Six stories in the news today, Oct. 16

Six stories in the news today, Oct. 16 from The Canadian Press:

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PARTIES TARGET EACH OTHERS’ RIDINGS

With only a handful of days left to the election, the three major party leaders will spend much of their day targeting their opponents’ ridings. NDP Leader Tom Mulcair will visit Lac-Megantic, Que., and Edmonton Centre today. Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau will spend his day in the so-called 905 region that surrounds Toronto, hoping to win back seats the Conservatives won in 2011. Conservative Leader Stephen Harper will visit NDP territory in Quebec City.

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SOME NEW DEMOCRATS COULD LOSE MORE THAN JUST THEIR SEATS

If electoral fortunes don’t favour some New Democrat incumbents, they stand to lose some or all of the severance they would be entitled to. More than five dozen New Democrats have been ordered to repay a total of $2.75 million for improperly using their parliamentary office budgets to pay for staff in satellite party offices in Montreal, Quebec City and Toronto. They’ve refused to pay, and if any of those MPs are defeated on Monday, they could find their final pay-outs from the Commons docked for what they still owe.

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TRIBUTES POUR IN FOR EX-AMBASSADOR KEN TAYLOR

Ken Taylor, whose role in the 1979 “Canadian Caper” made him a hero on both sides of the border for helping shelter six U.S. citizens at the height of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis, has died. He was 81. Bruce Heyman, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, hailed Taylor for his “valour and ingenuity” in harbouring the six Americans. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Taylor’s “pure courage” underscored the depth of U.S.-Canada friendship.”

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CEREMONY TO MARK DEATH OF QUEBEC SOLDIER

A soldier struck and killed by a jihadist sympathizer in a terror attack will be honoured on the first anniversary of his death. A ceremony will be held for Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent on Tuesday — one year to the day he was run down and killed by Martin Couture-Rouleau, a radicalized Quebec man, in a parking lot in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.

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ATTACK LEAVES B.C. COMMUNITY REELING

A man who died following a rampage in a British Columbia First Nations community on Wednesday went from office to office beating employees with a weapon before he could be stopped, says the chief of the Bridge River Indian Band. Susan James said her village of less than 400 people is reeling following the attack that left 11 people injured. James said three of the victims with the most serious injuries are women who work for the band and are among five victims who remain in hospital.

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PLAY BALL!

The Toronto Blue Jays continue their quest for a World Series title tonight by opening the American League Championship Series in Kansas City.The Jays will start Marco Estrada, who was solid in Game 3 of the ALDS against Texas. The series shifts to Toronto for Game 3 on Monday. Security is being reviewed at the Rogers Centre after spectators threw litter on the field during Game 5 of the Texas series.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY …

— SNC-Lavalin appears in a Montreal court for the next date relating to criminal corruption charges.

— Statistics Canada will release its manufacturing figures for August and Canada’s international transactions in securities.

— In Saskatoon, the Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice concludes a conference on aboriginal people and the law.

— Final day of the 2015 International LNG in BC Conference in Vancouver.