Local News

Half a billion dollars have been set aside to help finance those businesses struggling through the oil and gas downturn. The envelope of money was opened last week by the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).

A free college course called Street Humanities will be offered at the College of New Caledonia in an effort to increase access to education.

A local group has received a $10,000 investment from the province to "help eliminate racism in Prince George," according to the government.

Snowmobilers and other backcountry enthusiasts are being encouraged to make use of a "real-time information sharing" system introduced by Avalanche Canada last January.

The Salvation Army's kettle campaign is "doing very well compared to last year," the church said Monday in an update. As of the end of Saturday, $40,235.11 has been raised. As well, the Tree of Lights campaign is now at $5,559.

A Chilliwack man has been sentenced to 30 months in prison followed by a two-year driving prohibition for fatally striking down a former Prince George man with his pickup truck. Gary Allain, 64, was issued the term Nov. 12 for an Aug.

City council will start with a three-per-cent tax increase when it sits down Wednesday afternoon to begin discussing the 2016 Prince George budget. The city's operating budget was increased by 2.5 per cent in 2014 and 2015.

The Prince George RCMP have released an image of a suspect wanted in connection to an alleged sexual assault.

A loaded semiautomatic rifle, two live pipe bombs and bomb building materials were found during the search of an 1100-block Ahbau Street home last week, RCMP said Monday.

The efforts of Prince George Fire Rescue were not enough to prevent $400,000 worth of damage to a 5900-block Landooz Road home on Sunday night. Fifteen firefighters from three halls were called to the scene at 7:45 p.m.