Six stories in the news today, Feb. 23

Six stories in the news today, Feb. 23, from The Canadian Press:

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SENTENCING HEARING SET FOR MARCO MUZZO

A sentencing hearing is scheduled today for a drunk driver who caused a horrific crash last September that killed three children and their grandfather. Marco Muzzo, 29, pleaded guilty earlier this month to four counts of impaired driving causing death and two of impaired driving causing bodily harm. He was released on bail until today’s hearing.

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GUY TURCOTTE CASE IN APPEALS COURT TODAY

Lawyers for a Quebecer sentenced to life for fatally stabbing his two children will be in court today to seek permission to appeal the minimum length of time he must serve before he can apply for parole. Guy Turcotte’s attorneys hope to challenge the trial judge’s ruling that he must spend at least 17 years behind bars before being able to file a request to be released.

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DUFFY LAWYER SET TO MAKE CLOSING ARGUMENT

Mike Duffy’s lawyer will present his final thoughts in the case against his client today. Donald Bayne and the Crown have already submitted hundreds of pages spelling out their lengthy closing arguments about the 31 charges Duffy faces. Judge Charles Vaillancourt has heard 61 days of testimony since last April. Duffy has pleaded not guilty to all 31 charges.

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MALE MINISTERS SHOULD HEED MCKENNA: GATES

Philanthropist Melinda Gates says she wants to see male Liberal cabinet ministers follow Environment Minister Catherine McKenna’s example of booking a few hours each evening exclusively for their families. Gates tells The Canadian Press it would set an even stronger example if a man followed McKenna in turning off the phone between 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. to focus exclusively on family.

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TEACHERS RETURN TO LA LOCHE, SASK., SCHOOL

Teachers returned to a Saskatchewan school Monday that was the site of a deadly shooting last month, while the 17-year-old suspect appeared in court via video. Teacher Adam Wood and teacher’s aide Marie Janvier were killed and seven other people were wounded at the school, while teenage brothers Dayne and Drayden Fontaine were found dead in a nearby home. The case against the teenage suspect has been put over to April 12.

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AMAZON PULLS PICKTON BOOK FROM SITE

British Columbia is promising a law to prevent offenders profiting from their crimes after a book reportedly written by serial killer Robert Pickton was published, then pulled from the Amazon online retail site. Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale told the House of Commons that the Correctional Service of Canada is investigating how the manuscript got out.

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ALSO IN THE NEWS TODAY …

— Finance Minister Bill Morneau will appear before a Commons committee for pre-budget consultations.

— The big banks report their quarterly earnings this week, starting today with National Bank of Canada and BMO Financial Group.

— Assembly of First Nations national Chief Perry Bellegarde appears at Commons Aboriginal affairs committee.

— The Canadian Federation of Agriculture holds its annual general meeting in Ottawa.

— Retired astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Chris Hadfield speak at a business leadership event in Lethbridge, Alta.