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A child plays the video game “Fortnite” in Chicago, Saturday, Oct.6, 2018. A Vancouver parent has launched a proposed class-action lawsuit against the makers of Fortnite, saying the popular video game is designed to be “as addictive as possible” for children. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Martha Irvine
B.C. parent launches class-action lawsuit against makers of Fortnite video game
Taylor Swift performs during the opener of her Eras tour, Friday, March 17, 2023, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Taylor Swift kicks off US Eras Tour at Super Bowl stadium
Black Press Media File
UK bans TikTok on government phones on security grounds
Sugar, a 2-year-old French bulldog, licks her mouth while waiting to be groomed during the Thailand International Dog Show in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, June 29, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Kankanit Wiriyasajja
Beloved and debated, French bulldog becomes top US dog breed
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West Shore RCMP saw an increase in the number of child pornography cases it investigated in 2022. (Black Press Media file photo)

Child pornography investigations double on the West Shore

Six offenders convicted since last September

West Shore RCMP saw an increase in the number of child pornography cases it investigated in 2022. (Black Press Media file photo)
19 Wing Comox’s Wing Auxiliary Security Force (WASF) will be conducting training at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Comox and the Department of National Defence Seal Bay training area from April 12-16. Black Press file photo

$30M targeted housing benefit expected to address the Island’s military housing crunch

New benefit will be tied to salary to help those who need it most in places like Comox and Esquimalt

19 Wing Comox’s Wing Auxiliary Security Force (WASF) will be conducting training at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Comox and the Department of National Defence Seal Bay training area from April 12-16. Black Press file photo
Ava Secuur has achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

‘Small is mighty’: Langford child with dwarfism stars in hospital campaign

Ava Secuur was part of a video campaign for the BC Children’s Hospital Foundation

Ava Secuur has achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
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Al Stone-Gebhardt and his mother, Erika Dubose, pose for a photo outside their home on Friday, March 3, 2023, in Tulsa, Okla. As hundreds of bills nationwide take aim at nearly every facet of transgender existence, from health care to athletics to bathroom access, trans kids like Stone-Gebhardt and their families say certain proposals could eliminate one of the last remaining safe havens to explore their identities: K-12 public schools. (AP Photo/Sean Murphy)
U.S. transgender youth: ‘Forced outing’ bills make schools unsafe
A coyote walks through Coronation Park in Toronto on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2021. Now that coyote denning season is in full swing, the Vancouver park board is offering some tips for a “peaceful coexistence” between the animals and humans. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Evan Buhler
Vancouver park board offers tips on how to ‘respect’ city’s coyotes
A woman shops for produce in Vancouver, on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Food inflation appears to be easing in Canada but experts say consumers shouldn’t expect lower prices at the grocery store. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Food inflation in Canada shows signs of easing, but grocery prices to remain high
BC Premier David Eby speaks during a press conference in Vancouver, Tuesday March 14, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rich Lam
Saskatchewan First Nation comes to B.C. to talk about taking over child welfare
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Victoria’s interactive map shows where blooming trees can be found across the city. (Courtesy of the City of Victoria)

City of Victoria’s interactive map pinpoints blooming trees for flower followers

Trees can be clicked on to see what kind they are and when they bloom

Victoria’s interactive map shows where blooming trees can be found across the city. (Courtesy of the City of Victoria)
Program manager Ben Whitby shows a similar type of buoy-based wave data collection platform to the one that will be deployed in the waters off Yuquot at the University of Victoria’s Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) lab in North Saanich March 3. (Austin Westphal/News Staff) Program manager Ben Whitby shows a similar type of buoy-based wave data collection platform to the one that will be deployed in the waters off Yuquot at the University of Victoria’s Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) lab in North Saanich March 3. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)

UVic researchers help bring First Nation back to Nootka Island with wave power

Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation looks towards renewable energy microgrid to power future community

Program manager Ben Whitby shows a similar type of buoy-based wave data collection platform to the one that will be deployed in the waters off Yuquot at the University of Victoria’s Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) lab in North Saanich March 3. (Austin Westphal/News Staff) Program manager Ben Whitby shows a similar type of buoy-based wave data collection platform to the one that will be deployed in the waters off Yuquot at the University of Victoria’s Pacific Regional Institute for Marine Energy Discovery (PRIMED) lab in North Saanich March 3. (Austin Westphal/News Staff)
A sombre group after the Colin John decision in the murder of Derek Descoteau. From left: Paula Phillips, Kristina Tkachuk, Brenda Smith, Janelle Guyatt and Leah Guyatt outside the Duncan courthouse. (Photo by Don Bodger)

Colin John found not criminally responsible in 2016 Descoteau murder

Angry response in the Duncan courtroom after the decision

A sombre group after the Colin John decision in the murder of Derek Descoteau. From left: Paula Phillips, Kristina Tkachuk, Brenda Smith, Janelle Guyatt and Leah Guyatt outside the Duncan courthouse. (Photo by Don Bodger)
A work crew tackles giant hogweed. The toxic plant can cause severe reactions in humans. (Kelly Mulhern - CRD)

Give hogweed a giant berth

Toxic plant can cause severe reactions

A work crew tackles giant hogweed. The toxic plant can cause severe reactions in humans. (Kelly Mulhern - CRD)
While most Lower Mainland routes don’t require winter tires past March 31, anyone heading north or into the Interior should keep them on until April 30. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure file.

Most drivers in B.C. should keep winter tires on vehicles until April 30

Spring is here, but Road Safety at Work’s Shift Into Winter campaign…

While most Lower Mainland routes don’t require winter tires past March 31, anyone heading north or into the Interior should keep them on until April 30. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure file.
Port Alberni city hall. (NEWS FILE PHOTO)

City of Port Alberni shaves proposed 2023 tax increase down to 7 percent

City will be funding a pair of projects under province’s Growing Communities Fund

Port Alberni city hall. (NEWS FILE PHOTO)
Dr. Jane Pegg and the Roots to Read program at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital have received an award from the B.C. Patient Safety and Quality Council. (News Bulletin file photo)

Nanaimo program promoting reading to newborns wins provincial honour

Roots to Read program at NRGH recognized by B.C. Patient Safety and Quality Council

Dr. Jane Pegg and the Roots to Read program at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital have received an award from the B.C. Patient Safety and Quality Council. (News Bulletin file photo)
Several of the members of the Ocean Resources team have returned to live within the Scia’new First Nation’s territory after living elsewhere for years. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Western science meets traditional knowledge at Scia’new’s Ocean Resources centre

The centre is part of an effort to bring jobs and people home to Scia’new, according to Chief Russ Chipps

Several of the members of the Ocean Resources team have returned to live within the Scia’new First Nation’s territory after living elsewhere for years. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
A man was found with gunshot wounds along Bastion Street in downtown Nanaimo at approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 18. (file photo)

Man shot in face in downtown Nanaimo

Incident occurred at approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 18

A man was found with gunshot wounds along Bastion Street in downtown Nanaimo at approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday, March 18. (file photo)
Black Press file photo of the annual herring spawn in the Salish Sea.

Herring advocate skeptical about precautionary principle in Strait of Georgia

Critic questions DFO methodology in calculating harvest limits

Black Press file photo of the annual herring spawn in the Salish Sea.
The Victoria Police Department is continuing its investigation into a restaurant altercation that left one patron with facial injuries. (Black Press Media file photo)

UPDATE: Suspect identified after restaurant patron punched

Altercation involving a chair leaves patron with facial injuries

The Victoria Police Department is continuing its investigation into a restaurant altercation that left one patron with facial injuries. (Black Press Media file photo)
A B.C. woman sued after buying a car off of a Facebook ad. (Dreamstime/TNS)

B.C. woman promised ‘no leaks’ in Facebook car ad, but sued after oil spilled everywhere

Seller says ‘buyer beware’ rules should apply

A B.C. woman sued after buying a car off of a Facebook ad. (Dreamstime/TNS)
Jason Isbell performs in Victoria at the Royal Theatre on March 6, 2023. (Brendan Mayer/Black Press Media Staff)

U.S. woman brings ashes to Victoria to see Jason Isbell play on anniversary of partner’s death

Jason Isbell proves music can heal

Jason Isbell performs in Victoria at the Royal Theatre on March 6, 2023. (Brendan Mayer/Black Press Media Staff)
A recent legal action involving palm trees and the Victoria climate tried to challenge the duty of care owed to customers by businesses months after a purchase. (Pexels photo)

Victoria resident sues after palm trees die, claiming they were ‘negligently’ planted

Case brings up issue of duty of care months after a purchase

A recent legal action involving palm trees and the Victoria climate tried to challenge the duty of care owed to customers by businesses months after a purchase. (Pexels photo)
The City of Victoria is looking at extending paid parking hours to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in a bid to cut its property tax increase. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)

Victoria looks to further cut tax hike with longer paid parking hours

Money topping up some reserves to be reduced

The City of Victoria is looking at extending paid parking hours to 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in a bid to cut its property tax increase. (Jake Romphf/News Staff)
An online fundraiser has been started to help out the family of Mike Leier, whose body was found near Sooke last weekend in a suspicious death that the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU) is now investigating. (Heather Leier photo)

Fundraiser set up for ‘incredible person’ as Sooke police investigate suspicious death

Man found dead near Sooke left behind a wife and two children

An online fundraiser has been started to help out the family of Mike Leier, whose body was found near Sooke last weekend in a suspicious death that the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit (VIIMCU) is now investigating. (Heather Leier photo)
Fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and prescription drugs, plus guns and cash, were seized by Greater Victoria police units on March 15 following an investigation into organized crime and drug trafficking. (Courtesy of Saanich police)

Greater Victoria investigation seizes trafficking-consistent amount of drugs, handguns

Multiple units conducted searches, vehicle stop after organized crime investigation

Fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and prescription drugs, plus guns and cash, were seized by Greater Victoria police units on March 15 following an investigation into organized crime and drug trafficking. (Courtesy of Saanich police)