Connect with us
[the_ad id="89560"]

Alberta

Alberta-made true crime podcast nearly tops Apple Podcast charts

Published

3 minute read

We first told you about Curiouscast’s new podcast Crime Beat last week- it features crime reporter Nancy Hixt as she does a deep dive into some of the most high-profile cases she’s covered over the last two decades. Well as of Friday morning, Crime Beat has climbed nearly to the top of the Canadian Apple podcast charts. Be sure to add this one to your list- listen at the link below or subscribe to Crime Beat wherever you get your podcasts!

The name Randy Safronovich has a familiar ring in Central Alberta.

Twice the Sylvan Lake man has escaped attempts on his life; once in 1998 and again in 2013. His incredible story, “I Dodged a Bullet”, is featured here in the new podcast series Crime Beat.

Nancy Hixt – host of Crime Beat Podcast

The podcast is hosted by Nancy Hixt, a former RDTV reporter in Red Deer, and for the past 2 decades, crime reporter with Global TV Calgary.

On this episode of Crime Beat, Hixt takes you through the mind blowing twists and turns in the life of Sylvan Lake’s Randy Safronovich’s.

The Sylvan Lake businessman was the victim of a home invasion robbery in June 2013.

At one point, the offender put a gun to his head, and pulled the trigger.

By some miracle, the gun misfired and Safronovich survived. Safronovich jokes that he must have nine lives. It was a life-changing moment, but surprisingly, not the first time Safronovich managed to evade death.

“I guess I will write a book called I dodged a bullet twice now,” Safronovich told Global News.

Find out why the FBI was consulted for his case, in a real-life story that plays out more like a Hollywood film.

“Nancy does a remarkable job taking you deep inside real cases she has worked on to give a voice to the victims of these crimes in a way only someone who was actually there could give,” said Chris “Dunner” Duncombe, Director of Streaming and Podcasting for Corus Entertainment. “We are so excited to bring Curiouscast listeners Crime Beat.”

“These stories have left a lasting mark on my life,” said Hixt. “There are many things I witness and experience while covering a case, and the Crime Beat podcast allows me to share those extra details with you, with a full behind-the-scenes look at all the twists and turns.”

Nancy Hixt has received numerous awards throughout her career covering Alberta’s crime beat. She was the winner of the 2015 Ron Laidlaw Award for Continuing Coverage – National Television, the 2016 Canadian Screen Award for Best Local Reportage, as well as the 2018 Radio Television Digital News Association Edward R. Murrow Award in the large-market television category.

Twitter: @nancyhixt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyHixtCrimeBeat/

Email: [email protected]

Alberta

Red Deer woman arrested after drone used to deliver drugs at Drumheller Institution

Published on

News release from Alberta RCMP 

In January of 2023, Drumheller RCMP initiated an investigation into drug trafficking following the discovery of multiple packages believed to be dropped utilizing a drone at the Drumheller Institution.  During the investigation, multiple partners and RCMP Support Units were engaged, including from the Drumheller Institution, RCMP Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Unit, Drumheller General Investigation Unit (GIS), Strathmore GIS, Calgary Police Service, Edmonton Police Service, RCMP Forensic Identification Section (FIS), RCMP Special Investigations, and more

On Dec. 1, 2023, police executed two search warrants at one residence in Calgary and one residence in Red Deer, Alta.

As a result of the search warrant, the following was seized:

  • A drone
  • Cell phones
  • Drug paraphernalia
  • A quantity of methamphetamine, GHB, Psilocybin, and MDMA

As a result of this operation, Drumheller RCMP laid a total of 5 charges.  Jessica Lavallee (35), a resident of Red Deer, has been charged with:

  • Possession of Methamphetamine for the Purpose of Trafficking
  • Possession of MDMA for the Purpose of Trafficking
  • Possession of GHB for the Purpose of Trafficking
  • Possession of Psilocybin for the Purpose of Trafficking
  • Possession of Proceeds of Crime

Jessica Lavallee was released on an undertaking and is set to appear in Alberta Court of Justice in Drumheller on May 17, 2024. 

Drumheller RCMP and partners continue to investigate this matter and additional charges are pending.

If you have any information regarding these matters, please contact Drumheller RCMP at 403.823.7590 or contact your local Police Service.  If you wish to remain anonymous, you can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), online at www.P3Tips.com or by using the “P3 Tips” app available through the Apple App or Google Play Store.

Continue Reading

Alberta

Alberta fuel tax hike coming same day as carbon tax hike

Published on

News release from the Canadian Taxpayers Federation 

The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is urging the Alberta government to scrap its fuel tax hike planned for April 1.

“The Trudeau government is already slapping us with a carbon tax hike and the last thing Albertans need is to be punched by their own provincial government,” said Kris Sims, CTF Alberta Director. “You can’t tear a strip off the prime minister for jacking up his carbon tax and turn around and hike your own fuel tax by even more on the same day, what gives?”

Right now, the provincial fuel tax costs nine cents per litre.

The Alberta government quietly noted in its 2024-25 budget that it’s planning on hiking the provincial fuel tax back up to 13 cents per litre of gasoline and diesel starting April 1.

In the same budget document, the Alberta government reported that fully suspending the fuel tax saved Alberta taxpayers about $1 billion per year.

The CTF questions the need to reinstate the fuel tax since the province reports: “fuel tax revenue is not dedicated to funding construction and maintenance of provincial roads.”

At full cost, the provincial fuel tax adds on about $10 per fill up for a minivan, about $15 for a pickup truck and about $130 extra for a big rig truck using diesel.

The federal carbon tax is also set to jump up at the end of the month.

At $80 per tonne, the carbon tax will cost 17 cents per litre of gasoline, 21 cents per litre of diesel and 15 cents per cubic metre of natural gas.

The Parliamentary Budget Officer calculates the average Alberta family will be out more than $900 this year due to the carbon tax, even with rebates factored in.

“Albertans are counting on their provincial government to shield them against Trudeau’s carbon tax and instead they are getting a provincial tax hike at the pumps, too,” said Sims. “It’s a mystery why the NDP government in Manitoba has suspended its provincial fuel tax, saving drivers 14 cents per litre, but Albertans are seeing their fuel taxes going back up.”

Continue Reading

Trending

X