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Discusses the synchrotron project under construction at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon as of winter 2002. Background on the technology of the giant particle accelerator and how it will be used in fields such as medicine; Details of the financing and design of the Canadian Light Source project; Cost of the facility, which will be a third-generation synchrotron that provides light a thousand times more intense than earlier models; How the province won the project.

This article describes the resurgence of North American purebred bison. Offspring of one of the few purebred plains bison herds in Canada, the calves were trucked from Elk Island National Park, near Edmonton, and set loose on rangeland that retired rancher Peter Butala and his wife, author Sharon Butala, donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada in 1996. What makes the Saskatchewan calves so special is that they are the first Canadian buffalo herd in more than a century on the Great Plains, a region stretching from the centre of the continent to the Rocky Mountains, and from southern Texas to northern Saskatchewan. While human folly nearly destroyed the buffalo in the 19th century, the next 100 years served as kind of collective mea culpa. All the same, the North American buffalo is no longer on the brink of extinction: in Canada alone it's estimated there are now at least 1,500 purebred plains bison on public lands along with another 4,200 purebred wood bison (and 4,800 mixed-breed animals).

This article discusses the political climate surrounding the upcoming provincial elections in Saskatchewan. And judging by the seven provincial elections held to date this year, Canadians are in a particularly grumpy mood. In Quebec, Ontario and last week in Newfoundland, long-standing governments of various political stripes were not only defeated, but thoroughly trounced. In New Brunswick, Premier Bernard Lord fared only slightly better, as public fury over skyrocketing auto insurance rates reduced his iron grip on power to a tenuous grasp. True enough, Manitoba's Gary Doer, Nova Scotia's John Hamm and Prince Edward Island's Pat Binns were all returned to office by comfortable margins. But in each case, there was a palpable lack of enthusiasm about the exercise -- as if, given better alternatives, voters might have also opted to topple and turf. Which brings us to Saskatchewan, where a party that didn't even exist seven years ago stands an excellent chance of defeating the province's 12-year-old NDP government. The Saskatchewan Party, an amalgam of disaffected Conservatives and Liberals who formed their own "unite-the-right" movement in 1997, was brimming with confidence last week as the Nov. 5 election date approached. For all of that, the NDP cannot be written off lightly. In power for 43 of the past 59 years, it is Saskatchewan's natural governing party -- and renowned for fielding a formidable cadre of campaign foot soldiers.

Focuses on the New Democratic Party in Saskatchewan's Premier-elect Lorne Calvert. Biographical and career information, including his work as a minister in the United Church of Canada; Likelihood that he will be able to win the party a majority fourth term government; Outlook.

Reports on the poor performance of the National Democratic Party (NDP) and its leader Premier Roy Romanow in the 1999 Saskatchewan elections. Success of the Saskatchewan Party to win more of the popular vote than the NDP; Remarks of Saskatchewan Party leader Elwin Hermanson regarding the results of the elections.

Focuses on difficulties for farmers in Saskatchewan as of May 31, 1999. Problems with the Agriculture Income Disaster Assistance program created in 1998 by Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief; Effects of the difficulties on the calling of a spring election in Saskatchewan by Premier Roy Romanow; Attitudes of farmers toward the Romanow government; Comments from farmer Barry Hamilton and others; Outlook.

Discusses the 1999 fraud trial of Senator Eric Berntson of Saskatchewan. The charges that have been filed against Berntson; Other high-ranking political officials in Saskatchewan who have been charged with fraud; When the fraud investigations began; Berntson's role in Saskatchewan politics, which began in the mid-1970s; Outlook for the trial; How Berntson has reacted to the trial.

Focuses on the scandal surrounding at least 12 members of former Saskatchewan premier Grant Devine's Conservative government. Devine's government, which was swept out of office in 1991; The Tories being charged in 1995 and 1996 in relation to a scheme that defrauded taxpayers of more than $837,000; The seeds of the controversy in 1987; The bizarre aspects of the 1996 fraud trial against former Tory whip Michael Hopfner; How the scandal will affect the Tory party.

This article looks at the debate being waged over how best to develop the city of Saskatoon. In his inaugural state-of-the-city address last month, Saskatoon Mayor Don Atchison dared citizens to dream big. Atchison vowed that he and the other pro-business councillors elected in October would break a 25-year log-jam over what to do with a critical, 20-acre parcel of land in the city's south downtown overlooking the South Saskatchewan River. Instead of the area's underutilized buildings and vacant lots, Atchison foresaw up to $30 million in private development, including a major condominium complex -- part of an overall effort to get 10,000 more people living in the city's core. Trouble is, not all Saskatoonians share their mayor's vision. Saskatoon's debate underscores the tricky notion of creating livable cities.

This article reports on a partnership's conversion of pig manure into methane gas. Saskatoon-based Clear-Green Environmental Inc., in partnership with provincially owned SaskPower, just finished building a $1.5 million demonstration facility that will turn hog manure into energy. The facility, based on a farm 100 km northeast of Saskatoon, will convert the eight million gallons of manure produced annually from some 25,000 pigs into enough electricity to power about 400 homes for a year. The reconstituted waste will also generate heat for the pig barn and the test site and, as a by-product, chemicals that can be turned into non-toxic fertilizers. Ben Voss, president of Clear-Green, says that until recently the process was considered too expensive to be widely applied.

Discusses Saskatchewan's no-fault auto insurance policy, administered by Saskatchewan Government Insurance, a Crown corporation. Policy that prohibits parents from suing for pain and suffering resulting from their son's death; Example of the death of Terry Kolish, which could have been prevented if a standard reflective T-intersection sign was in place; Controversy over no-fault auto insurance, which sets out prescribed benefits regardless of the circumstances of the accident; Meeting between the Kolishes and Premier Lorne Calvert.

The Cypress Hills of southwestern Saskatchewan and southeastern Alberta rise 600 m above the surrounding plains, forming the highest point of land between Labrador and the Canadian Rockies. Here, moose, elk and deer move among towering forests of lodgepole pine and white spruce, while lookouts like the aptly named Bald Butte offer breathtaking views of grasslands rolling as far as the eye can see. Linked by an interprovincial park, the Cypress Hills are just a half-hour drive south of the Trans-Canada Highway. Brad Mason, manager for the more developed Saskatchewan side of the park, says an FM signal advertising the charms of the hill country lured thousands last summer. And tourist traffic from Alberta builds steadily each year, now accounting for more than a third of all visits. The area attracts mainly families, drawn by the campsites and kid-friendly amenities. "There are people who want something not as commercialized as the mountains," notes Mason. "They find that here."

Focuses on a series of archaeological digs near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Discovery of well-preserved artifacts, animal skulls, and bones; Role of archaeologist Butch Amundson in the excavations; Significance of the discovery of traces of obsidian, volcanic rock which resembles bottle glass.

Focuses on the government of Saskatchewan. Struggle of the New Democratic Party (NDP) to stay in power; Resignation of Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow; Possible successors, including Lorne Calvert and Chris Axworthy, who are running for election.

Focuses on the receipt of a compensation package by David Milgaard, who spent 23 years in prison for a murder he did not commit, from the Saskatchewan and Canadian federal governments as of May 31, 1999. History of Milgaard's arrest and conviction for the murder of Gail Miller; Brief details of life in prison; Announcement of an inquiry into how an innocent man was convicted by the government; Comments from Milgaard's mother Joyce.

Reports on the sentencing of serial killer John Martin Crawford of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Admission to his killing of native girls in the area in 1992 and 1994; Reason for killing his victims; Vulnerability of native women to abuses and crimes; Crawford's history of violence, drug abuse and preying on young native women.