MORNING NEWS SCRAMBLE

How much to feather that nest this winter?

Looks like Toronto’s could get away with another mild winter.  Environment Canada predicts we’ll have warmer than normal temperatures between October and December…and escape winter with minimal snowfall.  BUT The 2024 Old Farmer’s Almanac says it will be a colder than normal winter in southern Ontario with the coldest periods in early December, early and late January and late February.

Not again!

Hurricane Milton is churning and intensifying into what could be a major hurricane, and Tampa Bay is in its sights.   This, as Florida is still reeling from Hurricane Helene’s devastation.  This is the first time the Atlantic has had three simultaneous hurricanes after September.   

A drive thru the park… or not?

Hard to believe it’s been over two years since a car-free plan went into effect in High Park. Is it time to get over it?  A lot of people say the ban is making it really hard for people to enjoy the beautiful park on weekends and holidays, especially seniors and people with disabilities.  Not only that, attendance is down at the Zoo and restaurant.  This, as the city plans to close the park to all traffic seven days a week starting next year.

Deli meat alert!

Toronto Public Health has confirmed two cases of listeria connected to ready-to-eat deli meat products sold at bougie Summerhill market. Public Health says the meat products have a label indicating they were packaged at 446 Summerhill Avenue and were sold on or before Oct. 3 at various Summerhill Market locations.  The locations include 446 Summerhill Avenue, 1054 Mount Pleasant Road, 484 Eglinton Avenue West, 1014 Bathurst Street, 3609 Dundas Street West and 32 Wellington Street West.  Health officials warned that the affected meat may not look or smell spoiled but it may still cause sickness.

Now go catch that streetcar!

Just in time for the Monday morning commute, streetcar service retuned to a stretch of King Street!  You can catch that 504 streetcar between Shaw and Dufferin streets once again.  It has been a traffic nightmare throughout the Liberty Village area since lane restrictions went into effect back in March as the TTC started replacing aging streetcar tracks.  Not only that, the city started replacing a waterman underneath the roadway.  But it all opened up again on the weekend.

Cock-a-doodle DON’T want to go back to the office??

Several years into hybrid work schedules, companies like Amazon are calling all its workers back to the office.  This is making other hybrid employees a little nervous. Are they next?  Heads up: There are some ways you can save that work-life balance, including a so-called ‘hushed hybrid’ work schedule.  Read about it here. 

Crash landing

Thankfully nobody was hurt after a Frontier Airlines jet made a fiery emergency landing in Las Vegas Saturday.   There are still a lot of questions about what lead to the hard landing. NBC News reports this case will be complex, with experts believing something happened in the cockpit that created smoke and challenged the flight crew.

HEALTHY START

A superfood that may reduce Alzheimer’s risk

Phytoene is commonly found in carrots, apricots, red peppers, tomatoes and oranges. Scientists in the UK and Spain have found that it may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and help you live longer.

On the radar:  Marburg Virus

Rwanda is navigating an outbreak of Marburg, a rare virus from the same family as Ebola that has a fatality rate up to 88%.  11 people are reported to have died of the disease in the country.  The WHO says the risk outside Rwanda is low.  That didn’t prevent a train being evacuated in Germany where a passenger developed flu-like symptoms after recently traveling to Rwanda and being in contact with a Marburg patient.  The train passengers eventually tested negative.

Winning over dentists

The federal government has had its work cut out getting dentists to sign up for its new public dental care program.  Initial concerns included contracts requiring dentists to allow audits of their books, which traditional insurance never required.  Ottawa made some changes to the plan and has now managed to get 75% of providers on board.

KEEP THE CHANGE

Who holds the keys?

Recent data from StatsCan shows investors owned 65% of Toronto’s condo units under 600 square feet and almost 40% of all Toronto condo units.

Help from the bank of Mom & Dad

A report from CIBC found 31% of first-time homebuyers were getting help from their parents to make a purchase. That’s up from 20% in 2015. The average gift was $115,000! One tax and estate planning expert at the bank says they’re seeing it everyday, as it’s impossible to get a down payment together without help these days.

LISTS OF THINGS

Toronto hotels make a list of the world’s top 50

Conde Nast Traveler magazine has revealed its Readers’ Choice list of the world’s top 50 hotels. Sutton Place and The Hazelton make the list.

Cool Ranch anyone?

Here are 14 facts about Doritos you might not have known. Including that the most popular time of day to eat them is between 8-11pm, and there are more than 30 ingredients in each chip!

Thanks for waking up with us, and have a Great Cock-a-doodle Day!