In a private session held Wednesday, a judge set a court date of January 19 to listen to arguments from Rob Ford's legal team and lawyers for Toronto residents Adam Chaleff-Freudenthaler and Max Reed, who requested an audit of Ford's campaign fundraising earlier this year. Rob Ford's lawyers plan to ask the court to set aside a decision by Toronto council's compliance audit committee and instead hold a trial with new evidence. A legal expert consulted by the Globe says it's unlikely the court will veto a decision made by an appointed expert body.

Details were released yesterday regard the City of Toronto's elimination of 2,300+ as part of the 2012 budget. Of the 1,200 lay offs on the horizon, the biggest hit will be dealt to unionized workers, with 666 workers getting pink slips. 48 non-union workers will be laid off and another 887 jobs will be eliminated at agencies, boards and commissions, like the Toronto Library, the TTC, and Toronto Police Services.

Think your food is local? Well, think again. NOW's Wayne Roberts tracks the "hidden" ways that our food travels. Whether it be deliveries of fertilizer the farm or the trip your food makes after you've tossed the leftovers in the garbage, the typical food serving is the result of no fewer than 13 different commutes.

They may not have won a Stanley Cup in, like, forever, but the Toronto Maple Leafs are the most valuable NHL franchise, according to Forbes Magazine. The Leafs are worth $521 million (guess that explains the huge ticket prices and $20 beer). The Rangers and Canadiens rounded out the top three.

Official transit gripe-taker? It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it, and that someone is Chris Upfold. Upfold, as some will know, is the TTC's first-ever chief customer service officer, and that means he's the guy who had to face all the angry TTC riders at the inaugural town hall meeting. In this Grid interview, we learn that he's never heard of the "Vomit Comet," and he's got a thing for Gwyneth Paltrow (sort of).

IN BRIEF:

• Leafs lose to Bruins (again)
• Walkability in city's tower neighbourhoods
• Museum of Indulgence at Harbourfront Centre: Hip Hop and Sugar

Photo by twurdemann in the blogTO Flickr pool