Brett McKay, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Recent layoffs of caseworkers in the provinces Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) program will likely affect hundreds of families and add to what advocates say is an “exceedingly long” waitlist to access supports.

Substantial investments from the province are needed to prevent the deterioration of thousands of Alberta’s bridges, according to a report from the Rural Municipalities of Alberta.

Last week, Alberta Health Minister Adriana LaGrange played down concerns that transferring the operation of some hospitals to Covenant Health would negatively impact reproductive health care, but the minister’s claim about abortion access is contradicted by provincial policy and data.

A new report says rental rate increases are starting to level out, a welcome sign for the nearly 40 per cent of Canadians concerned about their ability to afford housing because of rising prices.

51 per cent of Albertans say rising costs are greatly affecting their ability to meet day-to-day expenses, more than in any other province and six points higher than the national average.

The Edmonton Zone is the only zone in the province with two health authorities AHS and Covenant Health and the Alberta Medical Association president says that has caused added operational controls, administration, oversight, and coordinating bodies.

Next phase of restructuring includes removing Alberta Health Services (AHS) as the operator of some hospitals and turning facilities over to other administrators like Catholic health care provider Covenant Health.

The apparent increase in the rate of medical abortion indicated by provincial prescription data is a positive sign, “but we still have a way to go.”

Wind and solar projects will generate $54 million for municipalities this year, according to Business Renewables Centre-Canada

Sustained above-average temperatures in Jasper in the week before the wildfires started were at least twice as likely because of climate change, according to Climate Central.