Larissa Kurz

Regina police chief fired for ‘dishonourable’ conduct, says Board of Police Commissioners Regina Police Chief Farooq Sheikh has been fired with cause, the Board of Police Commissioners announced Tuesday afternoon.

NEW: Regina's board of police commissioners has terminated police chief Farooq Sheikh for "inappropriate conduct," after a six-month investigation by the provincial Public Complaints Commission. #yqr #yqrcc

Student groups say referendum is better way to test confidence in URSU A group of U of R student leaders is continuing its "vote no" campaign as the next special meeting approaches to decide on URSU's future.

ICYMI: URSU's second attempt at a meeting to vote on dissolving is happening this a.m., after the first was derailed in Sept.

Here's a primer on a group of students opposing the meeting, the dissolution & URSU all at once, calling for more accountability from their student gov't. #yqr #UofR

It was indeed an excellent show and taught me that the one universal in city planning no matter where you are in Canada is that someone, at some point, has pitched the idea of putting a dome over public spaces because snow sucks.

URSU dissolution vote not held, heated meeting adjourned A vote on whether to dissolve the University of Regina Students' Union (URSU) did not go ahead as scheduled Wednesday.

From my colleague Brandon Harder: A scheduled vote to dissolve the University of Regina Students’ Union did not go as planned this afternoon, instead adjourning without any vote at all. The virtually-held special meeting ended after students pressed their concerns over its process & legitimacy. #yqr

Five things to know about how the City of Regina spends your tax dollars While waiting for the bus or dodging a pothole on your morning commute, have you ever wondered where exactly your tax dollars go?

You've probably seen talk about a looming 13% mill rate increase floating around, b/c of the city's pre-budget meetings going on this month.

The inc. isn't set in stone, but rather a hypothetical from admin to illustrate the cost of public services — so we summarized what that includes. #yqr #yqrcc

'Goldilocks zone:' Why Regina is well suited to use geothermal heat for new indoor aquatic centre Shovels — or rather drills — will soon be whirring on the attached geothermal heating facility for Regina's indoor aquatic centre.

ICYMI: 'Goldilocks zone:' Why Regina is well suited to use geothermal heat for new indoor aquatic centre #yqr #yqrcc

UPDATED: Regina to look into designated homeless encampment site Regina city council has voted unanimously to explore the idea of allowing a city-sanctioned tent encampment for houseless residents.

The City of Regina is going to explore allowing a central homeless encampment site, as an alternative to existing dismantling policies.

"Our current approach is just moving people from one place to another. It’s clearly not working," said Coun. Victoria Flores, as the motion's mover. #yqr #yqrcc

@larissagkurz.bsky.social would like to suggest Catalyst Committee 2: Electric Boogaloo

Two former City of Regina employees suing city over termination, severance Ly Pham, former city manager Niki Anderson's chief of staff, and Indigenous relations director Audra Young each filed a civil lawsuit on July 4

Two employees from (now former) city manager Niki Anderson's office are suing the City of Regina for their abrupt termination earlier this spring, according to court documents obtained by Leader-Post. #yqr #yqrcc

Council votes to terminate Regina city manager Niki Anderson without cause In a 10-1 vote, council approved the termination of city manager Niki Anderson without cause and effective immediately.

Regina city council has voted to dismiss city manager Niki Anderson — the second ousting in a row from the city’s top-paid position, after council fired predecessor Chris Holden in 2022.

Anderson has been on a leave of absence since April.

Her contract wasn’t set to end until 2027. #yqrcc #yqr

Regina city council will receive a city manager update on Wednesday. Details are not available in the meeting agenda.

City staff say the report is going to be walked in to the council chamber Wednesday and will not be available before then.

'It felt like a death': One Saskatchewan family's flight from wildfires The Lowe family evacuated from Denare Beach in June — for a few days, they thought. When they returned weeks later, everything had changed.

The Lowe family evacuated from Denare Beach in June when wildfires raged towards their home — for a few days, they thought. When they returned weeks later, everything had changed.

This is their story. #sask

'She wanted to help people': Mother on hunger strike at Regina landfill remembers Richele Bear Also known by her Indigenous name Little Eagle Woman, Richele Bear loved to dance from a young age, recalled her mother.

Michele Bear says 12 years is long enough & its time Regina's landfill is searched to find her daughter, Richele.

She's also ready to share who Richele was, before she was killed at just 23 years old in 2013.

"She always had a smile, was always happy... was always willing to help anybody." #yqr

'I think of this as my family': Regina encampment residents move as city dismantles their community An encampment in the Heritage area was dismantled peacefully on Tuesday, but advocates say more should have been done to support residents.

ICYMI: 'I think of this as my family': Regina encampment residents move as city dismantles their community

#yqr #yqrcc #sask

This might have been my last column in the StarPhoenix if I had the opportunity to write it. #Saskatoon #saskatchewan #skpoli #yxecc #newspaper #journalism

As interim city manager Jim Nicol immediately pointed out, reports that come to city council in this way automatically open up the floor for delegates to come speak about them.

His comment points out the obvious: council already has a long-meeting meeting problem as it is. #yqr #yqrcc

Some pics from the live taping of the Queen City Improvement Bureau for the Cathedral Village Arts Festival. The QCIB is probably my favourite radio show/podcast and I'll always be awe by the amount of work that @pauldechene.bsky.social and Aidan do for their show #yqrcc

👋🏻🙋🏻‍♀️

It was REAL's 2024 annual submittal — not because there's issue with it, but because REAL has been so "public-facing" as of late and Coun. Mancinelli says he has a comment he wants to make.

Regina city council stands firm on plan to fluoridate city's water City council shot down an attempt to walk back its plan to fluoridate the city's drinking water, after a long special meeting Friday.

BREAKING: Regina city council has held firm on adding fluoride to its water, after a gruelling 8+ hours of debate today. #yqrcc #yqr

Holy shit… two hours ago… Dickson from the Calgary anti-fluoride group was talking about Mclaren's research like it supported his position. AND SHE'S HERE AS AN ADMIN EXPERT on fluoridation. #yqrcc

Mancinelli: On dosage. If I wanted to kill myself by drinking fluoridated water. What would kill me first. The water or fluoride?
Dickinson: the water would kill you long before you could consume enough fluoride. #yqrcc

This fundamentally ignores the lengthy 2021 debate that happened and 9 if the 11 council members were not there for.

Should I be enjoying my holiday? Yes.

This is absolutely wild

Dental expert 'not surprised' Regina revisiting fluoridation, debunks studies Dentist Gerry Uswak was somehow both "surprised and not surprised" to hear Regina plans to re-discuss adding fluoride to its drinking water.

Today is fluoride day at #yqrcc & delegates are well underway.

Council is considering whether to rescind it's 2021 decision to add fluoride to Regina's water, at the behest of Coun. Clark Bezo (Ward 10).

Here's a story of mine from yesterday to chew on during as meeting unfolds:

City manager's chief of staff, two others 'no longer with' City of Regina The city manager's chief of staff, Ly Pham, and two others who report to the city manager are 'no longer with the City of Regina.'

Leader-Post has confirmed that city manager Niki Anderson's chief of staff, assistant and director of the Indigenous Relations department are no longer employed by the City of Regina.

Details as to why have not been offered by a city spokesperson. #yqr #yqrcc

As frustrating as it is to not know (& I get it), this is very true.

Another recent example is when council wanted to know if it could buy Glen Elm trailer park from a private landowner — negotiating a multi-million $$ real estate deal in public isn't the most responsible way to handle tax dollars.

Have now moved over to the watch party for Conservative's Andrew Scheer, bidding for a seventh term in Regina-Qu'Appelle.

Also a fairly good-smelling buffet on here. Maybe I'm just hungry?

I myself am stationed at the NDP's HQ in Regina, where all three candidates for the city's ridings are for the time being.

Photo does not convey how good the potluck supper folks are enjoying here smells, but it really is tempting.

Liveblog: 2025 federal election results in Saskatchewan On election day, polls close at 8 p.m. We keep readers up to date on voter turnouts and candidates as we get closer to closing time.

For those watching the federal election in Canada tonight, we've got you!

Much like for the provincial elxn, Leader-Post & Star-Phoenix reporters will be live blogging from candidate HQ's in Saskatoon and Regina once polls start reporting in tonight.

Keep tabs on our coverage here:

URSU files lawsuit against University of Regina over student fees, terminated agreement The University of Regina Students' Union says it is suing the university for terminating its fee agreement and for fees it says are missing.

NEW: The University of Regina’s Students’ Union has filed a lawsuit against the U of R for its decision to sever its fee agreement with URSU as of this summer — a decision that essentially defunds the student union if it stands. #yqr