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Good morning, Edmonton and surrounding areas! Happy Wednesday! ☀️
The smoke is finally clearing and today brings a proper taste of summer, morning fog burning off into a warm afternoon with a few storms passing through before it clears up again tonight.
Grab the reply button today, we want to know your favourite river valley spot now that the air is clearing. Here is what is making news across Edmonton and the surrounding areas this Wednesday.
Edmonton's Stormwater System Is Buckling Under Two Straight Months of Rain
Why does Edmonton's drainage system keep struggling this summer?
Global News reported Tuesday that Edmonton's drainage network is straining under nearly two months of heavy rainfall, with a University of Alberta engineering professor pointing to weak spots in the aging stormwater system even as the city and EPCOR push ahead with a six year, 1.6 billion dollar upgrade plan.
About 350 million dollars has already gone toward dry ponds and pipe upgrades since the plan began.
Crews are still repairing sinkholes and damaged infrastructure from earlier storms this summer.
Here is hoping the ground gets a break soon.
Yellowhead Pipeline Gets the Green Light, Construction Starts Right Away Near Fort Saskatchewan
What is the new pipeline project approved near Fort Saskatchewan?
The Alberta Utilities Commission approved ATCO's 2.9 billion dollar Yellowhead natural gas pipeline this week, a 235 kilometre line running from the Peers area to the Fort Saskatchewan region, with construction beginning right away.
The project is expected to create about 2,000 direct construction jobs.
Once running, it will deliver more than 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas.
A big one to watch for the local job market.
Alberta Opens the Mail In Ballot Portal for October's Referendum
How do I request a mail in ballot for the Alberta referendum?
Elections Alberta opened applications this week for special mail in ballots ahead of the October 19 referendum, letting electors request one without giving a reason.
Applications to vote by mail close October 9.
All special ballots must be received by mail before the deadline to count.
Worth getting ahead of if you plan to vote by mail.
Search for Missing Calgary Boy Parker Wells Enters a Sixth Day
Has Parker been found yet?
Not yet. Tuesday marked six days since 11 year old Parker Wells, who is nonverbal and neurodivergent, was last seen near his day home, with police now logging more than 6,500 kilometres searched and using AI assisted video review to comb through footage.
Police released new CCTV footage Monday of Parker near McKnight Boulevard and Centre Street.
Anyone with home security footage from Thursday July 16 is asked to submit it, even if it does not show Parker.
Keep an eye out and keep him in your thoughts.
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Canada's Premiers Meet in P.E.I. as Trump's Tariff Threat Looms Over the Agenda
What are Canada's premiers meeting about this week?
Canada's premiers gathered Tuesday in Charlottetown for a three day meeting on trade and major projects, with Alberta's Danielle Smith pushing to eliminate interprovincial trade barriers and Prime Minister Carney set to join the discussion Thursday.
Premiers are calling on Ottawa to prioritize a strong outcome on the Canada US Mexico trade agreement.
Smith says she wants to see an intensity ramp up on trade talks with Washington.
A meeting worth watching as tariff pressure keeps building.
Trump's 50 Percent Tariff on Canadian Goods Is Now Official
Did Trump actually impose the 50 percent tariff on Canada?
The 50 percent tariff on a wide range of Canadian goods that Trump ordered Monday, covering autos, alcohol and dairy among other categories, was formally imposed Tuesday, with Ottawa expected to approve a retaliatory package and worker support measures.
Energy, potash, fish and critical minerals are excluded from the new tariff.
Goods previously protected under the free trade agreement are not exempt this time.
The kind of news that hits close to home for a lot of Alberta industries.
Zelensky Fires His Top General After Days of Street Protests in Kyiv
Why did Zelensky replace Ukraine's top general?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky removed General Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander in chief Tuesday following nationwide protests demanding his exit, naming Mykhailo Drapatyi as the new army chief while also offering ousted former defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov a new government role.
Zelensky thanked Syrskyi for his role defending Kyiv and leading operations in Kharkiv and Kursk.
Protesters had been calling for Fedorov's reinstatement as a driver of military modernization.
A big shakeup for one of Canada's key allies in the war.
Yemen's Houthis Declare a Naval Blockade on Saudi Arabia, Rattling Oil Markets
What is the Houthi naval blockade and how could it affect oil prices?
Houthi leaders announced an immediate maritime blockade against Saudi Arabia this week, calling it an eye for an eye response to a Saudi blockade of Yemen, with analysts warning a full closure of the Bab el Mandeb Strait could cut global oil supply by roughly 7 percent.
The strait sits at the mouth of the Red Sea, one of the world's busiest shipping routes.
Any supply shock there tends to ripple straight through to prices at the pump here at home.
Worth keeping an eye on if gas prices start climbing again.
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YOUR TURN 💌
One story in today's issue is still sitting with me and I want to know if it landed the same way for you. Hit reply and tell me which one you cannot stop thinking about and why. I read every single one, and your replies genuinely shape what we dig into next.
One small thing I ask of you: when you spot a sponsor link today, they are the ones sitting outside the purple frames, click through and take a look. It takes ten seconds and it is genuinely what makes tomorrow's issue possible.
Edmonton local Weather
Day ⬆2° higher than historical avg. Night ⬆5° higher than historical avg.
Edmonton Weather: Wednesday July 22
Wednesday starts with patchy fog and a mild morning near 16C, warming into a hot afternoon near 28C that will feel closer to 34C with the humidity before a few storms roll through. Skies clear out again by evening for a pleasant end to the day, so it might finally be worth digging the patio chairs back out.
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Events Happening in Edmonton and Surrounding Areas
Wednesday, July 22
🌸 Taste of Edmonton, running through July 26 🎟️ Details
📆 Daily through Jul 26 · ⏰ 11:00 AM to late · 📍 Sir Winston Churchill Square, Edmonton
🌸 K Days, running through July 26, Wednesday music lineup 🎟️ Details
📆 Wed Jul 22 · ⏰ Aysanabee with Robin Cisek at 7:30 PM (CKUA Stage), Peach Pit at 7:30 PM (K Days Music Fest) · 📍 Edmonton EXPO Centre and Exhibition Grounds
🌸 Callingwood Farmers' Market 🎟️ Details
📆 Wed Jul 22 · ⏰ 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM · 📍 177 Street and 69 Avenue, Edmonton
🌸 Baseline Farmers' Market 🎟️ Details
📆 Wed Jul 22 · ⏰ 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM · 📍 Home Depot Parking Lot, 390 Baseline Road, Sherwood Park
HIT OR MISS 🎯
Now that the smoke is finally clearing, it feels like the right week to get back out into the river valley. Hit or miss on your favourite trail: Terwillegar Park, Hawrelak Park, Gold Bar Park or the Rundle Park pathways.
Hit reply and tell us which one gets your vote, or name your own favourite spot we missed.