family

The three pillars of Dan Hicks’ career as an NBC Sports broadcaster were golf, the Olympics and Notre Dame football, in no particular order. Yet the towering pillars in his life were his wife of 32 years, ESPN broadcaster Hannah Storm, and their three daughters.

Storm broke the news Thursday that Hicks died suddenly a day earlier at 64, triggering an outpouring of grief, heartfelt condolences and tributes.

“Our family is heartbroken by the sudden and unexpected passing of Dan following an acute illness,” Storm wrote on social media. “He was a devoted husband of over 30 years, loving father to our three daughters, and cherished friend to so many. His loss is immeasurable.”

May 2025 photo of Hannah Storm and Dan Hicks in New York City.

(Santiago Felipe/Getty Images)

Hicks was a familiar, authoritative voice during NBC coverage of 26 years of the PGA Tour, 16 Olympics beginning with the 1992 Barcelona Games and seven seasons of Notre Dame football. He was scheduled to call Saturday’s game between the Irish and Boston College.

“Dan Hicks was an extraordinary colleague, friend and person. In his 34 years at NBC Sports, he was an exceptional storyteller and caller of games and events who elevated some of the biggest moments in sports history,” NBC Sports president Rick Cordella, executive producer Sam Flood and executive producer Molly Solomon said in a statement.

“But far beyond his on-air excellence, Dan was a better person who welcomed teammates with a smile, a joke, or a word of encouragement, sometimes all three in the same sentence.”

Hicks anchored the network’s golf coverage of the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and the U.S. Women’s Open. He won a Sports Emmy for his work on the 2024 Paris Olympics and was the Alpine skiing play-by-play announcer at the Milan Cortina Games last winter.

His most famous call on the golf course came at the 2008 U.S. Open when Tiger Woods sunk a 12-foot putt to force a playoff at Torrey Pines. Hicks waited for the crowd to erupt then said in an even voice: “Expect anything different?”

On a recent podcast, Hicks described what he considered the most important element of broadcasting.

“I always remind myself, and I remind young broadcasters coming up, you’ve got to make the people that the audience is watching, you’ve got to make them care about those people,” he said. “And how do you do that? You’ve got to tell some personal stories. You’ve got to introduce the audience to, who is this person? Why are they here? What was their journey like to get here? And so, if you use that element, the numbers game doesn’t matter. If you care about somebody, then you are invested in the telecast.”

Hicks and Storm met in 1989 while both worked at CNN Sports Tonight, where Storm was the first female host. They began dating a year later and married Jan. 8, 1994. Storm spent a decade with Hicks at NBC covering four Olympic games and Major League Baseball before moving to CBS News for six years and to ESPN in 2008 where she currently is a Sports Center anchor.

“We are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Dan Hicks, a respected voice in sports broadcasting and husband of ESPN anchor Hannah Storm,” ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in a statement. “Hannah is a cherished member of the ESPN family, and our hearts are with her, their three daughters and all who knew and loved Dan, including his NBC colleagues, during this incredibly difficult time. We extend our deepest condolences and stand alongside Hannah and her family.”

Rory McIlroy holds the 2025 Players trophy as he is interviewed by Dan Hicks after McIlroy in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

(David Cannon / Getty Images)

Storm posted a photo of her with Hicks on social media along with her statement, which concluded, “Dan was truly one of a kind and, quite simply, the person everyone wanted to be around. When he walked into a room, he brought the energy, the laughter and the people together. He was endlessly kind, thoughtful and funny, and he made everyone feel like they mattered.

“Our three daughters and I are heartbroken. We are grateful for the love and support surrounding our family during this incredibly difficult time. There are simply no words to express how much he will be missed.”

Hicks is survived by Storm and their daughters Hannah, Ellery and Riley.

FORT RUCKER, Ala. — There’s a scene in Melania Trump’s documentary in which she enters the room as Donald Trump is rehearsing his inaugural address.

When he says the line about how “my proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker,” she offers a quick, verbal edit.

“Peacemaker and unifier,” she tells her husband to say instead.

But Melania is the Trump who is credited with recently bringing peace, if only for six days, to one war-torn city in southern Ukraine — an unusual intervention into an active war by an American first lady. Two days after Republican losses in the midterm elections knocked the president out of the spotlight, Melania Trump hosted Russian and Ukrainian officials at the White House to celebrate the temporary ceasefire.

It’s part of a burst of public activity by a first lady regarded as among the most private women to hold the role, and it comes just before the Nov. 20 release by Prime Video of “Melania: The Series,” a follow-up to the first lady’s documentary from January.

On Thursday, the first lady headed to Alabama to address U.S. troops — her third big event since the election. It follows a trip to Louisiana last weekend to announce a multimillion-dollar private endowment to fund scholarships for college students once in foster care.

Military families are a focus for Melania Trump

The first lady has made support for military families part of her portfolio. Her latest trip has taken her to Fort Rucker, an Army post in southern Alabama, with Usha Vance, the wife of Vice President JD Vance, a former Marine.

Before a backdrop that included a duo of Apache and Blackhawk helicopters, both women during the early Thanksgiving visit on Thursday thanked an assembly of hundreds of soldiers and their families for their service to the nation.

“The sacrifices of military families don’t make the headlines, but you are the foundation for the world’s most capable military,” Melania Trump said, urging Americans who will spend the holidays with loved ones to “take a moment to think of America’s service people.”

After their remarks, both women spoke with members of the crowd, pausing to shake hands and take photos.

Later, they would spend time with elementary students attending school on the base. Last year, both women marked the Thanksgiving season with a similar visit to Marine Corps members in North Carolina, thanking them for their service and recognizing the sacrifices their families make.

On Wednesday, they both accompanied their husbands to Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, for the annual Veterans Day observance.

Melania Trump says she was involved in the plans for Oleshky

The White House announced in late October that the first lady had brokered a temporary ceasefire in the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine as it faced a starvation crisis. The pause gave time for about 800 people to leave the city and allowed for deliveries of humanitarian aid to those who chose to stay.

On Thursday, Usha Vance called the first lady “a powerful voice for peace.” Last week, Melania Trump brought together at the White House officials from Russia and Ukraine who helped implement the ceasefire and talked about her role.

“I was involved in every stage of the planning,” she said. “I reviewed demining plans, aerial images, assessed roadways and discussed evacuation routes, hospital access, vehicles and medical resources. I was made aware of the preferred dates and timing of the operation.”

She thanked the Russian and Ukrainian presidents for their cooperation and said Oleshky could be the model for peace between their countries.

“Let Oleshky be the modest spark that grows into a lasting flame of peace,” she said. This week U.S. officials held talks with Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in the United Arab Emirates, but there was no breakthrough.

After the White House announced her role, President Trump said his wife is “doing better than the professionals” on his team whose shuttle diplomacy between Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has yet to bring the nearly 5-year-old war to a close.

Her work on Oleshky followed her outreach to Putin last year as she took on the matter of helping reunite children and families separated by the war. She so far has helped return nearly three dozen children to their families.

She’ll be on the red carpet for a premiere of the Melania series

The first lady will head to New York City next week for the world premiere at Lincoln Center of “Melania: The Series.” The two new Prime Video episodes are billed as showing new aspects of her roles as wife, mother and first lady that weren’t in her documentary.

The first lady described the episodes in an interview on Fox News Channel’s “Fox & Friends” as having “more conversation, one-on-one, with me.”

The episodes, which begin streaming Nov. 20, are supposed to include some surprises, too.

“There are some private questions that I will answer that people never heard before,” she said in the interview. “So it’s kind of exciting.”

Superville writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Meg Kinnard contributed from Columbia, S.C.

A woman and her daughter brought a Bible that once belonged to her grandmother Florence, who was held with her three children in an internment camp during war.

A guest on The Repair Shop has shared the devastating family history behind a treasured heirloom, and why she wanted to have it restored.

Judy and her daughter Laura appeared on the programme in an episode that originally aired in October 2025, where they brought a Bible with them, hoping to have it restored from its ‘battered and weathered’ state. It had once belonged to Judy’s grandmother Florence, and passed down to her children, including Judy’s mother.

As Judy and Laura spoke to The Repair Shop expert Chris Shaw, they detailed their family history, and the conditions that Florence and her children found themselves in, after they were hel at the Lunghua Civilian Assembly Centre in Shanghai during the Second World War.

“She was living and born in China, her father was an Irishman and her mother was a local Chinese lady and at some point, Florence met her future husband, an Englishman,” Laura explained. “Unfortunately, he left her widowed in her early 30s with three children and he died just a few weeks after their son was born.”

She noted that Florence was remarkably young to lose her husband, as bookbinder Chris Shaw described the story as “terrible”, though she encountered additional hardship when conflict erupted and Japan invaded China.

Florence and her children were identified as British and sent to the internment camp, where the children, including Judy’s mum, were aged 17, 15 and 10, reports the Express.

Judy described the appalling conditions, saying: “They were all crammed in, it was hot, little food. They were having very watered down rice with added maggots. Then my grandmother caught TB and she was taken out of camp to a hospital, and they were on their own in camp for about 18 months without their mum.”

The three children found solace in the Bible throughout their four-year ordeal in the camp. Following liberation when the war ended, they were finally reunited with their mother.

Judy recalled how the camp experience stayed with her mum for the rest of her days, explaining: “The habits, if you like. We had a walk-in larder when I was a little girl and it was rammed, floor to ceiling, with tinned food, saying she’d never starve again if war broke out.”

Laura added: “She did have a terrific sense of fun. Obviously as my grandmother, she was always up to mischief, she was definitely your ally. And she was very much of the view that childhoods should be fun and lighthearted, because she felt robbed.”

Judy and Laura were hoping Chris could rescue the “battered and weathered” Bible that had endured the wet and damp conditions of the camp, disclosing that it was over a century old.

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After Chris restored it, Judy was left in tears, seeing the Bible brought back to life. “It represents my mum and my nan’s legacy really, and what they went through. Their strength, their endurance, and hopefully this book can survive a little bit longer, too,” she said.

“Oh gosh,” she said, after seeing it, in disbelief. “Is that the same one? It’s amazing… this is how it would have looked.”

She thanked Chris, adding: “It’s something my nana would have held, and obviously it meant a lot to my mum and her sister in camp, giving comfort when things were so bad. We’ve got it back in one piece that we can hold, it’s a lesson that not all is lost.”

The Repair Shop is available to watch on BBC iPlayer

Nine family members of the Kennedy political dynasty asked a judge Tuesday to block President Trump’s plan to build a towering memorial arch, saying the 250-foot structure would cast a shadow over their relatives’ gravesites at Arlington National Cemetery.

The shadow would “fundamentally alter the experience of visiting the gravesites,” the relatives argued. They filed a motion to intervene in two existing lawsuits seeking to block construction of the arch.

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan last week prohibited the Trump administration from breaking ground on the structure for 14 days.

The nine Kennedy family members who filed suit are children and grandchildren of Robert F. Kennedy and Edward M. Kennedy, brothers of the slain U.S. president John F. Kennedy, both of whom served in the U.S. Senate. They are buried close to the eternal flame that marks JFK’s gravesite, a trio of memorials that are a major draw for the millions of people who visit the Arlington cemetery each year.

Building the arch would be a “permanent denigration” of the gravesites, and the Kennedy offspring “would never again be able to appreciate both sites as they always have before, and as the Kennedy family always intended,” lawyers for the relatives wrote. They are represented by veteran Washington lawyer Norm Eisen and Democracy Defenders Fund.

“It is unfortunate to see that some members of the Kennedy family have joined the litigation against the Arch as the project is intended to honor our heroes who rest in Arlington Cemetery,” said White House spokesperson Davis Ingle. “The judiciary should not be abused to politicize a structure designed to unite our nation.”

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump’s health and human services secretary who has a fractured relationship with many of his relatives, did not join the lawsuit.

The arch is one of several projects around Washington that the Republican president has undertaken as he alters the capital to his tastes — from renovating one of its storied public golf courses to threatening to demolish the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Those projects could soon face intense scrutiny after Democrats gained control of Congress in the midterm elections.

The White House last week unveiled a glitzy new website to showcase the arch, which is slated to rise in a mass of gold ornamentation and stately gray granite between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

Cooper writes for the Associated Press.

A family of four left a TUI partner hotel after they discovered disgusting conditions at the venue including ants in their room and a toilet that wouldn’t stop flushing

A family left a TUI partner hotel early after discovering it was “unfit for humans” and left in a state so poor the two children were in ‘tears’.

Clinical resourcing partner Vikki Ashton, from Leeds, had travelled to Sousse, Tunisia with her husband and their two children in July this year for an £1,800 two-week all-inclusive holiday.

However, when they arrived at the hotel, they found it was very different to how it was advertised. It was in such a poor state, in fact, that TUI would later remove it from their site.

Vikki, 49, explained that one of the first warning signs occurred when the family arrived and found the hotel pool was green rather than blue. This was before they entered their hotel room and found lights off the walls and a toilet that wouldn’t stop flushing.

Vikki recalled: “While we were walking to our room [after checking in] we saw that the pool was green. It looked filthy. On the website the pool is blue. People were in it. It was in full use. We got in the room and saw it was pretty basic. The side lights were hanging off on wires, not even attached to the wall.

“We went in the bathroom and the toilet was filthy and it wouldn’t stop flushing. The noise was awful. The bathroom door handle just came off. It was falling apart. It wasn’t fit for human habitation. The public toilets that run from the all-inclusive bar to the toilets were covered in dirt. It was filthy. We were horrified.”

So concerned about the state of the room was the family that Vikki said she was worried they would “end up getting poorly” as their two daughters found ants “all over the room and all over the bed”.

In response, Vikki called TUI to express her worries about the venue, but claimed they told her they could not move the family due to it being peak holiday season. This was despite Vikki claiming she had seen availability online. Taking matters into their own hands, the family decided to rebook with another hotel privately at the cost of £3,200 for the rest of their holiday.

Vikki explained: “We told reception we need moving. We rang TUI again the next morning and they told us they couldn’t move us because it was height of the season. But they could’ve moved us because we could see right now there were several hotels in the area with availability today.”

Vikki added: “We said give us the money back for this hotel and we’ll move ourselves. They said they wouldn’t do that. We tried to work with TUI to get this resolved but they were not very forthcoming.

“It was either pay for another hotel ourselves or go home. The girls were in tears. The next hotel was fine and we stayed there for the remaining 13 nights. There was no way on earth we would’ve stayed at the first hotel. You could hear people in the hotel saying ‘get me out this place’.”

Upon their return to the UK, Vikki claimed that TUI was only willing to offer the family £105 in compensation for what had happened, an offer the family declined. Vikki, saddened at what had happened, said they hadn’t been expecting luxury, just “the basics”.

After Vikki’s case was raised, TUI have since claimed they reviewed the matter, including issues at the property Vikki mentioned. TUI has also claimed one of their team was in contact with VikkI and have since offered to fully reimburse them the price of the alternative accommodation they organised. Alongside this, they say the original venue, which was the source of the complaints, has also been removed from sale.

A spokesperson for TUI said: “We’re very sorry to hear about Ms Ashton’s experience. We want everyone who travels with us to be able to do so with confidence and to receive the standard of holiday they expect.

“We have since resolved the matter directly with the customer and, following the concerns raised, taken the decision to remove the property from sale, meaning it is no longer available to book through TUI.”

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Kennedy dynasty has filed a motion to stop Trump’s arch from obscuring JFK Eternal Flame and slain family gravesites.

Members of the prominent Kennedy family have filed a legal motion to halt the construction of US President Donald Trump’s 76-metre (250ft) “triumphal arch” in Washington, DC, arguing it mars the area near the graves of the family’s famous forebears.

On Tuesday, the nine plaintiffs, children and grandchildren of former Senators Robert F Kennedy and Edward M Kennedy, filed a motion to intervene and an accompanying complaint in two existing federal lawsuits to block the arch’s construction.

The project would sit near the final resting places of the late senators, buried alongside their brother, former President John F Kennedy, and the Eternal Flame commemorating him at Arlington National Cemetery.

Plaintiffs argued the proposed arch would “fundamentally alter the experience of visiting the gravesites”, a site that draws millions of visitors each year.

The intervention motion was filed by veteran Washington lawyer Norm Eisen and Democracy Defenders Fund, a centre-left legal advocacy group.

It contends that the National Park Service and the Department of the Interior authorised the granite, gold-ornamented structure, dubbed the “Arc de Trump” by critics, without required congressional approval.

The plaintiffs also argue the megastructure would destroy the intentionally designed, century-old line of sight between the Lincoln Memorial and the cemetery’s Arlington House across the Memorial Bridge.

Many plaintiffs

The high-profile intervention adds to an already sprawling roster of plaintiffs who have launched legal challenges against the polarising monument, including Vietnam War veterans, a historian, and the governments of the District of Columbia, Virginia and Arlington County.

Last week, District Judge Tanya Chutkan prohibited the Trump administration from breaking ground on the structure for another 14 days following the string of lawsuits.

Building the arch would be a “permanent denigration” of the gravesites, and the Kennedy offspring “would never again be able to appreciate both sites as they always have before, and as the Kennedy family always intended”, lawyers for the relatives wrote on Tuesday.

The project is just one component of the president’s effort to remodel much of Washington, DC, alongside a historic golf course renovation and threats to demolish the Kennedy Center.

But with Democrats seizing control of Congress in last week’s midterm elections, the overhauls may be set for heightened scrutiny.

Speaking on behalf of the Kennedy family, Rory and Maxwell Kennedy, children of the late senator Robert F Kennedy, said the action is about “protecting sacred spaces that belong to the American people”. They said several members of their slain family are “among the more than 400,000 veterans and family members buried or honored on this hallowed ground”.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a Trump appointee who is estranged from much of his family,  did not join the litigation.

LeBron James says that his loved ones are not in danger after multiple media outlets reported that a man was arrested outside the former Lakers star’s Brentwood home late last week.

According to a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson, officers responded to a reported burglary in progress in a Brentwood neighborhood on Friday at around 9:40 p.m. A 22-year-old male identified as Jaliere McWhite was taken into custody without incident and booked for felony stalking.

As of Monday morning, McWhite was being held on $150,000 bond at the Van Nuys Regional Jail, according to online inmate records.

James, who currently plays for the Philadelphia 76ers, was asked about the incident following his team’s 127-121 victory over the Bulls in Chicago on Sunday.

“My family is safe, and that’s the most important,” James said. “We’re still looking into everything.”

A 24-year NBA veteran, James spent the previous eight seasons with the Lakers before signing with the 76ers as a free agent this summer. His wife, Savannah James, and 12-year-old daughter Zhuri still live in Los Angeles.

James told reporters last year that his oldest son Bronny James, a third-year Lakers guard who was assigned to G League Coachella Valley last week, had moved out of the family home. Middle child Bryce James is a redshirt freshman guard at Arizona.

RUSSELL Brand’s family are said to be deeply concerned for his wife and fear the disgraced comedian “totally brainwashed” her into believing he is innocent.

Besotted 39-year-old Laura Gallacher is said to remain fiercely loyal to her sicko husband – despite him being convicted of rape and three sexual assaults.

Relatives worry that Laura has been so swayed by rapist Brand that she refuses to accept the evidence against him, the Mail reports.

It comes after The Sun revealed that Laura – who has stood by her hubby throughout the trial – is in two minds about attending the sentencing hearing tomorrow.

Sources close to her family claim she has been left convinced that the 51-year-old is innocent, and is even determined to support an appeal against his convictions.

One family friend told the Mail: “Russell gets what Russell wants. He has that charm and swagger, and Laura is besotted with him.

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“She goes along with what he wants, it’s like he has totally brainwashed her.”

They added that his absence could give Laura the opportunity to step away from his influence and reassess their relationship.

Brand faces a “lengthy” prison sentence after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a trial at Southwark Crown Court.

The offences involved four women and took place between 2005 and 2009.

He was also acquitted of two further counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.

But the split verdict is understood to have strengthened Laura’s belief that her husband was wrongly accused.

A friend told the Mail she believes the jury’s decision to clear him of three charges proves the other allegations were also untrue.

Laura had attended court throughout the trial, sitting in the public gallery as six women gave evidence about their experiences.

She was regularly seen arriving alongside Brand, holding his hand as they entered and left the building.

The mother-of-three also took notes as the women described the allegations against her husband.

Those close to her reportedly noticed what they believed was growing anger as she listened to the evidence, which they claim she dismissed as lies.

In videos shared on the couple’s online show, Sunday Service With The Brands, Laura also spoke about the emotional strain of attending court.

During one recording, she described putting on her “armour” before entering the building.

She said she would begin to feel nervous as soon as she approached the street where the court was situated.

Brand, who has reinvented himself as a born-again Christian, regularly features alongside Laura in the online broadcasts, which include Bible readings, prayers and discussions about family life.

The couple have been married for nine years and share three children- two girls aged nine and seven, and a three-year-old son.

Laura, the daughter of former European Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher, is said to have found the guilty verdict particularly difficult to accept.

Brand was remanded into custody at HMP Wandsworth after the verdict, leaving his wife to leave court without him.

Sources claim she was shocked and extremely upset by his imprisonment and believes he has been badly treated.

Laura is understood to have taken comfort from the three charges on which he was acquitted.

The family are now said to be rallying around Laura and the children as they face an uncertain future.

Her older sister, former Sky Sports presenter Kirsty Gallacher, is among those supporting her.

Bernard and his wife Lesley are also said to have been left heartbroken by the scandal.

The family are particularly concerned about what comes next, with cops continuing to investigate further allegations against Brand.

The comedian faces separate rape allegations involving two more women, including a girl who was 16 at the time.

The Metropolitan Police investigation could lead to further charges and another trial.

Despite his convictions, Laura is reportedly determined to stand by her husband and support him through any future legal proceedings.

The couple had spent much of their time living in Florida before Brand’s trial, but Laura is now expected to remain in the UK while he serves his sentence.

Relatives are said to hope she will spend more time closer to them in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire.

One family friend told the Mail: “You can’t help thinking life would have been way less painful for Laura if they had never met.”

DON’T overpay to escape the cold with the kids this winter – we’ve listed all the cheap and free family days out you’ll need.

Keeping the kids entertained in winter can get expensive. But before you drop £30 each on tickets to indoor attractions, you’ll want to read this list as our ultimate family days out guide for winter is packed with cheap days out.

Our helpful list includes everything to keep the kids entertained, from inflatable obstacle courses, ice skating and trampolining.

There’s also half-price bowling, indoor tropical gardens and more.

Whether your budget is £15 or zero pounds, here are the best cheap and free family days out to book for winter.

Which means you’re saving some much-needed extra cash for Christmas presents…

Under £15pp

Clip ‘n Climb Toddler Sessions – multiple locations

If you’ve got kids aged 2-4, you can take them on a 60 minute mini climbing session at Clip ‘n’ Climbs across the UK from £13.50 per child.

You can also book in for a Mini Mountaineers session for ages 2-4 at certain locations, which includes a free snack pot, for £10.50 per child. The deal also includes free soft play use. Click here to see locations.

Legoland Discovery Centre – Manchester/Birmingham

The Legoland Discovery centres include indoor rides, massive Lego build zones, a 4D cinema, and a dedicated Duplo farm for the little ones.

During term-time weekdays, an adult and a toddler (under five) can get combined entry for £10.50, which is a massive saving on standard ticket prices (£19pp when booked online).

Bovington Tank Museum – Dorset

Explore massive indoor hangars packed with over 300 military vehicles at the brilliant Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset. There’s also a soft play area, a dress up zone and interactive activities, like building your own tank.

While individual tickets can be pricey, if you go for a family ticket for four it works out to a bargain £11.99pp. Plus under-fours go completely free.

Paradise Island Crazy Golf – multiple locations

Shelter from the rain and take on an indoor tropical crazy golf course. You can find these massive indoor courses in locations including Manchester, Sheffield, Cheshire Oaks, Glasgow, and Livingston.

Tickets cost £11.50 per adult, £9.25 per child aged five to 16 and £6 per child under five. Click here for all locations.

Zip World – multiple locations

While Zip World is known for its thrilling zipwires, climbing and cavern experiences, little ones can get in on the fun, too – all for under £15.

Mini thrill seekers can take on the Tiny Trek treetop adventure £12) and the Treetot Nets (£5), while the grown-ups with them can take on the Treetop Drop £15) – a terrifying freefall experience through the trees.

Indoor trampolining at Air Unlimited – multiple locations

This two-hour jump session is the perfect chance for kids to burn off that pent-up energy, with wall-to-wall trampolines, tumble tracks, giant slides plus a jump tower with a giant airbag to land on.

You can book via Groupon for a 32 per cent discount, taking the price down to £14.95pp.

Under £10pp

Ninja Warrior UK – multiple locations

Take on the TV-famous Ninja Warrior obstacle course from £9.95 for ages five plus, or take on the mini ‘Ninja Toddlers’ for £2.

You can visit in the following locations: Bristol, Chatham, Chelmsford, Guildford, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Milton Keynes, Sheffield, Southampton, Stoke-on-Trent, Swansea, Teesside, Walsall and Watford.

Skating at Planet Ice

A family trip to the ice rink is perfect in the winter – and Planet Ice sessions start from £8 per adult or child, £3.20 per child under 4.

You can also book in for seasonal events like the Sub Zero Disco, Penguin Club skating classes for under fives and Stick and Puck ice hockey skill sessions. Click here to find your nearest rink.

Tenpin Half-Price Tuesdays

When the weather plays up this winter, head to Tenpin for a few rounds of bowling. The Tenpin Tuesdays offer gives you 50 per cent off bowling and selected drinks (from £4.98 per adult & £4.25 per child).

There’s also a family deal, where you can bag a game for a family of four from £8.75 – plus you can add on a burger meal for £3.80pp.

High Ropes Adventure – Birmingham

Another great indoor option for burning off some energy indoors is the Gravity High Ropes experience in Birmingham.

Tackle rope bridges, climb platforms and weave through webs high up in the air from only £8.76pp with this Groupon deal.

Under £5pp

Soft play at Everyone Active – multiple locations

Ditch the £15pp private indoor play centres and check out your local, council-run leisure centre.

Places like Everyone Active run dedicated toddler soft play sessions starting from just £2. Click here to find a location near you.

Cinema – multiple locations

Cinema trips are still a fantastic option for killing a couple hours indoors, where the kids are kept warm and entertained for only a few pounds.

Upcoming family-friendly movies include a new, animated The Cat in the Hat as well as The Angry Birds Movie. In fact, Sun Club members can even bag free Cineworld tickets on select dates this November. Click here to redeem yours.

Big Pit National Coal Museum – Blaenavon, Wales

Pop on your head torch and visit a real coal mine with its own museum for an adventurous family day out, with galleries where you can get up close to machinery and watch underground movies on mining history.

While the museum is free to visit, you can book an underground tour for only £5pp. The tour takes you 300 feet underground with a real miner, through tunnels stepped through for hundreds of years.

Swim for all – multiple locations

Ditch overpriced waterparks and simply visit your local leisure centre to enjoy a heated pool, inflatables for hire and more for a fraction of the cost.

Swim for All sessions cost around £5 per adult and £2.85 per child. Click here to find a pool near you.

Free

Tropical Winter Gardens

Warm up inside a giant, tropical indoor jungle in Sheffield or Sunderland. Stay sheltered with warm temperatures inside a giant glass dome, with plenty of lovely plants to look at.

Sheffield’s also has its own cafe and gift shop, while the Sunderland site hosts free weekly activities such as a forest school for kids.

Forestry England Character Trails

If your kids are fans of Room on the Broom, Stick Man or The Gruffalo, your next winter walk is about to get a lot more interesting.

Forestry England have themed trails across the UK, stretching from Northumberland to Cornwall. Click here to find a themed trail near you

Go Geocaching

Turn a boring winter walk into an exciting treasure hunt for free just by downloading the Geocaching app to your smartphone.

Work together as a family to track down the secret ‘caches’ hidden in local parks and woodlands. Just wrap up warm, pack a pen to sign the logbook, and let the GPS guide you.

Winter wildlife spotting

Wrap up warm and take the kids outdoors to get to know local wildlife this winter. Download Merlin Bird ID to track bird by their calls, or print out a free activity sheet from Wildlife Watch UK.

To spot adorable seal pups on the beach, head to Donna Nook in Lincolnshire or Blakeney in Norfolk. Watch wild deer roam in spots like Richmond, Holkham and Cheshire, or watch the incredible winter swan feeds at the WWT Wetland Centres across the UK.

National Railway Museum, York

You don’t have to pay a penny to walk into the biggest train museum on the planet.

Get up close to legendary locomotives like the Mallard and Flying Scotsman, before taking ta ride on the miniature railway and checking out the massive model train setups.

Discovery Museum, Newcastle

Dedicated to Tyneside’s maritime and industrial history, this free attraction is complete with a massive 34-metre ship (called The Turbina) right at the entrance.

Inside there’s a brilliant hands-on ‘Science Maze’ play area, with interactive screens, experiments and more.

Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds

This free-entry museum is stocked with unique armour including that of Henry VIII, samurai swords and even the world’s only remaining suit of elephant armour from India.

There are even historical live demonstrations, including knights duelling in medieval long sword fighting, as well as time for the kids to handle special objects and dress up.

WASHINGTON — Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said on Friday that he has been discharged from the hospital after suffering a stroke last weekend and will miss “several weeks” of votes in the Senate as he recovers in a rehabilitation facility.

Murphy, 53, said in a statement that doctors are “very encouraged by the progress I’ve made so far” and that the stay at the rehabilitation center will get him back to work on the quickest timeline possible.

Murphy said doctors diagnosed him with a small hemorrhagic stroke, which is a bleed in the brain. He said he called 911 on Oct. 31 out of an abundance of caution after feeling that “something was not right” with his body.

“This has been a scary experience for me and my family, and I appreciate the continued respect for our privacy,” he said.

The press release updating Murphy’s condition included a statement from Dr. Jose Suarez, chief of neurosciences critical care at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. Suarez said the senator has shown tremendous progress and “we expect that he will make a full recovery following rehabilitation.”

In the Senate, Murphy serves on the Appropriations Committee and is a leading voice on immigration and gun policy. He is considered a contender for more senior leadership positions in the Senate and among the many Democrats seen as potential 2028 candidates for the White House.

Murphy said he has been staying engaged with his team and colleagues remotely and that his staff ensures the work of his office continues uninterrupted.

“I want to extend my deepest thanks to the excellent doctors and staff at Johns Hopkins who have treated me and cared for my family,” Murphy said.

Murphy had been traveling the country in support of House and Senate candidates as his party raced for majority control, which it secured in Tuesday’s midterm elections. A day before the stroke, he posted that he had been campaigning in his home state for Gov. Ned Lamont. The week before, he posted from Minnesota campaigning with Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, the Democratic nominee for the Senate.

Lamont won reelection Tuesday, and Flanagan won her race, becoming the first Native American female U.S. senator.

The final sprint before election day capped Murphy’s whirlwind trip to the Middle East at the start of October for meetings with several leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In early September, Murphy completed his annual “walk across Connecticut,” covering about 70 miles over four days, talking with residents about their concerns along the way.

Three other Senate Democrats had strokes in recent years. Sens. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland had strokes in 2022 and have recovered. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman had a stroke while campaigning for his seat that year and now uses adaptive technology in the Senate, including live captioning on a phone or tablet that transcribes words as people speak to him and helps him process the conversation.

Fetterman said on social media the day after Murphy’s stroke that his family was “rooting for Chris and his family for a full and speedy recovery.”

Freking writes for the Associated Press.

SANTIAGO, Chile — Oscar-winning Chilean filmmaker Sebastián Lelio, whose acclaimed drama “A Fantastic Woman” broke ground with its portrayal of a transgender woman, has died in Santiago, Chile, at 52.

His family announced his death Friday in an Instagram post, citing health reasons but not specifying the cause.

“His memory will remain forever among us,” the family said. “He was a beautiful person who contributed to Chilean culture in great moments of its history.”

Lelio won the 2018 Academy Award for foreign language film (now international film) for “A Fantastic Woman,” starring trans actor Daniela Vega as a waitress and nightclub singer whose life is torn by the death of her boyfriend.

It was Chile’s second Academy Award, following the animated short “Bear Story” in 2016.

Lelio’s other films include “Gloria,” “The Wave,” “The Wonder,” “Disobedience” and “The Year of the Tiger.” Throughout his career, he collaborated with Julianne Moore, Rachel Weisz and Florence Pugh.

He had begun filming “Poeta Chileno” (Chilean Poet) based on the book by Alejandro Zambra in September.

He was born in the Argentine city of Mendoza and moved to Chile at the age of 2. He studied journalism for a year before enrolling at the Chilean Film School.

OSCAR-winning filmmaker Sebastián Lelio, who directed the critically acclaimed A Fantastic Woman, has died aged 52.

The Chilean director passed away at his home in Santiago, Chile due to “health reasons”, said his partner, actress Amalia Kassai.

She reportedly called police after finding Lelio at his home in the city’s Las Condes district.

“We are going through a very painful time, and his memory will remain with us forever,” Amalia wrote in a touching tribute on Instagram.

“He was a wonderful person who contributed to Chilean culture during important moments in its history.”

The statement, signed by the Lelio Kassai and Campos Watt families, continued: “As a family, we ask for respect for our privacy and consideration during these difficult times.”

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Lelio’s 2017 film A Fantastic Woman starred Daniela Vega as a trans woman implicated in the accidental death of her older boyfriend.

The groundbreaking movie took home the Oscar for best foreign language film in 2018 and led to reforms for trans identification in Chile.

It also won the Independent Spirit Award for best international film.

Lelio also received critical acclaim for directing English language features such as The Wonder and Gloria Bell.

The latter was a remake of his earlier film Gloria, which took home numerous awards and was selected as Chile’s Oscar entry for best foreign feature.

It starred award-winning actress Paulina Garcia as a 58-year-old woman who starts dating a decade after getting divorced.

Lelio’s 2017 film Disobedience starred Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams and follows a woman who reunites with a childhood friend at an Orthodox community.

The late filmmaker was born in Argentina, before his family moved to Chile when he was two.

He launched his career in 2005 with La Sagrada Familia after directing several short films and music videos.

Lelio also directed two seasons of the documentary series Mi mundo privado (My private life), which earned two Emmy nominations.

His third film, The Year of the Tiger, was set in the aftermath of the catastrophic 2010 Chile earthquake and follows an escaped prisoner as he travels through the worst-affected regions of the country.

Lelio’s 2022 flick The Wonder was a critically acclaimed adaptation of Emma Donoghue’s novel The Wonder and starred Florence Pugh.

He told The Guardian: “I love working with actors, and need to know they trust me and can explore, get lost, be foolish or brave, and I’ll take care of them.

“I love working on set – it is where the sparkle is.”

His final film was 2025’s The Wave, a musical protest drama that premiered at Cannes.

“Making a film is like a gift you leave somewhere – you then hide and see what happens,” Lelio said.

RUSSELL Brand has been found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault following a four-week trial at Southwark Crown Court.

The disgraced former comedian, 51, was remanded in custody after the verdicts on Thursday and is due to be sentenced on Monday.

Russell Brand was found not guilty of two further counts of rape and one count of attempted indecent assault.

His wife Laura Gallacher supported him throughout the trial, while his father Ron Brand was also present at court.

Who is Russell Brand’s wife Laura Gallacher?

Laura, 39, is an author, illustrator and entrepreneur who founded The Joy Journal – a business focused on creativity and activities for families.

She is the daughter of former Ryder Cup captain Bernard Gallacher and younger sister of TV presenter Kirsty Gallacher.

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Laura and Brand first met at the Edinburgh Festival in 2006, where she attended one of his comedy shows.

They started dating but split in 2007 after she discovered he was seeing other women.

Brand went on to marry American singer Katy Perry in 2010, before the pair divorced in 2012.

He rekindled his relationship with Laura in 2015, and they married at a church near Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire in August 2017.

Laura accompanied her husband to Southwark Crown Court during his trial and gave evidence for the defence in October.

She described him as an “amazingly attentive husband” and a “wonderful father”, telling jurors: “I love him very much.”

Laura was in the public gallery when the jury returned its guilty verdicts and appeared visibly distressed as the judge told Brand he faced a significant prison term.

Who are Russell Brand’s parents?

Brand is the only child of Barbara Elizabeth Nichols and Ronald Henry Brand, known as Ron.

His parents separated when he was just six months old, leaving his mother to raise him in Grays, Essex.

Barbara suffered three bouts of cancer during Brand’s childhood, and he sometimes stayed with relatives while she underwent treatment.

The last period of treatment coincided with Brand leaving home at the age of 16.

In 2006, he told the Observer: “I loved my mum madly, but I had a lot of prohibiting, inhibiting things around. My feeling about my childhood was that it was lonely and difficult.”

His father Ron worked as a photographer and was largely absent as Brand was growing up, although they maintained contact.

Ron attended Southwark Crown Court when his son was convicted on November 5.

Speaking to the BBC following the verdicts, he said he was “bemused and shocked”.

He added: “I just didn’t expect this – it’s wrong. It’s devastating.”

How many children does Russell Brand have?

Brand and Laura have three children together – two daughters and a son.

Their eldest daughter was born in November 2016, followed by another girl in July 2018.

The couple welcomed a son in 2023, and have largely kept their kids’ lives out of the public eye.

Laura confirmed during her evidence that they were raising three children together.

Following the emergence of allegations against Brand, the family relocated to Florida in 2024.

After the guilty verdicts, Brand’s barrister Ian Winter KC asked the judge to grant bail as an “act of humanity” so he could say goodbye to his little ones.

However, the request was rejected and he was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing.

Technology companies Google, Meta and Tik Tok sued the state of California on Wednesday to block a new law that restricts companies from targeting children younger than 16 with “addictive” social media content that can keep them scrolling for hours.

Assembly Bill 1709, introduced by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), bars social media sites from providing features such as autoplay and recommended content displays to teenagers and young children.

The social media companies, which filed separate lawsuits in federal court, cited their 1st Amendment right to free speech and the Communications Decency Act, which protects online platforms from being sued over content posted by third parties. Meta Platforms, as well as Google and YouTube, filed lawsuits in the Northern District of California. TikTok filed in the Central District.

California’s attempt to “appoint the State as the editor, curator and controller of online speech” and “override Meta’s editorial judgment about how to curate and display these billions of posts of third-party speech,” violates the U.S. Constitution, attorneys for Meta wrote in its lawsuit. The technology company owns Instagram, Facebook and Threads.

A representative for Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta said his office was reviewing the litigation.

The legal action follows successful lawsuits brought against the tech giants by California and others that have resulted in massive civil settlements. At the same time, the tech industry continues to file legal challenges to block state efforts to rein in social media companies.

Lowenthal said earlier this year he was inspired to seek more safeguards for social media users, citing the anxiety and depression among children who grew up with access to cellphones, tablets and computer screens.

The addictive nature of autoplay and other features is “harmful, full stop, and that they’re not appropriate for the developing brain,” Lowenthal said.

Tech industry groups opposed Lowentha’s bill, arguing it would hamper users’ ability to connect with family and friends.

Meta and others sued last year over Senate Bill 976, a similar bill known as “Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act” that bars addictive feeds and certain features to minors without parental consent. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals likely will hear arguments in the case next spring, Courthouse News Services reported last month.

Both Senate Bill 976 and Assembly Bill 1709 go into effect on Jan. 1.

TikTok, in its lawsuit filed Wednesday, argues that AB 1709 essentially overrides SB 976, preventing a social media site from providing “addictive features,” even if parents consent to a minor’s use of the features. The company also argued it has restrictions in place to protect teens.

“The consequence is that a parent who has reviewed TikTok’s platform, linked her account to her fifteen-year-old’s account through Family Pairing, set a 30-minute daily screen-limit, enabled Restricted Mode, and concluded that a personalized For You feed introducing her daughter to new musicians and science educators is appropriate for her family has no ability under California law to make that choice,” Tik Tok’s attorneys wrote. “Nor does the fifteen-year-old daughter have any say in her online expression.”

California is home to some of the biggest social media companies, who increasingly are facing lawsuits over their products. California was among dozens of states that sued Meta in 2023, alleging it designed harmful and addictive features to hook children while misleading the public about the dangers. Some of the harms included depression, anxiety, addiction and body image issues as young people compare themselves to others on social media.

Meta agreed to pay up to $17 billion and make changes to its Facebook and Instagram platforms, including hiding likes and reactions and blocking teens from using extreme makeup filters. The company also said it would enact a default two-hour daily time limit that teens can turn off only with parental permission, mute notifications during school hours and implement a night access mode that blocks its apps from midnight to 6 a.m.

In another landmark case, a Los Angeles jury in March found that Instagram and YouTube were responsible for the suffering of a Chico, Calif., woman who charged the platforms were addictive by design. The 20-year-old, who was awarded $6 million damages, said she became hooked on YouTube and Instagram in grade school.

WRAP up warm and embrace the winter at Gulliver’s World.

Its fantastic Land Of Lights experience at its parks in Milton Keynes, Warrington and Rotherham is perfect for families looking to enjoy some fun after dark.

Fairytale characters welcomed us to Gulliver’s World in Milton Keynes, and I’m soon struggling to catch up with Finn, nine, and Isobel, seven, as they burst through the gates.

We’ve visited Gulliver’s World before during the day, and loved it.

The park is ideal for younger children, with gentle rollercoasters, log flumes and fairground fun, as well as rides for adrenalin-seekers, like Dragon Siege.

But this time, we’re here to enjoy the separately ticketed Land Of Lights — a joyful trail through illuminated lands, complete with giant light installations, larger-than-life lanterns and cute photo opportunities.

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We start in Dinosaur Land, where the park’s life-size Jurassic monsters are joined by dazzling new residents, including a luminous T-Rex.

Alongside the brightly coloured beasts are some entertaining special effects.

Following the path through a fairy garden and animal farm, we wander, enchanted, open-mouthed through the Under The Sea exhibit.

Halfway through, we stop to toast marshmallows on a bonfire.

There is an extra cost of £5 for this, but my kids really enjoy it and it’s a great way to warm up.

There’s also a little food court, if you’re feeling peckish.

Bolstered by our marshmallow feast, we arrive at the Christmas-themed kingdom, complete with Santa and his elves.

And I’m just as captivated by it all as the kids, skipping along the sparkly path of lights.

To extend the fun, you can even stay overnight in one of the park’s themed cabins, which include a Wild West Saloon.

The next morning, we head into the park for some thrills.

The Land Of Lights may have been more relaxing, but Isobel is thrilled to finally be tall enough to take on Dragon Siege, and as we step off the ride, our cheeks have a different kind of glow.

It’s such a great way to keep everyone entertained — a weekend with something for everyone is a winter win.

Jesus de Miguel’s family said “the mark he has left on so many people” is something they will always remember as the footballer’s funeral took place on Thursday.

The Tenerife forward, who was 30, died after suffering a serious injury during a Spanish second division match on Monday.

After colliding with the FC Andorra goalkeeper, De Miguel lay motionless on the pitch while being treated by medical staff and was taken to hospital, where the father-of-one died at 07:00 GMT on Tuesday.

Goalkeeper Jesus Owono was sent off for the challenge and the game was abandoned.

In the hours after the death was announced, mourners laid flowers and lit candles beneath a black and white image of De Miguel at the Estadio Heliodoro Rodriguez Lopez – the stadium on the island of Tenerife, where Monday’s game took place.

Tributes have been paid to De Miguel, who joined Tenerife in the summer of 2025, with a minute’s silence being held at all games in European competitions this week.

His agent, Manuel Hernandez, issued a statement on behalf of the family, which read: “Thank you for loving him, for remembering him and for being with us.

“We cannot find enough words to thank you for every message, every phone call and every gesture of affection we are receiving.

“Feeling such affection for Jesus and seeing the mark he has left on so many people is something we will always carry with us.

“Jesus leaves a void that is impossible to fill, but also cherished memories for all of us who were fortunate enough to share our lives with him.”

On weekends, 1st and 2nd streets between Alameda and Los Angeles swell with crowds of families, anime fans, sneakerheads and tourists and locals alike in search of ramen or sushi, manga and magazines, matcha, toys, Japanese crafts, groceries, traditional sweets, records, Shohei paraphernalia and vintage fashion.

This is Little Tokyo, one of the most walkable, vibrant neighborhoods in Los Angeles — a historic small town within a big city that has thrived, even if sometimes precariously, through waves of urban development.

Get to know Los Angeles through the places that bring it to life. From restaurants to shops to outdoor spaces, here’s what to discover now.

The 300 block of 1st Street is known as the Little Tokyo Historic District, a nationally registered designation that’s the heart of the neighborhood. Here more than a dozen buildings preserve the pre-World War II streetscape and represent the social and cultural history of Japanese Americans in L.A.

The block is also an emblematic crossroads, where sweeping changes and cultural preservation converge.

“People want places like Little Tokyo,” says Kristin Fukushima, executive director of Little Tokyo Community Council, a nonprofit focusing on sustainable development for more than 5,000 residents and 400 businesses. “People identify with the culture and character of the neighborhood.”

In 1884 a cook named Hamanosuke “Charles Hama” Shigeta opened L.A.’s first Japanese-owned business, Kame, a 1st Street restaurant that stood where gift shop Bunkado is today. It was the seed of what’s now the largest Japanese American neighborhood in the U.S.

In the spring of 1942, Little Tokyo was emptied almost overnight, its residents forced from their homes and sent to incarceration camps. The businesses and institutions that survived and rose after the war remain part of its foundation, including confectionery shop Fugetsu-Do, Anzen Hardware and Far East Cafe, along with Buddhist temples such as Koyasan and Higashi Honganji.

Echoes of displacement resounded last summer when masked federal agents arrived in Little Tokyo and armored vehicles flanked the Japanese American National Museum — a memorial of historic trauma turned into a backdrop for immigration enforcement sweeps.

Meanwhile, generations of activists have helped save the neighborhood from being erased by eminent domain and real estate development. Every major monument and community space exists because of negotiation between activists, city government and corporate interests. “Asian American civil rights are a critical piece of the history here,” Fukushima says, referring to a movement that fought urban displacement, created services and allied with Black, Latino and anti-war groups for social justice.

The latest chapter of endurance is taking shape at the 1st Street North Residences, a mixed-use development with 100% affordable housing that used to be a city-owned parking lot. But before the 1950s the same land was a neighborhood of Japanese American businesses and homes for a growing Black community. Those buildings were demolished following evictions via eminent domain to make way for police headquarters. Now the project represents a reclamation.

Iconic Little Tokyo restaurant Suehiro and mochi maker Fugetsu-Do are expected to move into ground-floor retail spaces surrounding a cherry tree courtyard and the Go For Broke Monument, a black granite memorial honoring the more than 16,000 Japanese American men and women who served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Philip Hirose is a third-generation owner of Anzen Hardware, an institution that disappeared from Little Tokyo in 2023 but returned to its original location on 1st Street earlier this year. He also operates Azay, a restaurant his mother and late father founded. “Being in Little Tokyo where families have known each other for generations, there’s a lot of interconnectedness,” Hirose says. “You get a kind of gem.”

When asked what it’s like to be part of this neighborhood, one that’s rooted in a century of resilience and renewal, he says, “It feels like everything.”

Melissa Rycroft has broken her silence following her Halloween arrest.

The “Bachelor” and “Dancing With the Stars” reality television star wants fans to know “how deeply ashamed and embarrassed” she is after Southlake, Texas, police arrested her for allegedly driving while intoxicated, colliding with an ambulance and fleeing the scene on Saturday. The incident comes just months after the mom of three pleaded guilty to a separate DWI charge and agreed to serve 20 months of probation.

The former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader issued a mea culpa on Instagram on Tuesday, writing, “I want to share something personal, and to be honest, I am very ashamed to share it, but I can’t hide it anymore. I’ve been struggling with my mental health for quite some time now. It has completely overwhelmed me. I’ve tried to hide what I’ve been going through by putting on a smile, but behind the scenes, things have been much harder than anyone realized or that I have let on, even to my family.”

According to the Southlake Police Department, Rycroft allegedly collided with a Southlake Fire Department ambulance that was sitting at a stop sign just before 6 p.m. A short time later, officers tracked down the “hit-and-run vehicle” and identified the driver as Rycroft. While no injuries were reported, she was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated, second offense; an accident involving damage of more than $200; and driving with an invalid license.

In Rycroft’s statement, she said that she was pursuing professional help. “No excuses at all, but I’m finally admitting that I need help. I’ve fought this for a long time on my own, and it’s time to admit that I can’t do it anymore,” she wrote. “I’m getting professional care. This is so hard to say and the shame is still very much there, but I’m ready to feel like myself again, for me and for my family. They have stood by me through all of this, and they deserve honesty. They deserve me at my best. That’s what I’m working toward for all of us.”

The TV personality then asked her followers to give her grace as she tries to get healthy. “And please respect my family’s privacy as they navigate this with me, too,” she added.

Three days after being carted off the field with a neck injury, Detroit Lions linebacker Jack Campbell provided a health update.

It was good news.

“I’m incredibly encouraged by the progress I’ve made in such a short period of time,” Campbell said in a statement released Wednesday by the Lions. “I have full movement in my lower body, and I’m continuing to make progress with movement in my upper body. I know there’s still work ahead, but I remain very optimistic. I’m taking things one day at a time, staying positive, and focusing on getting better.”

Speaking to reporters in a previously scheduled news conference, Lions coach Dan Campbell remarked on the injured player’s statement.

“Especially being able to hear it from him, that means a lot,” the coach said. “That’s powerful in itself, more than hearing it from me or anybody else. Those are his and his family’s words, so that’s powerful. And I know that always helps, to know that he’s improving, because at this point that’s all you’re looking for is just to know that he is improving.”

Jack Campbell was lying face down and motionless on the field after tackling Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson early in the fourth quarter of Detroit’s 19-15 victory Sunday at Ford Field. Medical staff tended to the 2025 Pro Bowl selection for almost 10 minutes, then strapped him to a backboard and carted him off the field. Campbell was breathing and alert when he was taken to the hospital.

“I especially want to thank the athletic trainers and medical personnel who responded and cared for me on the field,” Campbell said. “I know those were difficult moments, and I’m incredibly grateful for the professionalism, compassion, and care you showed me. The way you handled everything and looked after me when I needed it most is something I’ll never forget. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

“I also can’t say enough about the incredible care I’ve received from the medical team at Henry Ford Hospital and the Detroit Lions medical staff. They’ve been amazing to me and my family throughout this process, and I’m truly grateful for everything they’ve done.”

The fourth-year player also expressed his appreciation for the support he has received from the Lions organization and the fans.

“My faith in God has never been stronger. I know He has a plan for me, and I trust in that plan,” Campbell said. “I know there may be challenges ahead, but with my faith, my family, and so many people in my corner, I know we’ll get through this.”

WASHINGTON — Sen. Chris Murphy is in the hospital after having a stroke, according to the Connecticut Democrat’s office.

In a statement Sunday, Murphy’s chief of staff, Allison Herwitt, said the senator “started experiencing numbness in his arm while at his son’s hockey game” on Saturday.

“He was taken to a local hospital, where it was discovered he had experienced a stroke,” she said. “He was transferred to Johns Hopkins for further monitoring and is responding well to treatment. The doctors are encouraged by his progress, he is awake and alert, and we are optimistic he will make a full recovery.”

The 53-year-old Murphy was elected to the House in 2006 and the Senate in 2012. He is not on the ballot Tuesday.

In the Senate, he serves on the Appropriations Committee and is a leading voice on immigration and restrictions on guns. He’s considered a contender for more senior leadership positions in the Senate and is also a potential 2028 presidential candidate.

Three other Senate Democrats have had strokes in recent years.

Sens. Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland had strokes in 2022 and have since recovered. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman had a stroke while campaigning for his seat that year and now uses adaptive technology in the Senate, including live captioning on a phone or tablet that transcribes words as people speak to him and helps him process the conversation.

Fetterman said on social media Sunday that his family “is rooting for Chris and his family for a full and speedy recovery.”

Several Republican senators, including Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Pete Ricketts of Nebraska, also offered prayers for Murphy.

Sloan writes for the Associated Press. AP writer Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report.