This is how a hitman is made

Plus, what's getting more expensive, and how to stigmatize racism [The Star] First Up [By Manuela Vega] By Manuela Vega Good morning. Here’s the latest on the making of a notorious killer, the rising cost of living across Canada and how to stigmatize racist behaviour. DON’T MISS Toronto Star Photo Illustration The Hitman Series [What makes a Mob killer?]( Hamilton Spectator reporter Jon Wells has interviewed killers in the past that have been driven by greed, extremist beliefs, rage or revenge. But what about Ken Murdock? He’s been called a hitman, a contract killer who brazenly executed a legendary crime boss in Mafia war, a product of a childhood surrounded by violence. [This is the story of how a broken boy became Canada’s most notorious hitman](. - Context: Hamilton has a long history of organized crime. The port town was nicknamed “Bomb City” in the 1970s and early ‘80s, and was a hub for prominent family names like Luppino, Papalia and Musitano — none of which Murdock had blood ties with. - Go deeper: Want more about Murdock’s life of crime? Don’t miss [Part Two]( and [Part Three]( of Wells’ riveting Hitman series. Paige Taylor White/The Star economy [Inflation is soaring the fastest since 1983 — here’s how it’s making life more expensive]( Canada’s annual inflation rate rose to 7.7 per cent in May — a figure the country hasn’t seen in nearly four decades, Statistics Canada reported. With higher prices for gas playing a big role in rising prices, the Bank of Canada is under pressure to raise interest rates in the coming weeks in an effort to cool the economy. What hasn’t kept pace with rising prices? Wages. [Here’s what help might be on the way](. - Wait, what? Excluding the cost of gas, the Consumer Price Index grew 6.3 per cent in May. - By the numbers: Shelter prices are up 7.4 per cent, food is up 8.8 per cent and transportation costs are up 14.6 per cent. - Go deeper: Beware of “shrinkflation.” Objects on the grocery shelves may be smaller than they appear. [Here’s what to look out for](. - Silver lining: Here are 10 inflation-proof meals that [still cost under $10 in Toronto](. Richard Lautens/The Star turning the tide [Canada’s racist social norms — and how we can change them]( Whether it’s out of ignorance, prejudice or insensitivity, people tend to do what they consider to be socially acceptable. Consider the fact that smoking in public was not only acceptable thirty years ago — “it was cool.” That was until a long-term public health campaign de-normalized it, said the author of a study on racist social norms. [Here’s how researchers say a similar campaign on racism could be beneficial](. - Wait, what? The study by the Environics Institute found social norms are stronger when people witness others stepping up and intervening against racist attitudes. - Now what? Government policies and social norms should work together to set the standard on what is acceptable and what is not, the study’s author said. - Get systemic: This is how child welfare investigations play a role in [overrepresentation of Black kids in children’s aid](. WHAT ELSE Edward Lake, whose three kids were killed by drunk driver Marco Muzzo, was [tasered and arrested hours before his death by suicide](. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy reminded Canadian students that information in war is as important as ammunition. [Here’s why](. Passengers are angry and confused after being [booted from a Montreal-to-London flight](. So much for cooling off. Newly built homes are seeing [prices similar to during the February peak](. The controversy over the Nova Scotia shooting probe is [another sign that policing needs to change]( experts say. Toronto police is being directed to review if it can [investigate individuals behind discriminatory policing](. Here’s how Sunday’s Pride parade could help Church Street businesses [rebound from the pandemic](. POV: [Don’t let corporate rainbows fool you](. Companies are all about Pride except where it really counts. [Ottawa is freezing Hockey Canada’s funding]( over its response to a sexual assault allegation. Conservatives voters are so eager about the leadership race they [crashed the party’s website](. Ugh. [Taste of the Danforth is cancelled]( again. Have your say: [Were you planning to go to Taste of the Danforth?]( GET THIS Toronto Star Graphic [Peel Region is closing in on the Greenbelt. Here’s how they’re doing it.]( PREVIOUSLY... Jeff Goode/The Star JUNE 23, 1971: Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau passed the ball to Brazilian football superstar Pelé to kick off a game at Varsity Stadium that saw Brazil’s Santos FC defeat Bologna FC 2-1. The match was attended by a record crowd of 25,000. Thank you for reading — and a quick [shout out to the Star journalists who received honours for their business reporting](. 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_130814). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. [The Star]( 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]( [Become a Star Subscriber]( [View in Browser]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( Toronto Star Newspapers Limited. One Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6. 416-367-2000 [PRIVACY POLICY](