Thursday, May 21, 2026

☕ Good Morning

Thursday, May 21 has big swings and small headaches: a billion-dollar fuel proposal, restaurants hauling water, a downtown corner bracing for vacancy and wildfire tech being tested close to home.

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📰 News

A $1-billion fuel proposal is back in the local conversation, but it is not shovel-ready. Castanet reports Azure Sustainable Fuels, Tk’emlups te Secwepemc and Sc.wenwen are still pursuing 7 Mile Renewable Fuels on Tk’emlups reserve land near Rayleigh. The pitch: turn vegetable oils into low-carbon jet fuel or diesel. The reality: it is still years away, expensive and under regulatory review. (Castanet)

The water-main story is now a small-business story. CFJC reports the East Kamloops Business Improvement Association is surveying members after the recent outage and advisories. Bold Pizzeria said it was going through about eight 15-litre containers of water a day just to make drinks, added staff to keep operating and only learned the advisory was lifted after a customer mentioned it. (CFJC Today)

The Seymour Street 7-Eleven closure is turning into a downtown-block problem. Castanet reports Kamloops Central BIA acting executive director Jeremy Heighton says a fence may be needed around the property once the store shuts down Tuesday, May 26. The concern is simple: an empty lot on an already-strained corner can become a bigger problem fast. (Castanet)

Kamloops wildfire tech is getting more real-world testing. Castanet reports Hummingbird Drones is turning local aerial data into live wildfire-risk insights, including research flights over Juniper Ridge. Another company, CRWN.ai, is looking for utility partners to test devices that listen for power-line hums that could signal fire risk. (Castanet)

The Blazers’ next wave gets a first look at Kamloops May 22 to 24. Radio NL reports 22 prospects and their families are coming for spring development camp, with public on-ice sessions expected at Brock Arena on Saturday, May 23 and Sunday, May 24. (Radio NL)

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🚨 Safety

The Westmount Elementary fire is now confirmed as arson. RCMP say the October 2025 fire was intentionally set; it damaged the school’s roof and library area and forced a five-month closure. Police are asking for tips, security video or dashcam footage from the area. (CFJC Today)

Kamloops RCMP are asking for help finding Teesha Danroth. The 22-year-old was reported missing May 12 and was last seen May 16 at a business in the 600-block of Seymour Street. Police ask anyone with information to call Kamloops RCMP and reference file 2026-14715. (Castanet)

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📅 Events

CELIN plays The Vic Downtown on Friday, May 22. The show runs from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at 377 Victoria St., with tickets listed at $16.50. (Showpass)

The Shore Block Party takes over Yew Street on Saturday, May 23. The free North Shore event starts at 2 p.m. with vendors, food, inflatables, entertainment, eight buskers, face painting and axe throwing. (Tourism Kamloops)

Monster Madness brings monster trucks to Mt Paul Events Centre on Saturday, May 23. The 1:30 p.m. show includes Monster Madness Tour trucks and FMX World Tour performers, with tickets listed at $25 to $50. (Tourism Kamloops)

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🛣️ Roads & Weather

🌤️ The May 23 weekend is lining up nicely: Environment Canada calls for increasing cloud and 23°C Thursday, May 21, then sun and 28°C Friday, May 22, and sun and 27°C Saturday, May 23. AQHI is low. (Environment Canada)

🚧 Highway 1 bridge work continues: DriveBC says construction between Pacific Way and Summit Drive continues until June 15, with traffic reduced to one lane each way in the westbound lanes and overnight detours from 10 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. (DriveBC)

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🎮 Daily Game

Chronophoto — guess what year a photo was taken and get points for how close you are.