Taking stock of Hurricane Milton's destruction

Plus, the RCMP's Greenbelt probe and more Ontario Place drama [Get This Offer]( [The Star] First Up [By Kevin Jiang] By Kevin Jiang Good morning. Here’s the latest on the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, the RCMP’s Greenbelt investigation and the unpublicized plan to move Ontario Place’s sewer. DON’T MISS Joe Raedle/Getty Images storm watch [Hurricane Milton cut a trail of destruction across Florida]( The worst appears to be over. Storm-battered Floridians are assessing the damage after Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm Wednesday night, heralded by a barrage of tornados and leaving three million homes and businesses without power. Tampa was spared from a direct hit, but 41 centimetres of rain and a deadly storm surge flooded the area. “We have lost some life,” officials say. [Here’s the latest](. - A waning disaster: By early Thursday, Milton had weakened to a Category 1 storm, although high winds and heavy rains continue. [At its peak, winds of over 205 kilometres-per-hour were recorded](. - The future of storms: Meteorologists say that while the frequency of hurricanes aren’t predicted to change in the future, [storms are expected to become more severe](. Richard Lautens/The Star star exclusive [Here’s what’s been happening with the RCMP’s Greenbelt investigation]( “Where did the direction come from to remove those lands from the Greenbelt?” That’s one question RCMP investigators are asking everyone they’re interviewing about the $8.28-billion land swap scandal, the Star has learned. With the criminal probe marking its one-year anniversary today, Robert Benzie took a deep dive into the investigation and the secrets it’s dredging up. [Take an inside look at how it’s going](. - The interviewees: Insiders say at least eight of Doug Ford’s current and former top aides have been interviewed so far. Ford himself has not, but the premier said his door is open to investigators. - Unspooling the details: The detectives’ questions indicate they’ve already obtained numerous internal email and text messages. Investigators have suggested they may need to access banking records in Europe — meaning the investigation could last many months or even years. Richard Lautens/The Star ontario place [The Ford government’s plan to move Ontario Place’s sewer has locals fuming]( The Ford government wants to redirect sewer pipes spewing raw waste into Lake Ontario toward a channel used by swimmers and rowers. Why? To prevent pollution at a beach Austrian spa developer Therme is building at the new Ontario Place, David Rider reports. Local groups using the West Channel are panning the unpublicized plan as the “absolute worst place for an overflow sewage outlet.” [Here’s the lowdown on the situation](. - Word from officials: City staff say Infrastructure Ontario wants them to move, at provincial expense, the “combined sewer outflow” because its discharged waste could pollute Ontario Place’s West Island after its shoreline is expanded with 10 acres of fill. - Wait what? Residents suggested all these issues could be avoided by extending the pipe further out into the lake — but this option has been rejected by the province. [Toronto Star Archives] Look through the past with the Star Archives. Search your family name to trace your roots, find your birthdate to see what was making headlines or dive into true-crime stories to unravel gripping mysteries. Subscribers get access to 100+ years of the Star. Interested? [Start exploring here](. WHAT ELSE [Pierre Poilievre was slammed by opponents]( after suggesting Israel should strike Iranian nuclear facilities. The Ford government revealed the [details of its audit of Ontario’s children’s aid societies](. Here’s why city council voted to extend Toronto’s Billy Bishop airport lease [by as long as 12 years](. [Canadians watch too much American news and only get half the picture]( the U.S. ambassador says. [A mom is suing the police for a “negligent investigation and false imprisonment”]( after her disabled daughter’s death. Olivia Chow has weighed in on Michael Thompson’s city hall roles [as details of his sex assault charges emerge](. GTA food banks are facing a “tidal wave of demand” and [struggling to meet Thanksgiving donation goals](. [Royal LePage has lowered its Toronto-area home price forecast]( amid a “soft” fall market. [Canada is tightening its rules for multinational corporations]( transferring their employees here. [A controversial contract with a U.S. tech company has cost Toronto taxpayers]( the auditor general reports. “The Drake featuring Drake”: [Does the Six God’s appearance on the cover of a fly-fishing magazine signal a career pivot?]( He’s the ultimate Canadian character actor. [Now Victor Garber is getting his flowers at an Ontario film festival](. POV Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld [Pierre Poilievre's antics are making Parliament miserable for everyone. Give us a break.]( CLOSE-UP Chris Urso/Tampa Bay Times via AP ST. PETERSBURG: Fierce winds from Hurricane Milton tore the roof of Tropicana Field to shreds last night. The $138 million stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Rays, was reportedly being used as “a staging site for workers” who were brought to the area to deal with the storm’s aftermath. [Take a closer look at the damage](. 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_3562). I’ll see you back here tomorrow. Get [thestar.com]( + ePaper edition. Only $1 for 6 months! Save over $100. [Get This Offer]( 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](