News for Youse: Viaducts studied, George Heyman touted as NDP leader, and Calgary train derailment

Viaducts study approved  Vancouver city council has voted to approve a two-year study on the Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts. This could lead to their removal after the 2014 election.

City seeks input on densification  Vancouver's assistant director of planning, Matt Shillito, has told the Straight that the city will hold a July 6 workshop to hear neighbourhood input on densifying around the Commercial-Broadway Station. A Grandview-Woodland draft plan suggests permitting 11 towers between 18 and 36 storeys.

George Heyman touted for NDP leader  Environmental activist Ben West has suggested that rookie Vancouver-Fairview MLA George Heyman would be a "great leader" of the B.C. NDP because he could siphon off votes from the Greens.

Commissioner condemns data leak  Privacy Commissioner Elizabeth Denham has issued 11 recommendations after concluding that the Ministry of Health breached the privacy of millions of British Columbians. She determined that the data was transferred to unauthorized people on unencrypted flash drives.

Human-trafficking conviction  Franco Orr has been convicted of human-trafficking in B.C. Supreme Court, while his wife Nicole Huen was acquitted. Orr illegally brought Filipino live-in caregiver Leticia Sarmiento from Hong Kong to work in his East Vancouver home. She testified that she was required to work 16 hours a day, seven days a week.

Calgary train derailment  CBC News has reported that a train carrying what might be diesel fuel has run off the tracks on the Bonnybrook Bridge over the Bow River. An evacuation has caused massive traffic tie-ups.

Verizon eyes Wind  U.S. telecom giant Verizon Communications Inc. has reportedly offered $700 million for Canada's Wind Mobile.

NFL player charged with murder  Former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Odin Lloyd. The Patriots released the 23-year-old after his arrest.

Obama won't negotiate for Snowden  U.S. president Barack Obama says he won't participate in any "wheeling and dealing" with Russia to have National Security Agency whistle-blower Edward Snowden turned over to U.S. authorities.

Bob Erb's generous gift  B.C. lottery winner Bob Erb is best known for supporting marijuana legalization, but he recently gave a $10,000 tip to a Saskatchewan restaurant worker whose daughter has cancer.

Paltrow shows off her body  Gwyneth Paltrow appears in some skimpy undergarments in a new trailer for Thanks For Sharing, costarring Mark Ruffalo.