U.S. President Donald Trump signed legislation Wednesday that compels his administration to release files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, bowing to political pressure from his own party after initially resisting those efforts.

Trump could have chosen to release many of the files on his own months ago.

“Democrats have used the ‘Epstein’ issue, which affects them far more than the Republican Party, in order to try and distract from our AMAZING Victories,” Trump said in a social media post as he announced he had signed the bill.

Now, the bill requires the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) to release all files and communications related to Epstein, as well as any information about the investigation into his death in a federal prison in 2019, within 30 days. It allows for redactions about Epstein’s victims for ongoing federal investigations, but DOJ cannot withhold information due to “embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity.”

It was a remarkable turn of events for what was once a farfetched effort to force the disclosure of case files from an odd congressional coalition of Democrats, one GOP antagonist of the president, and a handful of erstwhile Trump loyalists. As recently as last week, the Trump administration even summoned one Republican proponent of releasing the files, Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, to the Situation Room to discuss the matter, although she did not change her mind.

But over the weekend, Trump did a sharp U-turn on the files once it became clear that congressional action was inevitable. He insisted the Epstein matter had become a distraction to the GOP agenda and indicated he wanted to move on.

“I just don’t want Republicans to take their eyes off all of the Victories that we’ve had,” Trump said in a social media post Tuesday afternoon, explaining the rationale for his abrupt about-face.

The U.S. House passed the legislation on a 427-1 vote, with Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., being the sole dissenter. He argued that the bill’s language could lead to the release of information on innocent people mentioned in the federal investigation. The U.S. Senate later approved it unanimously, skipping a formal vote.

It’s long been established that Trump had been friends with Epstein, the disgraced financier who was close to the world’s elite. But the president has consistently said he did not know of Epstein’s crimes and had cut ties with him long ago.

Before Trump returned to the White House for a second term, some of his closest political allies helped fuel conspiracy theories about the government’s handling of the Epstein case, asserting a cover-up of potentially incriminating information in those files.

A 39 year-old Regina man is facing multiple charges after attempting to outrun police earlier this week.

Shortly before 8 p.m. on Nov. 18, officers saw a vehicle driving without headlights on 5th Avenue near the 1000 block of Retallack Street. Police attempted a traffic stop, but the vehicle sped away. A short distance away, the driver lost control and hit a curb on the 900 block of Rae Street.

Two people fled from the vehicle. Following a foot chase, officers arrested the driver.

A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded, sawed-off rifle, ammunition, three masks and four knives.

The 39 year-old is charged with dangerous operation of a conveyance, resisting arrest, careless use of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm in a vehicle, possession of a loaded firearm, careless storage of a firearm, and possession of a weapon.

He made his first court appearance in Regina Provincial Court on Nov.19.

The investigation is ongoing.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe returned from his trip to Washington, D.C., where he took part in trade talks with U.S. officials.

Moe and his delegation left the province on Monday and returned Wednesday. During his time in the District of Columbia, the premier attended meetings with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick among other representatives.

“It’s important, I think, for us as a province, to support our federal government in carrying on those lines of communication with our largest trading partners around the world, and our largest trading partner is the United States of America,” Moe told reporters on Wednesday.

The premier said his government has been working alongside provincial premiers and Ottawa to try and support them in reaching a deal with the U.S.

“Tariff free trade, wherever that might be around the world, helps everyone. In particular, it is beneficial to those working in the province of Saskatchewan,” he said.

“We know we have highly integrated economies. Saskatchewan is very globally connected, and that integrated economy is of particular importance when it comes to trade with the [U.S]. With about $30 billion in exports, it finds its way south each and every year,” he added.

Moe said since Saskatchewan is an export-based province, it relies on trade relationships to help create jobs in the province. He said during his trip, he stressed to the U.S. administration that tariff-free trade with Canada will lower the cost of living for Americans.

“We know the United States of America also understands the importance of those exports and that we have in this province, in this nation, in particular, in Saskatchewan, we have everything that people need for us to become not just a Canadian energy superpower, but for us to come together and become a North American energy superpower,” he said.

Pipeline and tankers in northern B.C.

While answering a question posed by The Canadian Press, Moe said he’s hopeful Ottawa and Alberta can make progress on building a pipeline and allowing some oil tanker traffic on the northern B.C. coast.

“We’re part of those discussions as well, and very supportive of not only the removal of the emissions cap, but the opportunity to bring in to that northwestern coast in British Columbia,” he explained.

The Globe and Mail newspaper has reported Ottawa, which is in talks with Alberta on the prospect of building a new pipeline, is considering allowing some tanker traffic in the northern area where it’s banned.

The premier said the changes will aid the province in its goal of exporting more potash, agricultural products and oil.

However, he also said it’s reasonable for the federal government to impose limits on tankers in the area to prevent damage to the environmentally sensitive region.

“That’s not in any way to be said that it’s going to be a free fall for tankers on the west coast. It’s fully within reason to think that there will be work that will be done on specific laneways and things so that there is a minimal impact to the surrounding environment,” he said.

“We all live here as Canadians, and we certainly don’t want to openly, in any way, put our environment at unnecessary risk.”

Moe added that he is confident a private-sector proponent will come forward with a project if regulations are changed.

Trade missions paying off, says Moe

During Wednesday’s news conference, Moe referenced past trips to India and Mexico where Saskatchewan had positive discussions to move forward on negotiations.

“A year ago, we had no Canadian conversations going on in India. We found our way as a province to India to bring the Canadian government [and] the Indian government together to start those negotiations and we see that happening today,” he said.

“Just a week ago, I was out in Niagara’s G7 meeting to meet with the Foreign Affairs Minister from India as well to further that relationship and further that opportunity that we have to find our way to a tariff free agreement with India. The same can be said with Mexico.”

Moe said more recently, the province had seen progress in trade negotiations with the Chinese.

“The province, through our trade office in China, found our way to China, and now have our national government and the Chinese government starting to talk about how we can move forward with a more broad trade relationship than we even have,” he said.

“Recently, we saw our trade relations and the conversation and negotiations, more importantly, with the United States of America, fall apart and break off.”

Moe said because of that, he thought it would be sensible for his government to rely on the relationships with many of their U.S. counterparts to come back to the negotiating table.

“Saskatchewan has the highest per capita export value of any of any state or province in North America. We very much are reliant on our trade relations, and very much create our wealth from exporting product to over 160 countries around the world, the largest of those being the United States of America, China and India,” he said.

“What is good for Saskatchewan is also good for Canada, and we are working towards just that goal. The best way that we feel for that is to ensure that we are creating an environment where both nations can sit down and have those trade discussions to move our province and our nation forward.”

A Regina man charged in the highway shooting death of a Weyburn woman made a court appearance on Wednesday to determine a bail hearing.

Chris Fahlman has been charged with second degree murder for death of Tanya Myers.

Over a dozen family and friends of those involved attended the court hearing in Weyburn.

Details of the hearing are under a publication ban until Fahlman’s eventual trial.

Myers was a passenger in a moving vehicle outside of Weyburn on Sept. 12 when she was struck by a bullet.

Another vehicle driving nearby was also struck by a bullet soon after.

On Nov. 1, Fahlman was charged with manslaughter in connection to Myers’ death.

Two weeks later, the manslaughter charge was upgraded to second-degree murder.

Fahlman also faces one count of intentionally discharging a firearm while being reckless as to the life or safety of another person.

He has remained in custody since his Nov. 1 arrest. His bail hearing will be carried over to Thursday.

Regina’s city council has moved forward with plans to build a multi-family residential building, along with permitting manufactured homes across the city.

At Wednesday’s meeting, council approved rezoning 2571 Broad Street, the former Canadian Blood Services building, from institutional to residential high-rise to accommodate construction for an apartment building.

Requested by West Oak Investments, the current building will be demolished with plans to develop a residential apartment building with over 100 units and underground parking.

Council also approved allowing manufactured homes in all residential zone neighbourhoods within city limits.

Prior to the motion, manufactured homeowners were only allowed on properties designated as a Residential Manufactured Home Zone (RMH).

Under The Regina Zoning Bylaw, there were only two areas permitted, one in Glen Elm and one in Argyle Park.

Boards and Committees

At Wednesday’s meeting, council also appointed people to its 2026 Boards and Committees, which include the Board of Police Commissioners, Audit and Finance Committee, Regina Downtown Business Improvement District, and more.

Each board and committee has to have representatives from the public and city council. The groups make recommendations to city council.

As of Wednesday afternoon, council began discussions on the city’s encampment response protocols strategy which falls under the city’s Well-Being and Homeless plan.

HOUSTON — A grand jury in Texas has indicted the man accused of killing “King of the Hill” voice actor Jonathan Joss on a murder charge.

But it is unclear whether Joss’ killing will be considered a hate crime. Police in San Antonio did not immediately return an email seeking comment Wednesday on whether its investigation had determined that Joss’ sexual orientation played a role in his shooting, and the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office declined to comment on the matter.

Police allege Sigfredo Ceja Alvarez, 57, confronted Joss and his husband on June 1 as they were checking their mail at their San Antonio home, which had been burned down in January.

Joss’ husband, Tristan Kern de Gonzales, has claimed the person who killed the actor yelled “violent homophobic slurs” before opening fire.

Ceja Alvarez’s attorneys did not immediately return emails seeking comment Wednesday.

In June, Alfonso Otero, one of Ceja Alvarez’s attorneys, said his client was innocent and denied making any homophobic statements.

The grand jury returned the indictment Monday, and Ceja Alvarez remains free on a US$200,000 bond.

A friend of the 59-year-old Joss has said that Joss and Ceja Alvarez were neighbors and the two had argued for years.

Initially, San Antonio police had said there was no evidence indicating the shooting was related to Joss’ sexual orientation. But San Antonio Police Chief William McManus later walked back that statement, saying it had been “premature” and that whether Joss’ sexual orientation played a role in the shooting was “part of the investigation.”

The district attorney’s office said in a statement Wednesday that Ceja Alvarez “is charged with murder, which is the most serious charge applicable to this crime under Texas law. As the case is still pending, no additional details or information can be released at this time.”

Under Texas law, a hate crime — if there’s a conviction — would be handled as an enhancement during sentencing and not as a separate charge.

Joss was the voice of John Redcorn, a Native American character on the popular “King of the Hill” animated series, which ran for 13 seasons from 1997 to 2008. A reboot of the show, which Joss had already worked on, premiered in August.

Joss also had a recurring role on the television show “Parks and Recreation,” playing Chief Ken Hotate. He appeared in two episodes of the series “Tulsa King” in 2022.

The deadline to claim a slice of a $500-million class-action lawsuit settlement over bread price-fixing is quickly approaching.

Canadian shoppers have until Dec. 12 to submit a claim for a share of the settlement, which comes after Loblaw Companies Ltd. and its parent company George Weston Ltd. were accused of participating in a yearslong and industry-wide scheme to fix the price of bread.

Anyone who purchased packaged bread – including bagged bread, buns, rolls, bagels, naan, English muffins, wraps, pita and tortillas – from the grocery giant between Jan. 1, 2001 and Dec. 31, 2021 is eligible. Claims can be submitted online and no proof of purchase is necessary.

Those who submit a claim could receive $50 or more by e-transfer or cheque. You must be at least 18 years old and a Canadian resident to be eligible.

Loblaw Companies Ltd. is Canada’s largest food retailer. Grocery chains operated by the company include Loblaws, Dominion, Fortinos, No Frills, Valu-mart, Zehrs and Real Canadian Superstore.

The price-fixing allegations were first made public in 2017. At the time, Loblaw and George Weston admitted to participating in the scheme that added at least $1.50 to the price of a loaf of bread, according to the Competition Bureau of Canada.

The $500-million settlement includes $96 million that has already been paid through a gift card program that Loblaw ran in 2018 and 2019 to make amends with customers. The remaining $404 million will be distributed after legal fees, administration and other expenses are paid, with 78 per cent of the remaining funds going to shoppers across Canada and the rest going to those in Quebec.

Payments to individuals are expected to be made between six and 12 months after the Dec. 12 deadline. Settlement funds for businesses and other entities will be made at a later date. Those who already received a gift card will only get paid if money remains after the initial distribution.

The settlement agreement was approved by courts in Ontario and Quebec in May and July.

In a 2024 statement, Loblaw “sincerely” apologized for its involvement in the scheme and said it has “taken a number of steps since that time to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”

Other companies – including Metro, Sobeys, Walmart Canada, Giant Tiger and Canada Bread – are facing similar allegations and separate class-action lawsuits, which are still ongoing. Those companies all deny participating in the scheme.

BREVARD COUNTY, Florida -- The 16-year-old stepbrother has been named a suspect in the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, court documents show.

Kepner, from Brevard County, was found dead on a Carnival cruise.

She was a student and cheerleader at Temple Christian School in Titusville. The FBI has been investigating her death without disclosing any findings or the cause of death.

The new information comes from a court document filed in the divorce case of Kepner’s stepmother, who was on the cruise with her.

The document states, “An extremely sensitive and severe circumstance has arisen wherein the Respondent/Mother will not be able to testify at the hearing at this time.”

It further notes that Kepner was on the cruise with her stepmother and her minor children, adding, “She has been advised through discussions with FBI investigators and her attorneys that a criminal case may be initiated against one of the minor children of this instant action.”

The document indicates that the stepmother cannot testify as it could be prejudicial for her child in the criminal case.

However, it does not explain why the child could face charges or provide details about what happened.

The stepbrother has been released from custody, documents show. It’s not clear if he was arrested.

🎉 Update Completed Successfully! 🎉

We are thrilled to announce that our scheduled network update has been completed without any issues! 🚀 All our broadcast stations, streams, and websites are now fully operational and running better than ever.

What’s New?

Here’s what you can expect from this update:
✅ Improved Audio Player – No more interruptions or cutting off! Enjoy seamless streaming on our websites.
✅ Enhanced Stream Stability – Our radio streams are now more reliable than ever.
✅ Upgraded Security & Quality – Improved protection and enhanced broadcast quality for an unmatched listening experience.

Fully Operational Services:

🎵 Stations:

• Z103.5 – https://z1035.evoradio.ca/
• 979 The Cowboy – https://979thecowboy.evoradio.ca/
• 101 The Rockhound – https://101therockhound.evoradio.ca/
• Classic 88.7 The Goat – https://887thegoat.evoradio.ca/

🌐 Websites:

• EVO Radio Advertiser Access – https://advertiseraccess.evoradio.ca/
• EVO Media Corporation – https://evomcorp.com/
• DJ Spinderella – https://djspinderella.evomcorp.com/

Experiencing Issues?

While everything is running smoothly on our end, we’re here to help if you encounter any issues. If you’re having trouble with our broadcasts or websites, please report the issue to us immediately so we can address it.

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Thank you for your patience and understanding during this process. We’re committed to providing you with the best listening experience possible and appreciate your support!

🎧 Happy Listening!
The EVO Radio & EVO Media Corporation Team

We’re committed to providing our audience with a listening experience like no other! To maintain this standard, we’re excited to announce a major update to our Broadcast Network.

What’s New?

This update will bring:

• A Better Audio Player: Improved performance on our websites to resolve issues with streams cutting off.
• Enhanced Session Operations: Ensuring error-free radio streams.
• Upgraded Security & Quality: Improved protection and overall broadcast quality.

Downtime Details:

• Expected Downtime: 1 hour (we’ve allocated up to 4 hours for any unforeseen circumstances).
• Impacted Services:
  • Live Broadcasts & Website Access for these stations:
    • Z103.5 – https://z1035.evoradio.ca/
    • 979 The Cowboy – https://979thecowboy.evoradio.ca/
    • 101 The Rockhound – https://101therockhound.evoradio.ca/
    • Classic 88.7 The Goat – https://887thegoat.evoradio.ca/
  • Websites:
    • EVO Radio Advertiser Access – https://advertiseraccess.evoradio.ca/
    • EVO Media Corporation – https://evomcorp.com/
    • DJ Spinderella – https://djspinderella.evomcorp.com/
  • Third-Party Apps: Any apps relying on our live broadcasts will also be affected.

Commitment to Excellence:
During the downtime, our team will work diligently to complete the update and monitor the network to ensure peak performance. We’re committed to enhancing your listening experience to the highest standards.

Stay Updated:
Follow us on Facebook or check our websites for real-time updates:

• EVO Media Corporation: https://www.facebook.com/EVOMediaCorporation/
• Z103.5: https://www.facebook.com/YourPartyStationZ103.5
• 979 The Cowboy: https://www.facebook.com/979thecowboy/
• 101 The Rockhound: https://www.facebook.com/101TheRockhound/
• Classic 88.7 The Goat: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093402861183

We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding as we work to improve our services.

Thank you for your continued support,

The EVO Radio & EVO Media Corporation Team