In the news today, Sept. 7

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War in Ukraine

Russia and Ukraine exchange attacks, killing and wounding dozens while Zelenskyy calls for more talks

7h ago

Heading north

Experts report a surge in interest among American academics looking to move to Canada

8h ago

Weather alerts lifted

Some highways still affected by late season snowstorm

11h ago

CALGARY MASS KILLER APPEARS BEFORE REVIEW BOARD

A Calgary man who was found not criminally responsible after killing five people at a house party four years ago is scheduled to appear before a review board today to determine if he’s eligible for more freedom. Matthew de Grood was suffering from a mental disorder when he attacked and killed Zackariah Rathwell, 21, Jordan Segura, 22, Josh Hunter, 23, Kaitlin Perras, 23, and Lawrence Hong, 27, in April 2014. The judge ruled de Grood didn’t understand his actions were wrong. He is on medication for schizophrenia and his symptoms had been in “full remission” since July 2014.

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NAFTA TALKS CONTINUE IN WASHINGTON

Canadian and American negotiators resume their talks today on updating the North American Free Trade Agreement. The talks continue after Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland’s late night, 20-minute meeting with her U.S. counterpart, trade czar Robert Lighthizer on Thursday. Freeland called that meeting constructive along with the earlier two-hour session with Lighthizer at his office near the White House. She offered few details, sticking to her mantra of not wanting to negotiate in public — an agreement struck with Lighthizer as an act of good faith.

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B.C. MUNICIPALITIES WANT POT MONEY

The advocacy group for local governments in British Columbia wants the provincial government to fork over a 40 per cent share of its marijuana tax revenue when the drug becomes legal. The Union of B.C. Municipalities has tabled a resolution asking the provincial government to provide local governments with $50 million of the projected provincial cannabis excise tax revenue of $125 million over the first two years of legalization. Representatives from city councils across the province will vote on the special resolution next week during the union’s annual convention.

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CLEVELAND REMOVES ‘WAHOO’ LOGO IN TORONTO

Chief Wahoo will not be back in Canada. The Cleveland Indians altered their jerseys ahead of a four-game series that began in Toronto on Thursday, removing the controversial caricature of a First Nations man. Players wore a navy blue cap with a red C on it and the red-skinned, feather-wearing cartoon was removed from its usual spot on the left sleeve of their grey away jerseys as Cleveland took the field against the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. The move comes nine months after Cleveland announced that it would no longer use the logo starting with the 2019 season.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Statistics Canada releases the labour force survey for August.

— The Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Transport Canada will hold a phone-in media availability about the status of North Atlantic right whales.

— Trial continues for British sailors Darren Smalley and Simon Radford, accused of assault causing bodily harm and participating in a group sexual assault in barracks at 12 Wing Shearwater on April 10, 2015.

— Premier Rachel Notley is scheduled to attend a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new Consulate of Ukraine to Edmonton.

— The University of Saskatchewan and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research make an announcement for the advancement of Indigenous health in Canada.

— The City of Vancouver goes to court in a bid to close dozens of marijuana retailers operating without business licenses.

— B.C. Finance Minister Carole James presents the first quarterly report and a review of the province’s fiscal standing.

The Canadian Press