News feed - The Border Pulse

Sask. crime severity remains double national average

Saskatchewan’s crime severity climbed further above the national average for 2025, according to numbers released today by the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics. The Crime Severity Index measures both the volume and the seriousness of police reported crime in a community. It tracks violent offences, non-violent offences and an overall score combining both. Canada’s 2025 index sits at 75.01. Saskatchewan’s is 146.64, nearly double the national figure. The data covers Saskatchewan RCMP detachment areas with a population over 1,000. Of 84 such areas, 60 rank above the Canadian score. Eleven of those 60 are more than 10

Lloydminster Rescue Squad on scene of Highway 17 rollover

Featured, Alerts and incidents

If you are headed north on Highway 17 this morning, watch for multiple emergency vehicles, including Lloyd Rescue. Lloydminster Rescue Squad is currently responding to a vehicle rollover just south of Sandy Beach. EMS is currently on scene and RCMP have not yet arrived. Slow down and move over for all responding vehicles. Due to the nature of the call, it is possible there will be a heavy police presence in the area as well for the next little bit. Read more: Lloyd Rescue Squad responds to vehicle vs. Moose

Sewage leak closes Prarie North Health Centre

Featured, Lloydminster News

A sewer backup forced the closure of Prairie North Health Centre and Prairie North Plaza in Lloydminster this week, the Saskatchewan Health Authority said. A sewer line backed up July 20, sending sewage into the building during an assessment Tuesday morning, the health authority said. The facility at 4910 50 Street closed Tuesday for safety reasons while crews dealt with the damage. Crews found the blocked line and completed remediation work Tuesday, the health authority said. The building will reopen Wednesday with normal hours and services. About 100 appointments were rescheduled or redirected. Another 32 patients received care another way,

Kitscoty and Islay firefighters respond to structure fire

Alerts and incidents, Featured

At approximately 1:10 p.m. today ( July 21 ) Kitscoty Fire Department received a page out for heavy smoke reported in a home on Township Road 502. Upon arrival, they confirmed smoke filled the home. The caller had originally wondered if it was coming from the laundry room. Islay was called to supply support for the responding Kitscoty firefighters. Support staff from County of Vermilion River protective services were also dispatched to the scene. RCMP and ATCO also responded. By shortly before 2 p.m., fire was reported out and crews were switching to overhall. There is no word on the

Prarie north Health Plaza Closed

Featured, Community Insights

Prairie North Plaza and Prairie North Health Centre in Lloydminster closed Monday because of what officials call an unexpected maintenance issue. The building at 4910 50 Street will stay closed until further notice, according to a Saskatchewan Health Authority news release issued Monday. Staff are assessing the problem and completing repairs, the release said. No date was given for reopening. Patients with appointments in the coming days will be contacted directly to reschedule, the health authority said. BorderPulse has reached out to Saskatchewan Health Authority media relations for details on the cause of the closure. This story will be updated

Smoke lingers over region, AQHI still high risk

Featured, Lloydminster News

Wildfire smoke remains over the Lloydminster region, with the nearest official air quality station still forecasting high risk conditions for Tuesday. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Air Quality Health Index, or AQHI, runs from 1 to 10. The number climbs as health risk increases. Cold Lake, the closest AQHI station to Lloydminster, sat at 6 on Tuesday morning, in the moderate risk range, and is forecast to climb to 8, high risk, later Tuesday before easing to 6 overnight and 5 by Wednesday. Lloydminster itself isn’t tracked on the AQHI network, since it straddles two provinces. IQAir, which does monitor

Council approves death knell for Civic Centre

Featured, Municipal politics

Lloydminster city council approved a $544,050 contract Monday to tear down the old Centennial Civic Centre. Silverado Demolition Operations Inc. won the bid, which excludes GST. Council also approved a 15 per cent contingency allowance of $81,607.50, excluding GST, to cover cost overruns. James Rogers, with the city’s Operations department, presented the recommendation to council. The Centennial Civic Centre opened in 1966 at 5405 49 Avenue. It stopped operating after the Cenovus Energy Hub opened in fall 2025. “Something’s gonna get missed” Councillor Jim Taylor said he was relieved by the price, and worried by it at the same time.

Three charged in North Battleford church break-in attempt

Featured, Crime and Courts

Battlefords RCMP have charged three adults after stopping an attempted break-in at a North Battleford church. Officers responded to a report of a break and enter in progress at a church on Winder Crescent shortly after 11 p.m. on July 14, 2026. Five suspects were arrested at the scene. The group did not gain entry to the church, and no damage was reported to the building. During searches, officers seized an imitation firearm and weapons from a man. A woman was found carrying weapons and bear spray. “Thanks to the quick response and proactive police work of our officers and

City Council to decide on old civic centre, new dog rules

Featured, Municipal politics

Lloydminster city council meets Monday with a packed agenda, headlined by a decision on tearing down the old Centennial Civic Centre. Council will also consider a new Animal Control Bylaw and a partnership renewal with an Indigenous reconciliation group. The meeting starts at 1:30 p.m. in council chambers. Civic centre demolition Administration is recommending council award a $544,050 contract to Silverado Demolition Operations Inc. to tear down the Centennial Civic Centre. The figure excludes GST. Council will also consider a 15 per cent contingency allowance of $81,607.50, excluding GST, to cover cost overruns. The Centennial Civic Centre opened in 1966

Behind the Bison – Characters

Featured, Community Insights

RCMP Staff Sgt. Jerry Nutbrown brings you behind the scenes with a serious of columns taking you behind police work and how it’s done in our community. If you have a question you think needs to be answered in Behind the Bison, send it to admin@borderpulse.ca and we will be sure to share it with him. Policing is not just law and order because most officers experience many personal connections. Withinour duties and various postings, we come across people I describe as being characters. My first postingin northern Manitoba is where I met most of my ‘characters’. At my posting I got