The bomb disposal squad was called in and there's been a G20 security-related arrest in the Bathurst and Lawrence area. Not much is yet known about the threat or the intent, but what we do know is that 37 year old Forest Hill resident has been charged with a slew of offences including: intimidation of a justice system participant by threat, intimidation of justice system participant by watch and beset, mischief interfere with property, attempt mischief, possession of explosive for unlawful purpose and possession of weapons dangerous.

The Canadian Civil Liberties Association and the Canadian Labour Congress are hoping to obtain a court injunction that prevent the Toronto Police from using sound cannon devices this weekend. They're hoping for a judge's decision today, but won't likely hear it until Friday (and I'm thinking there's little chance that the injunction will be granted... in the interests of security but of course).

Will the Canada Post mail carrier who was caught sleeping on the job, inside a grey post box, be the new TTC sleeper? All we've got to work with is the small photo on this Toronto Sun story, but it should be sufficient for the Photoshopper's needs. Send them to me at jerrold@blogto.com and I'll post the good ones.

The countdown to the G20 circus continues. In the news...

At 3:30am this morning, over a dozen off-duty RCMP officers witnessed a gun being fired from a black sports car, just outside the traffic restriction G20 security zone. I'm not sure what's worse; that security force personnel are out in droves at 3am on a Monday night, or that the car sped off and the suspects managed to evade arrest.

The first organized summit protest saw about 100 protesters take to the streets yesterday, which was met by very heavy police presence. As military helicopters and planes continued to conduct surveillance and practice exercises overhead, police herded the group and kept them away from the downtown security zone. Thousands of Toronto Police officers are on the beat all week, and if you're heading out it's a good idea to have ID on you, just to avoid hassles.

The first arrest of a protester also came yesterday, when Kitchener-Waterloo-based aboriginal-rights activist Mark Corbiere was nabbed. He was taken down by four officers, surrounded by another 30 on bicycles, and then tossed in the back of an unmarked, black minivan, and faces charges for... pot possession. Good times in the city of Toronto.

After serving Toronto's literary buffs for 30 years, This Ain't the Rosedale Library, a beloved bookstore in Kensington Market, has been closed on a court order because it owes a whopping $40,000 in rent. Even after moving from Church Street to a smaller shop in the market in 2008, it appears that the times are too tough for the indie booksellers, despite their best efforts and highly cherished status in the community.

For the second time this month a small plane crashed near Buttonville Airport. Yesterday evening, a Cessna operated by an aerial advertising company went down and crashed in a ball of fire in a vacant parking lot, killing the pilot.

The G20 integrated security team is keeping busy. The fence is nearing completion and, in advance of today's planned "All Out In Defense of the Rights of All" protest, RCMP and Toronto Police were up early conducting a sweep of the area around Allan Gardens. With just a few days until the circus rolls into town, we can expect to see a lot of police activity in the city in the coming days.

The juiciest part of the Rob Ford drug tape has been posted online. On the recording, Dieter Doneit-Henderson (a pain-suffering, HIV-positive man) complains to mayoral hopeful Rob Ford about his inability to acquire OxyContin. Oddly, and in addition to having already enquired with his doctor, Ford initiates talk about obtaining it on the streets (i.e. illegally). After the details of the conversation were made public yesterday, Ford defended himself, stating that it was a good deed gone awry and that he went along with things because the man sounded disturbed and somewhat threatening. Listen to the "Rob Ford drug tape" here. Or, if you're not a World Cup soccer fan, here.

With so many highway service stations closed all at once, many drivers are annoyed by the huge gaps in fuel, food, and washroom stops along the province's major roadways. And now we've learned, contrary to what was previous declared, that taxpayers will be coughing up two thirds of the costs to renew the service stations along highways 401 and 400. Revenue-sharing will apparently return the investment in the long term, but the details of the repayment scheme aren't being released. Shouldn't the big, rich oil companies and/or fast food chains be in a position to kick in more for the upgrades?

The G20 is putting our city on the world map! But it's not the right map. The U.S. State Department has put downtown Toronto on its travel advisory list, warning American visitors to be aware of potential violence and to avoid the core for the duration of the summit. Mayor Miller isn't a happy camper.

Will you take part in plans for a mass walk-out G8 protest on June 25th? The "No One Is Illegal-Toronto" group are calling on Torontonians to ditch work, join their block party, and set up a tent at Allan Gardens while the world leaders meet up in Huntsville. While their causes are in many ways noble, I'm not convinced that many outside the activist camp will risk their jobs to partake. In other G8 and G20 news, there may be enough hospital beds freed up, but it appears that there's going to be a shortage of blood.

A last-minute deal amongst federal governing parties has resulted in a crucial element of the criminal justice system being altered. Part of the Conservatives' moves to be tougher on crime, the bill addresses the rules for the issuing of pardons to convicted criminals, and will be fast-tracked into practice. The national parole board will now be able to deny any pardon that would "bring the system into disrepute" and periods of ineligibility will be extended. In other words, Karla Homolka won't be eligible for a pardon in a few weeks, and probably won't be granted one when she is eligible. Thankfully, the opposition parties have successfully deferred the rest of the bill (now dubbed C-32B) to the fall, when parliament can give it the full attention it deserves.

There's more weirdness from the Rob Ford mayoral campaign in the news today, and it's related to the gay couple who are suffering from HIV and had an awkward, media-mediated apology session with the mayoral candidate back in May. The relationship between the couple and the councillor has soured after phone conversations were recorded, and an inappropriate request was made of the councillor to assist in obtaining prescription Oxycontin illegally. And apparently both sides have complained to police about threatening language. In related news, I'm proposing the following for the official theme song for the Ford mayoral campaign (see video below).

The Eaton Centre is slated for its first major upgrades since opening in 1977. Owners Cadillac Fairview Corporation, which is wholly owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan, will announce details of the $120-million facelift tomorrow. The renewal project starts on July 1st, and will not affect artist Michael Snow's iconic flying geese sculpture.

Small trees in the G20 restricted zone are the latest victims of heightened security, and an undisclosed number are being removed for the 3-day summit. Toronto Police spokesperson Wendy Drummond has suggested that if ripped from the ground, saplings could be used as weapons. Their removal puts a serious damper on the terrorists' plans to penetrate the secure zone, tear up saplings, sneak into the MTCC, and flog the world's leaders with leafy branches. Their eventual replacement following the summit is apparently part of the security team's plan (and $1-billion cost).

Did someone with a more sinister plan pull off the coordinated theft of police uniforms from various dry cleaners around the city? Or is 680news guilty of bad journalism? Police and the cleaners with the contract can't confirm the report.