WITH its wide open beaches, vibrant seaside towns and cathedral-studded cities, Lincolnshire makes for a perfect UK getaway.
Add to that brilliant food and drink options, incredible natural wonders and family-friendly attractions, and it’s no wonder the East Midlands county is one of the top destinations for 9.50 holidaymakers.
Thanks to beaches like Mablethorpe, pictured, Lincolnshire is one of the top destinations for 9.50 holidaymakersCredit: GettySeaside towns like Mablethorpe, Skegness, Cleethorpes (pictured) and Ingoldmells are consistently highly rated and hark back to traditional bucket-and-spade holidaysCredit: Getty
In fact, there are so many great places to explore near your £9.50 Holiday park that the hardest question will be: where to visit first?
The coast is unmissable. Long, sandy beaches ripple for more than 50 miles along the eastern shore of England from the Humber to the Wash.
If you prefer your wildlife-watching somewhere cosy with a cuppa, the North Sea Observatory is free to enter and makes for a brilliant wet weather option, too.
Keen to dabble in history? Then Lincoln Castle, around an hour’s drive from the coast, should be top of your list.
It contains one of only four surviving original copies of the Magna Carta, as well as having medieval walls, dungeons and towers to explore.
While in the city, you can soak up more history at the Cathedral or swing by Louth with its historic market.
It may be the birthplace of the Lincolnshire sausage, but there’s far more to this county on a culinary level.
Of course, you’ll find a decent carvery like The Beck in Mablethorpe and budget-friendly cafes like Cosy Corner Cafe in Skegness.
But there are also cafes with quirky touches you won’t find elsewhere, like the 1940s-style Blitz Tea Room.
Top chippies are hard to whittle down in this part of the world, but good places to start include Salts Fish & Chip Shop in Skegness and The Marina Fish & Chips in Chapel St Leonards.
Meanwhile, Hardys Fish & Chips and Meggies, both in Cleethorpes, are also highly rated chip shops – with prices that won’t break the bank.
A top tip for a pint on the beach is to make for somewhere like the Admiral Benbow, which has a bar in a boat on the sand at Chapel St Leonards.
For families seeking a day out, there’s everything from seal sanctuaries and wildlife parks to explore.
Hubbard’s Hills is a good budget option, costing just £1 to park before you access picnic areas, dog walking trails and a cafe with a play area.
Meanwhile, Rand Farm Park not only offers indoor and outdoor play areas and a variety of animals to meet and help feed, it also offers childcare should you need some time to yourself on your holiday (book ahead).
Lincoln Castle, around an hour’s drive from the coast, contains one of only four surviving original copies of the Magna CartaCredit: GettyLong, sandy beaches ripple for more than 50 miles along the eastern shore of England from the Humber to the WashCredit: Alamy
Walking out of a Skid Row market, Harold Cook, 42, decides to play a game.
How long after opening YouTube will it take for him to see an ad asking him to join the latest wave of sex abuse litigation against Los Angeles County?
“I can literally turn my phone on right now, something’s going to pop up,” said Cook, opening the app.
Within a few seconds, a message blares: “They thought you’d never speak up. They figured you was too young, too scared, too Black, too brown, too alone. … L.A. County already had to cough up $4 billion to settle these cases. So why not you?”
Since the historic April payout to resolve thousands of claims of sex abuse in county-run facilities, law firms have saturated L.A.’s airwaves and social media with campaigns seeking new clients. For months, government officials have quietly questioned who is financing the wall-to-wall marketing blitz.
The ad Cook heard was from Sheldon Law Group, one of several law firms active in sex abuse litigation in California that receive backing from private investors, according to loan notices and SEC filings. The investors, which often operate through Delaware companies, expect to profit from the payouts to resolve the cases.
Sheldon, based in Washington, D.C., has been one of the most prolific L.A. advertisers. The firm has already gathered roughly 2,500 potential clients, according to a list submitted to the county. The lawsuits started being filed this summer, raising the prospect of another costly settlement squeezed out of a government on the brink of a fiscal crisis.
“We act in the best interests of our clients, who are victims in every sense of the word and have suffered real and quite dreadful injuries,” a spokesperson for Sheldon Law Group said in a statement. “Without financial and legal support, these victims would be unable to hold the responsible parties, powerful corporate or governmental defendants, accountable.”
The financing deals have raised alarms among lawmakers, who say they want to know what portion of the billions poised to be diverted from government services to victims of horrific sex abuse will go to opaque private investors.
Kathryn Barger, a member of the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, said she was contacted by a litigation investor who sought to gauge whether sex abuse litigation could be a smart venture. “This is so predatory,” Barger told The Times.
(Juliana Yamada/Los Angeles Times)
“I’m getting calls from the East Coast asking me if people should invest in bankrupting L.A. County,” Supervisor Kathryn Barger said. “I understand people want to make money, but I feel like this is so predatory.”
Barger said an old college friend who invests in lawsuits reached out this spring attempting to gauge whether L.A. County sex abuse litigation could be a smart venture. Barger said the caller referred to the lawsuits as an “evergreen” investment.
“That means it keeps on giving,” she said. “There’s no end to it.”
The county has spent nearly $5 billion this year on sex abuse litigation, with the bulk of that total coming from the $4-billion deal this spring — the largest sex abuse settlement in U.S. history.
The April settlement is under investigation by the L.A. County district attorney office following Times reporting that found plaintiffs who said they were paid by recruiters to join the litigation, including some who said they filed fraudulent claims. All were represented by Downtown LA Law Group, which handled roughly 2,700 plaintiffs.
Downtown LA Law Group has denied all wrongdoing and said it “only wants justice for real victims.” The firm took out a bank loan in summer 2024, according to a financing statement, but a spokesperson said they had no investor financing.
Lawyers who take the private financing say it’s a win-win. Investors make money on high-interest rate loans while smaller law firms have the capital they need to take on deep-pocketed corporations and governments. If people were victimized by predators on the county’s payroll, they deserve to have a law firm that can afford to work for free until the case settles. Money for investors, they emphasize, comes out of their cut — not the clients’.
But critics say the flow of outside money incentivizes law firms to amass as many plaintiffs as possible for the wrong reasons — not to spread access to justice, but rather ensure hefty profit for themselves and their financial backers.
“The amount of money being generated by private equity in these situations — that’s absurd,” said former state lawmaker Lorena Gonzalez, who wrote the 2019 bill that opened the floodgate for older sex abuse claims to be filed. “Nobody should be getting wealthy off taxpayer dollars.”
For residents of L.A.’s poorest neighborhood, ads touting life-changing payouts have started to feel inescapable.
Waiting in line at a Skid Row food shelter, William Alexander, 27, said his YouTube streaming is punctuated by commercials featuring a robotic man he suspects is AI calling on him to sue the county over sex abuse.
Across the street, Shane Honey, 56, said nearly every commercial break on the news seems to feature someone asking if he was neglected at a juvenile hall.
In many of the ads, the same name pops up: Sheldon Law Group.
Austin Trapp, a case worker in Skid Row, was among several people in the neighborhood who said ads seeking people to join sex abuse litigation against L.A. County have become increasingly common.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Sheldon’s website lists no attorneys, but claims the firm is the “architect” behind “some of the largest litigations on Earth.” They list their headquarters online at a D.C. virtual office space, though the owners on their most recent business filing list their own addresses in New York. The firm’s name appears on websites hunting for people suffering from video game addiction, exposure to toxins from 9/11, and toe implant failure.
Sheldon Law Group was started by the founder of Legal Recovery Associates, a New York litigation funding company that uses money from investors including hedge funds to recruit large numbers of plaintiffs for “mass torts,” cases where many people are suing over the same problem, according to interviews with former advisers, court records and business filings.
Those clients are gathered for one of their affiliated law firms, including Sheldon Law Group, according to two people involved in past transactions.
Ron Lasorsa, a former Wall Street investment banker who said he advised Legal Recovery Associates on setting up the affiliate law firms, told The Times it was built to make investors “obscenely rich.”
“It’s extremely profitable for people who know what the hell they’re doing,” Lasorsa said.
The idea, he says, emerged from a pool cabana at a Las Vegas legal conference called Mass Torts Made Perfect in fall 2015.
A man visiting friends on Skid Row holds up his phone showing an ad recruiting clients for sex abuse case in Los Angeles County on December 11, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Lasorsa had just amassed 14,000 clients for personal injury lawsuits in one year using methods that, he now says, were legally dubious. A favorite at the time: using call centers in India that had access to Americans’ hospital records and phoning the patients to see if they were feeling litigious.
Near the pool at a Vegas hotel, Lasorsa said Howard Berger, a former hedge fund manager barred by the SEC from working as a broker, asked if he could turbocharge the caseload of Legal Recovery Associates, where he worked as a consultant.
Lasorsa said he soon teamed up with the founders of LRA — Gary Podell, a real estate developer, and Greg Goldberg, a former investment manager — to create “shell” law firms based in Washington. The nation’s capital is one of the few places where non-lawyers can own a law firm, profiting directly from case proceeds.
Goldberg, who is not licensed to practice law in D.C., would become a partner in at least six D.C. law firms including Sheldon Law Group by 2017, according to a contract between Legal Recovery Associates and a hedge fund that financed the firms’ cases.
Sheldon, which said it was responding on behalf of Podell, said in a statement that all their partners are lawyers, though declined to name them. Goldberg did not respond to a repeated request for comment.
The Sheldon spokesperson said Legal Recovery Associates is a separate entity that engages in its “own business and legal activities.”
Investors typically make money on litigation by providing law firms with loans, which experts say carry interest rates as high as 30%, representing the risk involved. If the case goes south, investors get nothing. If it settles, they make it all back — and then some.
Lasorsa said he helped the company gather 20,000 claims using the same Indian call centers before a bitter 2019 split. He later accused the owners of unethical behavior, which led to a half-million dollar settlement and a non-disparagement agreement that he said he decided to breach, leading to a roughly $600,000 penalty he has yet to pay, according to a court judgment.
Lasorsa was also ordered to delete any disparaging statements he’d made, according to the judgment.
D.C. law firms with non-lawyers as partners must have the “sole purpose” of providing “legal services,” according to the district’s bar. Some attorneys have argued no such service was provided by the firms associated with Legal Recovery Associates.
Troy Brenes, an Orange County attorney who co-counseled with one of the firms over flawed medical devices, accused the company of operating a “sham law firm” as part of a 2022 court battle over fees.
“The sole purpose … appears to have been to allow non-lawyers to market for product liability cases and then refer those cases to legitimate law firms in exchange for a portion of the attorney fees without making any effort to comply with the D.C. ethics rules,” Brenes wrote.
A spokesperson for Sheldon and LRA noted in a statement that “no court or arbitration panel has ever concluded” that its business structure violates the law.
In the medical device cases, the affiliate firm, which was responsible for funding the marketing campaign, took 55% of recoverable attorney fees, according to an agreement between the two firms. The profit divide mirrors the 55/45 breakdown between Sheldon Law Group and James Harris Law, a two-person Seattle firm they have partnered with on the L.A. County sex abuse cases, according to a retainer agreement reviewed by The Times.
A person on Skid Row in downtown L.A. shows an ad on their phone seeking plaintiffs to joint a lawsuit over sexual abuse in juvenile halls.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
This summer, ads linking to a webpage with the name of James Harris appeared online, telling potential clients they could qualify in 30 seconds for up to $1 million. When a Times reporter entered a cell-phone number on one of the ads, a representative who said they worked for the firm’s intake department called dozens of times.
After The Times described these marketing efforts in a story, Harris emphasized in an email that he did not know about the ads or the persistent calls and said they were done by his “referring firm.” The landing page the ads led to was replaced with the name of Sheldon Law Group.
Harris said his firm and Sheldon, which he described as “functioning as a genuine and independent co counsel law firm,” have “been highly selective and have only prosecuted cases that we believe are legally and factually meritorious.”
“I continue to believe that lawyer advertising, when conducted ethically and without misleading claims, serves as a vital tool for raising public awareness about legal rights and available recourse, particularly for survivors of abuse seeking justice,” he said.
Over the last five years, experts say, the practice of funding big mass tort cases has boomed in the U.S.
Of the five main firms in L.A. County’s initial $4-billion sex abuse settlement, two took money from outside investors shortly before they began suing the county, according to public loan filings.
The loans to both Herman Law, a Florida-based firm that specializes in sex abuse cases, and Slater Slater Schuman, a New York-based personal injury firm, came from Delaware-registered companies. Deer Finance, a New York City litigation funding firm that connects investors with lawyers, is listed on business records for both companies.
The loan documents do not specify which of the firms’ cases were funded, but show each deal was finalized within months of the firms starting to sue L.A. County for sex abuse. Neither firm responded to questions about how the outside funding was used.
Slater, which received the loan in spring 2022, represents more L.A. County plaintiffs than any other firm, by far.
Slater’s caseload surged after the county signaled its plan to settle for $4 billion in October 2024. Several of the main attorneys on the case told The Times they stopped advertising at that point, reasoning that any new plaintiffs would now mean less money for the existing ones.
The next month, Slater Slater Schulman ran more than 700 radio ads in Los Angeles seeking juvenile detention abuse claims, according to X Ante, a company that tracks mass tort advertisements.
By this summer, the number of claims jumped from roughly 2,100 to 3,700, according to court records, catapulting Slater far beyond the caseload of any other firm.
This fall, another Delaware-registered company took out a lien on all of Slater’s attorney fees from the county cases, according to an Oct. 6 loan record. The law firm assisting with the transaction declined to comment.
“These are extraordinarily complex cases and litigating these cases effectively requires resources,” said an outside attorney representing Slater in a statement, responding to questions from The Times.
The firm, which also represents roughly 14,000 victims in the Boy Scouts sex abuse cases, was singled out by the judge overseeing the litigation this fall for “procedural and factual problems” among its plaintiffs. The firm was one of several called out by insurers in the litigation for using hedge fund money to “run up the claim number.”
The firm has said they’re working “tirelessly” to address the issues and justice for survivors is its top priority.
April Mannani, who says she was assaulted in the 1990s by an officer while she was housed at MacLaren Children’s Center, said she feels lawyers on the sex abuse cases are putting profits ahead of the best interests of clients.
(Jimena Peck/For The Times)
Many plaintiffs told The Times they were discouraged to see how much money stood to be made for others off their trauma.
April Mannani, 51, sued L.A. County after she said she was raped repeatedly as a teenager at MacLaren Children’s Center, a shelter now notorious for abuse. Mannani accepts that her lawyers are entitled to a cut for their work on the case, but said she was disheartened watching the numbers of cases suddenly skyrocket this year. With the district attorney investigating, a pall has been cast over the entire settlement.
“We’ve been made fools of and we were used for financial gain,” she said. “They all just see it as a money grab.”
That firm that represents her, Herman Law, has filed roughly 800 cases against L.A. County. Herman Law took out a loan in 2021 from a Delaware-registered company affiliated with Deer Finance, according to a loan notice. The firm said they use traditional bank loans for “overall operations.”
Herman Law is the most prolific filer of county sex abuse cases outside of L.A. County since the state changed the statute of limitations.
Herman Law has filed about half of these roughly 800 sex abuse lawsuits that have been brought outside of L.A. County, according to data reviewed by The Times.
Herman Law has sued several tiny counties, where public officials say they’ve been inundated with advertisements on social media and TV looking for plaintiffs. Some counties say they threw out relevant records long ago and have no way to tell if the alleged victim was ever in local custody.
A judge fined Herman Law about $9,500 last month for failing to dismiss Kings County from a lawsuit despite presenting no evidence the county ever had custody of the victim, calling the claim “factually frivolous” and “objectively unreasonable.” An attorney for Herman Law said in a court filing the client believed she’d been in a foster home there, and the lack of records didn’t conclusively establish anything.
“There are not records. There’s nothing that exists,” said Jason Britt, the county administrative officer for Tulare County, which has been sued at least eight times by Herman Law. “Counties at some point are not gonna be able to operate because you’re essentially going to bankrupt them.”
The firm said its clients are always its top priority.
“No lender or financial relationship has ever influenced, directed or played any role in legal strategy, client decisions or case outcomes, including any matters involving the Los Angeles County,” the firm said. “Herman Law’s work is driven solely by our mission to advocate for survivors in their pursuit of justice and healing.”
Joseph Nicchitta, L.A. County’s acting chief executive officer, said he believed the region’s social safety net was now “an investment opportunity.” In an October letter to the State Bar, he called out the “explosive growth” of claims, arguing a handful of firms were “competing to bring as many cases as possible” to the detriment of their existing clients.
He estimated that attorney fees in the lawsuit would amount to more than $1 billion. “It begs reform,” he wrote.
Beavertown Brewery’s Cosy Pub Index has named Staffordshire as the top county for cosy pubs, beating traditional favourites with its impressive collection of welcoming venues
Christmas is nearly upon us, and it’s time to wrap up in a jumper and gather by the fire with those closest to us.
For countless people, the perfect winter scene features a softly lit, toasty and inviting space with beverages and the sound of crackling flames, offering shelter from the bitter weather outside.
Little wonder, then, that online searches for “cosy pubs” have jumped by almost 50% over the past month – and with this trend in mind, Beavertown Brewery examined the nation’s finest establishments based on several criteria to identify the top destinations.
Taking into account ceiling heights, lighting, warmth and festive decoration, their Cosy Pub Index named Staffordshire as Britain’s premier choice for the season, boasting an impressive 230 cosy pubs.
Derbyshire comes second with 196 venues, followed by Cheshire with 188, Cornwall with 186 and North Yorkshire with 182, reports the Express.
Staffordshire might not immediately spring to mind as a pub culture destination, but a swift glance at the region’s highest-rated establishments on TripAdvisor reveals they’ve been steadily enhancing their reputation for some time.
The county’s highest-rated pub is Osmar’s Table at The Fox Inn in Dosthill, awarded 4.9 stars and lauded for its “warm atmosphere” and a menu that appears tailor-made for festive occasions.
Close behind is The Feathers Inn in Lichfield, commended by guests for its laid-back ambience, substantial dishes and vibrant evenings. Next on the list is The Lazy Trout in Meerbrook, an incredibly sought-after venue that’s frequently fully booked, reviewers report.
Enthusiasts say it delivers that quintessential pub atmosphere whilst boasting views of the surrounding hills.
The Masons Arms in Stoke-on-Trent is distinguished as “a gem of a pub”, whilst The Blue Mugge in Leek completes the top five as a locally favoured, charming and reasonably priced venue with “fantastic” atmosphere.
“Everyone’s got a favourite pub they love to escape to when the cold hits”, explained Sam Millard, the brand’s Head of Innovation. “Winter is when pubs become rituals. It’s hard to resist the glow coming from a window filled with condensation, and the UK pub scene is arguably one of the best places in the world to throw your coat down onto a bench and keep warm with friends.”
The full county-by-county breakdown of prime cosy pub destinations reveals that the North and Midlands command the leading spots, whilst the South East is notably ranked lower.
Scottish havens for warmth such as Glasgow and Edinburgh offered 169 and 139 wintry watering holes respectively. Down in the South West, Dorset (169) edged ahead of Devon (161), with both trailing Cornwall.
The study also identifies a “cosy pub corridor” that could prove ideal for tourists, stretching from Cheshire across Derbyshire, Staffordshire, Gloucestershire and into the Cotswolds.
After steadily gaining power and influence for more than a decade, the watchdogs that provide civilian oversight of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department face an uncertain future.
A recent leadership exodus has left behind gaps in experience and knowledge, and a succession of legal challenges and funding cuts by the county have left some concerned that long-fought gains in transparency are slipping away.
“It is beginning to look like the idea of effective oversight of the Sheriff’s Department is a pipe dream,” said Robert Bonner, former chairman of the Civilian Oversight Commission, who announced in June that he was being pushed into “involuntarily leaving” before he completed pending work.
Current and former oversight officials have argued that the office of county counsel, the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff’s Department have repeatedly undermined efforts to rein in law enforcement misconduct.
The cumulative effect, some advocates worry, is that the public will know less about law enforcement activity, and that there will be fewer independent investigations into deputies and department leaders alike.
“The Sheriff is committed to transparency in law enforcement,” the department said via email. “As we move forward it is essential to strengthen collaboration with the [Civilian Oversight Commission] while ensuring that the rights and safety of our personnel are protected.”
In recent years, oversight bodies have uncovered information about so-called deputy gangs, published reports on inhumane jail conditions and issued subpoenas for records related to on-duty use of force incidents.
Inspector General Max Huntsman’s sudden announcement last week that he was retiring from the position he’s held since its creation more than a decade ago completed a trifecta of departures of top law enforcement oversight officials this year.
In addition to Bonner’s departure, former Civilian Oversight Commission chairman Sean Kennedy stepped down from the body in February in response to what he described as improper county interference in the commission’s activities.
L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna, right, talks with Sean Kennedy during an event on April 5 in Baker. Kennedy left his position on the Civilian Oversight Commission earlier this year.
(William Liang / For The Times)
Kennedy and others have said the Sheriff’s Department has refused to comply with multiple subpoenas by the commission for personnel files and records related to deputy misconduct.
“The attack on integrity and on oversight capacity is threatening all of us in Los Angeles County,” Hans Johnson, who took over as chairman of the Civilian Oversight Commission following Bonner’s departure, said at a recent public meeting. “We look forward to making sure that oversight is preserved and protected and not muzzled and not unplugged or sabotaged.”
The Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors said in a statement that it maintains a “long-standing commitment to strong oversight.”
The Sheriff’s Department said only one request it has received from oversight officials this year remains pending.
“The Department remains committed to working cooperatively to provide all requested information as required by law,” the statement said.
On the state level, reform advocates recently scored what they described as a victory for transparency.
In October, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill known as AB 847, which granted civilian oversight bodies across California the ability to view confidential law enforcement records in private sessions. L.A. County officials had previously balked at sharing certain sensitive files on sheriff’s deputies, and some reformers worry the new law may not go far enough.
Dara Williams, chief deputy of the Office of the Inspector General, said at a July public meeting that the Sheriff’s Department has a history of being “painfully slow” to respond to requests for records related to homicides by deputies. In one instance, she said, Huntsman’s office served the department with a subpoena in October 2024 “and we are still waiting for documents and answers.”
The Sheriff’s Department said it has hired an outside attorney who is “conducting an independent review” of its records to determine if “those materials actually exist and can be found.”
The department’s statement said it will abide by the law and that protecting confidential information “remains of the utmost importance.”
Some involved in oversight have also become the subject of probes themselves.
In June, the Office of the County Counsel said it was investigating Kennedy for alleged retaliation against a sergeant who had worked for a unit that had been accused of pursuing cases for political reasons during Sheriff Alex Villanueva’s tenure.
Kennedy has denied the allegations, telling The Times in June, “I was just doing my job as an oversight official.”
Budget cuts — some already instituted, others threatened — are also a concern.
Huntsman said earlier this year that the Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors was reassigning or eliminating a third of his staff.
Former L.A. County Inspector General Max Huntsman listens during a hearing at Loyola Law School’s Advocacy Center on Jan. 12, 2024.
(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
He too left amid acrimony with county officials.
“The County has made it very clear over the past couple of years that they are not going to enforce the state oversight laws,” Huntsman told The Times. “Instead the county supports the sheriff limiting the flow of information so as to restrict meaningful oversight.”
The Executive Office of the Board of Supervisors said the changes implemented this year have had a “minimal” impact that “neither limits OIG’s responsibility nor their capacity.”
The possibility of eliminating the Sybil Brand Commission, which monitors L.A. County jails, was discussed in an August report to the Board of Supervisors. County officials said it would save about $40,000 annually.
Sybil Brand commissioner Eric Miller told The Times in September that he believes “the county is attempting to limit oversight of the Sheriff’s Department … to avoid lawsuits.” The department, he said, “is a powerful constituency within the county.”
In September, California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta launched a state lawsuit over what he described as a “humanitarian crisis” inside L.A. County jails.
There are even concerns that the Sheriff’s Department is seeking greater control over local groups that facilitate conversations between deputies and members of the public — often some of the only opportunities for community concerns to be heard.
In the Antelope Valley, the Palmdale Sheriff’s Station Community Advisory Committee has been roiled by allegations that a local Sheriff’s Department captain appointed a new member without other members’ approval.
The chair of the committee, Georgia Halliman, resigned in October and committee member Sylvia Williams has alleged that the Sheriff’s Department captain tried to force her out.
“I was going to leave, but they need someone who’s real in there,” Williams told The Times. “You have to have an overseer.”
The department said it is reviewing the situation.
Melissa Camacho, a senior staff attorney with the ACLU of Southern California, said the county is at a crossroads.
“The main question right now is what is the county going to do?” she said. “Is this going to be a moment when the Board of Supervisors decides to actually invest in oversight?”
Dec. 19 (UPI) — A 12-person jury has found Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan guilty of obstructing federal agents attempting an immigration arrest near her courtroom in April.
The jury deliberated for more than six hours before delivering its guilty verdict on one count of obstruction, but acquitted her on a second count of concealment.
She could face up to five years’ imprisonment and a $250,000 fine when sentenced. A sentencing date has not been set.
The ruling is a victory for President Donald Trump and his administration, who have portrayed Dugan as an example of judges interfering with their immigration enforcement policies.
Dugan was arrested by FBI agents in late April and charged with knowingly concealing a person whose arrest warrant had been issued in order to prevent their apprehension, and corruptly endeavoring to influence, obstruct and impede the administration of law enforcement.
Federal prosecutors said she misdirected federal agents on April 18 to allow undocumented migrant Eduardo Flores-Ruiz to evade arrest.
Court documents state that she confronted federal agents in the court’s hallway after escorting Flores-Ruiz and his counsel out of her courtroom.
Flores-Ruiz was arrested by immigration enforcement agents following a foot chase.
The arrest came amid the early stages of Trump’s immigration crackdown, part of which was the rescinding of a Biden administration policy prohibiting immigration enforcement action in or near courthouses.
Critics and justice advocates — including nearly 150 former state and federal judges — rebuked the arrest as an effort to intimidate the judiciary, warning it threatened judicial independence and the Constitution.
Interim U.S. Attorney Brad Schimel for the Eastern District of Wisconsin told reporters following the jury verdict that while some have sought to make the case about a larger political battle, “it’s ultimately about a single day — a single bad day in a public courthouse.”
“The defendant is certainly not evil, nor is she a martyr for some great cause. It was a criminal case, like many that make their way through this courthouse every day,” he said.
“And we all must accept the verdict.”
Steven Biskupic, Dugan’s lead attorney, told reporters the defense was “obviously disappointed” with the verdict and that it does not make sense for his client to be found guilty on one count and acquitted on the other since they are based on the same elements.
“I would just say the case is a long way from over,” he said.
Norm Eisen, executive chair of the nonpartisan Democracy Defenders Fund, issued the same sentiment in a statement emailed to UPI.
“This case is far from over. Substantial legal and constitutional issues remain unresolved, and they are exactly the kinds of questions appellate courts are meant to address,” Eisen said.
“Higher courts will have the opportunity to determine whether this prosecution crossed the lines that protect the judiciary from executive overreach.”
Republicans and members of Trump’s administraiton swiftly celebrated the ruling, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche remarking that “nobody is above the law” and Rep. Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin stating, “Now, lock her up.”
CORNWALL is known for its breathtakingly beautiful beaches – and for good reason.
With over 300 beaches to choose from, there’s a stretch of sand to suit everyone, from vast, wide open beaches to hidden coves accessible only at low tide.
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Kynance Cove is one of the most famous beaches in Cornwall, but there are more than 400 to choose fromCredit: Getty
As a rule of thumb, Cornwall’s north coast is wild and rugged, and generally best for surfing, where beaches are backed by windswept cliffs or sand dunes and exposed to the Atlantic swell.
By comparison, the south coast of Cornwall tends to be more sheltered, boasting some of the most picturesque fishing harbours, green landscapes and stunning estuaries.
You’ll also find mainland England’s most southerly and westerly points (Lizard Point and Land’s End), with their legendary shipwrecks.
But which beach should you visit first on your £9.50 Holiday? Here’s our handy guide – with tips from Cornwall experts, local holiday park and Sun readers to help you whittle the choice down…
Whichever beach you pick in Cornwall, the vistas will blow you away.
Perhaps the most stunning visually is Kynance Cove, with its white sands and mesmerising rock stacks.
Its islands and caves are only accessible at low tide (tip: check tide times before you visit) and it’s best to visit early in the day to avoid the crowds.
Carol Harris, 72, from Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, stayed at Parkdean Resorts Lizard Point on a 9.50 Holiday and she said: “Kynance Cove is less than a 15-minute drive away, and it’s just stunning – the scenery is incredible.
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“It also has a National Trust car park so is free for members to park, and staff are helpful at pointing out the easier and harder routes to walk as you arrive.”
Best for surfing
Cornwall expert and Sun travel writer Ellie Ross recommends Newquay for surfing. She said “The town is regarded as the UK’s surf capital, and you’ve got 12 beaches to choose from, so there are lots of options for all abilities.
“For instance, beginners can catch small waves in the sheltered Towan Beach (beside the harbour) while intermediate and advanced surfers can find consistent swell at Fistral Beach.
Little Fistral is a stunning and less crowded alternative to its larger neighbour – Fistral beachCredit: Alamy
Best beaches to escape the crowds
Anne Walton, 71, from Newport, stayed at Hendra Holiday Park in Newquay.
She said: “Cornwall’s beaches are second to none – they’re one of the reasons that I prefer to go to Cornwall rather than abroad.
“The beaches around St Ives and Carbis Bay have the best sand – it’s so soft.
“Then I like the waves at Fistral Beach. But it can get busy so I prefer the neighbouring Little Fistral Beach.
“It’s much smaller and only accessible at low tide, but not as many people know about it so you can get the beach to yourself. It’s a more secret beach.”
“Another tip is knowing where to park in Newquay. We avoid the main Fistral Beach car park, and instead park at Towan Headland Car Park, which not as many people know about and only costs around £1.50 per hour.
You’re also right next to the steps that lead down to the lesser-known Little Fistral Beach.”
The Sun’s Head Of Travel (Digital), Caroline McGuire said: “I stay in St Mawes every summer and one of my favourite beach days is when we take the tiny 12-seater Place Ferry across to Place Landing, on St Anthony Head.
“From there, a lovely 25-minute walk through the countryside, along car-less lanes takes you out to Great Molunan beach and Little Molunan beach, beautiful sheltered cove with crystal clear waters that are never busy.
Little Molunan beach on St Anthony Head, which can be reached by a small ferryCredit: Alamy
Best beach with a pub
For a beach with beer, Ellie Ross recommends Perranporth Beach – a vast sandy beach that’s fantastic for everything from surfing and sea swimming to dog walking (tip: dogs must be on leads in July and August).
She said: “The Watering Holebeach bar sits right on the sand and it’s the perfect place for a pint as the sun sets.
“As well as serving great food with a sea view, the pub is also a local favourite and hosts live music events all year round.”
Best for families
Ellie recommends Watergate Bay, on the edge of Newquay, for families, saying: “There’s a ramp all the way down to the sand – perfect for prams – and at low tide it’s rockpooling heaven for children.
“Crantock, just a ten-minute drive from Newquay is also a good choice for families – it’s backed by sand dunes, with a river for shallow paddling.
“Crantock also has a coffee truck, Cargo Coffee, right on the beach selling everything from local pastries to handmade ice creams.”
(Tip: the coffee truck is weather dependent so check their Instagram page; Crantock National Trust car park gets busy in summer, so arrive early to avoid long queues!)
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Fistral beach is perfect for novice and experienced surfersCredit: AlamyCrantock beach is a good choice for families – it’s backed by sand dunes, with a river for shallow paddling.Credit: Getty
Best for dogs
Not all of Cornwall’s beaches allow dogs all year round – many have a summer ban, so check ahead if you’re travelling with a four-legged friend.
Watergate Bay, Fistral Beach and Crantock Beach are among the beaches with no summer restrictions, so are great choices for canine lovers.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is testifying before a Georgia state Senate committee Wednesday about her case against President Donald Trump. File Photo by Erik S. Lesser/EPA
Dec. 17 (UPI) — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is facing a Georgia state Senate committee over her attempts to prosecute President Donald Trump in a 2020 election interference case as well as her hiring of Nathan Wade, with whom she had a romantic relationship.
Willis has fought the subpoena requiring her to appear before the committee since the summer of 2024. Her attorney is former Georgia Gov. Roy Barnes, who said she maintains that the committee’s actions are politically motivated.
Barnes argued before the Georgia Supreme Court on Dec. 9 that the subpoena to testify issued by the committee is invalid because it was issued after the legislature adjourned.
The committee plans to ask about her decisions regarding the case against Trump and his supporters, some of whom pleaded guilty to charges. Sidney Powell, Jenna Ellis, Kenneth Chesebro and Scott Hall took plea deals after agreeing to testify. Trump later gave them all federal pardons.
Wade and Willis were removed from the case, and Willis fought to stay on the case, but lost her appeal. The case against Trump was dropped after a new prosecutor took over the case.
President Donald Trump participates in a Hanukkah reception in the East Room at the White House on Tuesday. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo
Charlie Smyth kicked a 47-yard field goal with six seconds left on the clock to give the New Orleans Saints a 20-17 win over division rivals the Carolina Panthers.
The former Gaelic footballer from Mayobridge in County Down was making his third career start at the Superdome and also kicked a 42-yarder as well two extra points in the win.
The Saints had trailed 17-7 in the third quarter but Smyth’s first field goal of the game brought them back within a score.
Chris Olave’s touchdown grab then gave Smyth the opportunity to tie the game with the 24-year-old duly adding the extra point to make it 17-17 with two minutes and eight seconds remaining.
The Panthers could only manage one first down on their next drive to give the Saints the ball back and the chance for a second straight win.
Rookie quarterback Tyler Shough led New Orleans into position with the Saints’ cause aided by a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty called on the Panthers’ Lathan Ransom.
Smyth’s kick then gave the side their fourth win of the season and second in succession after last week’s victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
