Morning Brew: July 5, 2006

Your morning news roundup for Wednesday, July 5, 2006:

Toronto independent bands and artists lead the list of nominees for the inaugural Polaris Music Prize, which already seems more relevant than the Junos in its first year.

A shooting in the west end this morning claims the life of yet another Torontonian. Thankfully, arrests have already been made in Monday's shootings at the Westin Harbour Castle.

The National Cannonball Championship will kick off in Toronto on July 26. Finally, a sport where us chubby guys actually have the competitive advantage.

The new way to get off from paying a parking ticket may be just as simple as moving out west: looks like the oil-rich Albertans aren't big fans of paying for their mistakes.

Even the Queen loves science, as a Toronto biomedical researcher will be invested into the Order of the Companions of Honour at Buckingham Palace this fall.

Plans for a west-end skateboard park are being met by opposition from local residents, who need to realize that if they're not boarding at the park, they're boarding on your sidewalk. Easy choice?

(Image: Arts & Crafts)