Diabolos Coffee Bar reopens for the first time since 2023 — University College 

Celesta Maniatogianni, Associate News Editor

On January 9, UC’s Diabolos Coffee Bar officially reopened for business after a nearly two and a half year closure. Diabolos held a soft opening last Friday and offered a 25 per cent discount on all drinks. The café’s reopening has been in the works since the fall, when the manager during the 2023 operational period, Raquel Lewin, was rehired to plan the café’s reopening. 

The café has been around since 1966, but closed at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. It opened briefly for the 2023 winter semester, but financial difficulties caused the cafe to shut down again soon after.

Trin common rooms unlocked — Trinity College

Devin Botar, Varsity Staff

On January 8, the Trinity College Meeting (TCM) announced on Instagram that common rooms would henceforth be “COMPLETELY OPEN” to all student residents from 8:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Previously, common rooms at Trinity were locked by default, and had to be booked in advance to be used. This policy drew public criticism last year, amidst broader complaints that student life at the college had been suppressed.

Provost Nicholas Terpstra has promised to address these concerns. Anneke Lee, the current chair of the TCM — Trinity’s student government — was elected on a platform of revitalizing student life.

U of T childcare facilities pass inspections in newly public results — City Hall

Ella MacCormack, News Editor

Toronto Public Health announced on January 5 that results of infection control inspections of child care facilities will be made public on a dedicated webpage. The ratings are now available for a January 11, 2024, inspection, and all U of T-affiliated facilities passed with no deficiencies. 

The inspected university’s facilities include the Early Learning Centre at Glen Morris and OISE, Campus Community Co-Operative Daycare, U of T Child Care, Dr. Eric Jackman Institute of Child Study Laboratory School Nursery and After School Daycare, and N’ Sheemaehn: Scarborough Campus Child Care Centre. Inspections will continue on a yearly basis. 

Mayor Olivia Chow proposed 2026 budget focused on affordability — City Hall

Emma Dobrovnik, Assistant News Editor

On Thursday, Mayor Olivia Chow proposed the city’s 2026 budget, which includes a modest 2.2 per cent residential property tax increase and added funding for transit and emergency services. The tax hike — the lowest increase since Chow took office — is part of the budget’s commitment to affordability and cost-cutting. 

Paramedics, fire, and police will receive an additional $230 million, while transit services will receive $170 million. Overall expenditures remain flat, with annual spending projected to total $18.9 billion in 2026 compared to last year’s $18.7 billion. 

Doug Ford to pull Crown Royal off LCBO shelves this February — Queen’s Park

Jade Parks, Varsity Contributor

On January 5, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced he will be following through on threats to remove Crown Royal whiskey from all LCBOs in February. The Premier’s decision was made after Crown Royal manufacturer Diageo announced the Amherstburg, Ontario, bottling plant would be closing this February.

Manitoba MP James Bezan spoke out against Ford’s decision, writing on X that Crown Royal is Canada’s number one export whiskey, and the liquor “is distilled and blended in Gimli, using Manitoba grains and Interlake water.”

US citizen and mother of three shot dead by ICE agent — Minneapolis

Junia Alsinawi, Deputy News Editor

On January 7, Renee Good, a 37-year-old mother of three, was shot and killed by ICE officer Jonathan Ross. Footage of the shooting taken by Ross shows Good smiling at him and saying, “That’s fine, dude, I’m not mad at you.” Less than a minute later, Ross fired once through the windshield, and twice into the driver’s seat window as Good tried to drive away, killing her. 

Good’s car then drove into a parked car, as seen in a bystander’s video. Another video shows a physician at the scene pleading with officers to let him check Good for a pulse. The officers refuse to let the physician through. 

President Trump and his administration have defended Ross’s actions as self-defence, claiming that Good had tried to run the officer over. Footage taken at the scene does not support this, as it shows Good turning the car away from the ICE officer while he shoots into her windshield.