Morning Brew: Ford denies role in bus incident, casino consultations coming, more charges in Annex assaults case, Street View heads inside, & probing the Sam's sign

Rob Ford has spoken for the first time at length about last week's TTC bus fiasco. Just to clear things up, the mayor announced he's "as clean as the day is long" (cue jokes about the ever shortening days), claiming he had nothing to do with the call for a shelter bus for his stranded football team. Ford says he feels "terrible" fare-paying passengers were booted from their vehicles on the busy Finch West 36 and Martin Grove 46 routes.

You will soon have a chance to give your opinion on the proposed Toronto casino. The city's executive committee voted late last night to hold a series of public consultations on the idea of a major gambling facility somewhere in the city, possibly the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Exhibition Place, or Woodbine Racetrack. Will you take part in the process?

Toronto police have laid two more charges of sexual assault against a fifteen-year-old boy arrested last month in connection with a string of attacks in the Christie Pits area. The boy, whose name is protected, now faces 16 counts of sexual assault and two counts of criminal harassment. He appeared in court for the first time yesterday.

If you've ever wanted a virtual tour of a McDonalds from the comfort of your desk, Google Street View now has you covered. A new addition to the service lets users explore a diverse range businesses in Toronto from a piano showroom on Eglinton to Burger's Priest on Queen East.

A giganto, 22-kilo box of heroin with an approximate value of $8.8 million was confiscated at Pearson airport at the end of last month. According to Canada Border Services Agency, more than 106 kilograms of heroin has been seized in the GTA this year alone. Jeepers.

That neon delight, the long lost Sam the Record Man sign has been conspicuously absent ever since Ryerson bought and demolished the old music store. The Grid has obtained the agreement between the university and the city that covers the sign's restoration and found it doesn't quite say what we thought it did...

Finally, there's currently no service on the Bloor-Danforth line between Woodbine and Victoria Park stations because of a fire investigation at Main Street. Shuttle busses (shudder) are currently on the route.

IN OTHER NEWS:

• G20 policing: Clayton Ruby challenges 'backroom decisions' on disciplinary hearings [The Star]
• House fire sends five to hospital [CBC]
• Thieves used torches to steal $700K from ATMs [CBC]

Photo: "Skywalk" by gmrs2021 from the blogTO Flickr pool.