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Headlines: July 24, 2026

· The Pulse
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  • The City of Edmonton lifted its poor air quality response and extended its extreme heat response through the weekend, with cooling spaces, masks, bottled water, and 29 hydrant water stations still available. In a release, the City said people should call 211 and press 3 for Crisis Diversion Teams or call 911 in an emergency.
  • Edmonton reported 37 complaints about animals left in hot vehicles between May and July 20, up from 33 during the same period last year. The City said it can issue a $500 fine for a first offence and $1,000 for a subsequent offence under updated bylaws. "In a matter of minutes, the temperature within a vehicle can rise to dangerous levels, making it unsafe for animals left in that vehicle, even if it doesn't feel particularly hot outside," animal protection officer Sgt. Emma Fillion said.
  • As Edmonton copes with unpredictable weather this summer, CBC looked at how festivals are adapting their emergency plans after severe storms forced evacuations and cancellations. Taste of Edmonton safely evacuated nearly 5,000 people during a thunderstorm on July 18, while the Neon Skies Festival suspended its show and ultimately cancelled the night's performances. KDays, meanwhile, uses shelter-in-place protocols when appropriate to avoid sending crowds into dangerous weather, while the Edmonton Folk Music Festival is closely monitoring wildfire smoke and has cancellation insurance in case conditions become unsafe.
  • Edmonton cyclists criticized the province's bike lane complaint website as the government said final decisions on municipal bike lanes will depend on public feedback and technical information. Keith Heslinga of Bike Edmonton said the government's website is biased and doesn't allow for positive feedback, while the province said people who want to leave positive feedback can use an open-ended comment section on the site.
  • A lightning strike in north Edmonton damaged a sidewalk and a fire hydrant. A photo circulating on social media showed a scorched section of sidewalk and 50-centimetre crater near 129 Avenue and 129 Street. The City of Edmonton said crews will remove and replace the damaged section of sidewalk in the coming weeks.
  • Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi called on the province to disclose the cost of the Oct. 19 Alberta referendum. The NDP estimated the vote will cost more than $130 million, based on estimates put forward by various sources. "The government should be up front. The government should be transparent. The government should tell people the truth about the full cost of everything they do, particularly this referendum campaign," Nenshi said. Elections Alberta has not released an estimate for the cost of the upcoming vote.