15-05-2025
It's budget day, folks + a cautionary tale about raising raccoons as pets
Good morning. This is the Thursday, May 15 edition of First Up, the Star's daily morning digest. Sign up to get it earlier each day, in your inbox.
Have you heard of fifth disease? The illness commonly known as 'slapped cheek' syndrome has been reported in Toronto schools. Here's how to protect yourself and your children.
Here's the latest on Ontario's upcoming budget, the renaming of a busy subway station, and a cautionary tale about raising wild animals as pets.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
DON'T MISS
Ontario's new budget continues crusade against bike lanes
Sources say the spending plan will target more Toronto bike lanes. Here's what we know.
Judge pauses Toronto bike lane removals until Charter challenge is decided
Live updates: Doug Ford's government to table 2025 budget
John Lorinc: Here is one thing Doug Ford could do tomorrow to ease gridlock in the GTA and it involves Highway 407
The TTC board approved a station name change
Dundas Station will become TMU station. Here's why — and how much it will cost.
Renaming Dundas Street: Inside the fiery debate that led to the decision, and why it's back in the public eye
Macro the raccoon: A story of caution and redemption
Macro was euthanized on Saturday after spending a life in captivity. Here's what happened.
How Toronto lost its wild 100-year war with raccoons
WHAT ELSE
Crown Meaghan Cunningham, and the complainant, depicted on video, are seen in a courtroom sketch in London, earlier this month.
Alexandra Newbould The Canadian Press
Here's what we heard from the Hockey Canada sex assault complainant over nine days of testimony.
Meanwhile, a Hockey Canada teammate testified the complainant was asking players to have sex with her.
The election campaign has made crime 'top of mind' for the Carney government.
Two pollsters talk about why they think Mark Carney could be a transformational leader.
Ontario and Manitoba signed a trade deal — and it's good news for wine, whiskey and craft beer nerds.
David Olive: Thomson Reuters is a tech giant in disguise with a resilience others can only envy.
'The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives' is back and it's juicier than ever.
The Toronto Sceptres season ended last night in a Game 4 loss. Here's what happened.
Alejandro Kirk beat the Rays with one swing. Gregor Chisholm has your recap.
Bruce Arthur: Is it the right time for the Raptors to trade for a superstar?
The Leafs came out flat in last night's Game 5. Kevin McGran has your recap.
Can the Leafs recover from their current spiral of embarrassment? Here's Rosie DiManno's take.
POV
Mark Carney should remember that making the rich richer is not a nation-building strategy.
CLOSE UP
Mayor Olivia Chow, second in line, joins CUPE Local 79 team.
R.J. Johnston Toronto Star
NATHAN PHILLIPS SQUARE: Teams took part in the Second Harvest Truck Pull Challenge on Wednesday, attempting to pull 20,000 lb transport trucks across the square. Toronto mayor Olivia Chow joined the CUPE Local 79 team yesterday. The challenge aims to raise awareness and money for hunger relief in Canada.
The Star is doing a story about the city's favourite servers, bartenders and baristas, and we want to hear all about yours. Email reporter Briony Smith at brionysmith@ with the following information: your name, the server's name, their place of work, and what makes their service so special.
Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at firstup@ I will see you back here tomorrow.
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