Hospices caring for people at the end of their lives are at risk because funding is “unsustainable”.
Lawyers for Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer again ask to have prosecutors thrown off case
At a pretrial hearing for Tyler Robinson, the accused killer of Charlie Kirk, the defense again argued that prosecutors should be thrown off the case.
Robinson’s attorneys want the entire Utah County Attorney’s Office disqualified because one of the prosecutors has an 18-year-old daughter who was present at the rally at Utah Valley University in Orem, where Kirk was shot.
Utah County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Chad Grunander testified that he received texts from his daughter right after the killing, saying someone had been shot at the school and that she was OK.
Defense attorneys previously said in court documents that the personal relationship is a conflict of interest that “raises serious concerns about past and future prosecutorial decision-making in this case.” They also argued that the “rush” to seek the death penalty against the 22-year-old suspect is evidence of “strong emotional reactions” by the prosecution.
Grunander’s daughter also testified during the hearing, but that portion was closed to the public to protect her identity.
According to an affidavit submitted by prosecutors, she did not see the shooting.
“While the second person in line was speaking with Charlie, I was looking around the crowd when I heard a loud sound, like a pop. Someone yelled ‘he’s been shot,'” Grunander’s daughter stated in the affidavit.
She later texted a family group chat to say “CHARLIE GOT SHOT.” In the aftermath of the shooting, she did not miss classes or other activities and reported no lasting trauma “aside from being scared at the time,” the affidavit said.
Grunander said he decided early to disclose the information about his daughter because it could be portrayed as a potential conflict of interest. “Don’t mistake [my disclosure] to be a concession that we believe there is merit to this alleged conflict,” Grunander said.
Earlier, Utah County Attorney Jeffrey Gray took the stand, defending his decision to seek the death penalty. Gray testified he was not influenced by Grunander and decided to pursue an aggravated murder charge based on the evidence that had been gathered.
Grunander said he doesn’t believe Gray’s decision to seek the death penalty was influenced by his daughter’s presence at the scene of the shooting.
Wednesday’s proceedings continued a hearing that began Jan. 16, and included more than two hours of testimony.
Prosecutors have repeatedly argued there is no conflict of interest and accused the defense of trying to delay an upcoming evidentiary hearing.
Judge Tony Graf denied a defense request to refer the case to the Utah Attorney General’s Office and said he will issue a ruling at a hearing scheduled for Feb. 24.
In an earlier motion, Robinson’s attorneys asked the judge to ban cameras and microphones from the courtroom, saying media coverage could affect Robinson’s right to a fair trial.
In a new court filing, Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, asked the judge to keep the hearings public, writing, “There is no adequate substitute for open proceedings.”
On Tuesday, the judge did approve the defense’s request to move cameras to the back of the courtroom. Robinson’s lawyers want to prevent close-up images of the accused killer’s face, arguing they could be used to speculate about his reactions in court.
Prosecutors are expected to outline their evidence against Robinson at a preliminary hearing scheduled to begin May 18.
Government pledges 10,000 new foster care places in England
The proposals will also offer help for people to make home improvements, such as extending their homes, and increase practical day-to-day support for families through schemes like the Mockingbird programme, which is run by the Fostering Network. It brings groups of foster families together so they can provide advice, support and respite care for each other, like an extended family.
Sheriff says ransom note being investigated in disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie’s mother
A ransom note was sent to a local Arizona news station following the disappearance of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie’s mother, Nancy Guthrie, the Pima County sheriff told CBS News.
The note, which the station received Monday and agreed not to report on, contained specific details about the home and what Nancy Guthrie was wearing that night, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said, although he would not confirm the accuracy of that information or the legitimacy of the note.
Nanos did not specify which station the note was sent to, but CBS affiliate KOLD-TV reported Tuesday it had received an email that “appears to be one of the alleged ransom notes,” which it forwarded to the sheriff’s office.
Investigators have analyzed the note and are taking it seriously, Nanos said.
He said the FBI reviewed the note and made the decision to share it with Savannah Guthrie. Authorities had hoped to keep the information from becoming public, but the note was obtained by TMZ, which reported on it before contacting the sheriff’s office, Nanos said.
The Pima County Sheriff’s Department had earlier said on social media it was aware of “reports circulating about possible ransom note(s),” adding, “Anything that comes in, goes directly to our detectives who are coordinating with the FBI.”
Surveillance video from a home security system has yielded nothing so far, Nanos told CBS News. He said investigators believe the system may have been set to automatically delete footage after a short period of time, and they are now attempting to recover it through forensic means.
Nanos previously told CBS News that investigators believe the 84-year-old was abducted from her home in the middle of the night over the weekend, and he described it as “a crime scene.” Authorities have been searching for her since Sunday.
Nancy Guthrie was last seen at her home Saturday night, but no one knew she was missing until she didn’t show up for church the next morning, Nanos said.
The sheriff has repeatedly said Guthrie, who lives alone, could not have wandered away from her home because she has no cognitive issues and very limited mobility.
He also expressed concern that she needs access medication that she must take daily, telling CBS News, “The clock is literally ticking.”
The sheriff has said it’s unclear how many people may have been involved in the apparent abduction.
“It could be one, it could’ve been more, I don’t know,” he said.
A little bit of blood was found inside Nancy Guthrie’s Tucson home, a law enforcement source familiar with the case told CBS News, and what appeared to be a small amount of dried blood was seen next to a doormat outside the front door of the home on Tuesday.
Halle Berry reframes menopause as ‘upgrade’ in powerful new message
Halle Berry declared menopause as an “upgrade” in a woman’s life rather than a “downgrade.”
In the Oscar winner’s published keynote, the 59-year-old actress opened up about how she changed her diet and workout routine after menopause.
The Catwoman star, who has been vocal about shifts after the menstrual cycle pause, shared, “It helped me sleep a little bit better. I was a little less moody. I could remember things a little bit more, but it didn’t just do the trick either… hormones only were as effective as my body was healthy.”
The Union actress made a major shift in her diet with menopause. Previously, her diet was more protein-focused but after her menopause began, she “had to change” the way she ate.
“I learned that at this time of my life that was no longer working for me. I needed a little carbs. I needed to eat more fiber. I needed to have more protein,” she noted.
Berry further shared that she “didn’t need as much cardio as I used to need to do. I now needed to lift heavy, heavy weights, and I never did that before.”
“Now I had to change all that about how I was operating my everyday life. So I realized that this new body was the better version of myself,” Berry explained, “We often think, ‘Ooh, we’re getting older and we’re sort of downgrading,’ but we’re not downgrading when we know the things to do — we’re upgrading, we’re spiraling into the best version of ourselves.”
“We just have to know how to support this new body, this new place we find ourselves, and it’s not a sickness, it’s a natural life transition that just has to be supported by evidence-based therapies and information.”
Ellen DeGeneres misses America 14 months after moving to UK
Ellen DeGeneres and wife Portia De Rossi are missing their life in California, it is revealed.
The comedian and her wife, who moved to Cotswolds in UK back in November 2024, are longing for the American routine.
With the reports, is is revealed that the couple have bought a new home in California 14 months after they left the U.S.
“She’s not moving back to the U.S. but will continue to split her time between both the U.K. and Montecito, [Calif.],” an insider tells PEOPLE.
“She always looked friendly but nobody ever approached her and it was just another celeb to them,” the insider earlier revealed of of DeGeneres’ time in the UK.
A source told PEOPLE back in 2024:”Ellen was in England house hunting in the beginning of October. She ended up finding a house that she loved and purchased it shortly after.”
Pro-ICE billboard lights up San Francisco streets ahead of Super Bowl LX
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An advertisement showing support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has appeared on a digital billboard in San Francisco ahead of Super Bowl LX, which is expected to draw large crowds to the Bay Area later this week.
One of the ads displayed celebrated the federal agency in a football-themed tribute, saying “Defensive player of the year: ICE” alongside a photo of an agent holding a trophy.
Conservative nonprofit American Sovereignty, which funded the billboard, unveiled the ad on Jan. 30, coinciding with a previous announcement that it planned to launch a separate multimillion-dollar campaign promoting ICE and stronger border security.
“We are saluting the brave Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents who work every day in defense of America with billboards and ads in San Francisco for #SuperBowlLX,” the nonprofit said in a post on X. “Thank you, @ICEgov, for defending our country. #StandWithICE.”
NFL CONFIRMS NO ICE OPERATIONS PLANNED AT SUPER BOWL LX
ICE billboard in San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood displays “Defensive player of the year: ICE.” (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The digital billboard displayed a series of football‑themed messages in support of ICE, including “They can’t win without defense, neither can America” and “Cheering because the home team finally started investing in defense.”
“Defense Wins Championships. It’s also critical for a safe nation,” the nonprofit added in a post on social media.
The announcement came as the nonprofit said last week that it plans to launch a multimillion-dollar advertising campaign over the weekend to rally support for ICE. According to the group, two pro-ICE ads will run nationally, with additional emphasis on the District of Columbia, North Carolina, Michigan, and Georgia.
A pro-ICE billboard popped up in San Francisco on Feb. 3, 2026, ahead of Super Bowl week. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
The Bay Area has historically been opposed to ICE operations. On Monday, dozens of people from community groups, immigrant rights organizations, and labor unions rallied in San Jose in protest of the agency.
The demonstrations come amid concern among local activists that ICE could increase its presence around Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara and the surrounding area during Super Bowl week.
However, the NFL confirmed Tuesday that ICE agents will not be conducting immigration enforcement operations at the event.
A view of a pro-ICE billboard in the Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood on February 03, 2026, in San Francisco, California. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
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“There are no planned ICE or immigration enforcement operations that are scheduled around the Super Bowl or any of the Super Bowl-related events,” NFL Chief of Security, Cathy Lanier, spoke during a news conference.
Fox News’ Charles Creitz contributed to this report.
Younger and lower-paid workers hit hardest by rising labour costs, figures show
Younger and entry-level workers are being squeezed the hardest by higher employment costs slowing the rate that firms are hiring, new analysis shows.
Some UK businesses have seen the cost of employing workers rise on the back of recent policy measures, including tax and minimum wage increases and reforms to employment rights, the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (Niesr) said in its latest economic outlook.
These factors have raised the marginal cost of hiring by around 7%, in real terms, for an entry level position, according to its findings.
Niesr warned that sectors most exposed to cost increases were experiencing a bigger impact, pointing to data showing a link between exposure to the national minimum wage and rising unemployment.
This includes typically lower-paid industries such as hotels, hospitality and food chains, which also have a greater concentration of younger and early-career workers.
Its analysis found that, rather than cutting existing jobs, many firms have chosen to slow the rate that they hire staff.
Therefore younger workers and those “at the margins of the labour market” are being disproportionately squeezed, the think tank said.
Official figures at the end of last year showed that the unemployment rate rose to its highest level since early 2021 over the three months to September.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said that young people especially were struggling in the tougher hiring climate, with an 85,000 increase in those unemployed aged between 18 to 24 in the three months to October – the biggest jump since November 2022.
The number of young people not in employment, education or training – so-called Neets – has been rising since 2021, and hit the highest level since 2014.
In its report, Niesr said it was “hard to escape the conclusion that the rising cost of labour has deterred full-time job creation, particularly for younger workers”.
Lord Frost, director general of the Institute of Economic Affairs, said the findings “laid bare the costs of the Government’s national insurance and minimum wage hikes, and Employment Rights Act: a spike in the cost of hiring entry-level workers, meaning fewer jobs and opportunities for young people”.
Dusty May, Tom Izzo accuse each other’s team of dirty play
Michigan coach Dusty May and Michigan State coach Tom Izzo are accusing each other’s team of dirty play after the Wolverines’ 83-71 victory in East Lansing on Friday.
During one sequence in the game, Michigan State star Jeremy Fears Jr. made contact with Yaxel Lendeborg, appearing to trip the Michigan star.
May said it was intentional.
“Appeared? It wasn’t an illusion,” May told reporters Monday.
“I think there were several plays that are very dangerous, and I am incredibly proud of our guys for the responses they had to some of those situations. Incredibly proud of their self-control, their restraint and their impulse control. I’ll leave it at that. But they’re not isolated incidents.”
When he was made aware of May’s comments, Izzo pushed back and said the Wolverines had gotten away with their own questionable acts.
“I have no idea, but I thought there were a couple of plays the other way too, like jumping into a guy and getting a foul when it was a complete joke,” Izzo said Monday. “This is what it’s supposed to be. And you know what? Michigan is over. I don’t care what Dusty says. I don’t care what they say.”
Izzo said that, more than anything, Fears’ actions were the result of heated competition between his star guard and Michigan point guard Elliot Cadeau.
“There were some things Jeremy did. I addressed on it,” Izzo said. “Him and their point guard were going at it pretty good. That’s what happens in games like this, so if anybody did anything dirty, tell them to call me and I would be more than happy to address it. If it was physical play, that’s the way that game is always going to be.”
Before tipoff, Michigan State fans serenaded May with expletive-filled chants. Michigan led by 16 points at halftime before the Spartans took their first lead with 7:27 remaining in the second half. The Wolverines finished the game with a 19-8 run in the final four minutes.
The two rivals are both in the battle for the Big Ten title. The regular-season finale March 8 in Ann Arbor could decide the Big Ten champion.
As for Friday’s game, May said Michigan State crossed the line throughout the game.
“The film is there,” May said. “Forty minutes of it. It’s not hard to find. I have not reached out to their staff.”
Christian Bale reflects on Frankenstein’s transformation in ‘The Bride!’
Christian Bale has opened up about the intense physical and emotional demands behind his transformation into Frankenstein’s monster for The Bride!, revealing that the process pushed him to some unusual coping methods just to get through the day.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the actor said he spent six hours a day in the makeup chair while working on the film, a reimagining of the 1935 classic Bride of Frankenstein directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal.
Bale stars opposite Jessie Buckley, who plays the Bride and spent around an hour and a half in makeup for her own transformation.
Reflecting on the gruelling routine, Bale admitted the long hours of enforced stillness took a toll.
“I would scream like crazy, every day. Just to [release the] despair, all of that restraint that you have to display when you’re sitting still for that long,” he said, explaining how he stopped himself “from going insane” during the process.
Those screams, however, were carefully timed.
Bale said he avoided doing it on the way to work, worried it might distract him behind the wheel, and ruled out screaming alone because it could easily be misunderstood.
Instead, what began as a private release gradually became a shared ritual on set.
“Oh man, I’m telling you, the whole crew got involved by the end because people would hear us screaming,” Bale said.
“We would open the doors, and gradually, a bit like the Bride’s revolution, a few people were going, ‘Can we do it too?’ And then by the end, there were like 30 people who would hear us and run to the makeup trailer to be a part of it and scream as well.”
The role adds another extreme chapter to Bale’s long history of physical transformations.
Over the years, he has become known for radically altering his body for characters, from bulking up on a strict protein-heavy diet for American Psycho to shedding 60 pounds over four months to reach 120 pounds for The Mechanist.
For that film, his daily intake reportedly consisted of “water, an apple, and one cup of coffee per day.”
Not long after, Bale went in the opposite direction, gaining around 100 pounds of muscle in just six months to play Bruce Wayne in Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins, cementing his reputation for total physical commitment.
The Bride! is set to open in cinemas on 6 March, distributed by Warner Bros.