MORNING NEWS SCRAMBLE

R.I.P. Liam

Unfortunately, some sad news to start this morning… Liam Payne, once one of the world’s biggest popstars has died, age 31.  Police say, the former One Direction singer fell from a hotel window in Argentina.

More than just “The 6ix”

Toronto is getting a new area code – 942. It’ll kick in at the end of April in addition to the current 416, 647, and 437. The CRTC is adding the code due to an increase in demand for phone numbers.

No drop-outs for Swifties

Rogers has pumped $8-million into upgrading the cell phone network at the Rogers Centre ahead of Taylor Swift’s visit. A normal cell tower covers up to 3,000 people, but the stadium holds up to 55,000, so Rogers wanted to make sure they were all covered.

Are you $65-million dollars richer?

Someone who bought a ticket for Tuesday night’s Lotto Max jackpot is $65-million richer. It’s the 8^th big win in Ontario this year. In September, an $80-million prize was split between two tickets – one in Ontario and one in Quebec.

Power surge

Ontario’s electricity demand is expected to surge 75% in the next couple of decades because of AI data centres and new EV plants. Power execs admit they’ve been “a little caught off guard by how quickly this has happened.”

Big booze theft

A man has been charged with stealing $260,000 of booze from the LCBOs in the GTA. He was on probation at the time, and is accused of taking the goods from 90 different stores.

Watch out for some extra-illegal magic mushrooms!

York Regional Police say they’ve busted a big illegal magic mushroom lab near Hamilton and Puslinch areas.  Officials say when officers found the clandestine laboratory, they “backed out and had to get specially trained people.” 

Chilling discovery

An employee was found dead inside a Zehr’s walk-in freezer in Kitchener earlier this week. The Ministry of Labour expressed their condolences to the employee’s family and has launched an investigation.  

You know that saying “be the person your dog thinks you are?”

Many of us saw the heartbreaking video on social media of a dog - now known as “Trooper” - tied up to a fence and abandoned along I75 in Tampa as residents were evacuating ahead of Hurricane Milton.  A Florida man is now arrested and charged with aggravated animal cruelty.  

First frost, but not for long!

The first frost warning of the season was issued for parts of the GTA on Wednesday, but it’s not going to last long. This weekend looks amazing with sun and 20-degree highs.

SUPERMOON!

Did you catch the supermoon? If so, send us your pics and we’ll feature them — [email protected]

KEEP THE CHANGE

Um… you said… how much?

Disney is rolling out it’s new Lightning Lane Premier Pass at some of its theme parks later this month but be prepared to fork out big for the privilege of getting on rides quickly without having to choose a specific ride time. The pass will cost up to US$400 per person, in addition you’ll still need to pay for park admission. If you’re interested, this guy explains how it works:

Click-to-cancel

U.S. lawmakers are making it easier to cancel subscriptions. They’ve come up with a new rule to force businesses to simplify the process of cancelling memberships and subscriptions. No word yet on a similar proposal in Canada.

HEALTHY START

Homebody health effects

A Princeton researcher has found that the average American is spending one hour 39 minutes more at home each day than they did two decades ago. The pandemic has something to do with it, but it’s part of a larger trend. The research found the shift is leading to disconnection from friends, impacts on physical health and less enjoyment from doing things virtually.

AND… ANOTHER THING!

So sour, but so good for you!

From aiding digestion, metabolism and energy production, Time Magazine lays out a case for why vinegar is good for you.

Have a great Thursday! Thanks for reading Cockadoodle News!