This is Saskatchewan

It’s a bit unusual for a provincial government to announce we’re short on money before the provincial budget is made public. Politicians are often tight-lipped when money is tight. We ask our political panelists Murray Mandryk and Alexander Quon if there is anything to gain politically by admitting it in advance. Will it make budget day a little less bleak? Or not?

Saskatoon is growing. For the most part, that’s a good thing. The downside is housing hasn’t kept pace and prices have shot up. The average cost of a home in Saskatoon is now more expensive than in Winnipeg and soon will surpass Edmonton. Municipal affairs reporter Phil Tank takes a deeper look into what’s happening, and planning consultant Alan Wallace explains how developing land around the university and converting part of a public golf course into housing could help ease the crunch.

Budget day is still a month away, but that’s not stopping the government from going on a spending spree. It’s not the first time this has happened. Political Panelists Alexander Quon and Murray Mandryk break down this budgeting shake down.

The owner of POP wine bar in Saskatoon says her business can’t consistently turn a profit so she added 3 VLTs to her restaurant to bring in more money. But are they a solution when sales slump? What are other Saskatchewan food and beverage businesses doing to stay afloat? We hear how restaurants big and small are navigating a very difficult economy.

Like many post-secondary institutions across Canada, Saskatchewan Polytechnic is laying off staff as it faces a major loss in revenue. Most recently, students partway through a program have been told if they want to continue, they will have to move to a different city. The Opposition NDP says this is unacceptable. But is it fair to place blame on the Saskatchewan Party government? We ask our political panelists Alexander Quon and Murray Mandryk.

Saskatchewan schools now offer several specialized academies for kids interested in everything from football and dance to softball and soccer. This month, Saskatoon Public Schools announced it will add hockey academies to five of its elementary schools. Some people are wondering: Is this good for kids? We ask teachers, parents, and a kinesiology professor to weigh the pros and cons of enrolling kids in specialized academies.

Farmers say gopher holes are so big cows are breaking their legs. The pesticide strychnine was banned two years ago and many point to a growing gopher population that has caused huge problems. Saskatchewan and Alberta called for the ban to be reversed, but this week Health Canada said no. Our political panelists Jeremy Simes and Murray Mandryk say this isn’t just about politics. Farmers’ crops are taking a hit.

Businesses in Saskatoon and Regina say a streak of smashed windows in both cities is upsetting and costly. What’s behind the crimes? Is there a way to curb this kind of vandalism? They are often deemed a minor incident, but we take stock of how broken windows weigh on owners and the wider community.

The B.C. premier says it's “treason” for Alberta separatists to meet with U.S. officials. The Manitoba premier says in his province, a referendum on staying in Canada would be a choice between 'yeah and heck yeah.’ What is Premier Moe’s take? Our political panelists Alexander Quon and Murray Mandryk raise their voices today on the premier’s statements on separatism after meetings in Ottawa with the prime minister.

Regina is adding a neighbourhood the size of Moose Jaw but there’s no plan yet for a school. Turns out, it’s a common problem in many new suburbs. People move to a newly-built neighbourhood and the nearest school quickly fills up. So what is it like inside those schools and just how crowded are they? CBC’s Katie Swyers focuses on the province’s two biggest cities to look at how divisions and parents are coping with crowded schools.