toronto kayak

Morning Brew: Rob Ford waits on Supreme Court status, Doug Ford vows to fight new market building, a giant parking fine, and a photo of Chris Hadfield in a streetcar

Rob Ford will find Thursday whether or not he'll be contesting a case at the Supreme Court of Canada. Toronto resident Paul Magder, who brought the original conflict-of-interest case against the mayor, is asking Canada's highest court to hear his appeal of a judge's decision to keep Ford in office. Predictions?

Toronto police have named 35 of the 44 people arrested during last week's Operation Traveller, a co-ordinated series of raids targeting the Dixon City Bloods gang, also known as the Dixon Goonies. The gang was known to be associated with a Dixon Road apartment complex and many of its members are facing drug and gun charges. One of those charged, 19-year-old Muhammad Khattak, was reportedly pictured with Rob Ford.

The Star has you covered in case you're wondering what kind of person would throw a drink at the mayor of Toronto. Shannon Everett, the 27-year-old accused of hurling the beverage, possibly a slushie, at Ford is a University of Ontario Institute of Technology worker and a yoga teacher. She's been understandably laying low since the incident.

A $45-million redevelopment project is underway at Toronto's Six Points Interchange at Kipling, Bloor, and Dundas West. When it's finished, the tangle of roads dubbed Spaghetti Junction will feature new parks, residences, and retail outlets. Local councillor Peter Milczyn ceremonially tore down part of the Westwood Theatre yesterday. The city bought the site in the 1960s for a subway yard but later abandoned the idea.

Councillor Doug Ford says he'll try to stop the $91 million redevelopment plans for St. Lawrence Market North at city council. The government management committee were deadlocked on whether to halt the project, which has risen in cost, meaning the debate will continue at full council. The plans would see the bunker-like north market demolished and replaced with a multi-storey building with space for a municipal court. Should the city invest in the St. Lawrence Market?

A Toronto man has solved the mystery of the $854.50 parking ticket he racked up while on his honeymoon. Turns out parking enforcement officers moved Adam Halim's car during tree trimming outside his home to a no parking zone where it was repeatedly ticketed and eventually towed. The city has promised a full refund.

Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei's "Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads" installation will be officially unveiled later today in the reflecting pool at Nathan Phillips Square. The bronze animal heads will stay in the square until September 22. There will also be a Weiwei show at the AGO.

Finally, Commander Chris Hadfield is famous throughout the world for his exploits in outer space but at one time he sampled a far more terrestrial calling. A picture posted on Reddit this morning shows the astronaut at the controls of a PCC streetcar with TTC employee Frank Hood in 1996. Hood drove Hadfield to opening of the CNE that year.

IN BRIEF:

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Ilona/blogTO Flickr pool.


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