Ten people have been arrested by authorities in Canada and the U.S. in an effort to find and prosecute a former Olympic snowboarder turned alleged drug kingpin who grew up in Coquitlam. The FBI has placed Ryan Wedding on its Top 10 Most Wanted list saying the Canadian fugitive runs a violent, international drug ring. Wedding is hiding in Mexico - there’s a multimillion dollar reward for his capture and prosecution. FBI director Kash Patel calls him a modern day Pablo Escobar.

Single Room Occupancy hotels on Granville Street are a failed experiment - that’s the word from the Hospitality Vancouver Association after a man was stabbed to death on Monday. The HVA says the so-called SROs are dangerous and unstable and the group is again calling for the 300 low cost rental units to be permanently closed. A man died in hospital after being stabbed on Granville at Helmcken - no arrests have been made.

The cash-strapped City of Vancouver is considering digital billboards at key locations to generate revenue. The proposed idea comes as Mayor Ken Sim promises a zero per cent property tax increase. Suggested locations for the largest billboards include the Oak Street and Ironworkers Memorial bridges, Southeast Marine Drive near Knight Street, Expo Boulevard and McGill Street. The City is seeking interest from advertisers before pushing ahead with the idea.

David Eby has a been given a strong endorsement from his party to continue as leader of the NDP. Members who cast a ballot have voted over 82 per cent against holding a leadership review. The premier admits his party has to do a better job of supporting grassroots members. He also promises his party will always support collective bargaining. Eby used his appearance at the NDP’s convention to promise a better future for the province based on several high profile natural resource projects.

BCGEU members have voted 89 per cent in favour of ratifying their contract deal with the provincial government. The four year agreement ended a public service strike that lasted eight weeks. Workers will get a 12 per cent wage increase over the life of the deal as well as improvements to vision care and counselling benefits. The B.C. government remains in negotiations with nurses and teachers who are both working with expired contracts.

Police now confirm it was an eight year old girl who fell to her death from a balcony in Vancouver’s Yaletown on Tuesday afternoon. It happened at the luxury high rise, known as the Arc, at about 2:30. The young girl died at the scene. Police are still trying to figure out the circumstances.

At least 19 birds have now died at an Okanagan sanctuary hit by Avian flu. Critteraid, which adopts birds, pets and farm animals, says those deaths include a rooster, ten chickens, ducks and other birds. Avian flu was first confirmed on Oct. 29 and the farm has been closed to the public ever since. The operators continue to cooperate with the CFIA, Interior Health and other authorities.

An animal rescue sanctuary in the Okanagan has been hit by Avian flu. Summerland-based Critteraid says its been facing one of the most heartbreaking experiences in its history that needs immediate action from regulatory authorities, Interior Health and epidemiologists. Details on the number of animals infected have not been released. Critteraid cares for birds, pets and other animals with 54 listed on its website.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s cull of hundreds of Ostriches on an eastern B.C. hobby farm has begun. Protesters and advocacy reporters, many bolstered by U.S. right-wing bloggers and podcasters, reported hearing gun shots early Thursday evening after the Supreme Court of Canada decided against reviewing lower court decisions that relied on experts and science. The cull was first ordered a year ago after several of the large birds tested positive for avian flu. The farm’s owners say the birds are now virus free - health experts note there is no safe way to allow those once infected with avian flu to live.

Brace for more stormy weather. Coastal areas of the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast and Vancouver and Gulf Islands are expected to be hit with several bands of heavy rainfall and strong wind starting Thursday morning and continuing into the weekend. A rainfall warning is in effect for the North Shore, Port Moody and Coquitlam. A second system is expected to ramp up late Sunday night and into Monday morning.