- Drivers are expressing frustration with the HotSpot parking app nine months after the City of Edmonton switched to the new platform. Puneeta McBryan, CEO of the Edmonton Downtown Business Association, said she has heard complaints since the app was introduced last May. Among the concerns raised were issues with the app not saving payment information, difficulty determining the user's location, and the enforcement of a two-hour parking limit in EPark zones.
- Several school divisions in the Edmonton area cancelled bus service for Feb. 4 because of the extreme cold weather. Parents are advised to check with their individual school divisions for updates.
- A section of 118 Street in central Edmonton will be closed for three months as EPCOR completes drainage work beginning in mid-February. The closure will stretch between Jasper Avenue and 104 Avenue and is expected to last until mid-May.
- Edmonton is seeing an increase in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy, with several clinics now offering treatments using substances such as ketamine, psilocybin, and MDMA. The emerging field is attracting both patients seeking alternative mental health treatments and clinicians interested in providing them. "As we know more about these drugs in two to three years, they will be staples of mental health treatment in the future," predicted University of Alberta professor and retired psychologist Peter Silverstone.
- Changes to eye care coverage in Alberta took effect on Feb. 1, despite pushback from the Alberta Association of Optometrists. The province is no longer funding partial vision exams for children and seniors, among other changes. The association said it is concerned about the effect the changes will have on Albertans with eye disease, vulnerable populations, and those living in rural areas.
- U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to pause tariffs on Canada for at least 30 days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau pledged to enhance border security with a $1.3-billion plan that includes increasing personnel, deploying new technology, and cracking down on illegal drugs and migration. He also pledged to create a fentanyl "czar" and list Mexican cartels as terrorist organizations. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith praised the decision in an online post, emphasizing the role of diplomacy in resolving trade disputes.
- Former Alberta justice minister Kaycee Madu has been formally reprimanded by the Law Society of Alberta and ordered to pay nearly $39,000 in costs after a 2021 incident in which he phoned Edmonton's police chief after receiving a traffic ticket. Madu, who maintains his innocence, was found guilty of conduct worthy of sanction last year.
- The Edmonton Elks have signed star linebacker Nyles Morgan to a two-year contract extension, keeping him with the team through the 2026 CFL season. Morgan tied for the CFL lead in defensive tackles last season.
Headlines: Feb. 4, 2025
By Mariam Ibrahim