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The "5"

5. Hot Weather-Drought - While the U.S. is in the grips of its worst drought in 25 years, farmers in Niagara and other parts of Ontario are also worried about the lack of rain. Quebec and the Maritimes have had far less rain than normal as well. A freeze earlier this year may have wiped out up to 80% of the apple crop in Ontario. Now other soft fruits, grapes, and corn crops are in jeopardy due to dry weather. Higher food costs will likely result.

4. British Open - This year the legendary major golf tournament takes place at Royal Lytham and St. Annes Golf Club in England. The world's best vie for the Claret Jug. Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke is the defending champion. Tiger Woods last won The Open in 2006. (He also won in 2005 and 2000.) The last time the tournament was held here was 2001 when it was won by David Duval. The opening hole is a 205 yd. par 3.

3. The Dark Knight Rises - One of the most anticipated films of 2012 opened this weekend, the 3rd in director Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy starring Christian Bale as Gotham's super hero. As with the other Nolan efforts, this film stays truer to the Dark Knights' comic book roots. Anne Hathaway co-stars as Cat Woman.

2. Denver Shooting - At a midnight screening of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, a suburb of Denver, Colorado, a gunman wearing a gas mask released some sort of canister. Subsequently he began firing and left at least 12 people dead and approximately 71 wounded. Police have a suspect in custody. Columbine, the site of the 1999 school shootings is about 25 miles from the Aurora Century 16 Theater, leaving Denver residents shocked once again.

1. Toronto BBQ Shooting - Monday 2 innocent bystanders were killed and 24 injured as gun fire broke out at a street party/BBQ on Danzig St. in east Toronto. Police suspect gang wars as the cause and have made one arrest. Subsequent shootings later in the week are possibly connected to Monday's violence as police fear a spate or retaliation. Community groups, police (Toronto chief Bill Blair pictured) and the mayor's office are all attempting to address the issues of gangs, violence, poverty and other societal issues.

...AND WHAT ELSE DID WE LEARN THIS WEEK...Committee hearings into the ORNG Air Ambulance scandal continue with testimony this week from former CEO Dr. Chris Mazza. Shawn Atleo was elected to a 2nd term as chief of the Assembly of First Nations on the premise he would get tough with Ottawa. Mad Men and American Horror Story led the Emmy nominations with 17 each. An ice island twice the size of Manhattan has broken away from Greenland. Helena Guergis has filed a law suit against PM Stephen Harper based on her cabinet ousting. The RCMP categorically denied sexual harassment allegations in B.C. with several female officers coming forward. Nelson Mandela turned 94 this past Wednesday.

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HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND !!