Toronto residents could vote on whether to build a casino somewhere in the city as early as October if today's council meeting goes the way of Councillor Michael Thompson, a member of the executive committee. A city-wide referendum could cost $7 million - a significant sum in these cash-strapped times. The Fords have said in the past they would only support a referendum if there was also a question on transit - presumably worded "Subways, subways, subways?"

Unpopular sports field fees that surprised many children's leagues were officially chopped for this year by city council yesterday. Instead, the $1.5 million in revenue will come from savings made by the new labour agreements. Many league organizers were upset the fee hike was levied after funding had already been collected. Play ball, kids!

The battle between aliens and robots for control of planet Earth was fought behind city hall yesterday, although no-one seemed to notice much. Elizabeth Street was covertly decked out with Japanese mailboxes, signs and storefronts to look like Tokyo for the filming of Silent Seas (working title), an upcoming Hollywood picture. The movie is being directed by Guillermo del Toro and stars British actor Idris Elba from The Wire. There were no reports of any stray lazers or giant reptiles.

John Lorinc from Spacing has a few simple ideas regarding how to rectify some of the issues politicians have a tendency to label the "St. Clair disaster." High on the list: ban parking or stopping adjacent to streetcar stops to prevent bottlenecks and re-design some problem intersections. Also, Lorinc (and Councillor Joe Mihevc) think calling the street a "disaster" casts the area in a negative light. No kidding?

It turns out giving candy to babies is as fraught with peril as taking it away. Rob Ford had to excuse himself from yesterday's council meeting after apparently injuring his back at the Easter parade over the weekend. The mayor also cancelled his weekly weigh-in.

IN OTHER NEWS:

• Blue Jays' bats heat up in win over Red Sox [Globe and Mail]
• Mercury found on five slides in Pickering park [CBC]
• Maple Leafs fans cool to team's apology [CBC]
• Toronto man claims to have up to 1,000 siblings through single sperm donor [The Star]
• LCBO sues long-time employee over alleged fake sales to diplomats [Globe and Mail]

"THIS IS WHERE IT'S AT" by GregoryIV in the BlogTO Flickr pool.