Daybreak South
with Chris Walker

People continue to question Senator Mike Duffy and his 90 thousand dollar gift from the Prime Minister's former chief of staff.

There are questions about the legality of such a gift to a senator and the timing of it.

Canadians wonder if they can believe Prime Minister Stephen Harper when he says he knew nothing about it.

Former Federal Fisheries Minister, Tom Siddon also has questions. He served during the Mulroney era and now lives in Penticton.

Radium is well known for it's hot springs, it's mountain vistas and it's Bighorn sheep.

These characters provide eye candy for many tourists who pass through.

But for Melva Barrault, the sheep are an odourous problem with as many as 80 hanging out on her lawn, leaving a mess behind.
   
She wrote to village council earlier this month about her concerns hoping to get answers.

We also spoke to Ron Verboom, a village councillor.

Have you ever heard of the group Citizens against Cedars?  There are people who are ready to join even a ficticious group.

Tim Wohlberg went to a local big box store to find out if his distain for cedar hedges is shared by anyone else.

The green shrubbery provides privacy and look great, so what's not to love?
   
If you're Gwen Steele, executive director of the non-profit Okanagan Xeriscape Association, there are a few reasons. 

Two Hundred and four thousand kilometres.  It's enough to circle the globe 5 times.
Now imagine cycling that distance. Throw in 28 cancer operations, 48 knee operations, a couple of dogs, a whole lot of generosity and you've got Randolph Westphal's epic journey.

Randolf says he survives from the generosity of the people he meets and talks to on his trip. He's in the guiness book of world records for his cycling accomplishments with his dogs.

He dropped by the CBC yesterday to share his story with the CBC's Tim Wohlberg.

Randolph's website:
http://www.randolph-westphal.de/

'Tis the season for thunderstorms and they are certainly in the forecast.

Whether you're a fan, or not, Doug Lundquist, a meteorologist with Environment Canada has some good thoughts about flashes and the bangs and how to conduct our self safely when the show starts.

If B.C. used the Single Transferable vote, as was voted on some years ago, who would have won the election?

Earlier this month, we told you about a study looking at three voting options, such as Proportional Representation and the STV.

Today, we have their results, sort of.

Turns out, the study suffered from a familiar problem, that of low turnout.
   
Doctor Allan Craigie is a researcher with U.B.C. and Laval University and a member of VotesBC.org.

A retired physician may have found a way to get people excited about healthy eating and living.

Doctor Gerry Karr is the founder of a pilot project aimed at improving community health in in the Okanagan Similkameen.
   
He has convinced mayors, municipal leaders, schools and health officials and the Penticton Indian Band to start up the Okanagan Similkameen Healthy Living Coalition.

The five year pilot will get all the groups working together toward the same goal.

Clutch in, brake on, gear down, throttle up, fasten you're helmets.

With the warm weather in full swing, aficionados of the open road have been called to action with engines and mufflers roaring.
   
You may even feel a little nervous as you drive by, not sure how to travel by them safely or if you can look them in the eye.

Motorbikers are now everywhere and our arts and culture columnist Gillianne Richards has saddled up to the idea of becoming a biker.

Pulling in on her Harley 8-83 Sportster, she tells us how she did it safely.

Recently we heard about Brittany. A third year law student at the University of Victoria out celebrating her graduation at a nightclub when she became a victim of the date rape drug. She had three glasses of wine over the course of several hours and suddenly couldn't walk or talk. Eventually she lost consciousness.

For Brittany, the amount of alcohol she drank didn't match how she felt. Without her knowing, she'd been drugged with a so-called date rape drug. The story raises a lot of questions so Daybreak's Chris Walker sat down with CBC's Jennifer Chrumka who first brought us the story.

(photo by Tim Wohlberg)

How does Ottawa explain the deep cuts at Agriculture and Agri Food Canada?

Daybreak's Chris Walker speaks with Okanagan Coquihalla Conservative MP Dan Albas and NDP MP from BC Southern Interior Alex Atamanenko.