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Morning Brew: Rob Ford still writing lobbyists for cash, Prince Philip is coming, blood clinic wants your plasma, school bus drama, and man stabbed at Davisville station

Rob Ford is still writing to lobbyists asking for donations to his football foundation, according to the Toronto Star. Integrity commissioner Janet Leiper ruled soliciting money in this way violates the council code of conduct's "improper use of influence" rules and led to Ford's recent conflict of interest trial. One lobbyist says he received a letter just days after the mayor won his appeal in late January. Ford is currently at Disney World in Florida. Will he ever learn his lesson?

Prince Philip will visit Toronto in April to present a new regimental colour to the Third Battalion of the Royal Canadian Regiment who are normally based in Petawawa. The Duke of Edinburgh doesn't have plans to do much else while he's here.

How much do you value your plasma? A Toronto company is hoping to be the first in Ontario to pay people for the straw-colored liquid that holds cells within the blood. A clinic in Winnipeg is the only other company to pay for blood. The going price is $20 for a donation. Would you be interested?

In perhaps the least dramatic moment during yesterday's slush storm, a group of school kids were trapped on a bus for a few minutes after a television wire fell on the hood. The bus was a block away from Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic School, its destination. The kids were 50 minutes late for class.

Clowns, magicians, and shopping mall Santas will need a license to operate in Brampton soon. The city is introducing a new bylaw that requires all children's entertainers to undergo a background check. Is this something that other cities should embrace?

Police are searching for a suspect after a man was stabbed on board a TTC train at Davisville station last night. Witnesses say a man was walking through the train harassing riders; when confronted he lashed out with a knife. The man is expected to recover from his injuries.

IN BRIEF:

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

Image: "End of School" by picturenarrative/blogTO Flickr pool.


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