Photo: "Round About" by tomms, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Your Toronto morning news roundup for Thursday August 21th, 2008:

You've seen the ad campaigns telling you that tap water rocks, but now the city is taking the war on bottled water one step further: by banning plastic water bottles altogether. London has already taken the first step; should Toronto be next?

Before you crack open that package of salami for lunch, check the label: meats packaged at Maple Leaf's Toronto plant has been recalled because of a listeriosis outbreak that has already claimed one life here in the province.

Photo: "Toronto Bike" by Scott Irving, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Your Toronto morning news roundup for Wednesday August 13th, 2008:

Next time you decide to smash in a window and try and get away after a neighbor catches you, it's probably best not to run through a police station parking lot. Then again, it does make the job easier for law enforcement.

You've heard of drive-by shootings, but what about drive-by stabbings? It might not be in Toronto proper, but a man was stabbed in Brampton yesterday as he was stopped at a red light in his vehicle.

Photo: "John Butler Trio live @ The Sound Academy" by ariehsinger, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Your Toronto morning news roundup for Tuesday August 12th, 2008:

Most residents have slowly made their way home after Sunday's horrifying explosion in North York, and now more details about the event are coming to light. It turns out that the site hadn't been inspected for about three years, prompting Mayor Miller to call for a review of the bylaw that allowed the plant to exist in the first place.

A body was found near the explosion site late last night, but police are still not releasing the identity of the victim. There is still one Sunrise Propane Industrial Gases employee that has yet to be accounted for, but officials are waiting for a post-mortem to be completed before releasing the name of the victim.

The blast caused damage to Mount Sinai Memorial Park, one of the city's oldest Jewish cemeteries. The cemetery, which opened in 1920, is now closed pending a survey of the damage.

Photo: "North York Explosion" by photojunkie, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Your Toronto morning news roundup for Monday August 11th, 2008:

Yesterday morning's propane depot explosion continues to make headlines across the city and across the country:

• Some local residents who were initially evacuated are now making their way home, though some residents are receiving mixed messages from officials on scene.
• Sadly, some thieves and looters are taking opportunity of the chaos to steal from the people and businesses who need our support.
• As reported yesterday, firefighter Bob Leek, a district chief of emergency planning, has died while battling the blaze. Leek was a 25-year veteran with the force, and will be remembered for his dedication and service to the city.
• Mayor David Miller, who was in Vancouver over the weekend, is heading back to Toronto to help co-ordinate the relief efforts.

Photo: "Wild Clouds at Sunset" by wenli85, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Your Toronto morning news roundup for Friday August 8th, 2008:

In perhaps a sign of what we should expect from the Igor Kenk trial, bike thief Jean Laveau was sentenced to two weeks in jail for helping Kenk steal a bicycle. Is the sentence worth the crime?

Quick update: turns out Pastor Phelps didn't quite make it across the border. Again. And I'm pretty happy about that.

Children in Toronto will still have the chance to get some swimming as part of their physical education program — the city is keeping school pools open for at least one more year until they can figure out where to get more funding.

Photo: "pssst!!" by munzz, member of the blogTO Flickr pool.

Your Toronto morning news roundup for Thursday August 7th, 2008:

The city is planning on cracking down on people that scavenge from curbside blue boxes, claiming the city is losing money because of the practice. Still no decision to crack down on those raccoons that scavenge (and tear apart) my garbage bags on the curb.

Feeling a bit squeezed when you're walking down the sidewalk? It doesn't look like things are going to get much better, as the city keeps planning on selling sidewalk space to accommodate businesses in making room for vehicle lay-bys. Time to get a little bit closer as you walk through Yorkville.