It's sloppy out there. The storm forecasters expected to dump a mix of snow and slushy rain on the city is doing exactly as predicted and making travel conditions extremely difficult. There's been a handful of school closures and bus cancellations, but otherwise things generally seem to be going to plan. The TTC is reporting a disabled streetcar at Dundas and Broadview but no other major issues. The weather is expected to continue for most of the day.
No trouble at Pearson airport for the mayor - he left this morning for Disney World in Florida. Dozens of other flights have been delayed or cancelled as a result of the weather.
Here's a strange one. Rob Ford has been invited to attend a prayer rally against certain parts of Toronto's harmonized bylaw rules. Christian leader Charles McVety, who's strongly against same-sex marriage and abortion, says proposed new rules, which restrict new places of worship in light industrial areas, are a war on the church. It's not been confirmed whether the mayor will attend.
Speaking of Ford, in his first one-on-one television interview since the city's audit committee decided not to recommend him for prosecution, Toronto's leader told David "You Can't Hide Behind the Gay Flag Brian Burke" Menzies he doesn't expect taxpayers to foot his recent legal bills. Ford called his recent legal troubles "simply the left wing coming after me trying to make hay when there's nothing there."
Toronto police have renewed calls for information about the shooting of a TTC worker at Dupont subway station in 2012. The mystery figure shown in CCTV stills demands money from the ticket booth before turning to leave and firing twice at William Anderson, 53. The suspect is white, heavyset, between the ages of 35 and 50, and around 5-foot-5.
Finally, after snubbing Hero Certified Burgers to run its Nathan Phillips Square concession stand, the city has received a tantalizing offer from Freshii, a local salad bar chain. The company says if it's allowed to operate the store it will donate its earnings to city environmental causes. Is that a better idea?
IN BRIEF:
- Deficit might eliminate hundreds of teaching jobs [The Star]
- Americans accused during Toronto G20 Summit nabbed in U.S. [National Post]
- Toronto's newfound interest in parks signals an urban maturity [Toronto Star]
Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.
Image: "32" by Ben Roffelsen/blogTO Flickr pool.