Photo: "Fixated" by SirCharlie, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

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

The Toronto Port Authority is planning a name change for the Toronto City Centre Airport (commonly referred to as the Island Airport). Even though it was renamed relatively recently (1994), the TPA wants to call it Billy Bishop Airport, after the WWI flying ace - even though Owen Sound's airport already has that name.

Are the mainstream and blog media dedicating too much of their reporting resources and pages to the Michael Bryant and Darcy Allan Sheppard story? I'm looking at you, Posted Toronto... 8 of your most recent 11 stories is too much. Other Toronto Star stories tell how much Bryant's shawarma cost, and how Sheppard was in foster care in Alberta as a child. Enough already.

His lawyers are arguing for a 2-year sentence (on top of his time already spent in custody), while the Crown wants him locked up for 18 to 20 years. Sentencing for the Toronto man found guilty for his role in terrorism plotting is expected today in a Brampton court.

Down in Niagara Falls, the monopoly that is the Maid of the Mist tours is under review again. If other tour operators want to offer services and clear all the required safety and insurance requirements, shouldn't they be allowed to run a business? The Niagara Parks Commission has given the US-based company that runs the Maid an untendered, exclusive 25-year lease in exchange for a cut of the revenue.

It's an odd anniversary to highlight, but apparently today marks 10 years since a devastating and fatal 87-car pileup happened on the 401 near Chatham.

And I'm excited to have learned that the Nuit Blanche 2009 web site has been updated, and now includes much of the info about this year's installment on October 3rd. iPhone and Balckberry apps are also in the works, which will make previewing exhibits and navigating the city that night paperless and convenient.