killer

WASHINGTON  — The Supreme Court announced Friday it will hear Monsanto’s claim that it should be shielded from tens of thousands of lawsuits over its weed killer Roundup because the Environmental Protection Agency has not required a warning label that it may cause cancer.

The justices will not resolve the decades-long dispute over whether Roundup’s key ingredient, glyphosate, causes cancer.

Some studies have found it is a likely carcinogen, and others concluded it does not pose a true cancer risk for humans.

However, the court may free Monsanto and Bayer, its parent company, from legal claims from more than 100,000 plaintiffs who sued over their cancer diagnosis.

The legal dispute involves whether the federal regulatory laws shield the company from being sued under state law for failing to warn consumers.

In product liability suits, plaintiffs typically seek to hold product makers responsible for failing to warn them of a known danger.

John Durnell, a Missouri man, said he sprayed Roundup for years to control weeds without gloves or a mask, believing it was safe. He sued after he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

In 2023, a jury rejected his claim the product was defective but it ruled for him on his “strict liability failure to warn claim,” a state court concluded. He was awarded $1.25 million in damages.

Monsanto appealed, arguing this state law verdict is in conflict with federal law regulating pesticides.

“EPA has repeatedly determined that glyphosate, the world’s most widely used herbicide, does not cause cancer. EPA has consistently reached that conclusion after studying the extensive body of science on glyphosate for over five decades,” the company told the court in its appeal.

They said the EPA not only refused to add a cancer warning label to products with Roundup, but said it would be “misbranded” with such a warning.

Nonetheless, the “premise of this lawsuit, and the thousands like it, is that Missouri law requires Monsanto to include the precise warning that EPA rejects,” they said.

On Friday, the court said in a brief order that it would decide “whether the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act preempts a label-based failure-to-warn claim where EPA has not required the warning.”

The court is likely to hear arguments in the case of Monsanto vs. Durnell in April and issue a ruling by late June.

Monsanto says it has removed Roundup from its consumer products, but it is still used for farms.

Last month, Trump administration lawyers urged the court to hear the case.

They said the EPA has “has approved hundreds of labels for Roundup and other glyphosate-based products without requiring a cancer warning,” yet state courts are upholding lawsuits based on a failure to warn.

Environmentalists said the court should not step in to shield makers of dangerous products.

Lawyers for EarthJustice said the court “could let pesticide companies off the hook — even when their products make people sick.”

“When people use pesticides in their fields or on their lawns, they don’t expect to get cancer,” said Patti Goldman, a senior attorney. “Yet this happens, and when it does, state court lawsuits provide the only real path to accountability.”

Not long after documentary filmmaker Rachel Mason began looking into the gruesome 1990 cold-case murder of gay porn actor Bill Newton in Hollywood, Newton’s former boyfriend, Marc Rabins, showed her a gay newspaper from the time, full of obituaries.

There was Newton’s young, handsome face, but also the faces of other young men, all of whom had died of AIDS.

“AIDS, AIDS, AIDS, murder,” Mason said in a recent interview with The Times. “I was so disgusted. Like, no, you can’t have a murder in this sea of people already dying — that’s not right, not fair. We can’t let this go.”

And she didn’t.

Instead, Mason helped convene a team of amateur sleuths to doggedly investigate the case, and in a stunning twist perfect for the true-crime documentary she was filming all along the way, helped lead Los Angeles police detectives to a new suspect — who confessed to killing Newton, who went by “Billy London” in films, before his head and feet were found in a dumpster.

“It’s pretty astounding,” Mason said. Others clearly agree.

On Wednesday, organizers of the SXSW Film and TV Festival announced that Mason’s documentary — titled “My Brother’s Killer” and featuring a chilling on-camera interview with the confessed killer — will world premiere at SXSW in March.

“The unsolved murder of Billy London, a gay adult film performer brutally killed in West Hollywood, was an urban legend for 33 years. A documentary intended to honor his life took an unexpected turn when members of the community joined forces to uncover overlooked clues, and seek a resolution to the mystery of who killed him,” the festival announcement teased.

“Drawing on a rare trove of VHS and personal footage,” the announcement added, “the film reveals a chilling overlap between the victim and some of the suspects who were captured on camera in films made in the narrow window of Billy’s death.”

Mason said she is thrilled with the festival’s selection of her film, just as she was by The Times chronicling the sleuths cracking the case in a front-page story in 2023, which the film highlights.

Before then, Newton’s story had only really been told in smaller gay publications, Mason said. Now, it’s being featured at a “major, mainstream festival” at a time when LGBTQ+ rights are under attack across the country, which is “a big deal.”

“The larger picture of this film is, if anything, a point of optimism, you know? A beacon of hope in some dark times,” she said. “A community solving a murder!”

A killer film

Mason is known in part for a previous Netflix documentary she made called “Circus of Books,” about the adult bookstore on Santa Monica Boulevard where her parents spent years selling gay porn and LGBTQ+ literature.

That film was in part an ode to West Hollywood, and so is “My Brother’s Killer,” which talks about Los Angeles’ gayborhood with both reverence and a dose of reality — acknowledging its role as a safe haven for gay people facing discrimination and its seedier side as a drug-heavy party scene in decades past.

Rachel Mason in 2023 in Hollywood.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

The film captures Newton’s struggles with that scene, including with methamphetamine, but also his sweet side, featuring interviews with family and friends who recalled a kind but unsettled 25-year-old who’d faced rejection at home in Wisconsin and run away as a teen to find acceptance. It also captures what the gay porn industry was like in West Hollywood as AIDS ravaged and stigmatized the community.

The film introduces various members of Mason’s investigative squad, including Clark Williams, a stay-at-home dad with a background in social work who also hailed from Wisconsin. Williams developed the lead that convinced LAPD detectives to head to an Oklahoma penitentiary in search of answers from their new suspect, DarraLynn Madden.

And it is with the introduction of Madden — a former gay porn actor and skinhead in Hollywood and now a transgender inmate serving a life sentence for killing another gay man years after Newton’s murder — that the film really hits its stride.

First, lead detective John Lamberti discusses securing a confession from her.

“We initially just said that we were there to talk about an old case from L.A., and it was Madden who actually brought up Billy first, and said, ‘Oh well yeah, and there was this one case where somebody’s head and feet got found in a dumpster,’” Lamberti says in the film. “And I’m just sitting there trying to keep a poker face: ‘Oh, OK, tell me more.’”

“The fact that I walked out of there with a confession was just mind-blowing,” he says.

Then Madden recounts in harrowing detail the killing in an on-camera interview Mason arranged after striking up a written correspondence with her.

Bill Newton, a.k.a. Billy London, was a Wisconsin transplant to L.A. and gay porn actor whose head and feet were found in a Hollywood dumpster in 1990.

(Marc Rabins)

Madden tells Mason that she and some skinhead friends saw Newton “in a place us skins frequented to hunt and to perform acts of violence,” and that she “laid the plan down to get out, put my arm around him and let him know this is what we’re gonna do — or else. We’re going to walk to this car and we’re just going to take a ride.”

Madden describes the group punching, kicking and elbowing Newton — “He was kind of like a prize pinata at the time. I know that sounds horrible” — and taunting him for being gay and high. She then describes strangling him with a cord, and deciding to cut up his body.

“The only thing we could think of to get out of the apartment as clandestine as we possibly could was to dismember Billy, which was not an easy task,” Madden says.

Full circle for sleuths

Mason’s film — which she made independently with editor and producer Dion Labriola — gives substantial time to her fellow sleuths, including Williams and Christopher Rice and Eric Shaw Quinn, who have pored over the case on their podcast “The Dinner Party Show.”

After watching Mason’s interview with Madden, Rice says in the film, “I always harbored a suspicion that maybe it was a false confession, but that’s not a false confession.”

Rice also contemplates Madden’s own troubled upbringing, her struggling in a world where both gay and transgender people face tremendous discrimination, and what he sees as Madden projecting her own self-loathing onto Newton.

“Yes, the queer community has villains, we have people who are seeking to oppress us,” Rice says in the film. “But if we indulge our own self-loathing, it can go down a road as dark and twisted as this.”

Rabins, Newton’s boyfriend who police once suspected of being the killer, says in the film that hearing Madden’s confession marked a turning point in his mourning process: “Up until that moment, I always felt Bill’s presence around me. And after that, I feel like he’s flying free.”

Prosecutors declined to bring charges against Madden, citing a lack of evidence beyond the confession and Madden already being behind bars for life in Oklahoma. Madden could not be reached for comment.

Williams has since worked on a dozen other cold-case homicides across the country and helped prosecutors build a case against a new suspect in a 1991 murder in Michigan. That suspect is now headed to trial for murder.

Rachel Mason with Clark Williams in 2023, shortly after the LAPD announced they were closing the investigation into Billy Newton’s murder after securing a confession.

(Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

Williams said he was able to crack Newton’s killing by completely immersing himself in Newton’s life, and that Newton really came alive for him through that process. “Billy became a person to me that I knew and loved,” he said.

Because of that, he is a little apprehensive about Madden appearing in Mason’s film, he said.

“I understand why she’s a cinematic figure, but I don’t like DarraLynn Madden,” He said. “In fact, I loathe DarraLynn Madden.”

That said, Williams said he trusts Mason to do the story justice, and is excited to see the film.

“I’ve always believed that Billy Newton reflects a whole generation — my generation — of gay men who came of age in the 1980s and 90s,” Williams said. “I’m really happy that that story gets to be told.”

The village in Norfolk is known for its natural beauty, archaeological sites, coastal erosion and beautiful beach walks, but in the 19th century, it was also the home of alleged serial killer Jonathan Balls

Britain is dotted with charming villages and towns, but few harbour a sinister history quite like Happisburgh, a coastal village in Norfolk. While celebrated for its stunning scenery, archaeological treasures, dramatic coastal erosion and picturesque beach walks, the village was also home to Jonathan Balls during the 19th century.

Following his death in 1846, he was posthumously accused of murdering at least 22 individuals, predominantly family members, between 1824 and 1845 through poisoning.

Little is documented about Mr Balls’ earlier years before these alleged atrocities, though he was regarded as a “bad character” locally, having previously served time for minor offences.

Who was Jonathan Balls and what were his alleged crimes?

Mr Balls wed a woman called Elizabeth at some stage and fathered three daughters, who each went on to have children themselves. The family lived in poverty, depending on relief funds to survive.

Yet as Mr Balls aged, he became increasingly reliant on his relatives for financial assistance, which is thought to have driven him to systematically poison family members so their money would pass to him, reports the Express.

It’s understood that Mr Balls started purchasing substantial quantities of arsenic during the 1830s from neighbouring towns, using the excuse of a rodent problem at his property. The first questionable death was that of his daughter, Maria Lacey, aged 24, who is thought to have succumbed to mistreatment by her husband and an unidentified illness.

A year on, on Christmas Day in 1836, a tragic event occurred when Mr Balls’ granddaughter, Maria Green, who was just 13 months old, died under mysterious circumstances. This was followed by the death of Ann Peggs, aged 8, on June 7, 1839, and the deaths of 13-month-old Martha Green and her three year old brother, William, both on October 31, 1841. All three were Mr Balls’ grandchildren.

In the subsequent years, several members of Mr Balls’ family met with suspicious ends, including one of his children and one of his parents. Both died mysteriously after relocating from their home to live with him.

Despite the family’s neighbours calling for an inquest into the deaths on two separate occasions, no investigation was carried out. In September 1845, another tragedy struck when Mr Balls’ grandson, Samuel Green, passed away, followed by his ailing wife, Elizabeth, just four months later.

The last confirmed victim is believed to be his granddaughter, Elizabeth Anne Pestle, who died on April 17, 1846.

Three days following the death of Ms Pestle, Mr Balls also passed away at his residence in Happisburgh, succumbing to an illness. In the wake of his passing, local residents requested the area’s coroner, Mr Pilgrim, to exhume and reexamine the bodies for cause of death.

Eventually, Mr Pilgrim authorised the exhumation of both Mr Balls’ and Ms Pestle’s remains. The post-mortem examinations revealed a substantial amount of arsenic in both bodies, prompting further investigation into other family members.

Interviews were conducted with surviving relatives of Mr Balls and several servants employed at the property. One maid, Sarah Kerrison, alleged she had witnessed Mr Balls adding a suspicious white powder to a teacup, which he then served to his bedridden wife.

Her health deteriorated progressively, leading to her eventual demise. After tasting some food prepared in the household, the maid fell ill, exhibiting signs of poisoning.

The case garnered extensive media coverage and was even a topic of discussion in Parliament.

The village of Happisburgh

Despite its murky history, Happisburgh is a must-visit if you find yourself in Norfolk. This coastal village boasts some of the UK’s earliest known human footprints, a significant archaeological discovery that places early humans in Northern Europe.

Believed to be the oldest human footprints in the UK, they date back 800,000 years.

The village’s rugged coastline boasts some stunning walking trails, with the sandy beach staying peaceful all year round. It’s also dog-friendly year-round, making it an ideal destination for dog walkers keen to discover this dramatic coastline.

That said, visitors walking along the cliffs or beach are urged to take care due to the danger of coastal erosion. The cliffs are composed of glacial till, which has resulted in the loss of land and cliffs in recent years.

One of Happisburgh’s most recognisable landmarks is Happisburgh Lighthouse, which dates back to 1790, making it East Anglia’s oldest working lighthouse. It’s also Britain’s only independently operated lighthouse, offering stunning coastal views from 85 feet up.

The Hill House Inn is a dog-friendly local pub serving up classics such as fish and chips, alongside a warm atmosphere and welcoming vibe. The pub has earned a rating of 4.3 out of five on Google, with one reviewer describing it as the “kind of pub you dream of stumbling into on a windswept Norfolk day”.

The review, from Neil, said: “The Hill House Inn in Happisburgh is the kind of pub you dream of stumbling into on a windswept Norfolk day. Perched not far from the cliffs, it has that mix of cosy charm and a bit of history woven into the beams.

“Inside, it feels like the sort of place where smugglers probably once traded contraband rum under the table while pretending to just be ‘popping in for a pint’. The ale is well-kept, the food hearty, and the welcome as warm as the fire in winter.”

Another review from Patricia added: “My first time visiting the inn. A lovely, typical village pub. Dog-friendly, with friendly staff. Nice sandwich, I had ham on the bone, and my friend had salmon, with chips and salad plus two coffees. Reasonable price too.”

Alternatively, there’s Smallsticks Cafe at Cart Gap Beach, located slightly further along the coast from Happisburgh beach. The cafe offers everything from coffee, cake and sandwiches to fish and chips and a full English breakfast.

This friendly, family-run establishment has earned a rating of 4.6 out of five on TripAdvisor, with visitors praising both the staff and the delicious food on offer.

One reviewer said: “We ended up here five times during our week in Norfolk! It was simply outstanding and so fabulous! The menu was great, such a fabulous choice, and the hardest thing was choosing what to eat! The whitebait was awesome and absolutely delicious, and cooked to perfection! Food was well-presented and cooked perfectly! Staff were so warm and friendly and so polite and true ambassadors to the establishment! ! ! Prices were fantastic and certainly won’t dent a hole in your wallet! So doggy friendly and the toilets were spotless!”

Another individual commented: “Very welcoming and the coffee and cake we had were lovely. Very friendly staff and a very pleasant way to spend an hour. Didn’t eat the cooked food, but what we saw looked very nice.”

The villagers are starting to turn on themselves following the death of villain Ray Walters, but when an unknown person was seen dragging his corpse – it was clear he’d been murdered

After the brutal death of villain Ray Walters was revealed on Emmerdale on Monday, spoilers have confirmed his true killer in a shocking twist.

With the baddie finally seeing the consequences of actions after the villagers turned on him, the plot line reached a chilling climax when he murdered his mum, fellow villain Celia Daniels, last week. After Monday’s episode saw Ray’s corpse being dragged along by an unknown person – his eyes still wide open – fans were left wondering who could have caused such terror in his final moments.

Before long the police begin their search of the depot, due to their ongoing query regarding drugs being likely couriered through this business. Jai, Caleb and Billy are shocked when Ray’s body is found inside the van.

READ MORE: Emmerdale Joe Tate’s shock exit ‘sealed’ after Graham Foster’s return from the dead

Jai’s under pressure as the police try to work out a timeline of his use of the van. When they leave telling him they’ll be in touch, Caleb asks if there’s anything Jai needs to tell him, convinced there’s a killer nearby.

Jai theorises Celia must have killed Ray, but Caleb thinks it was someone closer to home. The next day, DC Stewart asks Caleb if there’s a connection between Jai and Ray. When Caleb tells them about Jai and Laurel’s divorce, Stewart takes note.

But Laurel is struggling to process what has happened. When Arthur tells Laurel she doesn’t get to lecture him after what has happened to Ray, he is quickly stunned when Laurel reveals Ray’s body’s been found.

Just the next day, Laurel is seen praying in the church. She then bumps into Marlon and chastises him for not telling her about Ray sooner.

Marlon is left to struggle with the weight of her words. Before long, DS Walsh questions Laurel about her relationship with Ray.

When she implies Jai might have been unhappy about it, they are interested although Laurel is adamant Jai couldn’t be behind Ray’s murder. DS Walsh leaves not long after Jai is taken in for questioning.

Pondering over what has happened while they sip coffee, Nicola wonders to Laurel if Jai killed Ray. But witnessing how all the speculation and gossip is getting to Laurel, Nicola softens.

Meanwhile, Jai is left worried by the intense questioning. Later on, in the pub, all eyes are on Jai as he gets heated defending himself. He only makes things worse by Jai pointing the finger at April and Dylan, suggesting they could have been involved, before dramatically storming out.

Elsewhere, Mandy calls Paddy from Ireland but on at the end of their phone call Paddy breaks down in uncontrollable sobs, with poor Dylan left unsure how to console him. Meanwhile, as April is comforted by her family, the conversation, once again, moves on to theorising about who killed Ray.

The villagers begin questioning who’s really responsible and it becomes clear they all have secrets. Following Ray’s death, the ITV soap also confirmed potential murder suspects, including April, Laurel, Marlon Dingle (Mark Charnock) and his wife, Rhona Goskirk ( Zoe Henry ), and Ross Barton (Mike Parr).

Viewers think they know who killed Ray though, with a few names being shared. Some believe it’s Dylan, while others suspected Bear and even Arthur Thomas. One fan said: “I feel Dylan killed Ray tbh.”

Another viewer said: “Guys Bear killed Ray,” as a third wrote: “Curveball suspects – Arthur Jai.” A fourth fan said: “What about Ross?” while another posted: “Did Laurel stab Ray to death?”

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.

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Emmerdale Producer Laura Shaw has revealed huge twists ahead this year including Victoria Sugden’s killer secret under threat, Cain Dingle’s diagnosis and the return of Graham Foster

There’s some huge storylines on the way in 2026 on Emmerdale, including a cancer diagnosis, a shocking return and secrets at risk of being exposed.

The ITV soap’s Producer Laura Shaw has revealed all the big moments ahead, following the explosive Corriedale crossover with Coronation Street. In this special episode we saw Cain Dingle face the news that doctors had found a mass during scans, while John Sugden was found dead.

Graham Foster made a surprise return from the dead too, while Tuesday’s episode and new spoilers teased more drama including Joe Tate recording Victoria Sugden killing John. On the way in the aftermath, Joe’s sickening plan becomes clear as he targets the Sugdens.

READ MORE: Emmerdale fans ‘solve’ who Graham was on the phone to in Ray murder twistREAD MORE: Corriedale’s biggest bombshells – double death, terrifying diagnosis and shock return

Not only that, but the Dingle family are in for big turmoil as Cain is diagnosed with cancer. His wife Moira Dingle is arrested for human trafficking after being set up by Celia Daniels, who is now dead.

Teasing all the big moments ahead, Laura said: “The Dingle family are set to face huge repercussions and Cain is at the centre of a major prostate cancer storyline spanning across 2026. Adding to their devastation, Moira will be arrested for human trafficking, with her arrest timed to coincide with her husband’s diagnosis.

“Their complex marriage will be tested as they face dark times. The truth about John’s death will be revealed, as Victoria’s clever deception, making John’s death look like suicide, will unravel.

“Evil Joe Tate knows the truth and has damning video evidence which he plans to use to get what he wants from the Sugdens, potentially taking control of Butler’s Farm. Robert is also in the thick of it, trying to save Victoria by planting evidence.”

Could this lead to an exit for Victoria? Another murder secret will come to light too. Laura said: “Following the discovery of Ray’s body, villagers’ secrets will come out as the mystery surrounding Ray’s death is finally solved.

“Before the end of January, a special week will flash back to the night of the murder, revealing which of the multiple suspects is responsible for Ray’s demise. While Paddy is still out searching for his missing father, the bleak truth is that Bear has been killed by the villainous Celia.

“This emotional search and tragic discovery will bring Paddy’s mental health problems back to the forefront.” We also find out what really happened in 2020 when Graham Foster was killed off, or not.

Laura said: “A familiar face is returning to the village full-time! None other than Graham Foster will make a sensational comeback. His return will have massive repercussions for both Kim, with whom he shares a complex love and hate relationship, and Rhona, who was about to run away with him.

“Graham will explain exactly what happened six years ago when he was ‘killed’, but the question will be whether Joe can ever forgive his father-figure for allowing him to believe he was dead.” Finally, Charity Dingle prepares to give birth, and it seems her secret is finally exposed.

Laura shared: “The truth surrounding Charity’s pregnancy is set to blow wide open. Mackenzie mistakenly believes he could be the baby’s father, but the secret that Ross is the real father is still under wraps. With the baby due in spring, the birth may be the event that finally exposes all of Charity’s secrets…”

Emmerdale airs weeknights at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. * Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on TikTok, Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads.

“It’s something we have to improve. I would say at least 75% of the time or even more, it’s not even about the first contact. It’s the second phase that is the killer.

“Is it a mental thing? I hope not. If that’s in your head then it’s an issue. Personally, it’s not in my head.”

Excluding penalties, Liverpool have only scored three goals from set-pieces in the league. Their difference of minus nine is their worst in a Premier League season.

“We have defended so many set-pieces very well. But we’ve conceded too many goals like that and it hurts. We have to improve that. Training is the only way to get better at it,” Van Dijk added.

“It’s not been good enough. We all realise that. We have spoken about it. We need to turn it around. That’s why we work on it almost every training session.”

Liverpool manager Slot said: “Unfortunately we’re maybe the only team that hardly ever scores from a set-piece and, even worse, we constantly concede.

“But then, I think I said two, three or four weeks ago, we have to make sure that when things go against us – it could be a set-piece, it could be other things – we still need to find a way to win.

“In the last two games we conceded from a set-piece but we were able to win and that hasn’t happened many times this season. That’s progress for me, but it’s obvious there are more things for us to improve and this is definitely one of them.

“I think we have been unlucky in multiple situations in our set-pieces. It is 18 games now and we need to improve.”

Liverpool’s third league win in a row took them up to fourth in the table.