August 29 News...

Calgary's mayor and police chief were in the provincial capital yesterday, hats in hands, asking Premier Ed Stelmach for $25-million for more police officers. But despite pleas from Dave Bronconnier and Rick Hanson, Stelmach said no way.  To fight our increasing gang problem, the city of Calgary had put up 25-mill of its own money and hoped the province would do the same, but in the end the mayor left with only the promise of 100 officers already budgeted by the province.

A horrible tragedy near Grande Prairie Wednesday, where 2-little boys died after smothering beneath a load of grain. R-C-M-P say the brothers were sitting on top of a grain trailer that was being unloaded by a family member, when they fell in.

Zoom Airlines has been grounded for not paying its bills. The discount carrier blamed the soaring cost of fuel and a weak economy for the decision yesterday to ground its planes -- stranding thousands of passengers in Canada and Britain.

Coming to a television set near you, new ads today from the Conservatives that will attempt to put Stephen Harper in the hearts and minds of Canadians. The ads tout Harper as a strong leader, who in addition to lowering taxes, has beefed up the military.

Forbes magazine says Oprah Winfrey is more powerful than Laura Bush. Winfrey ranks 36th on the Forbes list of the 100 most powerful women in the world, 8-places ahead of Bush. T-V newswomen are all bunched together from number 61 to 65. Meredith Vieira is followed by Katie Couric, Barbara Walters and Diane Sawyer. All are considered more powerful than the presidents of four countries and only slightly less powerful than the Queen.