The Riversdale Business Improvement District is hoping for stronger panhandling laws in Saskatoon.
Executive Director Randy Pshebylo says that businesses in the area are being hurt by loiterers on the street.
"Panhandlers are looking for more money, you don't have it, they get angry and they block you to you store or your car," Pshebylo explains, "It's an uncomfortable feeling for some people."
But in the same breath he says it's a complicated issue.
Free fringe bus rides:
Saskatoon Transit is offering free bus rides to anybody holding a Fringe Festival Button again.
The Fringe Festival starts today.
Five people are behind bars, charged with a number of drug-related offences after police searched two homes Wednesday.
Just before 10:00 that night, a swarm of police and k-9 units armed with a search warrant entered a home in the 300 block of Avenue U South.
Police say cocaine and cash was found. Two hours later, a neighbouring home was searched. One again, cash and coke were seized.
Three men and two women are charged and were to appear in court Thursday.
A sudden death is now considered a suspicious one. Police were called to a downtown apartment building last week after a 20 year old man was found dead in a parking lot. Someone walking noticed the body laying motionless on the ground at around midnight, on Tuesday, July 20th.
With the Fringe Festival starting Thursday, a number of parking restrictions are also in place. Parking in residential areas between Victoria Ave to Landsdowne Ave and then from Saskatchewan Crescent to 8th Street will be restricted.
If you don't have a residential parking permit, you could be hit with a fifty-dollar ticket, if you park on the street in the area.
This is in effect daily from 6pm to 6am. The restrictions will be in place until the Fringe Festival is over on August 8th.
A former Saskatoon doctor has been sentenced to 1 year in jail and 2 years probation for sexually assaulting two of his female patients.
Krishna Vittala was sentenced today.
His sentencing had been was delayed since he was found guilty last month because Vitalla had been hospitalized. He is in the latter stages of Prostate cancer.
His daughter Kaly told News Talk Radio she believes her father may die in jail, "Essentially, if he has to spend time in jail, the stress of it could kill him."
There were some tense moments for police arresting a suspect wanted in connection to a shooting near Rama. It happened after a farmer was shot in the small community located along Highway five, near Wadena. Shortly after the the 47 year old man was shot, Mounties were warned the suspect vehicle might be headed their way. When it arrived, police had guns drawn. The suspect was ordered out of the vehicle. Sergeant Carol Raymond describes the situation as a high risk take down. But she says the arrest was made without incident.
Saskatoon Police are looking for a 39 year old man who vanished on July 20th. It is believed that Steven Chaykowski may have travelled to the Hudson Bay area. Family and friends are concerned that Steven may cause harm to himself.
Police believe he is driving his 4 door, 2008, red, Pontiac Grand Prix.
If you have information as to the whereabouts of Steven please contact Saskatoon Police.
