Six stories in the news today, Sept. 13

Six stories in the news today from The Canadian Press

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NDP AND CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS MEETINGS BEING TODAY

Both the Conservatives and NDP begin summer caucus meetings today. In Montreal,the NDP faces concerns about fundraising, sliding support and questions about Tom Mulcair’s future. In Halifax, a key issue for the Conservatives is the nascent leadership race as various candidates seek support from their colleagues.

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B.C. POLITICIAN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT DUE IN COURT TODAY

A B.C. politician is due in court today after being charged with assault. The province’s Criminal Justice branch says the alleged assault took place in Dawson Creek on Aug. 13. Peace River North MLA Pat Pimm revealed the unspecified allegations last month, and said he would quit the B.C. Liberal caucus and sit as an independent while the matter is before the courts.

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MONTREALERS TO MARK 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF DAWSON COLLEGE SHOOTING

Montrealers will commemorate the 10th anniversary today of the shooting at a downtown junior college when a man murdered a young woman and wounded another 16 people before killing himself. Some victims are speaking out, saying the weapon Kimveer Gill used during the attack at Dawson College is even more accessible in Canada now than it was 10 years ago.

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JUDGE TO RULE WHETHER CAMERA CAN BROADCAST VADER VERDICT

A decision is expected today on whether to allow a news camera to broadcast the verdict in the murder trial of Travis Vader, who is accused of killing two Alberta seniors who vanished on a camping trip. Several media outlets have asked Queen’s Bench Justice Denny Thomas to allow the camera in court on Thursday, arguing there is high public interest.

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TRIAL TO RESUME IN DIABETIC TEEN’S DEATH

Lawyers for a couple charged with first-degree murder in the death of their diabetic son are expected to call their first witness today in Calgary. Defence counsel for Emil Radita and his wife, Rodica Radita, have indicated only that the witness is underage. The trial is nearing an end as the defence presents its case ahead of closing arguments. The Raditas have both pleaded not guilty.

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SITE C DAM CHALLENGE PLAYS OUT IN COURT

A caravan of activists making its way across the country to protest the $9-billion Site C dam project in British Columbia will stop at Parliament Hill today. The activists rallied in Montreal yesterday as communities from Treaty 8 territory appeared in the Federal Court of Appeal seeking to reverse a 2015 decision that rejected their arguments that the project violates their constitutionally protected treaty rights.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY:

— Public state memorial in Calgary for Norman Kwong, former lieutenant governor of Alberta and CFL star, who died Sept. 3.

— First Nations members rally in Ottawa in support of UN declaration on rights of indigenous peoples.

— Former prime minister Brian Mulroney will give a speech at the University of Calgary.

— Doug Ford, the brother of late Toronto mayor Rob Ford, will hold a news conference to make an unspecified announcement.