After a full day of public deputations, Rob Ford's executive committee is preparing to vote whether or not recommend a major casino and gaming facility to city council. If council decides to deep-six the idea, the mayor says he'll make the topic an election issue. More than 200 people, including industry insiders, expressed their opinions. The odds don't look good for Ford. Can he turn it around?

Coun. Giorgio Mammoliti made his first public appearance since undergoing emergency brain surgery during the casino meeting at City Hall yesterday. The mayor gave Mammoliti a hug and a thumbs up. Outside the committee room it wasn't all cuddles for Ford - he walked full-speed into a stationary TV camera. Full coverage and video.

The Toronto marathon, scheduled for 5 May, could get tighter security in the wake of yesterday's deadly explosions in Boston. The organizer of the event is planning to speak with Toronto police today about making sure the event, sometimes used as a qualifier for the Boston marathon, is secure. 14,000 runners from more than 50 countries are expected to take part.

The CBC spoke with the 200 Torontonians in the US for the race, none of whom are thought to be among the injured. If you're looking for someone who can't be reached try Google's Person Finder.

Transit shelters might not be safe refuge during wind storms like the one that blew through the city Thursday night. Several sides of an Astral waiting area on Goodwood Park Crescent smashed in the gale due to a design flaw in the roof attachment, according to the Toronto Star. Have you seen any examples of this?

Watch out for black money - fraudsters are tricking people into accepting stained bills in place of clean money based on the understanding that the money can be simply cleaned. It can't.

Finally, Leonard and Mae Fine are hanging up their knits for the last time after more than 50 years in the business. The pair, both in their 90s, met in New York and ran Marni Knits on Dufferin Street for half a century, supplying clothes to major retailers in the city. The Fines finally caved to pressure from their son to retire.

IN BRIEF:

• Search for Toronto senior ends in tragedy [Toronto Star]
• College students' project highlights commuting headaches [CBC]
• Blue Jays' Mark Buehrle finds mark against White Sox [CBC]
• James Reimer, Phil Kessel propel Leafs past Devils [CBC]

Chris Bateman is a staff writer at blogTO. Follow him on Twitter at @chrisbateman.

Image: Malstad/blogTO Flickr pool.