5 things you need to know this morning: Aug. 29, 2023

Start your day off right with five things you need to know this morning.

Five things you need to know

1. No date set for Yellowknife residents to return home

It has been nearly two weeks since the entire city of Yellowknife was ordered to evacuate due to a nearby wildfire. Although no date has been set for when residents can return home, the territorial government says it has a five-stage return plan in place. But there are still several hazards including access for travel, air quality and some damage.

Yellowknife officials say the fires of most concern near the city are being held, but still stress people should not try to return yet. https://t.co/00r68XlxGZ

— Globalnews.ca (@globalnews) August 29, 2023

2. Totem pole to be returned to Nisga'a Nation from National Museum of Sctoland

A 11 metre high totem pole is being brought back home to BC after it was taken from the coastal First Nation more than a century ago. Nisga'a reachaers say the pole was carved in 1855 and arrived in Scotland in about 1929. On Monday, a group from the Nisga'a Nation held a private ceremony to prepare the towel pole for its 6,750 km journey back to Canada.

'Stolen' totem pole prepared for return to Canada https://t.co/215hDwItsu

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 28, 2023

3. Rare blue supermoon to light up the skies this week

The rare event will hit the skies Wednesday night and will see the second full moon of the month and the the closest full moon to earth. Stargazers will also be able to catch a glimpse of Saturn, which will show as a bright spot right of the moon at sunset in the east-southeastern sky. The fourth and final supermoon of 2023 will happen in September.

Rare blue supermoon brightens the night sky this week in the closest full moon of the year https://t.co/kCQFbnAhcH pic.twitter.com/LsS60bRwcB

— CTV News (@CTVNews) August 29, 2023

4. Tropical storm Idalia strengthens into a hurricane, headed for Florida

The storm is forecast to hit most of Florida, including the heavily populated city of Tampa. High winds, heavy rain and “potentially deadly storm surges” are expected. Many people in Tampa, which are still recovering from last year’s hurricane Ian, are under several weather warnings. The storm is expected to make landfall at 8 am local time, or 5 am PST.

Tropical storm Idalia places Florida on alert for major hurricane https://t.co/Ai45P1Yuas

— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) August 29, 2023

5. Early data suggests that news ban hasn’t slowed Canadian Facebook usage

Data from a few different tracking firms has shown that although the Online News Act has resulted in the removal of news from Meta’s platforms, usage has not seen a decrease. Daily users of Facebook and the time spent on the website or app has remained relatively unchanged in August.

Exclusive: Meta's Canada news ban fails to dent Facebook usage https://t.co/ljua5qi3GT pic.twitter.com/A3cgSaXqgh

— Reuters (@Reuters) August 29, 2023

Thumbnail photo credit: 123rf