Melbourne Express: Monday, October 31, 2016

• 9:14am on 31 Oct 2016

We have tried to get more on the kangaroo on the corner of Burgundy and Cape streets, Heidelberg, but to no avail. We did have a message in though from a reader who says one kangaroo has died on the suburban street of Koolkuna Avenue, Doncaster.

If we do get more we will follow it up in another blog post on another day, but for now, we are done.

Melbourne Express will take a little break tomorrow for Melbourne Cup day but will be back on deck on Wednesday.

We will blog the Melbourne Cup from 8am so keep up with fashions and the gee-gees by logging on then.

If you are searching for a Melbourne Cup sweep for the office today, here is a good one as as pdf from our artists. Hope you back a winner.

2016 Emirates Melbourne Cup. Photo: Josh Evans

• 9:02am on 31 Oct 2016

We are now in double digits with 11.2 degrees but it still feels mighty cold 5.4 degrees. Expect a top of 17 degrees with possible showers and hail.

• 9:00am on 31 Oct 2016

And here is something you are likely to hear more about from science reporter Bridie Smith: the very beautiful snake with a possible to secret to pain management, and he eats baby cobras for breakfast.

The fast-acting venom of the long-glanded blue coral snake could inspire new pain treatments for humans. Photo: Tom Charlton

• 8:54am on 31 Oct 2016

Updating the headlines: developers who illegally knocked down Carlton's Corkman Irish Pub had commissioned an architect to draw preliminary plans for a 12-storey tower on the site; an executive has admitted to paying bribes has decided to blow the whistle on the Unaoil bribery scandal; and fast-food giant McDonald's will generate $5 billion in sales this year in Australia despite tough competition.

The Corkman Irish pub in Carlton, which was demolished illegally. Photo: Eddie Jim

• 8:38am on 31 Oct 2016

A woman has been hit by two cars in Forest Hill, with one trapping her underneath, reports The Age's Daniella Miletic.

It is believed the Forest Hill woman, who is aged in her 40s, was walking on the roadway down Springvale Road when she was struck by a car near Norma Road about 8.30pm yesterday. 

The initial collision has then knocked her into the path of a second vehicle and she was struck again.

The occupants of the first car, a man and a woman, and the female driver of the second vehicle were not hurt and stopped to help.

Metropolitan Fire Brigade moved the second car off the woman and she was taken to hospital with serious injuries.

• 8:34am on 31 Oct 2016

A VicRoads crew are working to fix a loose drain cover on the West Gate Freeway, near Salmon Street, Port Melbourne. One lane is closed inbound.

• 8:31am on 31 Oct 2016

The cruise ship season is definitely upon us. The Costa Luminosa arrived on Saturday, the Pacific Jewel and the Pacific Pearl arrived today and tomorrow expect two more Pacific Dawn and Carnival Spirit.

Cruise ship season arrives in Melbourne for the Melbourne Cup and there is more to come. Photo: Leigh Henningham.

Tram commuters take note.

• 8:22am on 31 Oct 2016

New parking meters at Preston Market are causing confusion as they require drivers to key in their number plates, Leader Newspapers is reporting. The local MP Robin Scott has called for a delay in slapping drivers with fines saying the new meters have people in a muddle. Apparently, you need to wake up the meter to make it work.

• 7:52am on 31 Oct 2016

There is not a lot of rhyme or reason to how most of us pick our horse for the Melbourne Cup. So here is another way to choose your winner.

• 7:47am on 31 Oct 2016

G-Hosting a halloween party? Get some tips from Carla Grosetti, at Good Food. Witch finger anyone?

How to host a halloween party for kids, food and games by party planner Anthea Leonard and her team. Photo: Jacky Ghossein

• 7:32am on 31 Oct 2016

Last week the same run would have taken more than twice as long Princes Freeway to Montague Street. The benefits of working on a faux public holiday. Is your commute kinder today because so many people take the long weekend off? Share it with Express readers here.

• 7:28am on 31 Oct 2016

Glorious run in this morning from the north and west.

• 7:25am on 31 Oct 2016

Now try carving your own Trumpkin pumpkin with some tips from a pro at Good Food.

Beware of leaving your pumpkin out too long, they attract little bugs.

• 7:21am on 31 Oct 2016

Couldn't resist this gallery today. Trumpkin pumpkins have taken up residence in homes across the United States as halloween and the US presidential elections coincide.

• 7:18am on 31 Oct 2016

Route 78 is back on track.

• 7:16am on 31 Oct 2016

There is a chance it will be a soggy Melbourne Cup Parade this year with the Bureau of Meteorology predicting showers and possibly small hail. The race makes its way down Swanston Street to Federation Square from noon to 2pm.

Among the highlights will be the 18 carat gold Cup valued at $175,000 and carried by Lord Mayor Robert Doyle and Victorian Racing Club chairman Michael Burn.

Flemington's Myer Fashions on the Field state finalists will be there as will ambassador Stephanie Smith, and MC Donny Galella.

But the race is all about the horses and the biggest stars in the parade this year will be Might And Power, Brew, Rogan Josh, Paris Lane, Efficient and Maluckyday.

​Although the weather prediction is a little hard to believe at this stage. It is a crisp blue morning in the city so far.

Ex-racehorse Might and Power is on show today at the Melbourne Cup parade in the city. Photo: Penny Stephens

• 7:08am on 31 Oct 2016

Halloween is upon us. It is true many were out early in costume from Friday night as they got into the ... erm.... spirit of things. Some came asunder though when they got the to nightclub door. I heard some clubs were refusing entry to early adopters in costume. They were instead told to take their "accessories" off before entering - including angel wings. I suppose they could poke someone in the eye while dancing. 

Dressing early for halloween didn't pay off for some. Lombard Halloween store in costume. Photo: Justin McManus

• 7:00am on 31 Oct 2016

News elsewhere:

Melbourne detectives are sending a piece of evidence to the United States in an effort to crack the case of missing Avondale Heights mother Karen Ristevski. News Ltd is reporting that police have sent the evidence to experts  and have also watched hundreds of CCTV to solve the case.

The ABC is reporting that two years after clinching a historic free trade deal with Beijing, former trade minister Andrew Robb has become a "high-level economic consultant" with the Chinese company that now operates Darwin Port.

A Flinders University study of the drug ice has found its use is most common in rural areas and it is most frequently used by men aged 18 to 25 years, 3AW is reporting.

Karen Ristevski

• 6:42am on 31 Oct 2016

Route 78 trams delayed.

• 6:39am on 31 Oct 2016

Roger, the caller who told 3AW about the kangaroo in Heidelberg, says he was attacked by a magpie shortly after seeing the kangaroo. It's dangerous in the suburbs.

A magpie has joined the kangaroo in Heidelberg. Anyone would be forgiven for thinking the footy was on. Photo: Andrew De La Rue