Photo: "traveling shadows" by picturenarrative, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

What's happening in the GTA (and sometimes beyond):

In strike news, inside workers at CUPE Local 79 have ratified. Here is s a summary of the deal. Giving in and allowing them to grandfather their full sick day banking privileges is what many people think will be the reason for Mayor Miller's demise. Outside workers at CUPE Local 416 are expected to ratify today and possibly be back to work tomorrow. Here's what to do with your garbage in the meantime.

A 62-year old customs official who was working at the US consulate here in Toronto was sentenced today, after being found guilty of accepting illegal gratuity. His gratuity for fast-tracking visa applications? He was given jewelry and a trip to Vegas with (not one, but three!) Brass Rail strippers. Awww yeah.

A water main break yesterday morning caused flooding and an estimated $25,000 in damage to the Flatiron & Firkin pub on Wellington Street. Who's responsible? Things out of our control do happen, and when they happen in the early morning hours, the response is expected to be slower than during the work day. But should it take the city a full hour to turn off the water when it's spewing onto the street?

The fences are already up, and people are already at odds on the issue. Should fences be erected along the Caribana parade route to keep parade participants and observers safely divided, or should their be no fences and a lot more interaction and spirit (and risk, I guess) to the event?

And we can forget about Phoenix. It's not going to happen. Apparently RIM CEO Jim Balsillie is short on one or more of these criteria outlined by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman: "financial wherewithal, character, integrity, and the view as to whether or not the other owners would deem you to be a good partner."