Since the US withdrawal from Afghanistan on Aug. 30, the country has been in the grips of the resurging Taliban, with dire consequences for those who helped Canada and its allies. Kevin Weedmark in Moosomin has been working for months to secure safe passage out of Afghanistan for the man who helped him as an interpreter and guide during his own time in the country, along with the interpreter's family. Weedmark joins Gormley with a very positive update to the story.

A Saskatchewan rancher and his family was quarantined in a Toronto Hilton hotel after returning from South Africa earlier this month, where they visited friends and family of his wife. Larry Kennedy, along with his wife and two young children, was in the hotel from Dec. 2-7, and while he has no issue with the need for their quarantine stay, he says the conditions were not adequate. Kennedy, who was separated from his checked luggage after going into quarantine, says he had to work hard to get hot water, diapers, milk for his 13-month-old child, dish soap, laundry, and other essentials from the Red Cross. Kennedy joins Gormley to tell us about the experience, and how it could have been improved.

Scott Moe held a media scrum this morning to discuss Omicron and travel advisories.

When does the Christmas season officially start for you? For some, it's the first time they hear their favourite carol. For others, it's getting together with family they haven't seen in a long while. It could be as simple as watching your favourite Christmas movie, or decorating your home. Call 1-877-332-8255 and fill in the blank: "It isn't Christmas until _______!"

The Hour Of RAGE!

Regina's City Council approved a $3.5 million budget increase for the city police in 2022, increasing the police service's net operating budget to just under $92.8 million. Included in the increase is money for a police plane and the creation of an air support unit. Regina Police Chief Evan Bray joins John to tell us about the new air support unit and other crime and policing issues in the Queen City. Do you have a question for the chief? Call 1-877-332-8255!

The federal government announced Monday their plan for reopening the border. August 9, 2021, Canada plans to begin allowing entry to American citizens and permanent residents, who are currently residing in the United States, and have been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to entering Canada for non-essential travel. On September 7, 2021, Canada will open its borders for the rest of the world, “provided that Canada’s covid-19 epidemiology remains favorable.” Dr. Laurie Trautman, Director of the Border Policy Research Institute at Western Washington University, joins Gormley to share her opinion on the border re-opening plan.

Before the new Mosaic stadium was built in Regina, the old one and everything inside was auctioned off. Among the items in the auction were the goal posts. Lyle Drew from Estlin, Sask. purchased them and fast forward to today (four years later) and a young kicker from Stetson University is using them to practice. 20-year-old Cameron Gillis is in Saskatchewan visiting his grandma in Gray, just down the road from Estlin. Cameron's father Doug is from Saskatchewan and moved to teach in Budapest, Hungary and that is where Cameron was born. Cameron got a football scholarship to Stetson University in Florida and he joins Gormley now to share the interesting story of practicing with the uprights once used by the Riders at Mosaic.

New research from Duke University suggests dogs have a closer bond with humans than previously thought, and our canine friends can learn and understand human gestures such as pointing or eye contact intuitively from an early age. Hannah Salomons, graduate student at Duke University and author of "Cooperative Communication with Humans Evolved to Emerge Early in Domestic Dogs" in ScienceDirect, joins Gormley to tell us more about her research and what it tells us about domestication of animals. Does your dog understand human gestures and behavior?

The upcoming federal election may seem like a slam-dunk majority for Justin Trudeau and the Liberals, but in a recent column Michael Taube says it may not be as settled as it seems. Taube says each party has a path they can follow that will improve their position in the next Parliament, and he joins Gormley to explain what the different parties need to do to grow their seat counts and present a real challenge to Trudeau.

Then

There are more than 4,000 charities active around Saskatchewan, and we're embarking on a new project to feature some of the great people doing great work in this province during a brand-new segment we like to call "The Best of Saskatchewan." In this week's feature, we'll catch up with Dellice Saxby, executive director of Ignite Adult Learning in Regina.

The Hour of the Big Stories… Open Session