Kawhi Extension, Seniors’ Opioid Crisis & Law Sentencing — Toronto Wednesday

🚨 Crime & Public Safety

1. SIU clears Toronto officer who tackled cyclist after stop-sign incident. The Special Investigations Unit found the 21-year-old cyclist “rendered himself subject to arrest” after he attempted to cycle around an officer near Little Norway Park, and investigators noted a “moderate” risk of injury; the cyclist later received a ticket and was diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury. ↗

2. Sentencing hearing begins for Kenneth Law, who admitted to aiding 14 suicides in Ontario. Law pleaded guilty to 14 counts of aiding suicide in Ontario; court will hear 74 victim-impact statements and prosecutors plan to withdraw related murder charges after sentencing. ↗

3. Officer critically injured in Belleville synagogue shooting; alleged gunman died. Const. Jeff Smith remained in hospital in critical but stable condition after being shot outside the Sons of Jacob synagogue on Yom Kippur; the alleged shooter, 29-year-old Sean Ward, died in hospital and the SIU is investigating. ↗

4. Roads reopen after morning fire at Carlaw and Eastern avenues in east Toronto. Firefighters extinguished the blaze after crews were called at about 6:30 a.m., police reported no injuries and reopened Carlaw Avenue once the scene was cleared. ↗

🏥 Health

1. Opioid use among Ontario seniors rose 81% since 2017, report finds. The Ontario Drug Policy Research Network and Unity Health Toronto reported about 1 in 350 older Ontarians had opioid use disorder, with people 55-plus seeking care for OUD doubling from 7,116 in 2017 to 15,231 in 2025 and opioid-related deaths among older adults rising from 1.1 per 100,000 in 2013 to 1.8 per 100,000 in 2024. ↗

2. Ontario emergency funding for long-term care homes has grown to millions annually. Freedom-of-information data show the province’s “homes in distress” fund paid out $2.4 million in 2021-22 and spiked to larger sums in 2022-23 as more homes required one-time emergency payments to address acute cashflow problems. ↗

🎨 Community & Culture

1. Toronto’s Elevate tech festival rebrands to Nrth and plans expansion. Organizers announced the name change at the conference opening, said the three-day festival will host more frequent events starting in 2027, and confirmed speakers including Kyle Lowry and Arlene Dickinson. ↗

2. Toronto Zoo seeking public votes to name a newborn southern hairy-nosed wombat. The zoo said the baby is female, voting closes Sept. 30, and the species can live for decades with a noted 34-year-old specimen at the zoo in 2016. ↗

🏈 Sports

1. Raptors confirm multi-year extension for Kawhi Leonard after trade back to Toronto. The team announced Leonard signed a multi-year extension that reports peg at two years and US$115-million with a 2028-29 player option; the extension starts after his current three-year, $149.5-million deal. ↗

2. NHL salaries surged this off-season as the cap jumps to $104 million. The salary cap will rise to $104 million for 2026-27 from $95.5 million last season, and several top prospects saw record deals, including a reported five-year, US$90-million offer sheet for Leo Carlsson. ↗

📰 Also Today

• Ontario court orders third OHIP review for man with terminal cancer. ↗
• Police investigating Leslieville store fire selling Hells Angels merchandise. ↗
• Anonymous donor gifts $100M to Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. ↗
• Brad Bradford promises a property tax freeze if elected Toronto mayor. ↗
• Mothers confront Ontario man convicted of aiding their children's suicides, per court coverage. ↗
• Peel drone pilot to deliver life-saving equipment in Bolton as part of pilot. ↗
• (See full Sports item) — NHLers reflect on cash-infused off-season and contracts. ↗
• No charges for Toronto cop after May arrest left cyclist seriously injured, SIU says. ↗
• Leonard reportedly signed a 2-year, US$115M extension with the Raptors. ↗
• Voter guide: what Toronto residents need to know for municipal election voting. ↗
• Trent University campus closed for a week after water main break. ↗
• Arrests in GTA firearm trafficking network linked to 14 regional shootings, Peel police say. ↗
• Ontario manufacturers report ongoing skilled-trades shortages, says industry group. ↗
• Timeline published of Kenneth Law’s online sales and linked international deaths. ↗
• (Duplicate headline entry) Police investigating Leslieville store fire selling Hells Angels merchandise. ↗