City

Brits looking for a city break often overlook this city, but it can be a great budget option offering plenty of historic sites and culture, as well as cheap beer and lively nightlife

Budget airline Ryanair has revealed its top destinations for 2026, and at number one is a historic European city that’s often overlooked by tourists despite cheap food and drink and a number of breathtaking historic landmarks.

Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, welcomes about one million tourists annually, compared to nearby Prague’s six million visitors, and the nearly nine million who visit Vienna. However, its numbers are expected to rise in 2026, with new Ryanair routes from European cities and tourists seeking cities with fewer crowds.

At the heart of the city is Bratislava Castle, which sits atop a hill overlooking the medieval old town. This baroque-style fortress dates back to the 13th century, where its strategic position 80-metres above the River Danube helped keep the city safe. It’s worth visiting to see its spectacular interiors trimmed with gold leaf, wander round the Baroque Garden full of statues, or climb the Crown Tower for amazing views across Bratislava.

The old town is also home to Michael’s Gate (Michalská brána), a 14th-century medieval gate, and the pretty Old Town Hall, which dates back to around the same time and has been turned into a local museum. St. Martin’s Cathedral (Dóm svätého Martina) is also popular with tourists thanks to its gothic interiors with dramatic high ceilings.

Bratislava is a compact, walkable city, and the old town in particular is a pleasant place to explore its winding streets. You’ll find many charming cafes and rustic restaurants serving Slovakian cuisine. A favourite with visitors is the Bratislava Flagship, which is set in a renovated old theatre with dark wooden walls and sparkling chandeliers. It’s a great place to try local cuisine such as Bryndzové Halušky, potato dumplings with sheep cheese topped with crispy fried bacon.

Many local restaurants either brew their own beer, or serve Slovakian brews. A large beer will generally set you back between €2-3 in the touristy areas, which is around £1.70-2.60. Beer is extremely cheap in supermarkets, with many travellers claiming that it’s cheaper to buy a beer than a bottle of water.

A distinctive building you may come across in the east of the old town is the Blue Church. Its facade, mosaic, and roof are a beautiful shade of blue, and attracts visitors due to its unique Hungarian Art Nouveau style, which makes it a popular sight on Instagram feeds.

If you’d like to see a more modern side to the city, visit the UFO Observation Deck. a 95-metre high tower topped by a flying saucer shaped structure. Zip to the top in an elevator and you can enjoy 360-degree panoramic views, and there’s even a cocktail bar that opens late into the night so you can see the sun go down across Bratislava.

Not quite ready for bed yet? Bratislava is well-known as a party destination, and the old town is the hotspot for nightlife with clubs that open until the small hours. There’s a mix of traditional pubs where you can simply get a pint in cosy surroundings, and chic cocktail bars with DJs and dancing. The music scene is also diverse, from small venues offering live music to large clubs playing EDM and techno until dawn.

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Ryanair flies from Edinburgh, London-Stansted, and Manchester to Bratislava with a seasonal route from Leeds-Bradford, or there’s a Wizz Air route from London-Luton that runs year-round. Flights start at two hours 20 minutes from London, with fares from Stansted from £37 one-way.

Have a story you want to share? Email us at webtravel@reachplc.com

WASHINGTON — The woman shot and killed by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday was Renee Nicole Macklin Good, a 37-year-old mother of three who had recently moved to Minnesota.

She was a U.S. citizen born in Colorado and appears to never have been charged with anything involving law enforcement beyond a traffic ticket.

In social media accounts, Macklin Good described herself as a “poet and writer and wife and mom.” She said she was currently “experiencing Minneapolis,” displaying a pride flag emoji on her Instagram account. A profile picture posted to Pinterest shows her smiling and holding a young child against her cheek, along with posts about tattoos, hairstyles and home decorating.

Her ex-husband, who asked not to be named out of concern for the safety of their children, said Macklin Good had just dropped off her 6-year-old son at school Wednesday and was driving home with her current partner when they encountered a group of ICE agents on a snowy street in Minneapolis, where they had moved last year from Kansas City, Missouri.

Video taken by bystanders posted to social media shows an officer approaching her car, demanding she open the door and grabbing the handle. When she begins to pull forward, a different ICE officer standing in front of the vehicle pulls his weapon and immediately fires at least two shots into the vehicle at close range.

In another video taken after the shooting, a distraught woman is seen sitting near the vehicle, wailing, “That’s my wife, I don’t know what to do!”

Calls and messages to Macklin Good’s current partner received no response.

Trump administration officials painted Macklin Good as a domestic terrorist who had attempted to ram federal agents with her car. Her ex-husband said she was no activist and that he had never known her to participate in a protest of any kind.

He described her as a devoted Christian who took part in youth mission trips to Northern Ireland when she was younger. She loved to sing, participating in a chorus in high school and studying vocal performance in college.

She studied creative writing at Old Dominion University in Virginia and won a prize in 2020 for one of her works, according to a post on the school’s English department Facebook page. She also hosted a podcast with her second husband, who died in 2023.

Macklin Good had a daughter and her son from her first marriage, who are now ages 15 and 12. Her 6-year-old son was from her second marriage.

Her ex-husband said she had primarily been a stay-at-home mom in recent years but had previously worked as a dental assistant and at a credit union.

Donna Ganger, her mother, told the Minnesota Star Tribune the family was notified of the death late Wednesday morning.

“Renee was one of the kindest people I’ve ever known,” Ganger told the newspaper. “She was extremely compassionate. She’s taken care of people all her life. She was loving, forgiving and affectionate. She was an amazing human being.”

Ganger did not respond to calls or messages from the AP.

Biesecker and Mustian write for the Associated Press. Mustian reported from New York.

AFRICAN cities like Marrakech, Casablanca and Rabat have been a popular spot for Brits for many years.

But there’s another city very near the sea in northern Morocco that is getting direct flights from the UK for the very first time this year.

In March 2026, Royal Air Maroc will launch twice-weekly direct flights from London Gatwick to Tetouan.

The route will start on March 29, 2026 and will operate on Thursdays and Sundays in both directions.

Previously there were no flights from the UK to Tetouan, with Brits having to connect at other cities like Marrakech, Casablanca and Al Hoceima.

Tetouan, which is a port city, is 20 minutes from the coastline, and tourists might be surprised to learn that it has a big Spanish influence, especially from Andalusia, which you’ll still see today.

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One visitor wrote on Triapdvisor said: “If you’ve been to the Middle East or Spain being in Morocco is a combination of both”.

The city was once the capital of Spanish Morocco, nicknamed the “daughter of Granada” so a lot of its architecture feels more European than African.

The Tetouan Museum of Modern Art is actually found inside a former Spanish-style train station.

Although there are places where it will feel like Morocco, for example at its medina which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Here you’ll find souks selling crafts, spices, leather goods and jewellery.

Top hotels in the city include Hôtel Al Mandari which has modern rooms – some of which have mountain views – in March it can be booked for £58 per night including breakfast.

In March, temperatures in Tetouan can be as high as 19C – so if you want to hit the beach, there are plenty of options not that far away.

Some of the nearby beach resorts include Martil which has very long stretches of sand and sits along the Mediterranean coastline.

One visitor on Tripadvisor described it as a “beautiful destination with fine golden sand”.

Another nearby beach town is M’diq which is 20 minutes away by car.

Its beach is popular for swimmers, especially in the morning when the waters are at their clearest – and you can easily get here via a bus from Tetouan.

If you’re more interested in exploring the city, then you’ll be pleased to know that Tetouan is much quieter than the likes of Marrakech as it sees fewer visitors.

When it comes to drink, a local beer will set you back around 25MAD (£2.01) and a meal for two at a mid-range restaurants without drinks is on average 175MAD (£14.10), according to Numbeo.

Another popular spot is Feddan Park which is in the middle of the city and some visitors have said has the ‘best view of Tetouan’.

From the park you get a good view of the whitewashed buildings and mountains behind them.

Dar El Oddi is a restored Riad that has since been converted into a museum.

There’s also the Royal Palace – although as this is still an active royal residence you can only view it from the outside.

Other nearby destinations include the beautiful city of Chefchaouen, also known as the Blue Pearl – which is an hour inland from Tetouan.

It’s full of bright blue buildings, hence its nickname, as well as steep alleyways and it’s surrounded by the Rif Mountains.

If you head to the edge of the medina, you’ll reach the Ras El Ma – a natural spring.

Marrakech is ‘the perfect short haul April holiday’ according to Head of Sun Travel Lisa Minot…

Lisa Minot, Head of Sun Travel, filled us in on her recent trip to the Moroccan city…

She said: “I’ve just returned from a wonderful long weekend in Marrakech and the city is as exciting as ever.

“We were sunbathing on the roof of our riad in the Medina in glorious 22 degree temperatures – and I loved the amazing desert landscapes just 40 minutes from the hustle and bustle of the souks.

“Tourism is booming in the city and while the streets are as colourful and chaotic as ever, the influx of visitors has brought some gorgeous new bars, restaurants and stunning hotels.”

She added: “It pays to do your research and book restaurants and tours in advance though as even in February and the start of Ramadan, the souks were teeming and lots of places were fully booked.

“We did a three-hour food tour of the Medina with Get Your Guide and while stuffing ourselves on some fantastic street food I probably would never have had the courage to try on my own, our guide revealed the secrets of the city and its fascinating past. 

“With six stops along the way, there was more than enough food and it cost just £35 each.

“My favourite stop was deep in the souks – a dish the locals love where beef is cooked in a dry frying pan with tomato, spices and eggs that is eaten by scraping the delicious dish straight from the pan.

“Also worth the money was our very special day in the Agafay Desert. An hour’s drive from the souks and we arrived at The White Camel, a luxury tented camp. 

“After an afternoon of dune buggy fun we watched the sun set with a drink by their infinity pool before indulging in a fantastic four course meal.”

Plus, here’s another grand African city that’s much quieter than its famous neighbour.

And this other holiday hotspot just three hours from the UK dubbed ‘Marrakesh-by-the-sea’ – with sandy beaches and cheap hotels.

Jan. 8 (UPI) — Salt Lake City police are searching early Thursday for suspects after two people were killed and six others wounded in a shooting outside a church where a funeral was taking place Wednesday evening.

No suspects are in custody, and authorities said they are following leads and won’t stop until those responsible have been apprehended.

“Our officers are working hard, and we will work until we bring these individuals to justice,” Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd told reporters during a press conference.

“We are confident we will bring these individuals to justice.”

Authorities said that the shooting occurred outside The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following an altercation in the parking lot on Redwood Road.

Police are investigating if there were more than one shooter involved, and Redd said they do not believe that the shooting targeted the church.

“It’s probably too early to say it’s gang related, but yes, our gang detectives are here and we are definitely looking at that angle,” he said.

Of the wounded, three were in critical condition, according to a Salt Lake City Police Department statement on X.

Dozens of people were attending the funeral when the shots rang out, and they are currently being interviewed, Redd said.

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said the shooting should never have happened.

“This should never have happened at a place of worship. It should not have happened at a celebration of life that was occurring inside of the church tonight,” she said.

“Our condolences continue to grow and we know that this impacts not only those victims and their families, the community that was at the church, but the entire community here in Salt Lake City on the West Side.

A spokesman for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said in a statement to local media that they were aware of the shooting and were cooperating with law enforcement.

According to The Gun Violence Archive, which tallies gun violence in the United States, the incident was the 9th mass shooting to take place in the country so far this year.

There were 406 mass shootings, which involved four or more victims, for all of 2025.

As manhunt is under way, police do not believe attack was random but neither was it likely to be attack on religion.

Two people have been killed and several injured in a shooting in the car park of a Mormon church in the Utah capital of Salt Lake City in the United States.

Police said the shooting occurred on Wednesday in the car park of a meetinghouse of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where dozens of people were attending a funeral.

Three of the six injured victims are in critical condition.

Police confirmed that no suspect was in custody and have launched a manhunt, with the FBI reportedly offering assistance.

While police said they did not believe the shooting was random, Salt Lake City Police Chief Brian Redd told The Associated Press news agency it did not appear to be a targeted attack against a religion.

Church spokesman Glen Mills told reporters there had been signs of a fracas outside the church, where the funeral was taking place.

“Out in the parking lot, there was some sort of altercation took [place] and that’s when shots were fired,” he said.

About 100 law enforcement vehicles were at the scene in the aftermath, with helicopters flying overhead.

“As soon as I came over, I see someone on the ground… People are attending to him and crying and arguing,” said Brennan McIntire, a local man who spoke to AP.

Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said, “This should never have happened outside a place of worship. This should never have happened outside a celebration of life.”

The church, which has headquarters in Salt Lake City, is cooperating with law enforcement.

About half of Utah’s 3.5 million residents are members of the faith. Churches like the one where the shooting occurred can be found in towns throughout the city and state.

The faith has been on heightened alert since four people were killed when a former Marine opened fire in a Michigan church last month and set it ablaze.

The FBI found that he was motivated by “anti-religious beliefs” against the church.

About 82 percent of mass killings in the US in 2025 involved a firearm, according to a database maintained by AP alongside USA Today and Northeastern University.

The shooting in Salt Lake City occurred amid growing unrest in the US, after a federal officer with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis amid ongoing protests against an immigration crackdown.

City had Josko Gvardiol, Ruben Dias and John Stones missing from the backline, with none of the trio expected to return to action until at least next month.

It had forced Guardiola to recall academy product Max Alleyne from his loan spell at Watford. The 20-year-old was given his first-team debut on a cold evening in the cauldron of the top flight.

Alleyne performed admirably on the big stage and it is not his fault he has been thrown into this in such circumstances, just as Nico O’Reilly was brought in to the set-up because of last season’s injury crisis.

In the end, Erling Haaland’s 150th goal for the club mattered little as they have conspired to drop six points in a week, giving a major boost to Arsenal.

With Aston Villa also drawing, Mikel Arteta’s men have a golden opportunity to go eight points clear – a scenario they could only have dreamed of just last week.

“If you don’t win games, we cannot think about these things,” Guardiola said of the title race. “We had an incredible result Nottingham Forest [in City’s final game of 2025] and after we played three games and we played really well.

“They have momentum, Brighton move really well, except the first five to 10 minutes we did really well in general and maybe the first half a little bit less – in the last 15-20 minutes we had incredible chances.

“Expected goals doesn’t give me anything. It’s how you play for goals and we could not do that today.”

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville said on Sky Sports: “It feels like a big week. Manchester City drawing at home to Brighton, it feels like another punch in the ribs.

“Arsenal will be going to bed tonight, ahead of a big game tomorrow night against Liverpool, very confident of where they are at right now.”

Guardiola also appears to be showing the stress that goes with dropping more points in the title race, clashing with Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler on the touchline.

The German said “emotions are part of the football game”, while the City boss said it was “absolutely” fine between the pair.

City winger Jeremy Doku added: “I think a draw at home is never really a good point. We are not that happy and would’ve preferred three points.

“We don’t really look at the table. We try to be ourselves and score more goals.”

Spencer Pratt, a reality television star who lost his home in the Palisades fire and then emerged as a sharp critic of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and Gov. Gavin Newsom, announced Wednesday that he will run for mayor.

The former star of “The Hills” has spent much of the last year firing off social media posts blaming the mayor and governor for the Palisades fire, which killed 12 people and burned more than 6,800 homes.

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Pratt made his announcement at the “They Let Us Burn” event in Pacific Palisades on the one-year anniversary of the fire.

“We’re going to expose the system. We’re going into every dark corner of L.A. politics and disinfecting the city with our light,” he said to a crowd of hundreds, many of whom cheered.

Former L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner, who is running against Bass, has also attacked the mayor’s performance on the fire, saying she has not accepted responsibility for the city’s failures.

Community organizer Rae Huang, who is running from Bass’ left, has offered her own critique, saying the mayor has engaged in too much finger-pointing.

Still unclear is whether real estate developer Rick Caruso — another outspoken critic of Bass on the fire — will launch a second mayoral bid. Bass defeated him in 2022 by a comfortable margin.

L.A. County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who represents the areas that burned in the Palisades fire and who has also criticized the city’s response to the fire, said Monday night that she is still considering her own run for L.A. mayor.

Speaking with CNN’s Elex Michaelson, Horvath said she is “listening to a lot of the people who are encouraging me to get into this race, people who are looking for a different kind of leadership.”

“You know, there are a lot of people who are asking me about running for mayor,” Horvath said. “And I think it’s because they see that we are setting up in the county a different structure of accountability, and that’s long overdue for the region.”

The Palisades fire has become a serious political liability for Bass as the mayoral race gains momentum. She was out of the country on a diplomatic mission to Ghana when the fire ignited.

Since then, she has faced criticism over a series of issues surrounding the city’s emergency response, including LAFD deployment, the fact that the Santa Ynez reservoir was empty, and the Fire Department’s failure to put out a New Year’s Day fire that eventually rekindled into the Palisades fire.

Bass, for her part, said Tuesday that she is using the full extent of her mayoral powers to “restore the Palisades community and return families home as quickly and safely as possible.”

Bass’ campaign team did not immediately respond to an inquiry about Pratt’s announcement. But earlier this week, they took direct aim at Pratt and other critics, accusing them of using the disaster for their personal benefit.

“For the first time ever we saw a major wildfire politicized by MAGA leaders and monetized by social influencers making tens of thousands of dollars per month and hawking books on the backs of a devastated community,” said Bass campaign spokesperson Doug Herman. “While some may choose to divide people and tear down the progress that’s being made, Mayor Bass will continue to work to unite people and focus on doing everything that she can to get everyone in the Palisades back in homes, business re-opened, and beloved community spaces up and running again so that the Palisades can once again thrive.

Pratt and his wife, reality television personality Heidi Montag, sued the city in January after their Palisades house burned down, arguing that the Santa Ynez reservoir should not have been offline and empty when the fire erupted.

As recently as Tuesday, Pratt posted on X saying he was “shocked that 7% of Angelenos have ‘a great deal of confidence’ in their city and state government.”

“Have they looked around?” he wrote.

In the past, Pratt has also hinted at a run for governor. On his website, he still advertises “Spencer for Governor” shirts for $20, at a more than a 50% discount.

Pratt became famous in the aughts for his role on “The Hills,” where he was known as Montag’s boyfriend-turned-husband. He has also appeared on “Celebrity Big Brother” and “The Hills: New Beginnings.”

Temperatures regularly plunge to -40C in this city and exposed skin can show first signs of frostbite within 10 minutes.

While we’re currently shivering through a British winter, with temperatures plunging below freezing in many parts of the country, it’s nothing compared to life in the world’s chilliest city.

In this frosty city temperatures regularly plummet below -40C, and every venture outdoors necessitates layers upon layers of clothing. Cars freeze solid, bus stops require heating, and if you’re not adequately prepared, you could freeze in “minutes”.

Welcome to Yakutsk, officially the coldest city on Earth.

Situated in northeastern Siberia, Yakutsk is home to over 372,800 people. The city is built on permafrost and only basks in around four hours of sunlight each day, resulting in incredibly low visibility.

Residents must be well-equipped to handle the severe conditions, and having the right attire is absolutely vital, reports the Express.

One woman, known as Kiun B on YouTube, shares her experiences of living in this icy metropolis. In one video, she reveals just how demanding (and costly) it can be to run everyday errands in such an environment.

With the mercury at a bone-chilling -42C, she explains that layering is key. Her outfit includes two pairs of leggings, thick wool bands over her knees to protect her joints from the cold, insulated trousers, and two jackets as standard.

She also dons specialised fur boots, as regular winter footwear would simply freeze. She warns that without these layers, she would freeze “in minutes.”

And quality winter gear doesn’t come cheap, with a decent coat setting you back up to £600, and boots costing even more.

Despite bundling up, Kiun revealed that the brisk five-minute stroll to her nearest bus stop can be quite a struggle.

The biting cold seeps through her clothes and her hair freezes. After just ten minutes, her nose turned white – an early sign of frostbite, forcing her to dash into the closest shop for warmth.

Another intriguing aspect of life in these conditions is the infrequent use of mobile phones. The severe cold drains batteries swiftly, so Kiun confessed she only uses hers in emergencies.

In addition to battery issues, she mentioned that using them outdoors is difficult as it necessitates removing your specialised gloves to type, risking frozen fingers.

Discussing her diet, Kiun explained that she needs more calories to keep warm in the harsh temperatures. According to her, having two breakfasts is completely normal as it helps her and other locals stay warm.

Fresh produce is considered a luxury, as nothing can really grow on the permafrost.

All fresh fruits and vegetables are imported from warmer climates, leading to prices nearly double those in central Russia. As a result, she relies on items like long-life milk and tinned beef.

Nevertheless, even without any fresh vegetables or meat, weekly groceries for one can still amount to as much as £111.

Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan and Atletico Madrid are among the European clubs to have shown an interest in signing Guehi on a free transfer, and he can sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club from this month.

“If you’re just valuing sports, everyone in the club will say Marc has to stay,” Glasner added. “The chairman will tell you the same. But it’s not one-dimensional. If you see the financial situation, it’s very important.

“If somebody comes, there will be a moment when the club says ‘now the financial issue is more important than the sports issue’.

“There will be a threshold where the club has to say it will happen – as long as Marc says ‘I want to leave’, because the final decision is always with the player.”

Guehi helped Palace finish 12th last season and win the FA Cup to qualify for Europe for the first time in the club’s history.

The Eagles then won the Community Shield in August, beating Premier League champions Liverpool on penalties, and are 14th in the table and through to the knockout phase play-offs in the Uefa Conference League.

“The chairman rejected many offers in the summer because we want to play a successful season and wanted to win the Community Shield,” Glasner added. “Therefore, Marc is important, and then he rejected the offer.

“The threshold at that time, the money we got offered was not above it. Maybe it was close, but it was not above.”

I spent the day in one of the most popular cities in the UK, and while it was pretty, it was lacking something else entirely, and I wouldn’t return in a hurry

I was filled with anticipation and excitement as I made my way up North to spend the day in a UK city that is, by all accounts, a blockbuster location.

Yet, as I wandered the winding cobbled streets and explored the walled city that had been so loudly hyped before my visit, I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

The UK is packed with thriving cities that boast fascinating architecture, rich history, iconic landmarks and diverse collections of amenities set against the backdrop of a picture-postcard destination. Some of the most popular cities in the UK to visit, which have long been renowned for their beauty, include Bath, Cambridge, Edinburgh, London, and Oxford.

Another city that often tops this list, attracting thousands of tourists annually, is the historic city of York. The ancient North Yorkshire settlement was named the top place in the UK for quality of life in 2025 in the Good Growth for Cities Index, and was included in a list of the best ten Christmas market cities in the country.

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Additionally, York was named as one of the happiest places to live in the UK by The Guardian last year, noting its “modesty and unreserved warmth”. It was also previously named the best city in England to visit by Condé Nast Traveller.

So it’s got its plaudits. But I’m not among them. York is one UK city that I won’t be returning to in a hurry, and it wasn’t just because of the tourist crowds.

I visited York for the day during a warm September, eager to discover what all the fuss was about and experience its charm. I had already heard so much about the walled city from friends who had visited that, admittedly, it already had a lot to live up to.

But it was so much smaller than I had imagined. I made my way into the city centre, wandering around as many cobbled paths and high streets as I could, and I was finished before lunch. I even ventured off the beaten path to uncover hidden gems, but found myself struggling, as the bounds of the city came to an abrupt end.

The iconic Shambles Market in the city centre was another slightly disappointing factor. It felt like any other UK market, with some unoriginal gift ideas. The Shambles area itself is popular with Harry Potter enthusiasts, with its cobbled and crooked medieval buildings resembling Diagon Alley.

Eager to transport myself to the wizardry world of magic, I walked along the cobbles lanes, but I was not spellbound. The experience was ruined by throngs of tourists grabbing a selfie and queueing up for one of the Harry Potter-inspired shops. While it was interesting to see, I wasn’t keen on hanging around and fighting my way through the crowds any longer, so I swiftly made my exit.

York is undeniably beautiful, with its Gothic and medieval architecture, yet its city centre lacked the charm I had been promised. While it offers plenty of landmarks, such as the ancient city walls, its stunning Cathedral, York Minster, and Clifford’s Tower, I felt it was missing that vibrant character that I’ve found in other popular UK cities.

In Bath, you’re treated to the bustling sound of performers and live music in the city centre, along with its thriving food scene, while Cambridge offers punting on the River Cam and a city renowned for its university, brimming with shops and eateries. Yet, I found that I didn’t need more than a day to explore York, as beyond its history and timber-framed buildings, there wasn’t much more to uncover in the city.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

Los Angeles Fire Chief Jaime Moore admitted Tuesday that his department’s after-action report on the Palisades fire was watered down to shield top brass from scrutiny.

Moore’s admission comes more than two weeks after The Times found that the report was edited to downplay the failures of city and Los Angeles Fire Department leaders in preparing for and fighting the Jan. 7, 2025, fire, which killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes.

“It is now clear that multiple drafts were edited to soften language and reduce explicit criticism of department leadership in that final report,” Moore said Tuesday during remarks before the city’s Board of Fire Commissioners. “This editing occurred prior to my appointment as fire chief. And I can assure you that nothing of this sort will ever again happen while I am fire chief.”

Moore, who was appointed fire chief in November, did not say who was responsible for the changes to the report.

The report’s author, LAFD Battalion Chief Kenneth Cook, declined to endorse it because of substantial deletions that altered his findings. Cook said in an Oct. 8 email to then-interim Fire Chief Ronnie Villanueva and other LAFD officials that the edited version was “highly unprofessional and inconsistent with our established standards.”

Mayor Karen Bass’ office has said that the LAFD wrote and edited the report, and that the mayor did not demand changes.

On Tuesday, Clara Karger, a spokesperson for Bass said: “Mayor Bass fully respects and supports what the Chief said today, and she looks forward to seeing his leadership make the change that is needed within the department. Chief Moore is a courageous leader with strong integrity who continues to show his deep commitment to the people of Los Angeles and to the brave firefighters who serve our city every day.”

Villanueva did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Moore’s remarks, on the eve of the first anniversary of the Palisades fire, were the strongest admission yet of missteps by LAFD leaders. They amounted to an about-face for a chief who in November critiqued the media following a Times report that a battalion chief ordered firefighters to roll up their hoses and leave the area of a New Year’s Day fire even though they had complained that the ground was still smoldering. That fire, the Lachman fire, later reignited into the Palisades fire.

“This is about learning and not assigning blame,” said Fire Commissioner Sharon Delugach, who praised the chief for his comments.

The most significant changes, The Times found in its analysis of seven drafts of the report, involved top LAFD officials’ decision not to fully staff up and pre-deploy available firefighters ahead of the ferocious winds.

An initial draft said the decision “did not align” with policy, while the final version said the number of companies pre-deployed “went above and beyond the standard LAFD pre-deployment matrix.”

A section on “failures” was renamed “primary challenges,” and an item saying that crews and leaders had violated national guidelines on how to avoid firefighter deaths and injuries was scratched.

Another passage that was deleted said that some crews waited more than an hour for an assignment on Jan. 7, 2025.

The department made other changes that seemed intended to make the report seem less negative. In one draft, there was a suggestion to change the cover image from a photo of palm trees on fire to a more “positive” image, such as “firefighters on the frontline.” The final report displays the LAFD seal on its cover.

A July email thread reviewed by The Times shows concern over how the after-action report would be received, with the LAFD forming a “crisis management workgroup.”

“The primary goal of this workgroup is to collaboratively manage communications for any critical public relations issue that may arise. The immediate and most pressing crisis is the Palisades After Action Report,” LAFD Assistant Chief Kairi Brown wrote in an email to eight other people.

“With significant interest from media, politicians, and the community, it is crucial that we present a unified response to anticipated questions and concerns,” Brown wrote. “By doing so, we can ensure our messaging is clear and consistent, allowing us to create our own narrative rather than reactive responses.”

Maryam Zar, a Palisades resident who runs the Palisades Recovery Coalition, said that “when news came out that this report had been doctored to save face, it didn’t take much for [Palisades residents] to believe that was true.”

It was easy for Moore to admit the faults of previous LAFD administrations, she said.

“He’s not going to take any heat. It wasn’t him,” she said. “He’s not the fire chief who really should have stood up and said, ‘I didn’t do what I should have.’”

The after-action report has been widely criticized for failing to examine the New Year’s Day fire that later reignited into the Palisades fire. Bass has ordered the LAFD to commission an independent investigation into its missteps in putting out the earlier fire.

On Tuesday, Moore said the city failed to adequately ensure that the New Year’s Day fire was fully snuffed out.

He said that LAFD officials “genuinely believed the fire was fully extinguished.”

“That was based on the information, conditions, and procedures in place at that moment. That belief guided the operational decision-making that was made,” he said. “However, the outcome has made it incredibly clear that our mop-up and verification process needed to be stronger.”

“We have to own that, and I do,” he added.

The city, just 65km from Porto, combines UNESCO World Heritage sites with Michelin-starred dining and budget-friendly meals from £4

A beautiful medieval city packed with great things to do has been tipped as a must-visit destination for 2026.

Guimarães is, according to a ranking of the top 20 travel spots this year, “astonishingly under the radar”, given its long history and the relative ease of getting there from the UK.

Sat just 65km inland from Porto, the Portugese city is considered the 12th-century birthplace of Portugal and its first capital. Norman Miller, who wrote about Guimarães for the BBC ranking, praised its “beautifully preserved medieval core is a tangle of cobbled squares and lanes dotted with grand palaces and terraced restaurants”. Among the warren you will find all sorts of excellent places to eat, including Michelin-starred spots, laid-back eateries and craft beer bars.

If you’re after a great but affordable place for a bite to eat, O Petisko is one of the cheapest lunch options in town, with meals starting from £4, it is known for its daily set lunch of soup, main and a drink.

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The Taberna Trovador is a touch more expensive but delivers classic taverna vibes, tapas and small plates right in the city centre.

In terms of significant monuments, history enthusiasts will love the Palace of the Dukes of Bragança, is a magnificent example of seventeenth-century seigneurial architecture and the birthplace of the House of Bragança. It has been classified a National Monument since 1910.

Whether or not the attraction’s claim that “Portugal was born” in the Palace is true, it’s fair to say that Guimarães is not a city that is stuck in the past.

As one of Portugal’s oldest university towns it has a vibrant energy. Almost half of its population is younger than 30. Large stretches of the city were freshened up for its 2012 European Capital of Culture title. Most bars are clustered around Praça de São Tiago and Largo da Oliveira, the heart of the old town. There’s plenty to choose from when it comes to bars and clubs, including the Púrpura – vibrant university bar and the Madeira-themed Poncha cocktail bar.

The coming year is a big one for the city. It is celebrating both 25 years of UNESCO World Heritage status and its new title as Europe’s Green Capital – recognition of two decades of sustainability work embedded across the city.

If you walk through the city today you will find creatively repurposed heritage buildings or restored riverbanks. A fleet of electric buses are on hand to whisk you from location to location.

“It’s a forward-thinking, quietly confident city – and one of Europe’s most compelling surprises for 2026,” the BBC writes.

If you’re keen to swap the chilly UK for a spot of sunshine, then Guimarães delivers that and plenty of fresh air. According to the European Commission, 97% of its residents enjoy ‘good’ or ‘very good’ air.

“Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 for its well-preserved historic centre, Guimarães has since earned several prestigious titles: European Capital of Culture in 2012, European City of Sport in 2013 and the most sustainable municipality in Portugal for three consecutive years. These remarkable achievements underscore the city’s innovative spirit and dedication to progress, despite its relatively modest population of 156,830 residents. Guimarães has embraced sustainability as a cornerstone of its local culture. Innovative businesses are increasingly aligning with the city’s environmentally conscious policies, fostering a new industrial culture and enhancing its ecosystem of innovation,” the Commission reported.

While there are no direct flights from UK airports to Guimarães, travel hubs including London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol offer budget fares to nearby Porto.

Direct coaches run from Porto Airport to Guimarães, taking about 40–50 minutes. Operators such as FlixBus and local services offer regular departures and tickets from around €5 (about £4–£6). If you prefer rail, you can take a bus or taxi into Porto city centre and then catch a train to Guimarães from Porto’s São Bento or Campanhã stations. The train journey from Porto to Guimarães takes about 60 minutes.

CINCINNATI — A man who broke windows at Vice President JD Vance’s Ohio home and caused other property damage was detained early Monday, the U.S. Secret Service said.

The man was detained shortly after midnight by Secret Service agents assigned to Vance’s home, east of downtown Cincinnati, agency spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement emailed to the Associated Press. He has not been named.

The Secret Service heard a loud noise at the home around midnight and found a person who had broken a window with a hammer and was trying to get into the house, according to two law enforcement officials who were not publicly authorized to discuss the investigation into what happened and spoke on the condition of anonymity. The man had also vandalized a Secret Service vehicle on his way up the home’s driveway, one of the officials said.

The home, in the Walnut Hills neighborhood, on hills overlooking the city, was unoccupied at the time, and Vance and his family were not in Ohio, Guglielmi said.

The Secret Service is coordinating with the Cincinnati Police Department and the U.S. attorney’s office as charging decisions are reviewed, he said.

Vance, a Republican, was a U.S. senator representing Ohio before becoming vice president. His office said his family was already back in Washington and directed questions to the Secret Service.

Walnut Hills is one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods and is home to historic sites, including the Harriet Beecher Stowe House.

Richer and McCormack write for the Associated Press. AP writers Mike Balsamo and Sarah Brumfield contributed to this report.

SEOUL, Jan. 5 (UPI) — Korea Land and Housing Corp. said the state-run company selected several private-sector enterprises as preferred bidders for a large-scale city development project in Vietnam.

Among them were the country’s leading contractors, Hyundai E&C and POSCO E&C, along with JR Asset Management. Public-sector involvement is also expected through the Korea Overseas Infrastructure and Urban Development Corp.

The Vietnamese government is seeking to attract investment to move forward with a multibillion-dollar project to construct a new city in the fast-growing Southeast Asian country.

The initiative is designed to transform a 2,000-acre site in Bac Ninh Province, about 12 miles northeast of Hanoi, into a self-sufficient urban center capable of accommodating more than 100,000 residents.

Midway through 2024, LH signed a memorandum of understanding with Bac Ninh Province to pursue the development. Last August, it asked the provincial government to issue an investment policy approval.

Once the approval is secured and related administrative procedures are completed, LH plans to establish a special purpose company with Vietnamese partners to implement the 50-year phased initiative, which is scheduled to conclude in 2076.

Early last year, LH estimated the project’s value at $4.1 billion, but the company noted that the figure would be subject to change depending on project scope and other factors.

The Seoul administration has expressed high hopes for the initiative. For example, President Lee Jae Myung cited it during a meeting with To Lam, general secretary of Vietnam’s Communist Party, in Seoul last August.

“We will provide full support to advance cooperation on the Bac Ninh new town development,” Lee said at the time.

The mood inside the Etihad at full-time felt like one of deflation rather than the expected elation, as City failed to win successive games for only the second time this season.

Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in their past 10 games in all competitions, but the draws in their past two could be significant come the end of the season.

Arsenal are aiming for a first top-flight triumph in more than two decades, while City are looking to reclaim the crown having failed to win silverware last season – the results in the first week of 2026 feel important when considering where the title could end up.

Despite going ahead City could not hold on against a stubborn Chelsea side led by interim manager Calum McFarlane, the under-21s coach who was taking charge of his first senior game and denied Guardiola all three points.

“It’s a brilliant result for Chelsea, with no manager,” former City goalkeeper Shay Given told BBC Sport. “And it is a brilliant result and week for Arsenal, who are now six points clear.

“City dropping four points in the last two games is huge at this time of the season. We always say Christmas and new year, with such a busy schedule, is so important and it’s not been a great festive period for Manchester City.”

Erling Haaland has had a prolific campaign scoring 38 goals for club and country this season, but he has now failed to net in his past three games, which has proved pivotal.

The Norwegian was shackled for long periods by the Chelsea backline and struck the post in the first half, while in the second he had little joy as the home side looked to double their lead.

But they were unable to be clinical enough in the final third and Fernandez’s late equaliser not only snatched a draw for Chelsea but ruined a clean sheet for City and handed the initiative to Arsenal.

“Manchester City will be kicking themselves,” ex-City defender Micah Richards said on Sky Sports. “They know they should’ve had three points today with the chances they created.

“They are normally more ruthless. You are looking at it thinking, ‘what has changed?’ Haaland’s not scored in a few games, Phil Foden had near misses, Rayan Cherki looking very tricky but not the final product. They’ve only got themselves to blame today.”

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville added on Sky Sports: “Pep Guardiola could smell it. The City fans could smell it. I don’t think Chelsea could though. City needed to make it 2-0.

“It was a big goal for Chelsea – and a big goal for Arsenal.”

The West Valley League boys’ soccer competition has been dominated by El Camino Real and Birmingham. Both schools usually end up competing for a City title.

Now Cleveland, under second-year coach Julio Chacon, is trying to disrupt the ECR-Birmingham soccer dynasty.

The Cavaliers enter Wednesday’s league opener against El Camino Real with an 11-2 record. Anderson Carranza has 10 goals.

Chacon, a Cleveland graduate, has been trying to get his team to have the confidence to compete against defending City champion El Camino Real and longtime power Birmingham.

“I’m trying to build a new culture,” he said.

This is the first season in years that the City title hunt appears to be wide open. Sylmar owns a win over Birmingham and South East is 14-1-2, including a tie against Birmingham.

El Camino Real is facing a big week, with games against Cleveland, then Birmingham on Friday. On Saturday, ECR passed its first test with a 5-0 win over Sylmar.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

It might be time to write a folk song about the demise of City Section basketball using the music of Peter, Paul and Mary and the new title, “Where Have All the Players Gone?”

The talent level clearly has hit rock bottom only a year after Alijah Arenas was a McDonald’s All-American at Chatsworth High and Tajh Ariza led Westchester to the City Section Open Division title. Because their parents went to City Section schools, Arenas and Ariza stuck it out. Then Arenas graduated early to join USC and Ariza left for St. John Bosco, then prep school.

Westchester is where Ed Azzam won 15 City titles in 42 seasons until his retirement in 2021. Crenshaw is where Willie West won 16 City titles and eight state titles. Taft is where Derrick Taylor won four City titles and coached future NBA players Jordan Farmar, Larry Drew II and AJ Johnson. Fairfax is where Harvey Kitani coached for 35 years, won four City titles and two state titles and earned most of his nearly 1,000 victories. He was followed by Steve Baik and Reggie Morris Jr., each of whom won City championships before leaving.

None of the City schools once considered among the best in Southern California are even close to resembling their glory days, and they aren’t alone. The City Section has lost most of its talent, and it was truly Hall of Fame talent: Marques Johnson and John Williams at Crenshaw; Gail Goodrich at Sun Valley Poly; Willie Naulls at San Pedro; Dwayne Polee at Manual Arts; Gilbert Arenas at Grant; Trevor Ariza at Westchester; Chris Mills at Fairfax. There were decades of success.

There’s no one person to blame. You can’t even place the downfall solely on the Los Angeles Unified School District, whose high schools compete in the City Section.

But LAUSD has done nothing to reverse the trend and didn’t help matters by opening so many new schools in such rapid fashion that longtime legacy schools lost their luster amid declining student enrollment. Things became even more disruptive by the rise of charter schools and private schools taking away top athletes. Adding to that, the loss of veteran coaches frustrated by bureaucracy issues and rules that force programs to secure permits and pay to use their own gyms in the offseason helped further the exodus.

Westchester is 2-8 this season and an example of where City Section basketball stands. Two top players from last season — Gary Ferguson and Jordan Ballard — are now at St. Bernard. Westchester doesn’t even have a roster posted on MaxPreps. King/Drew won its first City Open Division title in 2024 under coach Lloyd Webster. This season Webster sent his senior son, Josahn, to Rolling Hills Prep to play for Kitani. King/Drew is 4-10.

Charter schools Birmingham, Palisades and Granada Hills have separated themselves in virtually all City Section sports including basketball. They have no enrollment boundaries as long as there’s a seat for a student. Palisades lost so many students after the wildfire last year that transfers have been big additions for its teams this school year. Online courses are being offered to help students enroll and compete in sports at charter schools.

The old powers from the inner city — Crenshaw, Dorsey, Jefferson, Locke and Fremont — experienced big changes in demographics. Many coaches are walk-ons and not teachers. The legacy schools have to compete with charter schools View Park Prep, Triumph, Animo Watts, Animo Robinson, WISH Academy and USC-MAE. When young players are discovered and developed, rarely will they stay when one of the private schools or AAU coaches searching for talent spots them in the offseason.

So what’s left? Not much.

Palisades, Washington Prep and Cleveland look like the three top teams this season. All three added transfers to help buck the downward trend. And yet their records are 3-10, 8-8 and 7-6, respectively, against mostly Southern Section teams.

Maybe this can be a fluke one-year plunge to the bottom and the climb back up can begin, aided by coaches who recognize their job is to teach lessons in basketball, life and college preparation. Parents need a reason to send their kids to a City Section school. It’s up to LAUSD and principals to help change the trajectory by finding coaches with integrity, passion and willingness to embrace the underdog role.

There are plenty in the system doing their best. It’s time to start hearing and answering their pleas for help.

THERE is more to Portugal than its beaches – as its picturesque northern region of Douro proves.

This proudly kept secret centres around the Douro River that flows for 850km from the mountains of northern Spain to the city of Porto and serves up gastronomic, wine and cultural delights in equal measure, as well as stunning countryside.

Its peaceful green vineyards, beneath blue skies, are a world apart from the crowded beaches of Portugal’s southern Algarve region, but just a short flight away from the UK.

Here, Lauren Clark offers a guide to what to do in Douro . . . 

WHY SHOULD I GO? First and foremost, for the wine. It has been produced on the banks of the Douro River for more than 2,000 years, and this is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world after being officially established in 1756.

Its produce includes its most famous export of all — port.

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But while any trip to the Douro should take in the idyllic terraced vineyards, the cobbled streets and port cellars of Porto — Portugal’s second-largest city — are not to be missed.

It is to here that barrels of wine and port have traditionally been transported down river.

STREETS ARE MADE FOR WALKING: Porto is easy to explore on foot.

Some of its medieval streets are rather steep but you can rest your legs with a ride on the Gaia cable car.

Or for yet more fabulous views, head to the train station to explore the Linha do Douro — a 99-mile rail line considered one of Europe’s most scenic, which runs close to the river for much of its route.

Hop on at Porto and disembark at Pinhao after a couple of hours.

ANYTHING FOR THE BUCKET LIST? You can take in most of compact Porto’s sites within a day or two — from its ornate tiled churches to the famous Livraria Lello bookshop.

Head across the river on the grand double-decker Dom Luis I Bridge to Vila Nova de Gaia, where historic port cellars offer tastings. At Taylor’s you can have a tour and enjoy three wines for £22.

Wine-making links are everywhere, from the 19th-century Palacio de Bolsa — a former a stockmarket built to impress potential European investors — to the merchant houses along the quaint Rua das Flores.

WHERE SHOULD I EAT? Stop off at a no-frills local favourite, the Lado B Cafe for traditional treat francesinha — a sandwich featuring layers of bread and meats, covered in melted cheese and smothered in a spicy tomato-and-beer sauce, sometimes topped off with a fried egg.

It’s more than enough for a main meal and just £11 a go.

For more regional snacks, head to the new Time Out Market, next to the grand Porto Sao Bento train station and try traditional dessert pastel de nata — a yummy custard tart. Laid-back restaurant Adega Sao Nicolau, just off the river bank, is perfect for a more relaxed dinner.

For a special occasion, make a reservation at Le Monument, where the menu takes you on a culinary journey through Portugal.

I FANCY A DRINK: While in Porto, enjoy a sunset tipple at Restart by Vila Foz, north of the river, or Esplanada Teleferico on the south bank — both places offer stunning city views.

Or take in the sights while sipping on a glass of wine during a one-hour Six Bridges river cruise, with prices from £15.60pp.

In the Douro Valley, stop off at one of the region’s famed vineyards, Quinta da Pacheca, near the town of Peso da Regua. It offers a tour, followed by four-glass tasting, for £21 a head.

WHERE SHOULD I STAY? Five-star hotel The One Monumental Palace is handy for all of Porto’s key sites and has rooms from £169 per night in its historic, neo-classical building.

For a more value option, the Altis Porto hotel has breathtaking views of the Douro and is near the city’s Ribeiro area, featuring a riverside promenade and colourful houses. Rooms from £102 per night.

An often overlooked city in the UK has been tainted with titles such as being the ‘worst’ place to stay, yet a travel writer has uncovered its allure and urges everyone to visit

A travel expert has defended the UK city that has been tainted by negative views, hailing it as one of the best and highlighting its thriving independent businesses and welcoming allure.

Earlier this year, Newport was named as the “worst” place to stay in the UK following research from Go Compare, which evaluated 55 destinations across the country for their family-friendly accommodation and visitor attractions. Elsewhere, a report by the Centre for Cities this year found that Newport has one of the highest numbers of empty shops of anyone in the UK.

Such damning reports mean that the Welsh city is often overlooked by travellers looking for a place to explore. Yet, an award-winning travel writer, who dedicates much of his time to discovering hidden gems across the UK, has labelled it as one of the best cities.

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Ben Aitken, 39, loves to visit and explore British locations that are frequently dismissed by tourists, uncovering their often underappreciated charm. And Newport is one of them. “It’s punching massively below its weight in the sense that it’s got a lot going for it and people aren’t recognising that and are not taking advantage of that,” Ben exclusively told the Mirror.

“It’s peppered with these really excellent independent businesses. There are a lot of diamonds in this unfashionable place. And I can’t claim to have met all of the people that live in Newport, but I met a fair few, and each of them was friendly and welcoming.”

Having first visited in April last year, Ben said: “The first thing that struck me about Newport was its architecture. It was a boom town in the 1800s, and the legacy of its importance and significance, both industrial and civic, is still evident.

“The architecture is quite quirky; it’s not straightforwardly classic or Gothic. The high street curves and slopes in a nice way. It wasn’t buzzing, but that’s true for many towns and cities across the UK, if not the world, these days. It’s just a reality that the behaviour or habits of consumerism have changed so much.

“We no longer use high streets in the same way anymore, and when there’s no tourism in a place, that reality can appear a little unappealing, creating a quiet atmosphere. However, there are a few independent businesses that really impressed me in Newport after I wandered around for an hour.”

Ben revealed: “I had a great Italian meal at a place called Vittorio’s on the top of Stow Hill, opposite the cathedral. That’s been run by a family of third-generation Italian immigrants for about 30-40 years, as miners from Tuscany came to Newport in the 19th or early 20th century. That was a fantastic meal.

“There was also a great pub called Le Pub, which is short for Le Public space, and they do gigs and other events. It’s really relaxed, and has an inviting and quirky vibe. I chatted with the locals there and had a Trevor Nelson. It’s the local cocktail, but no one seems to know what it’s made of.

“Across the street, you’ve got a pub called Ye Olde Murenger House, and that’s about 4,000 years old. It’s the oldest and cosiest pub in Newport.” Ben added that the cafe, Rogue Fox, and fine dining restaurant at Gem 42 were other standout independent establishments in Newport.

He continued: “I also went to the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales, and there’s a brilliant velodrome just across the River Usk. Anybody can have a go. For about £20, they provided me with a bike, a helmet, and some instructions, and I whizzed around the velodrome for about an hour. It was the first time I’ve ever done that.

“Then I went to watch a rugby match at Rodney Parade. The pies were delicious. I didn’t really know what was going on, but it was atmospheric and meaningful.”

During his time in Newport, Ben stayed at the five-star Celtic Manor Resort, one of the country’s most renowned hotels. “It was really nice, it does what it does very well. I just wish it supported Newport city centre a little bit more by directing its guests there for dinner rather than to Cardiff or Bristol.

“I think I was the first visitor to have walked to the hotel from the train station, but I just wanted to demonstrate that you can do it.”

Ben added: “I’m not asking people to up sticks and move to Newport. I’m just asking them to consider visiting, staying over for the night, and I promise you can fill a weekend there. It has food, history, fun, and accommodation. It just goes to show that anywhere can be interesting and enjoyable if you just give it half a chance.”

You can read more about Ben’s UK travels and treasured finds in his book, Sh**y Breaks: A Celebration of Unsung Cities, which was released earlier this year. Alternatively, you can visit his Instagram page.

Do you have a travel story to share? Email webtravel@reachplc.com

Good morning, and welcome to L.A. on the Record — our City Hall newsletter. It’s David Zahniser, dishing up the latest on city and county government.

It’s not hyperbole to say that 2025 was a terrible year for Los Angeles.

Wildfires ravaged huge stretches of Pacific Palisades, Altadena, Malibu and other communities. Federal immigration raids tore families apart and disrupted the economy, prompting furious protests in downtown and elsewhere. L.A.’s political leaders, facing a brutal budget year, signed off on cuts while working to stave off layoffs of public employees.

Now, we’re heading into a year of uncertainty — one with the potential to bring fresh faces both to City Hall and the county’s Hall of Administration, while also ushering in bigger, structural changes.

Here are a few of the political issues we’ll be tracking over the next twelve months, in this newsletter and elsewhere:

1) WILL HE OR WON’T HE? It’s January, and we still don’t know if real estate developer Rick Caruso will seek a rematch against Mayor Karen Bass in the June 2 primary election. A second Caruso run would deliver a jolt to the campaign, complicating Bass’ attempt to win a second four-year term in a single shot. He’s got to decide soon!

Per Mike Murphy, a political strategist and longtime Caruso friend: “He is close to a decision.”

Caruso, a fierce critic of the city’s handling of the Palisades fire, lost to Bass by 10 percentage points in 2022. If he jumps in, he would join a long list of challengers that includes former L.A. schools superintendent Austin Beutner, community organizer Rae Huang and an assortment of unknowns.

The larger the field, the tougher the road Bass will have in trying to avoid a November runoff — and winning her election overall.

2) WILL THE COUNCIL GET BIGGER? The Charter Reform Commission, which is made up of a dozen or so citizen volunteers, is heading into the home stretch as it works on a plan to update the City Charter, the governing document for L.A.

The commission’s report, due in April, is expected to say whether voters should expand the number of City Council members, scale back the duties of the elected city attorney and grant the city controller additional authority. There are also some smaller proposals, including a move to a two-year budget process.

The council will then decide which of those proposals will go on the November ballot. Raymond Meza, who chairs the commission, sounded optimistic about the prospects.

“There’s been a lot of serious public input and energy behind this process, and we think the council is going to thoroughly consider our recommendations,” Meza said.

3) WILL CITY HALL KEEP MOVING LEFT? Eight council seats are up for grabs this year, with bruising campaigns looming on the Eastside, on the Westside, in the west San Fernando Valley and in South L.A.

Councilmembers Eunisses Hernandez and Traci Park are among those battling for a second term. Voters also must find replacements for Curren Price and Bob Blumenfield, each of whom is facing term limits after a dozen years on the council.

Ground Game LA, Democratic Socialists of America and other groups inspired by the victory of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani are looking to keep pulling the Overton window in their direction on public safety, tenant protections and other issues.

The ballot will also feature two other citywide contests, with City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto and City Controller Kenneth Mejia both seeking reelection.

4) CAN L.A. AFFORD MORE COPS? Bass has been pressuring the council to free up the money to hire more officers in the new year. She’s not likely to let up, even as she begins preparing her newest citywide budget.

Still, a fight over LAPD hiring could spur the council to take a fresh look at Bass’ other major policy initiative — Inside Safe, which has been moving homeless people indoors since she took office.

Amid growing concerns about the city’s financial stability, some council members have begun exploring the idea of paying the county to deliver homeless services — an idea that Bass panned in a Daily News opinion piece last month.

That op-ed drew some icy rebuttals from County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who called the city’s track record on homelessness “indefensible.”

5) WHITHER THE COUNTY? Speaking of the county, officials inside the Hall of Administration will likely spend the coming year trying to figure out how to prevent Measure J — which requires public spending on alternatives to incarceration — from being struck down by Measure G, the reform measure approved by voters in 2024.

(Measure G, which was largely about expanding the number of county supervisors and establishing an elected CEO, inadvertently set the stage for a pending repeal of Measure J, in what has been billed as an enormous bureaucratic snafu.)

We’ll also be watching as the county’s new homelessness department gets up and running. And we’ll monitor Sheriff Robert Luna’s bid for reelection, as well as the campaign for two supervisorial seats.

6) COULD WE SEE A BUILDING FRENZY? L.A. County’s fire-scarred communities are hoping to see a ramp up in the pace of rebuilding in 2026. But will fire victims stay put? Or will they sell their burned-out sites to developers? The stakes are high, not just for those communities but for the elected officials who represent them.

Of course, there are plenty of other issues to track in the new year beyond the big six. For example, there’s the proposed sales tax hike to fund Fire Department operations; the push for higher taxes to pay for park facilities; the gambit to slow down wage hikes for hotel and airport workers; and the movement to hike the city or county minimum wage.

Then there are the preparations, and behind-the-scenes negotiations, over the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, which have huge cost implications for the city.

Are you exhausted yet? If not, we’ll see you next week.

State of play

— ‘HIGHLY UNPROFESSIONAL’: The author of the Fire Department’s after-action report on the Palisades fire declined to endorse it because of changes that altered his findings, according to an email obtained by The Times. “Having reviewed the revised version submitted by your office, I must respectfully decline to endorse it in its current form,” wrote Battalion Chief Kenneth Cook, about an hour after the report was made public. Cook also called the final version of the report “highly unprofessional.”

— PLAYING WITH FIRE: Two groups have sued the city of L.A., alleging that agencies ignored state wildfire safety regulations while signing off on development in areas with severe fire hazards. The State Alliance for Firesafe Road Regulations and the Federation of Hillside and Canyon Assns. offered what they described as 75 examples of building permits and other plans that violate the state’s “minimum firesafe regulations.”

— DIGGING INTO DTLA: It’s been a tumultuous year for DTLA Law Group, which grew from a small firm focused on car crash victims into a litigation powerhouse with thousands of sexual abuse claims against government agencies. The firm’s activities are now the subject of an investigation by the DA’s office, amid lingering questions about how DTLA amassed so many plaintiffs so quickly. The Times spoke with dozens of former clients and employees who described aggressive tactics to bring in new clients.

— RADIO SILENCE: L.A.’s parking enforcement officers were removed from the field last weekend after copper wire thieves damaged a key communications tower in Elysian Park, leaving some workers with inoperable radios.

— LUCKY NUMBER 13: The Charter Reform Commission might finally get its 13th member, just a few months before it wraps up its work. Councilmember Bob Blumenfield recently nominated Jason Levin, a onetime spokesperson for his office, to fill the seat after his previous pick, former Councilmember Dennis Zine, flamed out. Levin is an executive vice president at the firm Edelman, focusing on crisis and risk.

— NEW YORK STATE OF MIND: City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez flew to New York City this week for Mamdani’s inauguration. Hernandez, on Instagram, called the event “a reminder that the movement for dignity, justice, and humanity is bigger than any one city.”

— READY FOR SIGNATURES: The City Clerk’s office recently cleared the way for the firefighters’ union to begin gathering signatures for a sales tax hike to pay for fire stations, fire equipment and other emergency resources. The proposal comes amid complaints that department brass sought to cover up findings about the Palisades fire.

— YET ANOTHER WAGE HIKE: The fire tax proposal comes a few weeks after the city clerk cleared the way for another ballot petition — this one hiking the city’s minimum wage to $25 per hour. The proposal includes provisions to ensure that hotel employees are “paid fairly for burdensome workloads” and prohibit “the exploitative practice of subcontracting housekeeping work.”

— BIG DAY FOR THE VA: The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court order requiring the federal Department of Veterans Affairs to build more than 2,500 units of housing on its West L.A. campus. “Rather than use the West Los Angeles VA Grounds as President Lincoln intended, the VA has leased the land to third party commercial interests that do little to benefit the veterans,” wrote Circuit Judge Ana de Alba.

— CHANGING CHAIRS: One of Harris-Dawson’s top aides, senior advisor Rachel Brashier, is switching offices at City Hall. Brashier, who frequently sits next to the council president as he presides over meetings, has taken a job with the mayor, according to Harris-Dawson spokesperson Cerrina Tayag-Rivera. Brashier will serve as a deputy chief of staff, per Bass’ team.

QUICK HITS

• Where is Inside Safe? The mayor’s signature program to combat homelessness did not launch any new operations over the holiday.
• On the docket next week: L.A. marks the one-year anniversary of the Palisades and Eaton fires with a number of events. Among them is “They Let Us Burn,” a demonstration in Pacific Palisades where community leaders plan to highlight their demands to city, county and state leaders.

Stay in touch

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