Red Deer Polytechnic recognized 47 students who graduated from the Bachelor of Science in nursing program with a pinning ceremony last week.The institution says on Dec. 10, they held the ceremony on the main campus, which symbolizes the students' move from students to nurses ready to contribute to the healthcare system...

The Red Deer Christmas Lights Tour is back, courtesy of the incomparably dedicated Jim and A.J. Elliott.There are several options, as per usual, including: a highlights route, a short route, and the full tour, along with segmented routes for the north, southwest, east, and central parts of town.You can find the maps fo...

The Red Deer District Chamber of Commerce says Red Deer County's draft budget is focused on the fundamentals.CEO Frank Creasey also said in a release that it contains disciplined spending, predictable taxation, and core infrastructure along with service levels which keep the region competitive."Those priorities ma...

The City of Red Deer has announced a change in approach to its dynamic staffing policy.They announced on Monday that they will reduce overtime costs in Red Deer Emergency Services as part of the 2026 budget, which was approved by city council last week.Council approved $2.8 million for overtime, and the city said it'll...

Blackfalds town council has approved an interim operating budget for 2026, as well as an interim capital budget.The budgets are of the interim variety because 2025 included a municipal election. Though not every municipality does it this way, it will allow the town to operate under the same fiscal circumstances as in 2...

Parkland RCMP are seeking public assistance in locating missing 15-year-old Nisa Pakyurek.Nisa was last seen on Dec. 14 in Parkland County. Police say Pakyurek is believed to be in the Parkland or Red Deer areas, and her family is concerned for her well-being.Nisa is described as:5 feet 1 inch tall117 poundsSlim buildB...

The Town of Ponoka announced the approval of its 2026 interim budget, including a $23.9 million operating and a $15.4 million capital budget.This comes after two days of budget deliberations in late November, which led council to approve the interim budget at $39.4 million.This means the estimated property tax increase...

A boil water advisory for the south part of Penhold has ended. The advisory went into effect Thursday, and was said to be due to low chlorine levels detected by regular testing. The advisory was ended Sunday afternoon just before 2 p.m. Speaking to rdnewsNOW Monday, Mayor Mike Yargeau said 600 of Penhold's roughly 1,20...

Lacombe Police Service (LPS) is investigating a pair of thefts that occurred at the Lacombe Arena on Dec. 14. Police say the incidents took place between 12:45 and 1:45 p.m., with the first involving someone who stole items from a vehicle in the arena parking lot. The items stolen include a green canvas purse and a gre...

Maskwacis RCMP announced on Sunday, Dec. 14, that Jimmy Eagle has been located safe. Alberta RCMP thanks the public and the media for their assistance

Red Deer RCMP confirm they recently responded to a pair of sudden deaths possibly linked to cold exposure.Cpl. Candace Hrdlicka says in both cases, the person was found outside.The first was on Nov. 30, and involved a 58-year-old Red Deer woman, though Hrdlicka clarifies that despite what some conjecture on social medi...

City of Red Deer officials have announced that 17 outdoor rinks across the community are now open. After weeks of work flooding and prepping the ice, officials say the recent cold snap has helped ensure some of Red Deer's outdoor surfaces are ready to welcome skaters for the season.This weekend, the following 17 outdoo...

Red Deer RCMP, in partnership with City of Red Deer Community Peace Officers, invite the public to stop by this weekend to help them Cram the Van.Mounties say the team will be at the Walmart South (2010-50 Ave) location on both Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., collecting new toys and cash donations for gifts, in...

Another Red Deerian has won a lotto haul, this time of $100,000.Cody L. was announced by the WCLC as the latest Lotto Max winner on Friday.The Nov. 18 draw winner says he's taking his winnings straight to the bank and plans to invest a lot of it.The ticket was purchased at the Shell at 10 Vermont Avenue in Red Deer.He ...

The shifting economics of agriculture, mental health among farmers, and the landscape in which younger agrarians are set to take over the sector... Those topics and more made up the agenda at the 2025 Farm Credit Canada (FCC) Young Farmer Summit event in Red Deer on Thursday. The stop in Red Deer is part of a series of...

Trial dates have been set for a central Alberta man charged following the seizure of drugs and firearms from a local residence this fall. Jesse Bergstrom, 41, is scheduled for trial in Red Deer Court of King's Bench from Nov. 18-20, 2026. He's charged with: Possession for the purpose of trafficking (x3); Production of ...

A sentencing date has been set for a Red Deer man charged in a local drug trafficking investigation. Richard Gerald Askin, 34, is scheduled for sentencing in Red Deer Court of Justice on Dec. 18, 2025. Following his arrest on July 23, 2024, Askin was originally charged with: Possession for the purpose of trafficking x2...

Update - 1:45 p.m., Dec. 14 - The boil water advisory has ended. -- An emergency alert was issued just before 10 p.m. Thursday night due to a boil water advisory issued for the southern part of Penhold. According to the alert, the advisory will remain in effect until water quality testing confirms there is no contamin...

Sylvan Lake town council unanimously has approved its 2026 interim operating budget of $20 million.Council made the decision during its regular council meeting on Tuesday.However, this is not the final operating budget for the new year. An interim budget must be approved before January for operating expenses such as wa...

Blackfalds town council isn't so sure about wanting to see the municipality's lumped into a much larger provincial constituency, as proposed by the Alberta Electoral Boundaries Commission.Albertans, municipalities and other stakeholders have until Dec. 19 to give feedback on the proposed changes.As it stands, Blackfald...

The Downtown Business Association says they will cease operations by the end of 2025 because the board of directors determined they are no longer able to operate sustainably under the current financial framework for the new year.However, the City of Red Deer says that can't happen without process, including a vote from...

Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools (RDCRS) says it has ended the 2024-25 fiscal year in a strong financial position, posting a $2.7-million surplus on its $120 million budget.Trustees approved the audited financial statements on Nov. 25, noting the improvement was driven by higher-than-expected revenues, including an i...

Red Deer County Fire Department members responded to what they thought was going to be a small fire Wednesday morning.Crews were dispatched just prior to 8 a.m. to the northbound lanes of the QEII Highway, just south of Gasoline Alley, where the trailer portion of a semi truck was on fire.It was initially a small blaze...

Innisfail town council has approved an operating budget for next year with no increase to the community's mill rate at this time.The approval was made on Monday, Dec, 8, 2025, with council approving a 2026 operating budget of $31,875,555 and a capital budget of $6,505,000.Council deliberated over three days in late Nov...

Red Deer city council unanimously approved ongoing annual funding for the Sunnybrook Farm Museum during budget deliberations on Tuesday.The community staple had previously received $30,000 in funding from the Community Culture Development Fund, but found out they would no longer receive it.Executive director Ian Warwic...

A sentencing date has been set for a central Alberta man accused of second-degree murder in a fatal assault on the Louis Bull First Nation two years ago. Eroll Clay Rabbit, 60, a resident of Maskwacis, is scheduled for sentencing in Wetaskiwin Court of King's Bench on March 13, 2026. The date was set following his tria...

The Town of Sylvan Lake could potentially explore the possibility of becoming a city.At Tuesday's regular council meeting, a notice of motion was brought forward by councillor Tim Mearns for council to direct administration to prepare a report outlining the process, requirements, and financial implications for the Town...

The Nature Conservancy of Canada is hosting its annual 'Spruce Up the Holidays' event this Saturday, Dec. 13.People from around central Alberta are invited to come harvest a Christmas tree for no cost, all the while helping the forest.The conservancy explains that this helps to re-naturalize a former tree farm site at ...