Birmingham

There’s no need to scout Palisades’ football team this fall. Everyone knows the passing duo of quarterback Jack Thomas and receiver Demare Dezeurn is going to be electric.

Dezeurn, who ran a 10.32 100 meters as a sophomore last season at Bishop Alemany, made his Palisades debut in a scrimmage Thursday. Several times he was used as a decoy, opening the door for receiver Harrison Carter to show his stuff.

Palisades kept Dezeurn under wraps. “We’re not showing anything today,” Thomas said.

Palisades opens against Washington Prep on Thursday. The team still doesn’t have a campus field because of repairs being made after the Palisades fire. Santa Monica College will be the site for several home games.

Receiver Demare Dezeurn of Palisdes.

(Steve Galluzzo)

Thomas is already predicting the Dolphins will play Birmingham to decide the City Section Open Division championship. Dezeurn still needs to be cleared by the City Section to play next week.

Chaminade faced Santa Margarita in a scrimmage on Thursday, and Eagles coach David Machuca said he was very happy with the play of his team’s offensive line considering that Santa Margarita’s strength could be its defensive line.

Chaminade faces Oaks Christian in an opener next week, with Santa Margarita playing Mission Viejo.

The Sierra Canyon-Corona Centennial scrimmage matched two top 10 teams and exposed issues both teams will need to improve on.

Sierra Canyon still has a competition going at quarterback, and that’s the position likely to decide how far the Trailblazers might advance in the Division 1 playoffs. Their defensive line is one of the best in the Southland. Centennial had trouble running the ball, something that needs to improve since the Huskies have a three-game stretch against Servite, Santa Margarita and Mater Dei in nonleague games.

Birmingham’s powerful soccer program has supplied three kickers to the football program, giving coach Jim Rose options with special teams. Kicking field goals will definitely be an option.

Making adjustments for multi-sport athletes, such as letting them leave early for a club practice, is something coaches must do if they want to attract the best athletes in school.

St. Francis quarterback Shawn Sanders suffered a broken collarbone in a scrimmage on Thursday and will be sidelined for a month or longer.

THREE men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman was found dead.

Police have launched an investigation after Shara Miller, 41, was discovered in Smethwick, West Midlands, on Monday morning.

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Emergency crews rushed to Woodbourn Road after her body was found just after 6.10am.

Despite their best efforts, Shara was tragically confirmed dead at the scene.

Three men, aged 38, 31 and 29, have since been arrested and remain in custody.

Cops believe that Shara was killed in the early hours at the location where her body was found.

West Midlands Police have appealed for anyone with information on Shara’s movements before 1am on Monday to come forward.

Detective Chief Inspector Alastair Orencas from the Homicide Unit said: “We have made some significant progress in our investigation and now have three men in custody.

“However, we still want to hear from anyone who saw Shara or spoke to her in the hours leading up to her death.

“We understand she was involved in sex work around the Soho Road, Birmingham area and believe she may have been driven to Woodburn Road from that location.

“If you have any footage or information, and haven’t yet come forward, please contact us.”

In response, the force has confirmed it will be boosting police presence in the area where Shara was found.

A statement on its website read: “Officers are increasing patrols in the area where Shara was found and around Soho Road as reassurance so please do speak to us about any concerns.

“If you’d rather not tell us who you are, but want to help, you can contact independent charity Crimestoppers 100% anonymously on 0800 555 111.”

More to follow… For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online

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A fired-up Liam Livingstone brilliantly took down Rashid Khan to lead Birmingham Phoenix home in a thrilling and unlikely chase of 181 against defending champions Oval Invincibles in the men’s Hundred.

MATCH REPORT: Livingstone takes down Rashid to secure thrilling win

Available to UK users only.

IKEA fans won’t have to wait much longer — the Swedish giant’s long-awaited new store will open its doors in just 48 hours.

The brand-new branch, located in Brighton’s Churchill Square Shopping Centre, takes over the former Debenhams site which has been empty since 2021.

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Shoppers will be able to step inside from 10am on Thursday, August 14 , to explore thousands of affordable homeware items, and tuck into the famous meatballs.

Spread across two floors and 6,695 square metres, the store will offer 2,600 products for immediate takeaway and access to the full 12,000-strong range via delivery or collection.

It’s the first full IKEA store in the city, meaning Brighton locals will no longer need to trek to Croydon or Southampton for the full shopping experience.

Bosses say the new shop has been created with the “city at its heart”, with displays inspired by local homes and Brighton’s seaside style.

Six roomsets have been co-created with residents, including ceramicists Adam Johnson and Dan Mackey, to show off colourful, space-saving ideas and a nod to the city’s famous beach huts.

Adam said: “We’ve always loved IKEA because it’s like an interiors disco – and what’s life without a little sparkle?”

The first floor houses a 100-seat Swedish Deli serving meatballs, plantballs and sweet treats, all with sweeping sea views.

The Swedish Food Market will sell ingredients and snacks to enjoy at home.

On the ground floor, bargain hunters can snap up pre-loved and discontinued items in the Re-shop & Re-use area.

There’s also a home planning hub where shoppers can get one-to-one help designing kitchens or bedroom storage.

Quick bites and drinks will be available at the Swedish Bite kiosk.

Market Manager Karina Gilpin said: “Our city centre location in Churchill Square means customers can conveniently drop in while out and about, to seek inspiration for their homes, browse our range, access our expert planning advice, or enjoy our delicious meatballs or plantballs.”

To celebrate the launch, the first 100 IKEA Family Members through the doors will get a blue FRAKTA bag with a mystery gift card worth between £1 and £1,000.

Brighton will be IKEA’s third city-centre store in the UK, following Oxford Street and Hammersmith in London.

The opening is part of the retailer’s push for smaller, high street-friendly locations, moving away from giant out-of-town warehouses.

The Churchill Square store will open 10am to 8pm Monday to Saturday, and 11am to 5pm on Sundays.

Where is my closest Ikea?

A quick way of figuring out if you have an Ikea store near you is by using the retailer’s locator tool on its website.

You just have to enter the town or city where you live, or your postcode and it will pull up the nearest site.

The same page has a helpful map showing where all of the 21 current stores are located.

Below we reveal the full list of Ikea stores in the UK:

• Croydon
• Hammersmith
• Greenwich
• Lakeside
• Wembley
• Birmingham (Wednesbury)
• Nottingham
• Bristol
• Cardiff
• Exeter
• Belfast
• Manchester
• Warrington
• Edinburgh
• Gateshead
• Glasgow
• Leeds
• Sheffield
• Milton Keynes
• Reading
• Southampton

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Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s 59 runs off 39 balls and Lauren Bell’s three wickets help Southern Brave to a 15-run win over Birmingham Phoenix in the Women’s Hundred at the Utilita Bowl in Southampton.

MATCH REPORT: Women’s Hundred: Southern Brave v Birmingham Phoenix

Available to UK users only.

England batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge’s 59 from 39 balls and a fine all-round display from Sophie Devine led Southern Brave to a 15-run win against Birmingham Phoenix in the women’s Hundred.

Phoenix slipped to 22-3 in pursuit of 140 to win, but captain Ellyse Perry led a revival with stands of 37 with England’s Amy Jones and 36 with Sterre Kalis.

The visitors were in a strong position with 45 needed from the last 30 balls, but New Zealand all-rounder Devine crucially dismissed Perry for 26 to spark a collapse from 95-4 to 124 all out.

Devine also held on to the catch to dismiss Jones for 20, removed Ailsa Lister for one and executed a brilliant run out in her follow-through to get rid of Megan Schutt for seven as Phoenix’s lower order buckled under the pressure, with nobody able to support Kalis’ 44 from 34 balls.

England seamer Lauren Bell also impressed for Brave, with 3-17 to continue her fine form after a three-wicket haul in their opening win against Manchester Originals on Wednesday.

Earlier, Wyatt-Hodge added 52 for the third wicket with Devine, who made 27, after Maia Bouchier fell cheaply for six and South Africa’s Laura Wolvaardt made a fluent 28.

Brave had a solid platform at 120-2 with 15 balls remaining, but Phoenix fought back with a flurry of wickets and the hosts were pegged back to 139-7.

Australia seamer Megan Schutt and England’s Em Arlott were the standout bowlers with 2-23 and 2-19 respectively.

The attendance of 11,167 set a new record for a women’s Hundred match at the Utilita Bowl, surpassing the previous best of 10,911 from 2024.

Birmingham Airport’s runway was shut down for about six hours on Wednesday afternoon and evening, delaying thousands of passengers and leading many planes to divert

Birmingham Airport is still dealing with the knock‑on impact of an emergency landing that closed its runway on Wednesday afternoon.

At 1.40 pm a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, with three people on board, began to experience issues with its landing gear. The pilot aborted the journey to Belfast and turned back to Birmingham for a bumpy landing, which saw it collapse onto its undercarriage on the tarmac.

Emergency services rushed to the scene, whisking the two crew members and one passenger away from the wreckage. Thankfully, they were not injured. The runway was immediately closed following the crash landing, leading to dozens of flights both to and from the airport being cancelled and delayed. Thousands of passengers in Birmingham, across the UK and internationally were disrupted. The incident at Birmingham came after a union in Spain announced its Ryanair workers would strike at 12 airports in the coming weeks.

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Newly emerged footage from the scene shows the white light aircraft collapsed on the runway, its nose tilted down towards the tarmac. It is surrounded by emergency service vehicles and personnel. The incident is now being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch.

Live departure and arrival boards highlight the knock‑on impact of the runway closure, which was only lifted at 8 pm last night, meaning six hours of the flight schedule were missed.

Delays this morning include a four‑hour wait for a TUI flight to Keffalinia, a three‑hour wait for Lanzarote and a three‑hour wait to Zakynthos. A handful of arrivals have also been bumped down the schedule. The 6am KLM flight to Amsterdam this morning was cancelled because the aircraft and crew could not reach Birmingham on Wednesday.

Diversions yesterday meant that several planes were in the wrong place, causing a headache for airline schedulers. Planes were diverted as far away as Liverpool, Cardiff, and Gatwick.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch says it is investigating the incident at Birmingham Airport. It said in a statement: “Following an incident involving a light aircraft at Birmingham Airport, the AAIB has deployed a team to the site to begin an investigation. A multi‑disciplinary team including inspectors with expertise in aircraft operations, engineering and recorded data have been deployed to the airport.”

The latest statement from Birmingham Airport came just before 8 pm last night. It read: “Following the aircraft incident today, the runway has reopened and operations have resumed. All passengers must check flight details with their airlines and follow advice issued by them. We understand the frustration and apologise for the disruption this has caused. Our teams have worked as quickly as possible, in line with strict protocols, which must be followed to ensure a safe reopening of the runway following a prolonged closure.”

A small silver lining for delayed passengers came in the form of a chilled pint. Organisers of a beer festival held next door to the airport offered those caught up in the chaos a free bev if they showed their boarding pass. “We hope everyone is ok at Birmingham International Airport. If you are stuck at the airport, come to the Great British Beer Festival next door at the NEC for a pint while you wait,” the organisers tweeted.

A SIX-year-old boy died in his sleep after accidentally bumping his head while racing with friends at school, an inquest heard.

Mohammed Yaseen Uddin, who attended Marlborough Primary School in Small Heath, Birmingham, died on December 11 last year.

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He had been playing with pals during his lunch break the day before and accidentally bumped his head on a wall.

The youngster told a school receptionist: “I was running really fast, racing my friend and bumped into the wall.”

As reported by Birmingham Live, an inquest heard how Yaseen picked himself up and appeared to behave normally after the fall.

A paediatric school first aider applied an ice pack to a visible bump on the pupil’s forehead.

Yaseen’s mother and sister were given a letter with medical advice upon picking him up.

The inquest, held today at Birmingham Coroner’s Court, heard the youngster appeared to be acting normally after going home.

He had attended a local mosque after school and celebrated his sibling’s birthday with cake.

Later in the evening, Yaseen told his father he didn’t feel well, and he was given some Ibuprofen.

At around 11pm, the little boy complained about head pain “out of nowhere” and started to throw up.

His family were on their way to the hospital but took him back home to change after he vomited again.

The inquest heard they tried to leave again but Yaseen told them he just wanted to sleep, so they put him to bed.

Dad Simriel Uddin said he looked in on his son at 3am and again at 5am when he got up for work, both times Yaseen was asleep.

But the youngster was tragically found dead a few hours later.

Heartbroken dad Simriel Uddin previously told the Mail: “He was a bright, joyful spirit and he was a beautiful, kind-hearted little boy.

“He had a head collision in school -the school told my wife ‘Oh, your son has bumped his head.’

“When she asked if it was anything serious they said, ‘No it’s nothing serious, it’s just a bump’.”

The inquest heard how Yaseen’s brother Khalil performed CPR while waiting for an ambulance.

Paramedics rushed Yaseen to hospital at around 11am but the six-year-old was pronounced dead at 12.08pm.

Guirish Solanki, a consultant paediatric neurosurgeon, concluded Yaseen had suffered a “traumatic head injury when he struck his head on the wall.”

Yaseen’s cause of death was given as a traumatic right frontal extra-axial haemorrhage, which means a bleed outside of the brain but within the skull.

Louise Hunt, the Senior Coroner for Birmingham and Solihull said: “Yaseen was a six-year-old little boy who was normally fit and well.

“He was described as happy and engaged when he came to school, a big character, who was always bubbly.”

She confirmed Yaseen had been playing with his friends before falling at around 12.29pm.

The coroner was also satisfied the family had been given a letter outlining medical advice, despite the fact they previously disputed this.

She said: “This was a tragic accident and I record in conclusion this was an accident.

“I’d like to reiterate and offer my condolences to all the family. It must be very hard for all of you and I’m very sorry if today’s inquest has made things more difficult. I’m so very sorry for your loss.”

Speaking after the inquest, Yaseen’s sister Sumaya told BirminghamLive: “Thank you to everyone for their support.”

In a previous statement, Razia Ali, the executive headteacher at Marlborough, said: “Our school community has been left devastated by the tragic passing of one of our wonderful and much-loved pupils.

“Yaseen was an incredibly helpful, kind and caring pupil who brought a smile to the face of everyone who came across him.

“I know I speak for everyone when I say he will be deeply missed. All our thoughts and prayers are with Yaseen’s family and friends.”

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A FOUR-year-old girl was tragically killed after a careless driver, 23, ploughed into the pavement.

Mayar Yahia was struck down on a Birmingham street while walking with her family after celebrating Eid.

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Horror unfolded on April 14 last year when Javonnie Tavener sped through a barrier in his Corsa.

He ploughed into the little girl, her mother Sara, and their neighbour on Upper Highgate Street.

She was an extraordinary young girl, only four-years-old, full of life and joy, and her absence leaves an irreplaceable void in our lives

Mayar’s grieving father

Paramedics tragically pronounced the tot dead at the scene, while Sara and her friend were rushed to hospital with serious injuries.

Three other pedestrians were also hurt in the crash.

Cops later detained and charged 23-year-old Tavener with causing death by careless driving, causing death whilst driving uninsured and two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving.

He pleaded guilty to all charges at Birmingham Crown Court on Wednesday this week.

The defendant has been remanded in custody while awaiting a sentencing date.

In a statement, released via West Midlands Police at the time of her death, Mayar’s grieving father said words failed to capture his grief.

He said: “It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that we share the devastating loss of our cherished daughter, Mayar.

“She was an extraordinary young girl, only four-years-old, full of life and joy, and her absence leaves an irreplaceable void in our lives.

“Among all, she held a special place in my heart.

“Words fail to capture the depth of our grief and the magnitude of this loss.

“However, we find solace and strength in the unwavering support and compassion shown by the police officers, our community, family, and friends.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you who have stood by our side, offering your love, prayers, and support during this incredibly difficult time.”

Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, from WMP’S serious collision investigation unit, said: “Mayar was just four years old when her life was tragically taken away from her.

“She was walking back with her family and friends after celebrating Eid.

“Pedestrians should be afforded and be reassured of protection when walking on the pavement and a split-second decision by Tavener to overtake where he did has led to this tragic chain of events.

“I would urge all drivers to think about this incident and how those decisions can have such catastrophic consequences.”

The road where Mayar was killed is now set to be pedestrianised after a campaign led for safer streets and roads.

It will stop traffic from reaching a stretch of Upper Highgate Street near New Hope Community Park.

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It’s another case for Tracker, Magnum, P.I. or Columbo.

The City Section perpetual football trophy is missing — again.

The last time this happened was after Narbonne received the trophy in 2018 for winning the Open Division title. Birmingham won the trophy in 2019 but never got to display it because it went missing until discovered in 2021. It was sticking out of a dumpster in Torrance, handed over to the Southern Section office, then presented to the City Section and cleaned up.

Narbonne won the trophy again last fall but was asked to return it in May after having to vacate the title because of rule violations. The City Section is still waiting for it to be returned.

“They said it’s not where it’s supposed to be,” City Section commissioner Vicky Lagos said when asked where the trophy might be.

If the trophy can’t be found, Narbonne will be sent a bill to replace it, Lagos said.

“We’re putting out a call for all good Samaritans,” Lagos said.

BLACK Sabbath fans were left stunned by sky-high prices at Villa Park – with a pint setting punters back up to £8 during the legendary band’s final hometown gig.

The Back to the Beginning supershow, held at Aston Villa’s stadium in Birmingham, marks Ozzy Osbourne’s last ever live performance – and the first time the full band have played together in two decades.

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But for many fans, the bar and food prices were almost as jaw-dropping as the music.

Inside the venue, a pint of Poretti lager was going for £8, with a half pint at £4.

A pint of Somersby cider wasn’t far behind at £7, or £3.50 for a half.

Cocktail fans after something stronger had to fork out £13 for a draught Rum Punch – while even a bottle of water cost £3.50.

In the Doug Ellis stand, the prices were just as steep – with a Carlsberg Pilsner priced at £6.50, a glass of wine for £7, and both a gin and tonic and a vodka lemonade costing £7.50 each.

And it wasn’t just the drinks that had fans digging deep.

Food options were limited and pricey too – with a sausage roll setting you back £5, a steaky pasty £6.50, and Yardbirds chicken and chips costing a whopping £15.

Even the basics weren’t cheap – a can of Coke was £3.50, a bar of chocolate £2.50, and a bag of Walkers crisps £2.20.

Fancy a hot drink? That’s £3.95 for a tea and £4.50 for an espresso.

Fans weren’t impressed.

Some took to social media to vent their frustration, saying the prices were “festival-level rip-offs” and that it “left a bad taste before the music even started”.

One gig-goer told us: “I knew it’d be expensive but £8 for a pint and £7 for chips? That’s taking the Mick.”

Another said: “You expect a bit of markup, but this is madness.

Ozzy’s not the only one going out with a bang – so is my bank account.”

The backlash over food and drink prices follows recent criticism surrounding the cost of VIP meet-and-greet packages with Ozzy Osbourne, set to take place during his upcoming appearance at Comic Con Midlands.

Fans are being charged £666 for the ‘Ultimate Sin’ VIP package – which includes a group photo with Ozzy, Sharon, Kelly, and Jack. But only two people are allowed per photo (except under-5s).

Want an autograph? That’ll cost extra.

Ozzy will sign a book for £225, or a poster, album or toy for £375. And if you want him to sign your guitar or mic?

That’ll be £750 – bringing the total package cost to £1,416.

Fan backlash has been fierce. One wrote: “Laughable prices, genuinely laughable.”

Another joked: “Time to start selling me kidney.”

While fans might be fuming over costs, the buzz inside Villa Park is electric.

This is a historic night – the last time Birmingham’s own heavy metal gods will share the stage in their hometown.

Ozzy, who’s battled serious health issues in recent years, admitted he won’t be performing a full set.

He said: “We’re only playing a couple of songs each.

“I don’t want people thinking ‘we’re getting ripped off’, because it’s just going to be … what’s the word? … a sample.”

He added: “I’ll be there, and I’ll do the best I can. So all I can do is turn up.”

The Back to the Beginning festival line-up is packed with legends, including Metallica, Slayer and Pantera – all joining in to celebrate Black Sabbath’s final bow.

Fans from across the UK – and some flying in from overseas – have packed out the stadium to say one last goodbye to the band that helped invent heavy metal.

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The famous Northfield Beach festival was cancelled in 2024 due to lack of funding but the community has rallied to bring it back to life just in time for Summer 2025

For over ten years, the manmade beach in a city suburb has been a hub for families of all ages to gather and enjoy. The Northfield Beach festival is a free event that features arts and crafts, theatre acts, circus performances, live music and more.

The festival has been a longstanding summer staple, but, regrettably, the 2024 event was scrapped due to lack of funding. Luckily, it’s set to make a triumphant return in 2025, thanks to tireless efforts from the local community.

2024’s cancellation left many families downhearted, prompting organisers at Northfield Community Partnership to initiate a Crowdfunder to resurrect the beloved event. Northfield Community Partnership gained charitable status in July 2014 and for 14 years, it has delivered a range of services from its hub in the heart of Northfield.

Rebecca Debenham, CEO of Northfield Community Partnership, made an emotional plea on the Crowdfunder: “We know how disappointed many families were last year that we were unable to bring you the Beach.”, reported Birmingham Live.

READ MORE: Underrated UK seaside village with bags of charm and huge beach

“This year, we need your support to help bring the Beach back! Please consider donating to our funding appeal. No matter how small your donation is, it will help us make sure we can bring the Beach back. Let’s work together to ensure this much-loved tradition returns! Thank you.”

Excitement buzzes as it’s been confirmed the beach will reconvene for summer 2025. The fundraiser marches on, aiming to finance a spectacular array of events for families to revel in. Donations are still welcome on the Crowdfunder page.

The Crowdfunder page is full of glowing and heart-warming dedications to the festival, outlining its importance to the city. “There were so many inclusive and accessible activities for everyone to enjoy! It’s heart-warming to see such dedication to making sure everyone feels included and can have a blast,” wrote one community member.

Another shared: “So great to bring wheelchair dance to the people of south Birmingham. Hooray for inclusive community events inspiring the next generation of disabled dancers!”

One community member called Northfield Beach “the most inclusive event” they’ve been to in all of Birmingham while another applauded the “thoughtful” event.

When is Northfield Beach 2025?

Mark your calendars, the event will run from July 24 to 27. It will take place in Victoria Common, Church Road, Northfield, Birmingham B31 2BB.

There’s a car park on Church Road and additional parking at Northfield Shopping Centre, which also provides access to the park. Visitors can easily catch the bus there too.

The park boasts a playground, an outdoor gym, a football pitch and open fields perfect for games and picnics.

London Pulse secured top spot at the end of the Netball Super League regular season – and with it home advantage for the major semi-final in the play-offs.

Pulse led Loughborough Lightning by two points going into the final round of games and were given a helping hand.

It came from Birmingham Panthers who caused a surprise in their coach Jo Trip’s final game in charge by achieving a 67-58 success over Lightning, who have won three of the past four Grand Finals, to ensure Pulse finished top.

Antonia Mitchell had 42 goals for Panthers who pulled clear in the second quarter against a Lightning side who lacked fluency and will have plenty to think about before the play-offs.

Pulse then ensured they go into next weekend’s game against Lightning on a high with a comfortable 67-44 victory over bottom side Cardiff Dragons, helped by 36 goals from Olivia Tchine.

The winner of the major semi-final goes straight to the Grand Final while the loser will face the winner of the minor semi-final between third and fourth – Manchester Thunder and London Mavericks – to determine the other finalist.

Thunder and Mavericks lined up for a dress rehearsal on Saturday with the Manchester side winning 67-45 at Wembley Arena, led by 50 goals from Elmere van der Berg.

In the weekend’s final game on Sunday, the sport will say farewell to one of its greatest players.

Former England star Geva Mentor takes to the court for the last time before she retires as she lines up for Leeds Rhinos against Nottingham Forest (16:00 BST) in a match you can watch live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website.

A BELOVED cafe that served customers classic English breakfasts for nine years has been forced to close due to the cost of living.

The owner said it is “impossible to carry on” in the current climate.

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Traditional cafe Deb’s Diner in Birmingham posted the sad update on Facebook.

“It is with great sadness that Deb’s Diner has closed it doors for the very last time.

“Due to ill health and the current cost of living crisis, it has become impossible to carry on so we have decided not to renew our lease.

“We would like to thank all of our customers for their continued support over the last nine years, it’s been a wonderful journey.”

Customers commented to express their sadness and to send best wishes.

It comes after the Chancellor’s hike to national insurance contributions and minimum wage for firms kicked in at the start of April.

The NI rise has hit investment, recruitment and prices.

Businesses were dealt the £25 billion ‘Jobs tax’ raid at the Budget with the increased contributions as confidence among entrepreneurs taking a hit.

From April 6, businesses  have to pay a higher rate of employer National Insurance contributions (NICs) of 15% from 13.8%.

The threshold at which they are paid is also being lowered from £9,100 to £5,000.

The Government confirmed it was making the changes in its Autumn Budget last October in a bid to increase revenue.

It also said the move meant it wasn’t increasing taxes for working people.

However, it will have an impact on shoppers and everyday consumers as businesses look to pass on the additional costs.

Figures show that almost a third of businesses affected by the hike are planning to cut jobs or freeze hiring.

It comes on the back of 160,000 part-time retail jobs are on the cusp of going in the next two years due to a rise in Labour costs.

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Fabulous’ Fashion Director, Tracey Lea Sayer shares her thoughts.

I WAS 10 when I first discovered the utter joy of high-street shopping for clothes with my mum and nan.

Going into town on Saturday became a family tradition – a girls’ day out we would look forward to all week.

My mum’s favourite shop was M&S, where she would gaze at jackets with big shoulder pads and floral sundresses, while my nan would make a beeline for John Lewis and their classic coats and elegant court shoes.

I was all over Tammy Girl – Etam’s little sister – and Chelsea Girl, which was later rebranded to high-street fave River Island.

I would spend hours in the changing rooms, watched keenly by my two cheerleaders, who gave the thumbs up – or thumbs down – on what I was trying on.

Frilly ra-ra skirts, duster coats, polka dot leggings, puff balls, boob tubes… I tried them all, often making my nan howl with laughter.

Fashion wasn’t so fast back in the 1980s and every item was cherished and worn until it fell apart – literally – at the seams.

At 18, I went to art college and my tastes became more refined.

Extra cash from a part-time job in a bar meant I could move on to slightly more expensive stores, like Warehouse, Miss Selfridge and the mecca that was Topshop.

I knew at this point I wanted to work in fashion because the high street had totally seduced me.

One day, I wrote an article for a competition in a glossy mag about my love of retail therapy and my favourite LBD – and I won!

That led me to where I am today – Fashion Director of Fabulous.

It’s not just me that loves the high street – big-name designers are fans, too. When Cool Britannia hit in the ’90s, they all turned up in one big store.

Designers at Debenhams was a stroke of genius by Debenhams CEO Belinda Earl, designer Ben de Lisi and fashion director Spencer Hawken, who introduced diffusion ranges from John Rocha, Matthew Williamson and Betty Jackson, to name a few.

This meant we could all afford a bit of luxury and wear a well-known designer’s signature style.

Years later, I hosted a night with Debenhams and Fabulous for 250 readers, who were in awe meeting all the designers. It was a real career highlight for me.

In 2004, H&M started rolling out their international designer collabs.

Karl Lagerfeld was first, followed by Roberto Cavalli, Marni, Stella McCartney, Maison Martin Margiela, Sonia Rykiel, Comme des Garçons, Balmain, Versace and many, many more. I could barely contain myself!

Then in 2007, Kate Moss launched her first collection with Topshop, with thousands queuing along London’s Oxford Street.

I remember sitting behind Ms Moss and Topshop boss Philip Green at a London Fashion Week Topshop Unique catwalk show.

I had my three-year-old daughter, Frankie, in tow and we both made the news the next day after we were papped behind Kate, my supermodel girl crush.

At the time, the high street was on fire. Who needed designer buys when Mango stocked tin foil trousers just like the designer Isabel Marant ones and you could buy a bit of Barbara Hulanicki’s legendary brand Biba from Topshop?

High street stores even started to storm London Fashion week.

Although Topshop Unique had shown collections since 2001, in 2013 River Island showed its first collection in collaboration with global superstar Rihanna, who was flown in by a friend of mine on a private jet. KER-CHING!

A whole new generation of high profile high street collabs followed.

Beyoncé created Ivy Park with Topshop’s Philip Green and I even flew to LA for Fabulous to shoot the Kardashian sisters in their bodycon “Kollection” for Dorothy Perkins.

I am pleased to say they were the absolute dream cover stars.

Fast forward to 2024 and while the high street doesn’t look exactly like it did pre-Covid, it has made a gallant comeback.

Stores like M&S, Reserved and Zara, and designer collabs like Victoria Beckham X Mango and Rochelle Humes for Next are giving me all the feels.

The supermarkets have really come into their own, too, smashing it with gorgeous collections that look expensive, but at prices that still allow us to afford the weekly shop.

The last 30 years of high street fashion have been one big adventure for me. Bring on the next 30!

On Feb. 22, Antrell Harris of Birmingham High started the track season running the 100 meters in 11.07 seconds. Then, at last week’s state championship, on the first day of qualifying, he ran a stunning 10.24 seconds to finish third in a race Jaden Jefferson of Concord De La Salle set a state record at 10.01 seconds.

Harris, the City Section champion, ended up eighth in the final on Saturday, but his 10.24 100-meter time would have broken the City Section record held by Quincy Watts (the record has to happen at the City finals).

Asked how he made so much improvement (his previous fastest time was a wind-aided 10.62 at Mt. SAC), Harris said, “To be honest, I don’t know. I had a great start and trusted everything Coach Carruth put me through.”

Yes, there’s always a coach behind someone who makes dramatic improvement, and the arrival of Kertic Carruth in March made a huge difference. He noticed Harris was fast but not strong. He got him working in the weight room, had him gain 10 pounds and made him run the 400 instead of sprints leading up to the City finals.

He kept telling Harris to “trust the science.”

With a 4.1 grade-point average and having been a star receiver for Birmingham’s successful football teams, Harris would appear to be a top college prospect for track programs. But he said on Monday he had received no calls after his 10.24 performance.

Antrell Harris of Birmingham running at the state championships.

(Steve Galluzzo)

Carruth said it will happen. Harris just needs someone to believe that he’s getting faster and faster. Times don’t lie. His grades don’t lie. His work ethic is outstanding.

“He’s an easy sign,” Carruth said.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email [email protected].

CITY SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS

THURSDAY’S RESULTS

OPEN DIVISION

QUARTERFINALS

#1 Granada Hills 13, #8 Banning 0

#4 Venice 2, #5 El Camino Real 1

#3 Carson 16, #6 Birmingham 5

#2 San Pedro 6, #7 Kennedy 1

FRIDAY’S SCHEDULE

(Games at 3 pm. unless noted)

QUARTERFINALS

DIVISION I

#8 Verdugo Hills at #1 Port of Los Angeles

#5 Eagle Rock at #4 Chavez

#6 Chatsworth at #3 Garfield

#10 San Fernando at #2 Legacy

DIVISION II

#8 Harbor Teacher at #1 Marquez

#5 Franklin at #4 Northridge Academy

#6 Taft at #3 SOCES

#15 Wilson at #10 King/Drew

DIVISION III

#8 University at #1 Lincoln

#5 North Hollywood at #4 South East

#11 Huntington Park at #3 Jefferson

#10 University Prep Value / #7 Community Charter at #2 Rancho Dominguez

DIVISION IV

#8 Lakeview Charter at #1 Westchester

#5 Washington at #4 Reseda / #13 Jordan

#6 Monroe at #3 Animo De La Hoya

#10 Discovery / #7 LACES at Van Nuys

Note: Semifinals (all divisions) Wednesday, May 28 at higher seeds; Finals May 30-31 at Birmingham (Divisions II-IV) and TBD (Open-Division II).

Competing in the same stadium he trains at every day, Antrell Harris sought to defend his home turf Thursday at the City Section Track and Field Championships.

And did he ever.

The Birmingham senior won the boys 100 meters and went on to win the 200 meters about 90 minutes later. Harris won the 100 in 10.92 seconds and took the lead on the backstretch to win the 200 in 21.66, holding off Granada Hills’ Justin Hart by nine hundredths of a second.

“I especially wanted to win the 200 because it’s my best race and I had to prove it,” said Harris, who ran his personal best in that event (21.32) at the Simi Valley Invitational. “My goal for state is to make the second day.”

The boys 400 meters, one of the most anticipated races of the meet, proved to be one of the closest. Hart took the lead around the final turn and held off a late kick by Venice’s Nathan Santa Cruz to prevail by three hundredths of a second in 47.45.

“I had to keep pumping my arms and hold my form the last 50 meters,” Hart said. “I knew it would be a tough race. My goals for state would be 46.6 in the 400 and 21.10 or lower for the 200.”

Carson sprinter Christina Gray defended both of her titles in the 100 and 200 meters.

Carson’s Christina Gray, center, takes the lead in the 200-meter dash at the City Section Track and Field Championships at Birmingham High School on Thursday.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

“I was happy how I ran in both races,” the junior said after she finished in 12.07 in the 100 and 24.62 in the 200 while also running anchor on the Colts’ first-place 4×100 relay team. “Negative wind stopped me from getting PRs, especially in the 200 because it’s longer. I like the state meet and I’ve PR’d up there the last two years so hopefully I can do it again.”

GALA senior DeAuna Louis also repeated as champion in both the 100 hurdles (14.87) and 300 hurdles (46.12) after posting the fastest times in preliminaries.

“I’m definitely faster this year … my PR is 14.46 and I was going for the City record in the 100 but came up short,” said Louis, who is headed to Hampton University in Virginia for academics but plans to walk-on in track. “I was seventh in the 300 and 10th in the 100 at state last spring. My goal is to make the finals in both.”

Granada Hills’ Savannah Williams won the girls 400 in 57.22 and North Hollywood’s Ananya Balaraman won the 1,600 meters in 5 minutes 3.75 seconds and later took the lead in the last 40 meters to win the 800 in 2:16.90.

Santee’s Angeles Feliciano won the girls 3,200 in 11:25.75 and Charles Simon won the boys 3,200 in 9:38.77. Carson took the 4×400 girls race in 4:02.77 and Palisades (3:23.98) barely edged Granada Hills (3:24.15) in the boys’ race.

Venice’s Lawrence Kensinger wins the shot put with a throw of 55 feet on Thursday.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

Lawrence Kensinger won shot put with a throw of 55 feet on his second attempt. He has high hopes for the state meet in Clovis.

“I quit football to concentrate on shot,” he said. “I love this sport. It’s you versus you. If you make a mistake it’s on you, when you win that’s on you too.”

Kensinger was on the football team in ninth and 10th grade, playing defensive end as a freshman and defensive tackle as a sophomore.

“My goal at state is to make the second day,” added Kensinger, whose best throw was 55-9 at City prelims last year. “Sixty feet for my junior year would be a dream. That’s when you know you’re with the top dogs.”

Marshall’s Oleana Taalman Koch clears the bar at five feet, two inches to win the girls high jump on Thursday.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

Birmingham’s Mandell Anthony won the boys long jump with a leap of 21 feet, 9¾ inches and Marshall’s Oleana Taalman Koch cleared 5-2 to win the girls high jump.

Granada Hills swept the team titles, the girls ending Carson’s record streak of nine straight.

Longtime race starter Saul Pacheco was honored for working his 43rd City finals meet. A 1956 graduate of Banning, where he was a half-miler, and a 1961 UCLA graduate, he served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division from 1962-65 and was the track and field and offensive line coach at Carson for 25 years.

Birmingham’s Mandell Anthony wins the high jump on Thursday.

(Steve Galluzzo / For The Times)

When it comes to going over hurdles, DeAuna Louis of GALA is the best in the City Section. She will try to defend her City titles in the 100 and 300-meter hurdles on Thursday at the City Section track and field championships at Birmingham.

Equally important is her goal to do well at next weekend’s state championships at Buchanan High in Clovis.

She has become one of the most successful athletes in the history of the Girls Academic Leadership Academy, which is the first and only all-girls STEM school in the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Running events are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. weather permitting (there’s a heat wave coming this week) …

The City Section will hold an Open Division baseball semifinal doubleheader on Tuesday at Cal State Northridge, with El Camino Real playing Birmingham at 3 p.m., followed by Venice taking on Sylmar at 6 p.m. The winners advance to Saturday’s 1 p.m. final at Dodger Stadium.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email [email protected].