An inside look at allegations of prison guard revenge

Plus, looking back at Paris 2024 and safeguarding Toronto against flooding [The Star] First Up [By Kevin Jiang] By Kevin Jiang Good morning. Here’s the latest on allegations of jail guards’ revenge against inmates, the magic of the Paris Olympics and Toronto’s massive stormwater management project. DON’T MISS Toronto Star File Photo star investigation [Inside the disturbing allegations of Ontario jail guards exacting revenge against inmates]( Two days after an inmate assaulted a guard at Milton’s Maplehurst Correctional Complex, a squad of correctional officers in full riot gear allegedly went cell-to-cell in the unit, strip-searching, beating and pepper-spraying inmates who weren’t even involved in the assault, Brendan Kennedy reports. Lawyers for the inmates are now trying to have their charges stayed or sentences shortened. [Take an inside look at the incident](. - First-hand accounts: Inmates tell the Star they awoke to stun grenades going off on Dec. 22, 2023, before guards rushed into their units screaming, allegedly assaulting prisoners and ransacking their cells over the next two days. “They were basically just torturing us as payback for their friend that got punched in the face,” an inmate said. - The evidence: Security cameras captured at least part of the incident. But the Ministry of the Solicitor General wouldn’t release the video, denying the Star’s freedom-of-information request. - Background: Maplehurst is one of the largest jails in Ontario, with many inmates triple-bunked in cells meant to hold two. It’s routinely locked down due to staff shortages and has [a reputation for being violent and unsanitary](. Robert F. Bukaty/AP Photo paris olympics [The Paris Olympics were magical — we needed this]( These Olympic Games were always going to be the most beautiful of the modern era, in what may be the greatest city on earth — even when the Seine remains full of garbage and the days are hot enough to melt brie, Bruce Arthur writes. “I think it’s the best and most beautiful expression of humanity,” said the head of Paris 2024’s organizing committee. [Take a look back at the two-week competition](. - Gold plated: These Olympics were officially Canada’s best, its athletes taking home the most medals the nation has ever won in a single, non-boycotted Summer Olympics. [Here the full list of Canada’s champions](. - Rosie DiManno’s take: Before the Games fade into the haze of history, [check out DiManno’s A to Z of seeing Paris 2024 first hand](. City of Toronto/Supplied Photo inclement weather [Could this massive stormwater management project stop Toronto’s next flood?]( Unbeknownst to many, Toronto is in the midst of its largest and most significant stormwater management project. In the works since 2012, the $3.7-billion undertaking seeks to capture overflow in massive tunnels, later releasing the water to a treatment facility, Mahdis Habibinia reports. Such infrastructure has become a necessity, as demonstrated by July’s devastating storm and ensuing weekly downpours; [could it have prevented last month’s flooding?]( - Timeline: Inflationary costs and budget constraints have forced the city to drag its feet on the construction. But even if Toronto were given billions of dollars tomorrow, city officials say it would still take about a decade to finish. - Zoom out: The project is part of the city’s larger $4.3 billion Wet Weather Master Flow Plan, which was approved in 2003 to protect water quality in the city. - Wait, what? About a quarter of Toronto relies on a single pipe that combines stormwater and sewage when excess stormwater overwhelms the city’s aging infrastructure — [contributing to the fecal flood seen during July’s storm](. WHAT ELSE Are Justin Trudeau’s Liberals tired, stale and out of touch — [or just bad communicators?]( Zelenskyy acknowledged [Ukraine’s ongoing military incursion onto Russian soil](. Residents at Toronto’s largest homeless shelter were [left stranded after both elevators shut down](. Toronto weather will be a mix of sun and clouds this week, [so have that umbrella handy just in case](. Harris is pushing joy. Trump paints a darker picture. [Will mismatched moods matter?]( [Celine Dion called out Trump’s campaign]( for “unauthorized” use of her music. [Hamas wants plans for a deal instead of more talks]( Israel orders more evacuations of displaced Palestinians. After a massive data breach, my credit card info was shared with hackers. [Here’s what I did next](. If you need a break from the city, here’s an urban oasis chock full of wildlife — [and it’s only getting wilder](. Want free money to help send your child to university or college? [This is one investment vehicle you need](. Taylor Swift to the rescue? Ontario’s struggling tourism operators say [even a visit by the world’s biggest pop star won’t solve their predicament](. A brief history of flipping the bird: [From ancient Greece, to Pierre Trudeau, to one Toronto police officer](. POV Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick [As an immigrant, I’ve experienced Canada’s promise — a promise now at risk.]( CLOSE-UP Jamie Squire/Getty Images PARIS: Tom Cruise crashed the Olympics closing ceremony yesterday in typical Hollywood fashion — rappelling off the top of the Stade de France and jetting off with the Olympic flag strapped to his motorcycle. [Check out what happened next](. Thank you for reading. You can reach me and the First Up team at [firstup@thestar.ca](mailto:firstup@thestar.ca?source=newsletter&utm_source=ts_nl&utm_medium=emailutm_email=6C53B63A8E3FAD70AD4EF13004527437&utm_campaign=frst_218198). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. If you're not enjoying these emails, please tell us how we can make them better by emailing newsletterfeedback@thestar.ca. Or, if you'd prefer, you can unsubscribe from this newsletter by clicking the first link below. [Unsubscribe From This Newsletter]( [Sign Up for More Newsletters and Email Alerts]( [View in Browser]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. 8 Spadina Avenue, 10th Floor, Toronto, ON M5V 0S8. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](