More Canadian kids are going hungry as prices rise

Plus, pre-con warning signs, the scariest shows on streaming, and Secretariat's Toronto curtain call [The Star] First Up [By Andrew Joe Potter] By Andrew Joe Potter Good morning. As if you didn’t already know, October 28 is Plush Animal Lover’s Day. Keep holding onto that storage locker full of Beanie Babies; the resale market should finally break through any decade now. Here’s the latest. MUST READS R.J.Johnston/The Star the kids aren't all right [As Canada gets pricier, more and more children worry about their next meal]( Nearly 18,000 kids between the ages of six and 12 rely on Toronto’s Daily Bread food banks at least once each year. That figure has doubled over the past five years, echoing a national trend that is seeing a quarter of Canada’s kids — some 1.8 million children — living in food-insecure households, Alyshah Hasham reports. Even a child can grasp that it’s unfair when they suffer for reasons beyond their control. [What’s harder to understand is why the adults in charge haven’t fixed this yet](. Omar El-Qattaa/AFP via Getty Images israel-hamas war [As Israel cuts Gaza’s communications networks, Palestinians fear what might come next]( With Israel signalling the possibility of an all-out ground invasion of Gaza, the country knocked out internet and communications services in the heavily bombarded Palestinian territory on Friday night, the Associated Press reports. Some satellite phones are continuing to function within the exclave, though updates on casualties and other details are scarce. Humanitarian groups worry what might unfold during a true information blackout. As the pursuit of truth about the conflict continues, [here’s what we currently know](. Sheila Wang/The Star star investigation [The warning signs were there, but hundreds of would-be homeowners are still paying the price]( Housing developer StateView Homes held onto tens of millions of dollars in deposits while constructing more than 450 new-build townhouses in Markham. But there was one hitch: having neglected to receive approval from Tarion, Ontario’s new-home buyer protection organization, the firm wasn’t actually authorized to sell the pre-con units in the first place. As Sheila Wang reports, this was only one of several red flags that hinted at StateView’s impending doom — [a collapse that left hundreds of would-be homeowners in the lurch](. Canadian Press/Lars Hagberg business [To avoid raising costs, some restaurateurs are taking a bite out of their bottom lines]( Facing major financial headwinds, there’s little surprise that Canada’s restaurant industry finds itself in the weeds. In fact, a third of all establishments in the country are currently losing money, Restaurants Canada CEO Kelly Higginson tells Brennan Doherty — way up from the pre-pandemic rate of just seven per cent. [Here’s how restaurants are trying to stay afloat while selling certain menu items at a loss](. File Photo sports [Inside the enduring legacy of Secretariat’s Toronto swan song]( Exactly 50 years ago today, the indomitable thoroughbred Secretariat competed in his final race — at Toronto’s Woodbine Racetrack, no less. Though enthusiasts at the time were certainly eager to witness the Triple-Crown-winner in person at the Canadian International Stakes, could anyone have predicted the enduring legacy of Secretariat’s visit? Mark Colley recounts the story of the greatest race in Canadian history — [and how one horse put the sport on the map for an entire country](. [Smart Money newsletter launch] Get expert help with your money. If you’re looking for advice you can trust when it comes to managing your finances, you might like the Star’s new Smart Money newsletter, [sponsored by Fidelity](. Every week, Smart Money will break down what you need to know to make, save and manage your money. [Sign up for free here](. watch THIS Eike Schroter/Netflix With Halloween nearly upon us, the end of the spookiest month is nigh. From the Edgar Allen Poe-based “The Fall of the House of Usher” to the more comic horror anthology series “Tales from the Rez,” Debra Yeo makes a chilling case for [the five scariest TV shows currently available to stream](. Thanks for reading. One quick note of correction before I go: our Tuesday edition referred to embattled ex-Ontario NDP representative Sarah Jama as an MP. She is, of course, a Member of Provincial Parliament — an MPP. You can reach 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_202765), and I will 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](