This Week in Alberta: Special Olympics Wrap-Up, Weather Warnings and a Legal Settlement

Medicine Hat's hosting of the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games concluded Saturday with medal events in basketball, bocce, soccer and tenpin bowling, alongside the city's Ribfest weekend. Local bowler Mitchell MacDonald, a 2019 world championship competitor, took part on home soil. The Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce estimated the Games generated $12 million for the local economy and gave the region national visibility.

Weather caused disruptions across central and southern Alberta this week. Environment Canada warned of funnel cloud risk, including a small chance of a landspout tornado, in the Red Deer area through Wednesday evening. In the southwest, a rainfall warning called for another 30 to 40 millimetres of rain through Friday, with concerns about pooling on roads and in low-lying areas. Meanwhile, the Battle of the Rockies chuckwagon championship in Rocky Mountain House opened despite afternoon rain, with Jason Glass winning the first night.

In Calgary, a B.C. court approved a $4.5-million class-action settlement covering thousands of women who worked as WestJet flight attendants over nearly seven years, resolving harassment claims against the airline. The city also mourned the death of longtime Flames radio broadcaster Peter Maher, who called the team's hockey games for more than three decades. On the field, the Stampeders lost 30-26 to the B.C. Lions with their quarterback and top rusher exiting injured, while Winnipeg's Zach Collaros prepared to return for a game carrying playoff weight in the CFL's West Division.

Public safety and policy items also featured this week. Medicine Hat police made a second arrest in a shooting investigation, while RCMP in the Maskwacis area sought information on missing woman Raelene Littlewolfe. Alberta RCMP issued reminders about safe driving habits for new and young drivers. On the political front, the province delayed new school flag and anthem rules past September 1, commissioned a $400,000 study on long-term water security, and announced a town hall in Ponoka on AI data centres.

Community events rounded out the week, from Lethbridge's Whoop-Up Days rodeo and Warrior Relay Races to a Make-A-Wish trip granted to a six-year-old Grande Prairie boy who beat leukemia, and a Benalto miniature railway fundraiser set for September in support of children's hospitals.