The front page challenges of a Syrian refugee tween. Bayan Mohammad was the star of the Sunday New York Times, which led with a story about how the 10-year-old’s parents are trying to adjust to life in Toronto. The family's challenges have included Bayan being excited about Halloween. (Her mother had assumed they'd left death and horror behind, yet agreed to let her dress up as a zombie princess, anyhow.) Dad wants to return to Syria if it heals.

“Slave” want-ad fallout continues in Waterloo. Wilfrid Laurier University’s graduate student association has gotten plenty of attention for closing a campus café after a Facebook posting, in which operator Sandor Dosman joked about seeking “a new slave (full-time staff member) to boss (mentor) around.” But the WLU administration has backed the decision to sack Dosman. The 10 other staffers tossed out may get their jobs back when the Veritas Café finds a new boss. The Laurier professor who first spoke out against the firing is no longer alone.

“The tragedies are never as far away as you think.” GO Transit head Greg Percy shared his perspectives on train-related suicides with Oliver Moore of the Globe and Mail. The feature follows a move by Metrolinx and the TTC to be more blunt on Twitter when discussing “personal injuries at track level.” Meanwhile, a parody “Secret Code Tee” was evidently pulled from sale following some complaints:

Frank D’Angelo can count on one movie star to remain loyal. James Caan’s divorce has been settled, after a year that started with the Godfather legend arguing that his ex-wife was ruining his legacy by forcing him to appear in Canadian gangster movies. Caan later disputed his own claim, saying he was honoured to appear in Sicilian Vampire and its new follow-up, The Red Maple Leaf.


Today's edition of 12:36 is brought to you by Headline Coffee, a new coffee subscription service brewed up by the Toronto Star that delivers a new freshly roasted coffee to your door every month. Still searching for that perfect gift? Give the gift of delicious coffee this holiday season.


Laura Branigan dead again in the Sun. The “Gloria” singer died on August 26, 2004—but reports that the she was 47 at the time were disputed. The Associated Press confirmed on Friday that she was actually 52, and the correction was sent down the AP wire. And then, Postmedia’s short-staffed newspapers printed her passing as brand new news:

Scruff Connors dead at 64. The raunchy radio prankster best known for a 1980-85 stint on Q107 has been rumoured dead on social media before. This time around, the news shared by his Kamloops radio DJ son TJ was real. (A friend claims that Scruff's wish was to be buried in a clown suit with 16-inch shoes protruding from the casket.)

The rest of the recent radio news. Josie Dye quit 102.1 the Edge, and is presumed to be moving to mornings at Indie 88.1, starting in March; Erin Davis hosted her final morning drive at CHFI, but replacement Maureen Holloway doesn't start until January 9; Mark Elliot’s People Helping People was cancelled by Newstalk 1010; and Wally Crouter’s producer of 38 years, Bev Edwards, has died at 87. (Crouter died at 92 on March 28.)

Word of the moment

CORNER GAS

Did anyone ask for an animated reboot of Brent Butt's sitcom? Well, too bad.




Facebook icon Twitter icon Forward icon