Young children who regularly ingest spices and ceremonial powders imported from India might be exposed to lead, U.S. doctors warn. CBC.ca

Embattled automaker Toyota Motor Corp. is casting doubt on a California man's story that his Prius car sped out of control, saying the company's internal investigation is inconsistent with the story as described. CBC.ca

Monitoring Canada's food producers is requiring more hours on the part of inspectors and a greater number of staff, says a memo from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. CBC.ca

Nominations are being accepted for Canada's Best Restroom Award, which honours the best public washroom across Canada. CBC.ca

The number of listings sold through the Multiple Listing Service Systems (MLS) dropped slightly in February, signaling a more balanced national resale housing market, says the CREA. CBC.ca

Lower sales of North American-built passenger cars were offset by higher sales of trucks and overseas-built passenger cars as the number of new vehicles sold remained unchanged, according to Statistics Canada. CBC.ca

Tommy Hilfiger Inc. will be bought for $3 billion US in a cash and stock deal to create one of the world's largest clothing companies. CBC.ca

The latest meat recall due to concerns over listeria contamination has prompted a proposed class action. CBC.ca

Teenagers going abroad for some fun in the sun this March break would be wise to pick up travel medical insurance, says an Ottawa mother whose own son suffered a terrible accident while on vacation that cost him one of his legs. CBC.ca

CIBC announced Wednesday it will open a new 6,350 square-foot banking centre in Kelowna at the southwest corner of K.L.O. Road and Richter Street.

The new full-service branch will replace CIBC’s current premises on Pandosy Street when it opens in fall 2010.

CIBC opened a new larger location to serve the Westbank community in late 2009.

“CIBC is committed to investing in Kelowna’s long-term growth and giving our clients more banking choices,” says Mike Stevenson, CIBC’s Senior Vice-President of Retail Markets for Western Canada.

“With a larger, state-of-the-art branch offering extended hours, our clients will have more banking flexibility and even greater access to a CIBC financial advisor.”

The new branch will feature modern, barrier-free banking facilities, including sit-down teller stations and three Automated Banking Machines installed at wheelchair accessible height with headphone jacks for audio access grab bars for mobility assistance and brighter lighting.

“In addition to increasing our physical presence in Kelowna, we are also looking for great people to join our team. We encourage exceptional candidates to visit our online career site to apply.”

The new Kelowna branch is among 20 new or expanded locations in high growth Canadian communities.

In February, CIBC became the first Canadian bank to offer a Mobile Banking app for iPhone.

The Kelowna Salvation Army held a grand opening to celebrate their new Community Life Centre and Thrift Store Saturday.

Located at the former Old Valley Lanes Bowling Alley location at 200 Rutland Road S., the celebration included a ribbon-cutting ceremony, free food and cake and a sale at the store.

The local Salvation Army purchased the former Valley Lanes Bowling Alley and pub building in July of 2009 and crews have spent the past six months renovating. The old Salvation Army Resource Centre and Harvey Avenue Thrift Store have been relocated to the new Rutland location.

“The whole building has been gutted and rebuilt,” says Major Ron Cartmell of the Kelowna Salvation Army. “The bowling alley has been converted into our new thrift store and the pub has been converted into our Community Life Centre where we meet one on one with those in need.”

Services offered at the new Community Life Centre include counseling, emergency food hampers, pro-bono legal advice, referrals and help with clothing and furniture to those who qualify for assistance. Plans are also in place to develop a mentoring program and other community support programs.

“This new facility gives us an opportunity to own rather than lease and will allow us to better serve the Rutland community with more emphasis on helping families already living in the neighborhood,” says Cartmell.

“We have no plans to open a soup kitchen or homeless shelter in Rutland. There are other organizations which meet those particular needs.”

Toyota Canada wants anyone who wins a RAV4 in this year's Tim Hortons roll-up-the-rim contest not to worry about sticking accelerator models. CBC.ca

Rogers Wireless is raising the emergency 911 fee cellphone customers pay to 75 cents from the current 50-cent charge. CBC.ca

New York City's health commission has advised the chef of a local restaurant against making any more cheese from his wife's excess breast milk. CBC.ca

Health claims used by private cord-blood banks to persuade parents to save their baby's umbilical cord blood can overstate the benefits, according to an investigation by CBC-TV's Marketplace. CBC.ca

A Calgary man says he is upset about a hefty charge on his credit card for canceling a last-minute dental appointment. CBC.ca

Health authorities in the U.S. have for the first time used department store credit cards to help trace the source of a recent salmonella outbreak that left hundreds of Americans ill. CBC.ca

Canada's recovering economy continued to churn out new jobs last month, adding 60,000 full-time positions - mostly in the public sector and many filled by men aged 55 or older. CBC.ca