Officials cautiously hopeful as ice shrinks in northern Alberta

An ice jam on the Athabasca River is nearly half the size it was earlier this week when it caused major flooding in Fort McMurray and forced 13,000 people from their homes. The Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo says the blockage was 13 kilometres in size Wednesday night, down from 25 kilometres two days before. And, the level of the Athabasca River dropped 3.5 metres overnight, and the Clearwater River by about one metre. The news is all good — but doesn’t mean Fort McMurray is i