--B-C Update--

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(BC-Lumby-Murder)

B-C's Independent Investigations Office says it is looking into the police's handling of alleged threats made against a woman in Lumby, B-C, months before she disappeared -- and was later found dead.

The police watchdog says in a release that it is probing the Mounties' response to a December 2023 incident where detachments received a report about the threats.

Tatjana Stefanski disappeared from her home in the B-C Interior in April and was found dead a day later.

Police say Stefanski was last seen with her ex-husband before "departing unexpectedly" with him in a black Audi. (The Canadian Press)

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(BC-RCMP-Bella-Bella)

A B-C First Nation is calling for the R-C-M-P to remove a Bella Bella officer due to what community members are calling racist text and images on social media.

Heiltsuk (HELT'-zuk) Tribal Council Chief Marilyn Slett in a letter to police that the officer made the posts before he joined the Mounties.

The letter says one post showed a man dressed in a colonial-style uniform along with a comment about Indigenous people -- quote -- "stirring up trouble."

Mounties say they are aware of the concerns and an administrative process involving the officer is underway. (The Canadian Press)

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(BC-Pedestrian-Struck)

Police in Victoria say an elderly pedestrian suffered life-threatening injuries after being struck by a vehicle.

Police say the pedestrian was trying to cross the road in the city's Chinatown neighbourhood when the crash happened.

Investigators say the driver is cooperating with police.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or have video footage of the incident is being asked to contact police to aid with the investigation. (The Canadian Press)

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(BC-Hydrogen)

A hydrogen expert says the latest announcement of a 900-million-dollar production and refuelling network across B-C is a positive step toward wider adoption of the clean-burning fuel.

University of Toronto professor Murray Thomson says hydrogen produces only water when burned and is more energy-dense than batteries, making it a better fit for commercial trucking.

Thomson says a network being put in place by Vancouver's H-T-E-C would give industry officials real-life experience on the potential of hydrogen technology in real-world trucking.

H-T-E-C's H-2 Gateway project announced it was getting a 337-million-dollar loan from the Canada Infrastructure Bank and could create almost 300 jobs when completed. (The Canadian Press)

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(Yukon-Flooding)

Yukon has rescinded all evacuation alerts for the Old Crow area and downgraded a flood watch for the nearby Porcupine River to a high streamflow advisory.

The territory says no major flooding is expected while the advisory is in place.

The Old Crow area was first placed under evacuation alert on May 17th due to flood risks on the Porcupine River during seasonal ice breakup.

That evacuation alert had been revised and partially rescinded on May 21 before being completely lifted in the latest update. (The Canadian Press)

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(BC-Stolen-Cemetery-Items)

Nanaimo R-C-M-P say about a dozen bronze vases have been stolen from grave sites at a local cemetery.

Police say the thefts at Cedar Valley Memorial Gardens happened last week.

No suspects have been identified.

Police call the thefts "extremely disturbing" since families have bought the vases and filled them with flowers or personal items to put next to their loved ones. (The Canadian Press)

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(B-C Update by The Canadian Press)

The Canadian Press