Family of Syrian 'boy on the beach' coming to Canada: Top Stories

Once turned down, the Kurdi family is now on a fast track to resettle in Canada, the CBC's fifth estate has learned. And, there's a dress that's perfect for talking about the weather. Dozens of meteorologists have worn it, but not in green. These are a couple of our top stories worth your time today.

Local

Parents 'floored' after child's custom wheelchair torched in stolen SUV

When Meghan Gardecki saw the charred remains of her family's SUV on Wednesday, it was unrecognizable. That their stolen vehicle met this fate was bad enough. But her four-year-old son's custom-made wheelchair — which he needs because of his severe disabilities — was in the back of the SUV, also burned beyond recognition.

That's when the anger really crept up on her. "I was so angry. I was just floored," Gardecki told CBC News. "I think we all have that piece of us inside that wants to lash out – and it can be difficult to keep that in check."

Neil Bantleman unlikely to leave Indonesia before Christmas

Neil Bantleman's family in Canada hoped to spend Christmas together for the first time in three years, but Bantleman is still not able to leave Indonesia. 

After being freed from jail in August, Bantleman — controversially convicted on child sexual assault charges that were overturned on appeal  — is free within Indonesia. His wife, Tracy, is also there. But he can't leave while an appeal of the decision to free him remains before the country's supreme court, according to an update from his family. 

Elsewhere

The family of Alan Kurdi, the Syrian 'boy on the beach,' is coming to Canada

The photo of his tiny, soaked sneakers and red T-shirt embedded in the sand sparked international outrage and promises of change for refugees desperate to escape Syria's vicious conflict.

Now, CBC's the fifth estate has learned that some of Alan Kurdi's surviving family members are being fast-tracked to Canada as part of Ottawa's new refugee settlement strategy.

This dress is great for talking about precipitation: 50 meteorologists can't be wrong

Have you ever arrived at work to find a colleague wearing something almost spooky-similar to your own outfit?

Multiply the embarrassment, hilarity, confusion or joy of that moment by at least 50 times, put it on TV, and you may just be able to put yourself in the shoes of America's female meteorologists right now.

Heck, if you have $29.99 US and an Amazon account, you can put yourself in their dress too.