Chinatown grocer David Chen, who is facing charges of forcible confinement, kidnapping and assault for capturing and detaining a shoplifter back in May 2009, nabbed another would-be shoplifter yesterday on the eve of the judge's ruling on his case. Chen said a security camera had caught a woman stealing bottles of conditioner, cooking oil and eggs, so he instructed his staff to be on the lookout. Chen's mother spotted the woman at the store yesterday and grabbed her before she could make off with bottles of shampoo. Chen then called the police, while his mother hugged the woman to prevent her from leaving. A new charge of forcible confinement via loving embrace?

Outgoing mayor David Miller (remember him?) gave a speech yesterday to the Toronto Rotary Club where he attempted to check any hope for the city getting new subways. "The truth is, we have no money for subways, so subways won't get built," Miller said. "Ultimately, it's up to the people we've elected." Mayor-elect Rob Ford hopes he can strike a deal with Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty to shift Transit City funding to pay for his subway plan. McGuinty has said he will listen to any proposal put forward that has support of City Council. Ford estimates his subway plan will cost $4 billion, $3.7 billion coming from the province. When asked to comment on the election result yesterday, Miller said it wouldn't be appropriate for him to do so, then said he had a dentist appointment.

The University of Toronto has heard the outcry from its students, faculty and scholars around the world, and will thus be abandoning plans to close its renowned Centre for Comparative Literature. The centre was set to close at the end of the year as part of plans to amalgamate six humanities programs into one school as a way to offset the faculty's $55 million of debt. The plan was met with huge opposition, including a petition with more than 6,500 signatures calling for the university to save the literature centre. Faculty of Arts and Science Dean Meric Gertler said despite the decision to abandon amalgamation for most of the programs, several other schools and departments must come forward with plans on how to cut costs.

In brief:

A four-alarm fire has broken out at York University's track and field centre this morning. Firefighters are currently battling the blaze, which ignited after the roof of a facility undergoing renovation caught fire just after 5 a.m. As of yet, there are no reported injuries.

Despite his big win earlier in the week, Rob Ford couldn't get another with his Don Bosco Catholic Secondary School Eagles yesterday. The team lost 28-6 as Ford coached his last game before stepping down to accommodate his increasingly busy mayor-elect schedule. "We didn't bring our 'A' game today, what can you do" Ford told the Globe and Mail. "We'll get 'em next year." Fans of the opposing team heckled the Eagles by chanting, "gravy train, gravy train."

Photo by mcadooja in the blogTO Flickr pool