News for Youse: Canucks cancel practice, bus driver banned, and Bolshoi director attacked

Canucks take day off  The Vancouver Canucks have decided not to hold a final practice before the regular season today at Rogers Arena. Tomorrow evening, they open their season at home against the Anaheim Ducks.

Coquitlam school district shortfall  An unexpected drop in enrollment caused the Coquitlam school district to report a $7.5-million shortfall. Boards of education are required by law to balance their budgets.

Alleged shooter in court  The man who is charged in connection with the shooting of four people at a Richmond banquet hall on January 16 is expected to make his first court appearance today in Richmond Provincial Court.

Richmond tractor protest  Farmers drove their tractors to Richmond City Hall yesterday as part of a demonstration. They object to road builders allegedly dumping huge pieces of concrete and large amounts of asphalt, which could poison farmland.

Hazardous materials spill A truck carrying explosive ammonium nitrate has driven off the road near Williams Lake, bringing out hazardous-materials teams. 

Bus driver banned in U.S.  The U.S. Department of Transportation has concluded that Haeng Kyu Hwang ignored rules on limiting hours of work and was driving too quickly for the conditions. He's been banned from driving a commercial vehicle in the U.S. after his Mi Joo Tours bus crashed last month near Pendleton, Oregon.

Abused wife's conviction upheld  The Supreme Court of Canada has overturned the acquittal of Nova Scotia resident Nicole Doucet, who tried to hire a hit man to kill her abusive husband. She's still free because the court has not ordered a new trial.

Algerian hostage crisis unclear  The Algerian state-run news agency, APS, has said that 573 Algerians and around 100 of 132 foreigners have been released from a gas plant in the Sahara Desert. British prime minister David Cameron says the Algerian military attacked the BP plant without speaking first to the U.K. government.

Bolshoi Ballet director attacked  Sergie Filin may lose his sight after someone attacked him with acid. This followed weeks of threats, according to a story in the Guardian. 

Lance Armstrong fesses up  As expected, seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has admitted to Oprah Winfrey that he used performance-enhancing drugs and blood doping.

Charlie Sheen supports gun control  Charlie Sheen told CNN's Piers Morgan last night that he wants to see more restrictions on guns "because we're not supposed to bury our children."