Portobello Road Market, found in the Notting Hill area, features a lot of antique shops, restaurants and independent boutiques.
And the market is one of the most famous and historic in the world, dating back over 160 years.
Visitors can explore hundreds of stalls, full of different curiosities, bric-a-brac, jewellery, antiques, clothing and more.
On Fridays and Saturdays – which tend to be the busiest days – the market stalls actually stretch over a mile long from start to finish.
And then on Sundays, there are less stalls, but still plenty to explore and the shops remain open as well.
One recent visitor said: “Lots of interesting stuff, the vintage market section was the best, but the main road itself was insane with people even early in the morning.
“Worth a visit at least once.”
Another added: “Portobello Road and its market is fun to experience.
“It is located in the charming residential neighborhood of Notting Hill.
Work on the market is expected to begin in January 2027Credit: Getty
“Interesting mix of touristy and local shops, eateries, and temporary booths/stalls. Highly recommended!”
A third said: “The market is full of life, colours, and unique finds.
“I especially enjoyed browsing the small stalls with handmade and vintage jewellery — I found some truly beautiful and one-of-a-kind pieces.
“A must-visit spot in London if you enjoy local art, antiques, and something different from the usual shops.”
Portobello has also featured in a number of films, perhaps most notably Notting Hill, starring Hugh Grant and Julia Roberts.
And you can actually visit the bookshop that inspired the bookshop in the film.
Called the Notting Hill Bookshop in real life, the store features the same façade and interiors today that the original shop did which was used in Notting Hill as The Travel Book Co.
Nearby, you can also visit Notting Hill Bookshop which was used in the Notting Hill filmCredit: Alamy
There is a lot to do in the surrounding area as well.
For example, you could head to the Museum of Brands to see how household products have changed their look over the years.
It costs £11.50 per person to visit.
Or perhaps wander to Kensington, where you can explore Kensington Palace and Gardens, which costs from £20.60 per person to visit.
Corrie fans joked ‘someone is getting fired’ after the groundbreaking flashforward episode was uploaded to YouTube on Friday, giving away vital details ahead of tonight’s show
11:33, 16 Feb 2026Updated 11:33, 16 Feb 2026
Will groomer Megan be the one to meet her maker? (Image: ITV)
Bosses at Coronation Street were left reeling after accidentally leaking tonight’s flashforward episode days before the top secret show was due to air.
Fans were stunned after finding out which five characters are in the firing line early, with one set to be murdered in April. This morning, Corrie put out the names of those at risk of a grisly death as the identities of the ITV soap’s stars who could meet their end were announced.
Groomer Megan Walsh, manipulative Theo Silverton and family-wrecker Carl Webster could soon be getting their comeuppance with quirky landlady Maggie Driscoll and suspicious newcomer Jodie Ramsey also picked as possible murder victims. But some viewers found out days ago.
The programme, which is set to air tonight, was briefly uploaded on the YouTube on Friday before being hauled offline. It didn’t go unnoticed as one fan took to X to write: “Someone at Corrie leaking Mondays episode on a Friday afternoon oh dear someone’s getting fired.”
The groundbreaking episode begins with a police interview taking place on April 23. A a shocked and Betsy Swain is seen telling detectives about finding the dead body of someone she knows.
Dressed in wedding clothes, the cop’s daughter explains that she had been at the marriage of her mum Lisa Swain to Carla Connor, but was heading into town when she made the shocking discovery. As the episode returns to the present day we begin to see how the behaviour of the five characters could lead to their possible death two months later.
Twisted teacher Megan is caught up in a web of lies as she continues to groom impressionable teen Will Driscoll. Doing anything to protect her family, Maggie gives a fake alibi for Will to stop him being charged with the Christmas Day attack on Daniel Osbourne.
Carl has burnt all his bridges when he let Debbie take the blame for the Corriedale accident which saw Billy Mayhew perish. Since finding out Debbie is actually his mum and not his sister, Carl has pressed the self-destruct button and as he continues to goad both family and neighbours – he would have no shortage of people looking to settle a score.
Theo’s coercive control over Todd has reached new lows and with their wedding looming, will Todd finally confide in his friends about what has been going on before it is too late?
Despite initial reservations, the Platts have welcomed Shona’s estranged sister Jodie Ramsey into their home. But Jodie has been keeping secrets from them, and it seems she has got mixed up with some pretty shady characters in her past. Will trouble follow Jodie to Weatherfield, or could she upset people closer to home with her behaviour?
As the episode comes to a close we flash forward again to April 23 and the five characters are on the cobbles as Lisa and Carla’s wedding fireworks light up the night sky.
As the lights flicker a battered and bruised Carl, frantic Jodie, a menacing Maggie, a bloody-nosed Megan and a furtive Theo stare into the darkness. In the final moments the terrified scream of Betsy Swain fills the air – but which Weatherfield resident will be the murder victim?
Carl Webster, Megan Walsh, Theo Silverton, Maggie Driscoll and Jodie Ramsey are in a killer’s firing line and tonight’s flashforward episode will keep fans guessing
The five Coronation Street characters at risk of a grisly death have been revealed. One of the ITV soap’s stars will meet their end the identities of the possible murder victims have been confirmed as viewers prepare to be taken back to the future in the show’s much anticipated flashforward episode. But will it be a villian on a much-loved character getting the boot?
Groomer Megan Walsh, manipulative Theo Silverton and twisted Carl Webster could be getting their comeuppance in April. But quirky landlady Maggie Driscoll is also in the firing like, as is strange newcomer Jodie Ramsey, who appears to have a whole load of family bagage to unload.
The groundbreaking episode begins with a police interview taking place on April 23rd 2026. As the drama unfolds a shocked and Betsy Swain is seen telling the detectives about finding the dead body of someone she knows.
Dressed in wedding clothes, the cop’s daughter explains that she had been at the marriage of her mum Lisa Swain to Carla Connor, but was heading into town when she made the shocking discovery. As the episode returns to the present day we begin to see how the behaviour of the five characters could lead to their possible death two months later.
Evil teacher Megan is caught up in a web of lies as she continues to groom impressionable teen Will Driscoll. Doing anything to protect her family, Maggie gives a fake alibi for Will to stop him being charged with the Christmas Day attack on Daniel Osbourne.
Carl has burnt all his bridges when he let Debbie take the blame for the Corriedale accident which saw Billy Mayhew perish. Since finding out Debbie is actually his mum and not his sister, Carl has pressed the self-destruct button and as he continues to goad both family and neighbours – he would have no shortage of people looking to settle a score.
Theo’s coercive control over Todd has reached new lows and with their wedding looming, will Todd finally confide in his friends about what has been going on before it is too late?
Despite initial reservations, the Platts have welcomed Shona’s estranged sister Jodie Ramsey into their home. But Jodie has been keeping secrets from them, and it seems she has got mixed up with some pretty shady characters in her past. Will trouble follow Jodie to Weatherfield, or could she upset people closer to home with her behaviour?
As the episode comes to a close we flash forward again to April 23 and the five characters are on the cobbles as Lisa and Carla’s wedding fireworks light up the night sky.
As the lights flicker a battered and bruised Carl, frantic Jodie, a menacing Maggie, a bloody-nosed Megan and a furtive Theo stare into the darkness. In the final moments the terrified scream of Betsy Swain fills the air – but which Weatherfield resident will be the murder victim?
That was the verdict from my son when I proudly showed off my hot-off-the-easel painting after an inspiring “art experience” on a weekend break in Wales.
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Pembrokeshire’s golden beaches are the big draw and even in winter they are breathtakingCredit: AlamyLucy Shersby enjoyed an inspiring ‘art experience’ on a weekend break in WalesCredit: Supplied
It was the highlight of my time in St David’s, Pembrokeshire, with Coastal Cottages.
The location is the UK’s smallest city — more of a village with a stonking great cathedral attached.
Our base was the cosy Goat Street Cottage — a traditional end-of- terrace kitted out in a very comfortable country style.
It sleeps five and has everything for a short break, a longer holiday or even a family Easter or Christmas.
The centre of St David’s is a few yards away and yet it’s incredibly quiet. Pembrokeshire’s golden beaches are the big draw and even in winter they are breathtaking.
The water was turquoise, the skies blue and the sand seemed to go on for ever.
This is a national park lined by a stunning coastal path. At Whitesands Bay, surfers were catching the waves.
The fact the water was icy made no difference.
There isn’t just one beach here — the St David’s Peninsula has 26.
Solva, a quaint inlet, and Newgale — backed by massive pebble bank — were among our favourites.
We were the odd ones out as we didn’t have a dog. Among the walkers they were almost compulsory.
There are signs everywhere for dog ice cream, dog menus and home-made dog treats.
Many of Coastal’s 400 cottages welcome four-legged visitors too.
Ours had a dog bed in the living room although pets are not allowed on sofas or upstairs.
The crashing waves were our muse when we met artist Jill Jones for a two-hour lesson booked through the cottage’s concierge service.
Jill is a human dynamo who, after a 30-year career in graphic design, built her own studio in Talbenny loaded with art equipment.
Our base was the cosy Goat Street Cottage — a traditional end-of- terraceCredit: SuppliedIt sleeps five and has everything for a short breakCredit: Supplied
MAGICAL MEMORY
She has a unique technique and doesn’t believe in doing more than a few strokes with one brush.
So every few seconds we had fresh brushes in our hands with the used ones tossed into a large bucket.
Her step-by-step teaching was truly motivating.
It was the first time in years anyone had really shown me proper acrylic painting skills so I could achieve a result I wanted to hang on my wall.
The concierge service can also deliver hampers of Welsh produce or flowers to your cottage or book activity days ranging from boat trips to spa treatments, cooking classes or flying lessons.
It turns a cottage stay into a magical memory.
Pleased with our masterpieces, we treated ourselves to a hearty and delicious Sunday lunch at The Castle pub in Little Haven.
Back in St David’s, there was just time for a final browse of the shops.
The cosy cottage stay in St David’s turned into a magical memory, with lots to explore nearby
Arts and crafts abound, from the Goat Street Gallery to Solva Woollen Mill and the Window On Wales which had so many covetable gifts it felt like Etsy on steroids.
For the family back home, we grabbed some handmade treats from Chapel Chocolates and the MamGu Welshcake bakery.
If you want to eat out on a Sunday evening, be warned. Despite having a three-Michelin-rosette restaurant and a tapas bar, the town was mostly closed — but this was in winter.
Luckily Saffron met our needs for a final Indian meal.
At the Oriel Y Parc visitor centre we topped up the EV — the break had already recharged our human batteries.
GO: St David’s
STAYING THERE: A week at Goat Street Cottage for up to five starts from £620 in total.
Faced with numerous complaints about broken streetlights that have plunged neighborhoods into darkness, two Los Angeles City Council members unveiled a plan Friday to spend $65 million on installing solar-powered lights.
With 1 in 10 streetlights out of service because of disrepair or copper wire theft, Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Eunisses Hernandez launched an effort to convert at least 12% of the city’s lights to solar power — or about 500 in each council district.
Broken streetlights emerged as an hot-button issue in this year’s election, with council members scrambling to find ways to restore them. Councilmember Nithya Raman, now running against Mayor Karen Bass, cited the broken lights as an example of how city agencies “can’t seem to manage the basics.”
By switching to solar, the streetlights will be less vulnerable to theft, said Yaroslavsky, who represents part of the Westside.
“We can’t keep rebuilding the same vulnerable systems while copper theft continues to knock out lights across Los Angeles,” she said.
Three other council members — Traci Park, Monica Rodriguez and Hugo Soto-Martínez — signed on to the proposal. All five are running for reelection.
Miguel Sangalang, director of the Bureau of Street Lighting, said there are 33,000 open service requests to fix streetlights across L.A., although some may be duplicates. The average time to fix a streetlight is 12 months, he said.
Repair times have increased because of a rise in vandalism, the department’s stagnant budget and a staff of only 185 people to service the city’s 225,000 streetlights, he said.
About 60,000 street lights are eligible to be converted to solar, according to Yaroslavsky.
Council members also are looking to increase the amount the city charges property owners for streetlight maintenance. Yaroslavsky said the assessment has been unchanged since 1996, forcing city leaders to rely on other sources of money to cover the cost.
Last month, Soto-Martínez announced he put $1 million into a streetlight repair team in his district, which stretches from Echo Park to Hollywood and north to Atwater Village. Those workers will focus on repairing broken lights, hardening lights to prevent copper wire theft and clearing the backlog of deferred cases.
On Monday, city crews also began converting 91 streetlights to solar power in Lincoln Heights and Cypress Park. Hernandez tapped $500,000 from her office budget to pay for the work. The shift to solar power should save money, she said, by breaking the cycle of constantly fixing and replacing lights.
“This is going to bring more public safety and more lights to neighborhoods that so desperately need it and that are waiting a long time,” she said.
In recent years, neighborhoods ranging from Hancock Park and Lincoln Heights to Mar Vista and Pico Union have been plagued by copper wire theft that darkens the streets. On the 6th Street Bridge, thieves stole seven miles’ worth of wire.
Yaroslavsky and Park spoke about the problem Friday at a press conference in the driveway of a Mar Vista home. Andrew Marton, the homeowner, pointed to streetlights around the block that have been targeted by thieves.
Many surrounding streets have been dark since shortly after Christmas, Marton said. He has changed his daily routines, trying not to walk his dog late at night and worrying for the safety of his family.
He said he reported the problem to the city and was told it would take 270 days to fix. He then reached out to Park, who contacted the police department, he said.
A couple of neighboring streets had their lights restored, he said, but his street remains dark at night.
Park said she and Yaroslavsky identified $500,000 in discretionary funds to pay for a dedicated repair team to fix streetlights, either by adding solar or by reinforcing the existing copper wire, in their respective Westside districts.
MINNEAPOLIS — The immigration crackdown in Minnesota that led to mass detentions, protests and two deaths is coming to an end, border policy advisor Tom Homan said Thursday.
Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said Tuesday that he expected Operation Metro Surge, which started in December, to end in “days, not weeks and months,” based on his conversations with senior Trump administration officials.
“As a result of our efforts here, Minnesota is now less of a sanctuary state for criminals,” Homan said at a news conference.
“I have proposed and President Trump has concurred, that this surge operation conclude,” he continued.
Federal authorities say the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sweeps focused on the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area have led to the arrest of more than 4,000 people. While the Trump administration has called those arrested “dangerous criminal illegal aliens,” many people with no criminal records, including children and U.S. citizens, have also been detained.
“The surge is leaving Minneapolis safer,” Homan said. “I’ll say it again, it’s less of a sanctuary state for criminals.”
Homan announced last week that 700 federal officers would leave Minnesota immediately, but that still left more than 2,000 on Minnesota’s streets. Homan said Thursday that the drawdown began this week and will continue next week. He said he plans to stay in Minnesota to oversee the drawdown.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he had a “positive meeting” with Homan on Monday and discussed the potential for a further drawdown of federal officers.
Homan took over the Minnesota operation in late January after the second fatal shooting by federal immigration agents and amid growing political backlash and questions about how the operation was being run.
“We’re very much in a trust but verify mode,” Walz said, adding that he expected to hear more from the administration “in the next day or so” about the future of what he said has been an “occupation” and a “retribution campaign” against the state.
Walz said he had no reason not to believe Homan’s statement last week that 700 federal officers would leave Minnesota immediately, but the governor added that that still left 2,300 on Minnesota’s streets. Homan at the time cited an “increase in unprecedented collaboration” resulting in the need for fewer federal officers in Minnesota, including help from jails that hold deportable inmates.
Before her fateful downhill run Sunday — one that ended with a violent crash after 13 seconds — Lindsey Vonn pulled on a pair of out-of-production gloves from her childhood skiing idol, Picabo Street.
The gloves are weathered and white, their brightness dulled by the decades, with the brand name “reusch” across the knuckles and a big, plum-colored sun on top. On the wrist straps are Street’s initials, scrawled in marker.
Vonn didn’t announce the gesture, nor did NBC, which employs Street as a color commentator. Street was at the starting gate of the Olimpia delle Tofane course for Sunday’s coverage.
Street confirmed to the Los Angeles Times that the two longtime friends made the glove exchange before the Olympics.
“When she saw a picture of me in those gloves, she was like, ‘Oh, those would be cool,’” Street told the Times. “And I caught wind of it, and was like, ‘Well, I just happen to have them.’”
Those gloves are especially meaningful to Street because they are immortalized on the bronze statue of her in Sun Valley, Idaho. The sun across the top is visible in the sculpted detail.
“It was just my way of being able to show her that, you know, I love you and I believe in you,” Street said. “And wear these, they’ll be fun.”
The two were on the U.S. Ski Team together — Street at the end of her career, Vonn at the beginning — and have been close friends for years. Vonn co-produced the documentary “Picabo,” and in it tells Street, “You are my hero.”
The gloves Picabo Street gave to Lindsey Vonn before Vonn’s race in the Olympic downhill on Feb. 8.
(Courtesy of Picabo Street)
Street, whose skiing and who’s first name helped make her a pop-culture sensation during her Olympic career is a huge fan of Vonn. In speaking to the Times, she said on multiple occasions, “I’m not the story here, so this isn’t about me.”
Still, there are some uncanny coincidences. For instance, Vonn was the 13th skier in Sunday’s lineup and her run lasted 13 seconds before her fall, in which she broke her left leg. Late in her career, Street suffered a broken left leg in a race that took place on Friday the 13th in Crans Montana, Switzerland, where Vonn sustained a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in a fall at the end of January.
Street had an emotional reaction when she learned what bib number Vonn would be wearing.
“I about puked when I saw number 13,” Street said. “I got very little sleep. I cried all night long, and I cried in the morning. I couldn’t shake it.”
She said her main concern now is her friend’s return to health, not for competitive skiing but for life.
“I want her leg to work for her,” Street said. “I want her nerves to work for her. I want her to have function of her whole body again, and in case she wants to have a family, she can play with her kids.”
The gloves weren’t the first piece of equipment Street loaned to Vonn.
Lindsey Vonn prepares to leave the downhill starting gate while wearing Picabo Street’s gloves on Feb. 8.
(Screenshot courtesy of NBC)
“I remember when I raced in Salt Lake, and I retired, and I was packed up and leaving the house we were staying in,” Street said, referring to the 2002 Winter Olympics. “She came into the house, and I remember giving her a huge hug and giving her a couple of items — one of which she wore in those Games — which was a sleeve around her braid, because we both have really long hair.
“I wore a red, white and blue American-flag neoprene sleeve around my hair, and she wore one as well. I handed her that there and was like, ‘Here you go. Go get ‘em.’”
After Vonn’s crash Sunday, Street told her own mother about loaning the gloves.
“I said, ‘Oh God, mom, she was wearing my gloves,’” she said, her voice catching with emotion.
“At first my mom said, ‘Oh, honey,’ and then she goes, ‘OK, let’s flip this. Maybe the gloves kept her from getting injured worse.’”
Coronation Street fans met Shona Platt and Jodie Ramsey’s father on Monday on the ITV soap, but his warning to Shona left fans convinced they knew what had happened to him
09:47, 10 Feb 2026Updated 09:48, 10 Feb 2026
Coronation Street fans met Shona Platt and Jodie Ramsey’s father on Monday (Image: ITV)
Sinister scenes on Coronation Street may have revealed Jodie Ramsey did something terrible to her own father.
Shona Platt was stunned during Monday’s episode of the ITV soap, after suspecting her sister Jodie was hiding something. She followed her to a hospital where she was left reeling to be reunited with her father after decades apart.
She had decided to track her father down, after Jodie recently claimed to Shona that her upbringing wasn’t great, with her father apparently being controlling in the wake of Shona fleeing years ago. Shona failed to find a lead on her dad’s whereabouts though, before managing to locate him by following Jodie to the hospital.
It was clear their dad, who was laying still but awake in a bed, was dazed and confused. Initially he didn’t talk or move and he didn’t even react to Shona entering the room.
Jodie claimed she had to care for him after he spiralled in the wake of Shona and her mum leaving. She said he often had angry outbursts and in the end she could no longer look after him, admitting him to the hospital for daily care.
Suddenly the father started shouting out, seemingly calling Jodie a liar and warning Shona about her. Jodie claimed he didn’t know what he was saying most of the time, but later proved he had reason to be worried.
He seemed genuinely scared when Jodie commented that she didn’t need him anymore, and hinted that things didn’t go his way when he didn’t stay in line. So did Jodie do something to her dad?
Fans certainly think so with one writing: “I think Jodie abuses him,” as another commented: “The father looked a bit frightened of Jodie I thought.” A third added: “OMG Does Jodie abuse her dad?”
A fourth fan commented: “I think Jodie has been drugging her father. Anything that comes out of her mouth is lies and I think she wants to destroy Shona’s life because she abandoned her when she left home.”
Another said: “Jodie is definitely hiding something else I bet she’s the one abusing her dad.” Meanwhile one viewer posted: “That’s what I’m thinking as she’s probably the one who put him in that hospital to get his money.”
Other fans shared their belief that Jodie was out to steal her sister Shona’s life. A fan posted: “It’s giving me ‘single white female’ vibes. Jodie definitely wants Shona’s life.”
Another agreed: “Not sure what the story is actually. Why did Shona leave? Presume Jodie was left to look after the dad so Jodie is full of resentment. Found Shona and saw she had a good life so wants a bit of it???????”
Coronation Street fans were left divided when Shona Platt was reunited with her long-lost dad on Monday night’s episode of the ITV soap and “struggled” to watch the telling scenes
Shona was reunited with her long-lost dad on Coronation Street(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street fans were left divided when Shona Platt was reunited with her long-lost dad on Monday night’s episode of the ITV soap. Following the programme’s crossover with Emmerdale earlier this year, Shona crossed paths with her long-lost sister Jodie, whom she had never mentioned before, and has since been trying to get back in touch with their father.
Jodie, who made her first appearance tied up in the back of a van, has clearly been hiding something whilst worming back into her sister’s life and moving in with her and husband David Platt at number eight, but the Roy’s Rolls waitress has just seemed pleased to have her younger sibling back in her life.
On the latest episode of the world’s longest-running TV soap, fans and Shona finally got an answer to where her dad had been all these years. Jodie, of course, already knew where her dad was and had tried to stop Shona from finding out. But a suspicious Shona followed her sister to what turned out to be a psychiatric hospital.
Shona demanded answers from Jodie, and she claimed: “It started when you left. And then he had a complete breakdown when mum walked out on him. This is all part of my old life. I didn’t want to drag you into it. You made a clean break. He has these spells where he gets angry, that’s not him, and I know that now, but, as I say, I wasn’t coping. I hated seeing him being taken awa,y but it was the best thing.”
Turning to Shona from his bed, Doug, told her: “No. You can’t be here! No. You can’t be here. It’s not right!” He then added: “Don’t believe her. She’s a liar. She lies. Keep away from her!”
Later on, Jodie was back at the hospital, where she told her father in no uncertain terms to stay on her good side. She said: “Don’t you dare, Dad. Don’t you dare mess this up for me. Cos you know what happens when we fall out. It doesn’t work out very well for you, does it? This could be my happy ending!”
Despite the revelations coming at long last, fans were not entirely sold on the scenes, with one pointing out that Shona wouldn’t be able to focus on this as she already has a baby in intensive care.
One wrote: “Why wasn’t it enough for #corrie to have all the health upsets for the baby? No mother with a child in NICU would have time for any of this. Shona would still be knee deep in trauma!”
Another said: “Jodie is another character I can’t warm to. It might changed but at the minute I am struggling to enjoy her scenes,” and a third wrote: “Feel sorry for Shona’s dad he’s clearly been abused and manipulated by that little cretin!”
Since Jodie’s debut on the programme, fans have started to wonder if the plot will echo that of fans Single White Female, the 1992 thriller that starred Jennifer Jason Leigh and Bridget Fonda and followed a woman whose roommate decides to steal her identity. One said: “I am getting some single white female vibes, I won’t lie,” and another said: “Shona and Jodie. Remember the movie ‘Single White Female’? Jodie has copied Shona’s hair.”
Another said: “I’m convinced Jodie is gonna try and steal Shona’s life, first her clothes, then her kids, then her fella!” There is definitely some mystery surrounding Jodie, as she was previously seen suffering from a panic attack after being harassed by an intrusive caller.
Fans were already suspicious of the situation when Jodie first arrived, with one writing: “Shona’s sister just came out of nowhere, why now? Must be more to the story!”
Coronation Streetairs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and is available to stream from 7am on ITVX.
A heartbroken Coronation Street star Cait Fitton has shared a sad update online with her fans
Joe Crutchley Screen Time Reporter
14:10, 08 Feb 2026Updated 14:11, 08 Feb 2026
Coronation Street Lauren star heartbroken as she shares emotional personal news(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street’s Lauren Bolton star Cait Fitton has shared a heartbreaking announcement online.
Cait shot to fame playing Lauren Bolton on the ITV soap – making her debut in 2022. As the feisty and loyal teenager, Lauren’s been involved in several big moments on the cobbles.
From growing up with her racist far-right extremist dad Reece Bolton (Scott Anson), to killing her abuser Joel Deering (Calum Lill), Lauren’s time in Weatherfield has not been short of drama.
Away from the ITV soap, Cait is no stranger to keeping her 62k Instagram followers updated on her day-to-day life – from BTS snaps at Corrie to sun-soaked holiday photos.
Last week though, Cait paid an emotional tribute to her grandfather after his funeral. Taking to her Instagram Story Cait uploaded a photo from his funeral, which showed a football T-shirt and ‘Greatest grandad’ cushion.
A heartbroken Cait captioned the emotional post: “Said goodbye to my hero today. My best mate till the day I die, always and forever your little dancing queen RIP GDAD.”
Cait announced last month that her grandad died just days before his birthday. Posting a series of black and white photos with him on her Instagram stories, the young star penned: “Happy heavenly birthday to my best buddy.
“It’s been just over a week since you left us… and I’m still trying to navigate how to get through this without you. Hope you are dancing up there with gran.”
Meanwhile, Cait recently celebrated three years on the cobbles, and wrote on Instagram: “3 years playing the pocket rocket that is Lozza Bolton. Time flies when you really are having fun. Let’s look back on some of my favourite moments so far…”
She added: “Thank you everyone who has shown nothing but love towards Lauren over the past 3 years . I love playing a character that is so complex to play . I love her!
“I feel so proud and privileged to have been given the honour to play out such inspiring stories and raise such important issues throughout my time on the cobbles so far.
“Thank you @coronationstreet and to @brookekinsella my amazing agent for always believing and trusting me within this process. I will forever be grateful to call this my job.”
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX
New York — Keke Palmer can make Jack Whitehall blush.
We’re sitting in the green room at the 92nd Street Y on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, just before Palmer is set to host a live edition of her podcast, “Baby, This Is Keke Palmer,” with Whitehall and their other co-stars from the Peacock series “The ‘Burbs,” premiering Sunday.
In the show, Palmer and Whitehall play Samira and Rob, new parents who move back to Rob’s hometown of Hinkley Hills, a beautiful suburb where Samira immediately suspects something is amiss.
Palmer has kicked off her high heels and tucked her feet under her on the couch where she sits next to Whitehall as I ask them about their chemistry read.
“He was making me — not just me, everybody — laugh,” she remembers. “It was like, yeah, I can see how you fall in love with this guy because he’s just so funny and he’s so sweet. It’s so true, Jack. Seriously.”
Whitehall’s face turns red, which I point out. He admits that’s the case through giggles. Palmer interjects, “He knows how I feel. That’s my boo.”
“The ‘Burbs” reimagines the 1989 Joe Dante movie starring Tom Hanks for a modern era. In the original, Hanks’ character is driven to madness, imagining that his neighbors in the creepy house across the street might be murderers.
Jack Whitehall as Rob and Keke Palmer as Samira in “The ‘Burbs,” a series that reimagines Joe Dante’s 1989 film.
(Elizabeth Morris/Peacock)
Developed by Celeste Hughey, this version puts Palmer’s Samira, a lawyer on maternity leave, at the center. Though initially ill at ease among the carefully manicured lawns, she develops a fast friendship with a group of gossipy wine guzzlers on her block (played by Julia Duffy, Paula Pell and Mark Proksch). When a creepy man (Justin Kirk) moves into the dilapidated Victorian mansion across the street, she starts to wonder whether it has something to do with the disappearance of a teenage girl years ago. And then she starts to ponder how Rob might be involved. Is it a case of paranoia thanks to new motherhood? Or is there something really amiss in this paradise?
Initially, Brian Grazer of Imagine Entertainment, which made the original, and Seth MacFarlane’s Fuzzy Door Productions had teamed up to do a new film version of “The ‘Burbs.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, MacFarlane thought that the title might make sense for the “dark, humorous, creepy vibes of our shared fear inside our own communities,” Fuzzy Door president and show executive producer Erica Huggins explains in a phone interview. After it was reconceived as a series, they reached out to Hughey.
“When I thought about it for a modern take, I really wanted to center an outsider,” Hughey says, adding, “I grew up in Boston, a very white suburb, as a mixed kid; I wanted to center it on a Black woman who has a new baby, a new husband, in a new neighborhood kind of unwillingly and seeing it through her eyes.”
Palmer was always who Hughey wanted to play Samira, and Grazer had the same idea.
Keke Palmer says she was attracted to the idea of playing a mom having experienced the realities of being a new mom herself.
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
“She’s so versatile,” Grazer says, adding she could be “really funny and really pretty and she could be the average person. Like, you could live through her and that’s a big thing. What was so great about Tom Hanks is you could live through him.”
It turns out the timing was perfect. Palmer wasn’t all that familiar with the 1989 version, but she identified with Hughey’s vision, especially given that her son, Leo, was around 1 year old at the time.
“Thinking about playing a mom and now being a mom and also being able to use horror and comedy to play with the realities of what it feels like to be a new mom all felt very exciting to me,” she says.
Once Palmer signed on, Hughey and her team needed to find someone to match her infectious energy. Hughey says she imagined Rob as a “fully supportive partner” whose childhood guilt is putting a wedge in their marriage. She and her collaborators landed on Whitehall, a British stand-up comedian who has had stints in blockbusters like 2021’s “Jungle Cruise.”
Whitehall flew into Atlanta from the U.K. to meet Palmer, who was shooting the upcoming Boots Riley film “I Love Boosters.” He tells me he has had bad experiences coming to the U.S. to read with potential co-stars before, but Palmer immediately put him at ease.
“I think I’m just genuinely curious, trying to get to know him, because at the end of the day we’re going to be together every single day and we’re going to be making out and kissing and hugging,” she says. “We gotta be married. Is this my Desi? Am I his Lucy?”
Jack Whitehall, who is also a parent, says he found elements of the script relatable.
(Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times)
Whitehall also understood the nuances of the part because he had a young child as well. His daughter Elsie is now 2 and a half. (Leo is about to turn 3 when we speak.)
“So many elements of the script were really relatable, with the character of Rob and the slight guilt that he has that he’s going back to work and his wife is feeling trapped and wanting to be a protector and to be helpful, but then also not not quite knowing where his place is and how he can be sort of useful and caring,” Whitehall says.
For Palmer, portraying Samira’s unease wasn’t just about highlighting the disconnect between her and Rob, it was also about portraying the specific fears of living in a postpartum state.
“You’re always kind of having this anxiety,” she says. “And I don’t want to say it’s disproportionate, but to a certain degree it is. You’re constantly filtering out, is this real danger? You are kind of constantly gaslighting yourself.”
Throughout the eight-episode season, which ends on a major cliffhanger, “The ‘Burbs” is always trying to make its audience question what is really going on. That specifically relates to Rob, who is keeping a lot of secrets that may or may not be nefarious. It’s an aspect of the character that attracted Whitehall, though he notes, “I think at one point in this series the finger is pointed at literally every single member of our cast.”
“The ‘Burbs” sets out to subvert expectations, and that also applies to the way it deals with Samira’s race.
“It was really important to me that we didn’t make it a cliché,” says Palmer, who is also an executive producer. “It’s expected that we play up the ‘Get Out’ aspect. So I think it was about not being untrue to that reality and how that plays a role in the story but to talk about the bigger thing where it’s really just about being a fish out of water.”
Samira finds a true community among the other neighborhood oddballs, which is true to Palmer’s experience of growing up in Robbins, Ill., outside of Chicago. Whitehall, meanwhile, says he grew up in the “British equivalent of Hinkley Hills” in a town called Putney, on the outskirts of London.
“It was just full of very proper people, but very judgmental, and there were secrets on the street,” he says. “There was scandal as well.”
During our interview it’s clear that Palmer and Whitehall have an easy rapport. They go on tangents about Palmer introducing Whitehall to the 1997 film “Soul Food,” which Whitehall proceeded to reference on set. Palmer grabs Whitehall in exuberance as they speak. While they have different styles of deliveries, their senses of humor are the same, according to Palmer. And they figured out how to make everything click in the show.
“I think we found our timing together and we let each other have our moments,” Palmer says. “Like very telepathic. Like, ‘Time for the bit.’ We can feel each other’s pacing. I guess we just really work well together.”
I visited the pretty little town with UK’s best high street – jam packed with 200 independent shops(Image: Jonathan Buckmaster)
It’s easy to see why this was named the best place to live in the UK. It’s got cobbled streets, Tudor buildings, colourful timber-framed houses, bustling market square, and range of independent businesses.
After several days of rain, the sun appeared just as I arrived to walk through the town chatting with locals enjoying the sunshine in the market square, exploring independent shops and admiring the timber-framed houses. This historic Essex town was named the best place to live in the UK by The Sunday Times in March 2025, topping a shortlist of 72 locations. Judges considered schools, transport, broadband speeds, mobile signals, access to green spaces, and the quality of the high street.
In stark contrast to so many dwindling high streets found across the country, Saffron Walden appears to be thriving with its bustling twice-weekly markets and a town centre that is estimated to be home to over 200 independent shops, cafés and restaurants. In 2024, the high street was also named among Britain’s top 32 by experts from Cheffins estate agents.
The town hosts its market on Tuesdays and Saturdays, a tradition dating back to 1141, and it’s a favourite spot for celebrity chef Jamie Oliver and his son River, with the celebrity chef having spoken in the past of visiting every Saturday. The TV star spoke highly of the community spirit and variety of produce at Saffron Walden Market, which was voted Best Small Outdoor Market in 2018.
He previously said: “I’m so lucky to have one of the best markets right on my doorstep. Saffron Walden is an absolute treasure trove of artisan suppliers, from Dan at Crystal Waters fishmongers to Saffron Wholefoods making incredible ingredients.
“Going every Saturday morning is the highlight of mine and River’s week – he loves it even more than me! We look at what’s in season, what looks good and what’s crying out to be cooked up! It’s a great way to connect with the local community and support the best of the best. I couldn’t love my local market more, make sure you go out and support yours.”
Felicity Norton, who has lived in Saffron Walden for more than 35 years, said the town’s charm has never faded. She said: “I’ve always loved Saffron Walden. It’s changed over the years, but it’s still a lovely, quiet little town.”
The town’s sense of place is rooted in both its history and stunning surroundings, from the grand stateliness of Audley End House and Gardens to peaceful walks through Bridge End Garden, a beautiful restored Victorian garden. The market town’s roots stretch back to at least the Neolithic period, evolving through a Roman-oBritish settlement and an Anglo-Saxon community before expanding under the Normans into a thriving medieval market centre, later gaining wealth and its distinctive name from the flourishing saffron industry of the 15th and 16th centuries.
Despite challenges facing high streets nationwide, Saffron Walden continues to attract a mix of independent retailers alongside well-known names such as Holland & Barrett. While some much-loved businesses and banks have closed over time, the town has welcomed a wave of new ventures bringing fresh energy.
Locals highlighted beloved stores including Between the Lines, Harts Bookshop, Talents gift shop and a number of independent clothing boutiques. Organic coffee shops like Esquires and Chater’s, a bakery, restaurant and cafe which even has its own on-site distillery, are among the places to stop and linger.
We were told by many local business owners that Chater’s must not be missed and that Oliver often goes there. It is known for its bold, seasonal cooking using the best local ingredients.
Among Ms Norton’s favourite spots is Neon Leo, described as “such a fun shop – they sell really different things in there”. Neon Leo is a rental and pre-loved fashion store founded by best friends Mandy Weetch and Abigail North in 2023. Located on Market Row, the shop is truly a world of its own, filled with colour, laughter and positivity. When entering the store, customers are greeted with a beautiful selection of clothing, sequins, glitter balls and art. Ms Weetch told the Express: “Saffron Walden’s got a huge amount of independent businesses.”
Ms North added: “The community is really active. People want to be part of it, whether you’re a business owner or a customer. We’ve never experienced that anywhere else.”
The pair said the town’s collaborative atmosphere sets it apart, with independent shops actively supporting one another and they also highlighted how Oliver comes every weekend to support local traders. Neon Leo hosts events emphasising confidence and self-expression through fashion, a movement they’ve dubbed “fashionism,” celebrating the power of women dressing how they want and defying outdated style rules, whether through small accessories or statement pieces.
“Ultimately, you should wear what you want, wear what you love,” Ms Weetch said.
Burtons Butchers is also beloved by local residents. The longstanding family-run shop serves premium meat products to customers, restaurants, hotels, and catering companies across East Anglia.
Since 2010, more than 1,000 butchers have closed across the UK, and the number of butchers in the UK has generally been shrinking in recent years, according to data sources such as Statista. The town also has a fishmongers, a beautiful independent bookshop and a library. Burtons Butchers was established in 1984 and serves a range of meats including venison sausages and local pork, beef and chicken sausages.
Andrew Northrop, manager of Burtons Butchers, said on market days there’s a great bustle, a “great energy” and “enthusiasm” from people for their town. “People like to see it do well and wish to support,” he added. Jamie Oliver often buys meat from the butchers and comes in with his family. They are proud to be his supplier and enjoy seeing him and having a chat.
Mr Northrop added: “You have to enjoy what you do, and when you’re passionate about it and enthusiastic people respond to that, and enjoy coming in here and the experience of coming in.”
The Coronation Street star will fly back to the UK for further tests this weekend
(Image: ITV)
Coronation Street legend Beverley Callard reveals she has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Callard, best known for her role as Liz McDonald, said she is in the “early stages” and will be going ahead with further treatment before returning to the screen.
The actress is soon to join the Irish soap Fair City as a new character named Lily, long-lost mother of existing character Gwen Connolly. She found out the news just 20 minutes before having to film one of her first scenes.
She told RTE’s Late Late Show on Friday: “I’ve had some tests just before I left the UK, and literally, 15, 20 minutes before I was in my dressing room at Fair City, getting ready to go on, and I was quite nervous and thinking, ‘I hope everybody thinks I’m all right’, whatever.
“And my consultant rang me and said, ‘you’ve got to come back to the UK’ I said, ‘Well, I can’t possibly, I’ve just taken a new job’. I said ‘I’m away for a month’, and I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“But I’m fine, I’m absolutely fine. My head was a bit mashed for the first few days. It’s very early stages, and I’m along with thousands of other women as well.
“It’s early stages, I travel back to the UK tomorrow, just for a couple of weeks, they’re going to test lymph nodes and lymph glands and all that. But then I need an operation and some radiotherapy, and then I’m coming back to Fair City, so I will be back in just a few weeks.”
She added: “I just thought, the world is full of strong, feisty women and I love strong, feisty women, and I just thought, rather than read about it in a newspaper and it all be distorted and everything else, I just said it, so that’s it.”
Callard and her husband are set to move to Co Wicklow as she is filming the soap. After acting in Corrie from 1989 to 2020, Callard said she was looking forward to her first appearance on Irish soap Fair City, which will hit the screen on February 19.
The picturesque village has one single road running through it and is home to a beloved country restaurant with rave reviews — ideal to spend a day in the countryside.
The stunning village boasts a rich history and breathaking views(Image: The Calf’s Head)
A charming Lancashire village featuring just one street and boasting a highly-rated country restaurant offers the perfect destination for your next family day out or catch-up with mates.
This distinctive linear village lies next to the renowned Pendle Hill, which provides a breathtaking backdrop to this peaceful hamlet.
Tucked away in the Ribble Valley district, east of the bustling market town of Clitheroe, this compact village serves as an ideal location for a peaceful retreat surrounded by natural beauty.
Its solitary road runs through the settlement before narrowing to a single-track lane leading to neighbouring Downham.
Despite the conservation village of Worston being relatively under the radar, it provides plenty of attractions for a fulfilling day trip.
A serene haven away from urban hustle and bustle, Worston boasts a fascinating and layered past. Back in 1778, workmen broadening the village road to Chatburn discovered 1,000 Roman coins (Denarii) in this modest settlement.
There’s also a prehistoric burial site located on Worsaw Hill, reports Lancs Live.
Located a stone’s throw from the village, Worsaw Hill is a Bronze Age burial mound displaying faint earthworks at its peak, potentially revealing traces of an ancient community from bygone times.
A cavern near the hill’s base enhances its enigmatic appeal, whilst the rocky outcrops and gentler slopes of Worsaw Hill prove excellent territory for fossil enthusiasts.
This tranquil single-track hamlet boasts numerous historical connections, featuring three Grade II Listed structures: the 17th-century Crow Hill Cottage, the 19th-century Worston Old Hall, and the Wall surrounding Worston Old Hall.
Remarkably, Worston Old Hall contains pieces of the historic Sawley Abbey embedded within its construction.
Tucked away beyond the village’s solitary main thoroughfare lies the remarkably intact remnants of an old bull ring, hidden within a compact meadow.
The stone and bronze tethering ring used during the bull-baiting period remains perfectly preserved on the village green.
This bull ring is thought to have been the epicentre of village activity in bygone days.
After the bull-baiting tradition faded, legend has it that anyone seeking confrontation would approach the bronze ring and rattle it vigorously to provoke a duel on the village green.
Charming countryside restaurant worth a visit
At the centre of tranquil Worston sits a much-loved rural restaurant and pub, treasured by locals and tourists alike.
The Calf’s Head ranks as Worston’s premier venue, earning an impressive 4.1 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor. It stands as the village’s sole dining and drinking destination.
With stunning vistas across Pendle Hill, the Calf’s Head serves authentic ales and an impressive wine collection, alongside a comprehensive menu featuring freshly prepared dishes showcasing locally sourced ingredients. Its sprawling, well-kept gardens and outdoor dining space offer guests the opportunity to savour meals in the fresh air whilst taking in breathtaking views across the Lancashire countryside.
Diners have heaped praise on the food at Calf’s Head, with one guest sharing on Tripadvisor: “We were holidaying in the area and decided to try the Calf’s Head for an evening meal.
“We were not disappointed, the food was plentiful and tasty and it was so good to see some traditional meals on the menu. I loved the homely atmosphere in the restaurant, it was a dark November evening when we visited and it felt very cosy. We will return when we’re next in the area.”
Another glowing review says: “Just had the most amazing afternoon tea in celebration of family birthdays. Soup to start, unlimited tea, varied sandwiches, delicious cakes and scones with jam and cream.
“The staff were friendly, the views were stunning and we loved every part of it. Amazing value at £22.50 per person. Thank you so much.”
Meanwhile, another satisfied visitor said: “We stayed for two nights, having both breakfast and evening meal both days. Delicious food and great service on each occasion, despite the fact they were incredibly busy on Sunday. (Judging by the food, I’m not surprised – our lamb burgers with goat’s cheese and caramelised onions were superb, as was the lasagne.)
“The setting is perfect – in a lovely walled garden by a stream, in a pretty little village. Add in a comfy bed, tea and coffee-making facilities and piping hot water; we couldn’t have asked for more. Thank you!”
Best Lancashire holiday cottage deals
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Lancashire is known for its wide open skies, stunning landscapes and lively coastal resorts. Sykes Cottages has a wide range of self catering accommodation across the county from £42 a night.
Oakland civil rights attorney James Cook has been on the ground in Minnesota for months figuring out answers to these question as he goes.
A fast-talking Minneapolis native who still lives in the Twin Cities part time, Cook is one of a handful of attorneys who have dropped everything to aid (for free) those caught up in the federal crackdown — protesters, immigrants and detained citizens — too many of whom have found themselves facing deportation, arrest or even been disappeared, at least for a time.
Civil rights attorney James Cook in the rear view mirror as he makes phone calls in his car in Minneapolis.
(Caroline Yang/For The Times)
“They are leaders that are on the ground really helping people through this process,” Minnesota school board member Chauntyll Allen told me.
She’s one of the protesters arrested inside a local church, charged with conspiracy to deprive others of their constitutional rights by Pam Bondi’s politicized Department of Justice, which also Friday arrested journalist Don Lemon for the same incident. Cook is one of the lawyers now representing Allen.
“It shows us that the judicial arm, or some of the judicial arm of our democracy, is willing to step up and ensure that our democracy stands strong,” Allen said of Cook and others like him.
While it’s the images of clashes in the streets that captivate media and audiences, it’s lawyers like Cook who are fighting an existential battle in the background to preserve the rule of law in a place where it is increasing opaque, to put it gently.
The legal work behind detentions has largely been an overlooked battlefield that will likely rage on years after ICE departs the streets, leaving in its wake hundreds if not thousands of long-and-winding court cases.
Beyond the personal fates they will determine, the outcome of the civil litigation Cook and others are spearheading will likely force whatever transparency and accountability can be pulled from these chaotic and troubling times.
It’s time-consuming and complicated work vital not just to people, but history.
Or, as Cook puts it, “I’ll be 10 years older when all this s— resolves.”
Federal agents stand guard against a growing wall of protesters on Jan. 24 in Minneapolis, just hours after Alex Pretti was shot by federal agents.
(Caroline Yang/For The Times)
Cook told me this while on his way to the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building where some detainees are being held, maybe. It’s hard to find out. A few years ago, when immigration enforcement in Minnesota ramped up under the first Trump term, activists tried to get the name of the building changed, arguing Whipple, the first Protestant Episcopal bishop in the state, had been an advocate of the marginalized and wouldn’t want his name associated with what the feds were up to.
Cook is well aware that the guns carried by the federal agents are not for show, even without the Boss’ new ballad. Just a few days ago, one of the first times he drove his beat-up truck up to the gate, the federal guards at Whipple pointed their guns at him.
“I’m like, ‘Hey, I’m going to take my keys out of the ignition, drop them on the ground. So please don’t shoot,’” he said.
They lowered the guns, but Cook was scared, a feeling that doesn’t come easy.
Long before his law degree, when he was a punk-rock loving teen in the 1980s, fresh out of Southwest High, the public school not too far from Whipple, a former coach convinced him to give up college dreams and instead pursue a shot at making the first Muay Thai kickboxing team at the Olympics.
The martial art ended up not making it as an official Olympic sport, but the experience launched Cook into a professional boxing and kickboxing career that took him to competitions around the world, and taught him fear is not a reason to back down.
But, “Father Time is undefeated,” Cook said. “I got older and I started losing fights, and I was like, all right, time to get back to life.”
That eventually led him to obtaining a law degree in San Francisco, where after an intern stint as a public defender, he decided he wanted to be a trial attorney, fighting in court.
Civil rights attorney James Cook has been doing pro bono immigration work since the crackdown began in Minneapolis.
(Caroline Yang/For The Times)
He started cold-calling John Burris, another Bay Area lawyer who is an icon of civil rights and police misconduct cases. Burris, who has been called the “Godfather of Police Litigation,” was involved in the “Oakland Riders” case in 2000, when officers were discovered to have planted evidence. He also represented Rodney King, the family of Oscar Grant, and the family of Joseph Mann among many others.
But Burris, a boxing fan, didn’t respond to Cook’s calls until the young lawyer offered him free tickets to one of his fights, which he was still doing on the side.
“And then immediately I got a call back,” Cook said.
Burris said Cook’s history as a fighter intrigued him, but “I did say to James, you can’t be a fighter and lawyer. You can’t get punched in your head all the time.”
Cook did not take this advice.
Still, Burris said, “It was his persistence that I admired, because the type of work we’re involved in, you need people who are dedicated, who have some real commitment to the work, and he showed that kind of consistency and dedication.”
Cook’s been working with Burris more than 20 years now, but until recently, the labyrinth of the immigration system wasn’t his area of expertise. It’s been a crash course for him, he said, on the often arcane laws that govern who gets to stay in America and who doesn’t.
It’s also been a crash course on what a civil rights emergency looks like. Along with his work looking for locked-up immigrants, Cook spends a lot of time on the streets at protests, helping people understand their rights — and limitations — and seeing first hand what is happening.
“If you ever wondered what you would have done in Germany, now is the time,” he said. “Now is the time to do something. People are being interned.”
In the hours after Pretti was shot, Cook was at the location of the shooting, in the middle of the tear gas, offering legal help to anyone who needed it and bearing witness to conduct that will almost certainly face scrutiny one day, even if government leaders condone it now.
Law enforcement officers launch tear gas canisters as they work to push the crowd back and expand their perimeter in Minneapolis on Jan. 24.
(Caroline Yang/For The Times)
“The way the officers chase people down, protesters who were really just protesting lawfully and were beaten and pepper sprayed and gassed — all those are civil rights violations,” Burris said. “And so the law is the guardrails. So there has to be lawyers who are prepared to protect those guardrails and to stand as centurions, as I refer to us.”
Cook has tried to calm protesters, he told me, and prevent clashes. But people are mad, and resolute. His greatest fear is summer — when warm weather could bring even larger crowds if enforcement is still ongoing. He’s worried that the actions of the federal agents will spill over into anger at local cops enforcing local laws, leading to even more chaos.
“I’ve always supported cops as long as they do their job correctly,” Cook said.
For now, he’s taking it one day at a time, one case at a time, one name at a time.
Protesters raise an inverted American flag as law enforcement officers launch tear gas canisters in Minneapolis after Alex Pretti was killed by federal agents.
(Caroline Yang/For The Times)
Tuesday, Cook passed through the armed checkpoint at Whipple carrying a list of about seven people, folks who have been picked up by federal agents for one reason or another, or reasons unknown, and now cannot be located. They are not in the public online system that is meant to track detainees, and family and friends have not heard from them.
If he’s lucky, Cook will get information on one or two, that they are indeed inside, or maybe at a detention center in Texas, where many have been sent. But there will be more whose location remains unknown. He’ll make calls, fill out forms and come back tomorrow. And the tomorrow after that.
“This is what we do,” he said. “I’m always in it for the long run. I mean, you know, shoot, yeah, that’s kind of the way it works.”
MINNEAPOLIS — A federal judge says she won’t halt the immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota as a lawsuit over it proceeds.
Judge Katherine M. Menendez on Saturday denied a preliminary injunction sought in a lawsuit filed this month by state Atty. Gen. Keith Ellison and the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul.
It argued that the Department of Homeland Security is violating constitutional protections. The lawsuit sought a quick order to halt the enforcement action or limit its scope. Lawyers with the U.S. Department of Justice have called the lawsuit “legally frivolous.”
The ruling on the injunction focused on the argument by Minnesota officials that the federal government is violating the Constitution’s 10th Amendment, which limits the federal government’s powers to infringe on the sovereignty of states. In her ruling, the judge relied heavily on whether that argument was likely to ultimately succeed in court.
The federal government argued that the surge, which it calls Operation Metro Surge, is necessary in its effort to take criminal immigrants off the streets and because federal efforts have been hindered by state and local “sanctuary laws and policies.” State and local officials argued that the surge is political retaliation after the federal government’s initial attempts to withhold federal funding to try to force immigration cooperation failed.
“Because there is evidence supporting both sides’ arguments as to motivation and the relative merits of each side’s competing positions are unclear, the Court is reluctant to find that the likelihood-of-success factor weighs sufficiently in favor of granting a preliminary injunction,” the judge said in the ruling.
U.S. Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi lauded the ruling Saturday on social media, calling it “another HUGE” legal win for the Justice Department.
Federal officers have fatally shot two people on the streets of Minneapolis, Renee Good on Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti on Jan. 24.
Emmerdale legend Glenda McKay has announced her new role as Dr Pearce in HollyoaksCredit: Instagram/@reddoormanagementThe star has landed herself a soap hat-trick having appeared on Emmerdale, Coronation Street and now Channel 4’s HollyoaksCredit: Rex Features
Channel 4 bosses have cast the 54-year-old actress with the intention to include her in a forthcoming storyline.
It’s been revealed Glenda is playing a new character named Dr Pearce, though it’s currently unclear how long the soap star will remain on the show for.
The soap star’s exciting new casting was confirmed in a post shared by the talent agency Red Door Management.
They said in a post on social media: “Tune into Hollyoaks at 7pm this evening on E4 to catch Red Door’s Glenda McKay as Dr Pearce.”
Glenda’s Hollyoaks role comes just months after she appeared in a guest stint on rival soap Coronation Street.
On the cobbles, Glenda played a social worker named Alison Hale who was dealing with street couple Tim and Sally Metcalfe as they fought to foster the Michealis’ children following their mum Lou’s imprisonment.
The actress left Emmerdale over 25 years ago when she was killed off in a memorable storyline which saw her brutally pushed off a cliff.
Glenda’s Emmerdale character, Rachel Hughes, was embroiled in a number of the show’s biggest storylines from affairs to having a secret childCredit: RexThe 54-year-old made her debut on Emmerdale back in 1988Credit: Alamy
She spent more than 11 years on the soap and appeared in almost 750 episodes.
Her character, Rachel Hughes, was embroiled in a number of the show’s biggest storylines from affairs to having a secret child.
Glenda’s final storyline saw her enter a toxic relationship with teacher Graham Clark. He coerced her into dressing differently and forced her to dye her hair in an attempt to mould her into his dead wife.
Twisted Graham then attempted to force himself on her as she tried to break up with him.
He later chased Rachel and cornered her on a clifftop, she confronted him, and Graham ultimately pushed her to her death.
The evil teacher then lead Rachel’s friends and fellow villagers to believe that she was missing.
Since leaving Emmerdale in 1999, Glenda has only landed a handful of TV roles including guest stints on Hollyoaks and Doctors.
In 2005, Glenda appeared in Coronation Street for one episode as a love interest of cabbie Lloyd Mulaney (Craig Charles).
But in recent years, the former soap star made a startling career change as she ditched acting to work as a primary school teacher.
Many Angelenos have never set foot in Monrovia, the mountain-view town nestled in the San Gabriel foothills, or even heard of it — unless they read their Trader Joe’s labels, many of which name the city as the distribution site. It’s still a bit of an insider’s secret, which locals like myself tend to appreciate.
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.
Monrovia embodies the word “picturesque” in a way Thornton Wilder would’ve appreciated: Neat little historic homes — many designed in the Arts and Crafts and New Mediterranean architectural styles — line neighborhood streets abundant with native plants. Residents, by turns sweet and quirky, seem like they could be plucked right out the “Gilmore Girls” town of Stars Hollow: You might meet an award-winning whistler who hosts an annual music festival in Library Park or a mayor whose husband campaigns for her by strolling the streets wearing a sandwich board. Monrovians are intensely proud of their city, telling their stories through a historical museum and an archive called the Legacy Project. On Friday evenings, they often come together in Old Town Monrovia, where four blocks of the main thoroughfare of Myrtle Avenue are shut down to traffic for a street fair complete with bounce houses, food trucks and a petting zoo. Their event calendars are peppered with frequent festivals in Library Park and the county fair-esque Monrovia Days town birthday celebration.
Los Angeles County’s fourth-oldest city, Monrovia was incorporated in 1887 after William N. Monroe, a former superintendent for Southern Pacific rail company, along with James F. Crank, Edward F. Spence and John D. Bicknell, plotted a 120-acre town centered at Orange (now Colorado Boulevard) and Myrtle Avenue. Historic gems can be found all around: You can still admire the Mayan Revival-style architecture of the century-old Aztec Hotel or look for the brass plaques displayed on more than 40 of Monrovia’s “first houses” built before the end of 1887. Just be on the lookout for the bears: They’re the unofficial mascot of Monrovia, since they languidly amble our streets, inspire our art (you’ll find bear murals and sculptures throughout town) and even bathe in our hot tubs.
In general, daily life in Monrovia feels mellow, slow and friendly. Seeing and being seen isn’t as much of an objective as savoring a breakfast of runny eggs while reading a newspaper, meandering by the lit-up park fountain or hiking through the 80 acres of wilderness at Monrovia Canyon Park. Don’t expect to get anywhere in town fast, especially during rush hour along Huntington Drive, Foothill Boulevard or the 210. In getting around, public transit can come to the rescue: the GoMonrovia Lyft Pass offers $6 local Lyft rides, and the city is connected by Metro to Pasadena, Highland Park, Union Station, Azusa, Long Beach and other locations. Monrovia isn’t for everyone but it’s as close to paradise as anything I’ve ever found in Los Angeles County. I hope to someday be considered one of the city’s quirky characters who has long called this place home.
What’s included in this guide
Anyone who’s lived in a major metropolis can tell you that neighborhoods are a tricky thing. They’re eternally malleable and evoke sociological questions around how we place our homes, our neighbors and our communities within a wider tapestry. In the name of neighborly generosity, we may include gems that linger outside of technical parameters. Instead of leaning into stark definitions, we hope to celebrate all of the places that make us love where we live.
Our journalists independently visited every spot recommended in this guide. We do not accept free meals or experiences. What L.A. neighborhood should we check out next? Send ideas to guides@latimes.com.
