Nisar Hashimi has pleaded guilty to killing Anthony Smith, one of the three people in an infamous picture of Rob Ford, outside a Toronto nightclub in March. Hashimi's confession and guilty plea means evidence possibly related to the crack scandal wont be presented in an open court. A criminal defense lawyer quoted by the CBC called the plea deal, which will result in a nine-year prison sentence, "unprecedented."

The Premier's office is calling BS on Doug Ford's claim Kathleen Wynne helped get his brother fired from his role as coach of the Don Bosco Eagles. "The premier did not, nor would she ever, get involved in such a matter," a press release noted. The Toronto Catholic School Board backed up the claim, saying Ford was dismissed over disparaging comments he made to the Toronto Sun.

Rob Ford is has now lost seven staffers since the beginning of the crack video scandal. Christopher Fickel was most notable for his controversial appearances at Don Bosco football practices. In other news, Ford's approval rating is up to 47% from 42% a few weeks ago. What do you think is responsible?

Coun. Karen Stintz says she'll fight a $110 ticket for rolling a stop sign on her bike yesterday. The TTC Chair was fined seven blocks from Duplex Ave. and Berwick Ave. for failing to stop. Problem is, there's no stop sign there. Stintz admits coasting slowly through other signs on her route to work and has been cautioned in the past. Should cops focus their attention elsewhere?

News flash from the Toronto Star - traffic is rough on King Street and no-one sticks to the rules.

West Queen West is nervous Parkdale's moratorium on new bars and restaurants could be replicated between Bathurst and Gladstone Ave. City council will discuss approving a new bylaw to limit the number of nightspots to 25% of the local businesses. Could any other areas benefit from a similar rule?

The official TD Pride drag queen has been dropped after a "blackface" performance at Crews & Tangos on June 24. Daytona Bitch was playing the character of Miss Cleo, an American psychic, and denies the make-up she wore was racist. Bitch was scheduled to perform on the Pride stages this week.

Finally, Toronto's (OK, Brampton's) Anthony Bennett has made history by becoming the first Canadian to be selected first overall in the NBA draft. He'll join the Cleveland Cavaliers, the same team that drafted Tristan Thompson, another Brampton local, fourth in 2011.

IN BRIEF:

• Toronto propane firm guilty in fatal 2008 blast [CBC]
• Lick's founder denies chain in financial distress [Toronto Sun]
• Troubled 787 Dreamliner to make Toronto debut Sept. 1, says British Airways [Globe and Mail]
• Transgender artists stripped of right to fly [Toronto Star]
• Jon Lester pitches Boston Red Sox to 7-4 win over Toronto Blue Jays [Metro]

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

Image: Jonathan Castellino/blogTO Flickr pool.