An A&W restaurant in Burnaby has been badly damaged by a Monday afternoon fire. Part of the building went up in flames shortly after 3:00 p.m. - Kingsway was closed at Arcola Street during the afternoon rush. Burnaby Fire says it was a stubborn, deep-seated fire within the restaurant’s structural components. There’s no word yet on the cause.

Coastal areas of B.C. have avoided any tsunami alerts following a 7.8 earthquake in the southern Philippines. It happened early Monday - so far there is no confirmed information about damage or the number of fatalities. The quake had a depth of about 35 kilometres.

A B.C. MLA has been charged with sexual assault. Jordan Kealy, a former Conservative who now sits as an Independent, is charged following a sexual assault investigation into a 2024 incident in Fort St. John, before he was elected. A special prosecutor has been appointed. Kealy says he’s innocent of the allegation.

Breaking news…one person is clinging to life after being shot in Langley’s Brookswood neighbourhood. It happened at around 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, near 196 Street and 28 Avenue. The victim was airlifted to hospital - no other details have been released.

A massive wildfire has prompted an evacuation alert for an area in the North Cariboo. The Swede Creek Wildfire was close to 1,300 hectares and growing Tuesday afternoon. Aircraft and heavy machinery are being used as more than 70 firefighters try to contain the blaze. There are at least 18 wildfires burning in B.C. right now.

Surrey Police Chief Norm Lipinski has been fired. The Vancouver Sun reports Lipinski had been given until 4:00 p.m. Thursday to quit or be terminated without cause. He was placed on leave Monday morning. The Surrey Police Board has not made any initial comments to the public. Lipinski was the first chief of the transitioned Surrey Police Service.

“Faith. Family. Freedom. That’s what it’s all about.” Those are the words of newly chosen BC Conservative Leader Kerry-Lynne Findlay. The former federal Conservative MP says her first priority is to unite the party. Close to 25,000 Conservatives voted in the leadership race - most signed party memberships during the campaign. Findlay, who needs a seat in the Legislature, is married to BC Conservative MLA Brent Chapman who won his Surrey South seat despite describing Palestinian children as “inbred, walking, talking, breathing time bombs.”

The B.C. government believes a Supreme Court of Canada decision to dismiss an appeal of a New Brunswick case could impact the Cowichan and its title rights. The high court’s refusal leaves private property rights in land-claims cases unresolved for now. It also runs contrary to the controversial BC Supreme Court ruling which acknowledged Cowichan title over some private land in Richmond. B.C. Attorney General Niki Sharma says this bodes well for the provincial government’s pending court cases.

Outrage has killed plans for a new overdose prevention site in downtown Vancouver. Health Minister Josie Osborne says the decision follows concern from the community and businesses near the location at 900 Helmcken Street. Mayor Ken Sim and his ABC majority on council had directed city staff to use all available tools to stop Vancouver Coast Health from opening the site at that location.

“Awkward!” That’s how both B.C. Premier David Eby and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith describe their relationship as the western premier’s meeting wraps up. Eby has again voiced his opposition to Smith’s hope for a new northern oil pipeline between Alberta and the West Coast. He’s also slammed Smith’s upcoming non-binding referendum on separation, calling it a huge mistake. Smith says she hopes the two provinces can work together despite their disagreements.