E‑bike Fire Warning, Rexdale Murder & Islands Push — Toronto Monday

🚑 Breaking & Incidents

1. Toronto Fire Chief warns after e-bike bursts into flames, dashcam shows secondary explosions. Chief Jim Jessop posted the video on X on July 27 showing molten lithium‑ion battery pieces becoming airborne; Toronto Fire says e‑bike battery fires have sent people to hospital, including a Lawrence Avenue East highrise incident earlier this month that injured three people.
2. Shots fired outside U.S. Consulate downtown, police found evidence at 360 University Ave. Officers heard gunfire around 4:46 a.m. on Monday and say a white sedan fled the scene; no injuries were reported and University Ave. was closed at Dundas for the investigation.

🚨 Crime & Public Safety

1. Man charged with first‑degree murder in Rexdale; court records show a no‑contact order. Sharnjeet Singh, 37, of Brampton was arrested July 24 and charged in the fatal shooting of 26‑year‑old Navneet Kaur near Humberwood Boulevard at about 7:20 a.m.; Singh’s bail was rescinded and he returns to court July 31.
2. Two Kiva’s Bagel Bar locations targeted; images released of suspect vehicle after window damage. Toronto police say calls came at about 8:12 a.m. (Yonge & St. Clair) and 8:30 a.m. (Steeles); Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Doug Ford publicly denounced the incidents and no injuries were reported.
3. Toronto Police ID victims in two long cold cases using new DNA methods. Officers identified Mary McLeod Moffat as the 1936 Danforth homicide victim found May 18, 1995, and separately identified a woman whose burned body was found in a Highway 401 vehicle fire more than 20 years ago.

🏛️ Government & Politics

1. Mayor Olivia Chow demands province return Toronto Island land after feds block Billy Bishop expansion. Chow and Councillor Ausma Malik filed an urgent council motion asking the Ontario government to repeal Bill 110 and return expropriated island lands before council’s last sitting this term.
2. Documents show Doug Ford used OPP plane for multiple short‑haul trips while private jet purchase finalized. FOI schedules show Ford flew the OPP aircraft for single‑day trips to Windsor, Kingston, North Bay and Ottawa between March and mid‑April as the jet purchase was being completed.

💼 Economy & Business

1. Toronto sold under 40% of premium FIFA Fan Fest tickets, early data shows. The Fan Fest ran June 11–July 19 at Fort York and The Bentway across 23 days; only Canada’s June 12 match effectively sold out, city says premium sales were a small part of overall attendance.
2. Gordie Howe International Bridge opens to public at noon Monday; personal vehicle toll is $8. Officials marked an opening ceremony Friday and public crossing begins at 12 p.m.; tolls are $8 per personal vehicle and $12 per axle for large commercial or oversized vehicles.

📰 Also Today

• Video surfaces of e‑bike fire, described as 'deeply unsettling' by city fire officials.
• 23‑year‑old Aurora man charged after driving through Ajax playground and splash pad; no injuries.
• Man faces charges in Ajax for driving through playground and splash pad, police say.
• Same SUV suspected in weekend attacks that damaged two Jewish‑owned bakeries, police say.
• DRPS deputy chief retiring after watchdog finds misconduct, police board decides.
• Ball python found in Mississauga vehicle engine recovered; now at city shelter.
• Peterborough man charged with 11 counts after child‑luring probe; next court date Aug. 4.
• Blue Jays' Max Scherzer to start Monday in Washington on his 42nd birthday.
• Opinion: teaching critical thinking in the age of AI — feature published.
• Toronto police surrounding U.S. Consulate after evidence of gunfire was found.
• Condo storage lockers may be illegal in some buildings, investigation finds.
• Survey finds 1 in 10 emergency physicians planning to leave Canadian ERs.
• Canadian gymnasts Fontaine and Carroll won Commonwealth Games gold for Canada.
• Sloan's bassist touring Europe with R.E.M. tribute band fronted by actor.
• Toronto police issuing missing‑person alert (details published by police).
• (See ) Same SUV believed involved in bakery incidents, police released images.
• (See ) Fire chief highlighted toxic smoke and flying battery cells from e‑bike fires.