Lethbridge Regional Police say a west side home invasion and assault was a targeted incident and not random. It happened at about 2:30 Wednesday afternoon in the Copperwood subdivision. A 34 year old man came home to a break-in in progress and was assaulted by two men, who may have had a handgun. The suspects took off and police are trying to locate them. The first suspect is said to be a Caucasion male, about 5'9" with a stocky build and the second suspect is described as an African American male about 6" tall with a slim build and a slight accent. The lone victim was taken to hospital, treated and released. Anyone with information is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers.

A Court of Queen's Bench Justice has convicted a Fort Macleod man of manslaughter in connection with a stabbing death in 2009 in the Crowsnest Pass. Derek Plourde had been on trial for second degree murder, but the judge found him guilty Thursday morning in a Lethbridge courtroom of the lesser charge of manslaughter. George Steve English was stabbed to death outside his cabin nearly 3 years ago. During his recent trial, Plourde's defence reiterated his case of self-defense telling court that English attacking Plourde with a pick-axe started a chain of events that ultimately lead to his own death. The Crown, though shed doubt on that suggesting Plourde was the initial provoker and trespasser by going to English's cabin in the middle of night. Plourde's wife was having an affair with English and was at the cabin that night.  Bail for Plourde has been revoked and he'll be back in court May 23rd for sentencing. - Pat Siedlecki

City crews have started to install several new downtown heritage street signs. Bev Lanz with the Heart of the City Committee, says the white on black signs feature an image of the post office, current street numbers, and historic names from 1885. She says the Northwest Coal and Navigation Company had shareholders and in order to keep them happy, promised to put their names on street signs in exchange for money. Lanz says it's interesting to note that some of the significant dollars invested with that company many years ago and the people who gave that cash are people who's names will now be on street signs in downtown Lethbridge. She says it's important that downtown Lethbridge be defined as a special place. The signs cost $60,000 and the money came from the Heart of the City Committee. There will be 140 new historic street signs installed by the end of May.

Lethbridge Regional Police are asking for the public's assistance after yet another pedestrian collision, this time Tuesday night in Coaldale. A 44 year old man who suffers from a permanent brain injury from a previous accident was walking along 20th Street in that town when a pick-up truck came towards him. The man stuck out his arm to warn the driver, but was hit and knocked to the ground. Police say the occupants of the truck then got out of the vehicle and started to kick the man on the ground. The vehicle then left the scene. The victim was treated for minor injuries at Chinook Regional Hospital. At the time there are no suspects.

Lethbridge Regional Police have arrested and charged a 28 year old city man in connection with a double homicide on the weekend. Cody Blue Favel is charged with two counts of second degree murder, two counts of robbery, and carrying a concealed weapon. 35 year old Marty Steele and 30 year old Aaron Thacker were found stabbed to death in the Adam's Ice Centre Park on 13th Street North early Sunday morning. Police say the killings were drug-related, not a random killing. Blue Favel appeared in Lethbridge Provincial Court Tuesday afternoon and was remanded in custody to appear again May 23rd. Police have released Favel's picture in the hope of soliticiting more information from the public as to his activities and whereabouts that lead up to the events of early Sunday morning. - Pat Siedlecki

A Lethbridge male is facing assault and weapons charges after an incident early Tuesday morning involving bear spray. Three people were walking along 3rd Avenue South when a man approached them and unprovoked, sprayed the three victims with bear spray. Police were in the area, and after arresting the man, officers found a 230 gram canister of Counter Assault Bear Spray concealed on the suspect. 26 year old Nathan James Wolfchild is charged with 3 counts of assault with a weapon, possessing a weapon dangerous to the public and carrying a concealed weapon.

City Council has approved a loan of $4.6 million to the Lethbridge and District Exhibition. Councillor Tom Wickersham says the money will cover  part of the cost for upgrading facilities, including sewer and water lines, as well as improvements to some of the buildings. He says roofing costs and electrical issues, above and below ground need to be fixed up and this money will address those issues. The Exhibition has signed a new lease with the City to continue operating at the current site for the next 15 years. Wickersham says the Exhbition has determined it's current location is the prefered site for them to continue to operate and develop. The loan will be repaid over that time period. - Bryan Jeannotte

A Lethbridge driver has been charged with failing to yeild to a pedestrian in a crosswalk after an incident Monday evening. Around 6:00 pm, a van was travelling northbound on 20th Street and was stopped at a yield sign to turn right onto 9th Avenue North. As the driver looked west, police say a 10 year old boy was walking his bike into the crosswalk. The driver went to make the turn and collided with the youth in the crosswalk. The youth was taken to Regional Hospital and treated for minor injuries.

A preliminary hearing for a Calgary man charged in connection with an assault on a Lethbridge Regional Police officer did not proceed as scheduled Monday. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of 24 year old Aaron Head. He's charged with aggravated assault on a police officer and being an accessory to an escape. The charges stem from an incident in February 2011 when Constable Norman Smith of the LRPS was badly beaten while making an arrest. In Provincial Court, Head failed to appear for the preliminary hearing. His lawyer told the court his client was going to change his plea from not guilty to guilty. Attempts to contact Head were unsuccessful so a warrant was issued for his arrest.  -Bryan Jeannotte

Lethbridge Regional Police have identified the two men found dead in a north side park Sunday morning. Officers say 35 year old Marty Leon Steele and 30 year old Aaron Louis Thacker were found just before 2am suffering from stab wounds. Their bodies have been taken to the Calgary Medical Examiner's Office to confirm the cause of death. Police believe the pair was targeted and that this was not a random incident. Photos of the victims have been released in an effort to help retrace their steps and piece together their activities in the hours leading up to their deaths. Police are asking anyone who may have been in the area of 13th street and 8th avenue north between midnight and 1:50am and may have seen or encountered the victims, to call police or Crime Stoppers. These are the first two homicides in Lethbridge in 2012. Last year there were three.-Tina Giesbrecht

Marty Leon Steele and Aaron Louis Thacker

A mid-air collision between two small planes in Saskatchewan has claimed the lives of three southern Albertans. On board one of the planes, a Piper PA-28, were Eric Donovan, his 11 year old son Wade, and a friend Denny Loree. The plane was flying from Mossleigh to St.Brieux, Saskatchewan to pick up a piece of farm equipment when it collided with another plane. Donovan,  husband and father of four, was a grain farmer who also owned a truck company. Loree, also a husband and father, was the pilot of the Piper PA-28 and had been flying for nine years. A man and a woman who were flying in the second plane, were also killed. The Transportation Safety Board is investigating. -with files from the Calgary Herald

A happy outcome in the RCMP search for a man missing from the Brooks area. Police issued a missing person alert for 38 year old Joseph Dean McCluskey of Patricia. However he's been discovered safe and sound  in Northern Alberta. RCMP say the circumstances surrounding McCluskey's disappearance aren't suspicious.

A Calgary man has received a two year sentence under house arrest for stealing jewellery and diamonds from a store in Lethbridge. 23 year old Juan Calero-Perez pleaded guilty to theft over $5,000 last December and was sentenced in Lethbridge Provincial Court Friday. He worked as a sales clerk at the Charm Diamond Centre in the Park Place Mall from December 2010 to January 2011. During that period Carlero-Perez stole items with an estimated retail value of $116,000 including several pieces of jewellery, gold rings and diamonds. He sold all the items to a local pawn shop and used the money to pay a gambling debt. Along with the two years he'll spend under house arrest, Calero-Perez has been ordered to pay restitution totalling nearly $49,000. -Bryan Jeannotte

Three southern Alberta teenagers are in hospital, one with critical injuries, after crash near Red Deer Thursday night. Blackfalds RCMP say a car, which was reported stolen from Vulcan earlier in the day, lost control, crossed the centre line and drove into the ditch where it hit a tree. The 16 year old male driver from Vulcan was flown by STARS air ambulance to University Hospital in Edmonton. Two male passengers, a 16 year old from Champion and an 18 year old from High River, were taken to Red Deer Hospital with serious injuries. Police say alcohol was not a factor in the crash but speed and driver distraction were.