbell Creek presented its 2025–26 annual report to council on March 24, noting that year one focused on governance and surveying members. Safety, beautification, and public space improvements came up most in that outreach. (City of Kamloops)

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🚨 Safety

Kamloops RCMP are searching for 16-year-old Marissa Wilson, missing since March 27. She’s described as 5’4”, 100 lbs, Indigenous, with brown hair and faded purple dye. Known to travel by foot and bus through the North Shore, Valleyview, and downtown. Tips to 250-828-3000, file 2026-8992. (CFJC Today)

The Law Society of BC has closed its investigation into Butch Bagabuyo — the Kamloops lawyer convicted of murdering his client. Bagabuyo is roughly two months into a life sentence after being found guilty of first-degree murder in the death of TRU instructor Mohd Abdullah. The society says he’s no longer a member and “the public is protected” given his 25-year minimum sentence. (Castanet)

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📅 Events

Vintage Car Club Easter Drive and Car Show is April 5. (Castanet)

Two concerts hit Kamloops April 11. Sound & Colour is a kid-friendly show led by electric violin; Rip, Roam & Rain is a genre-blurring strings ensemble program for adults. (KamloopsBCNow) (KamloopsBCNow)

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🛣️ Roads & Weather

🚧 Hwy 1 (Chase, Shuswap Ave to Little River Rd): Single-lane alternating traffic now active through April 17, weekdays 7 AM–5 PM.

🚧 Hwy 1 (Grand Blvd to Miners Bluff Rd, Kamloops): Road sweeping eastbound — watch for slow-moving vehicles and crews.

🚧 Hwy 1 (Old Ferry Rd to Squilax Turtle Valley Rd): Road sweeping through Apr 17, weekdays 6 AM–3 PM. Moving work zone.

(DriveBC)