Why so wet?

Around 17 January a blocking area of high pressure developed in Scandinavia and it’s still there to this day.

This has prevented areas of low pressure from moving beyond the UK, so they’ve become slow-moving, bringing very wet weather, with south-west winds to the south of the UK and south-easterly winds to the north of the UK. This wind pattern is responsible for the distribution of rain.

It’s worth pointing out that it hasn’t been wet everywhere.

North-west England and west Scotland had a much drier January than normal, and parts of the Highlands have only recorded 1mm of rain so far this month.

The Scandinavian blocking area of high pressure is finally going to budge this week, allowing our weather to turn colder with some hill snow in the north later this week.

Next week our weather patterns will become more typical for the time of year with the Atlantic jet stream returning to the north-west of Scotland, rather than taking an unusual position near Morocco.

There will still be rain around as we’d expect in winter, but some of the wettest weather will return to west Scotland. The rain won’t be as extreme in east Scotland. In the southwest of England, it won’t rain every single day, there will be drier and sunnier days between our weather systems.

Heading towards the end of February, there are hints that an area of high pressure may visit our shores, bringing some more settled weather conditions. It’s a long way off, but it’s the least we deserve given just how wet and dull it’s been over recent weeks.

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Republican Sen. Susan Collins announced her reelection bid Tuesday, betting that she can hold onto her coveted Maine seat despite a renewed Democratic effort to oust her in a race that could determine control of the U.S. Senate.

The campaign will test Collins’ political survival skills. The 73-year-old has won five terms by casting herself as a reflection of Maine’s independent spirit, occasionally clashing with President Donald Trump while also largely supporting his agenda.

“I have always worked across the aisle to solve problems. Maine needs experienced, steady leadership that focuses on getting things done,” Collins said in a Tuesday statement.

As she seeks a sixth term, Collins faces outrage over immigration enforcement tactics that could become a political liability for Republican candidates across the country. A recent operation in Maine led to hundreds of arrests but also criticism that people were being rounded up even if they didn’t have criminal records.

Collins has taken credit for stopping the surge of federal agents in Maine after she spoke directly with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

However, Democrats accused Collins of not going far enough, pointing to her refusal to call for Noem’s ouster and her vote in favor of a bipartisan Homeland Security funding bill. The party needs to net four seats to retake the Senate majority, and they are aiming to do that in Maine, North Carolina, Alaska and Ohio.

Gov. Janet Mills and oyster farmer Graham Platner are among Collins’ top Democratic challengers. While many establishment Democrats and influential left-leaning groups have backed Mills, Platner has gained traction with his anti-establishment image and economic equality message. He’s campaigned aggressively while facing revelations of problematic social media posts and having to cover up a tattoo resembling a Nazi symbol.

Mills has accused Collins of governing “without any courage” shortly after the Republican voted in favor of funding the DHS and several other agencies in January. She repeated that charge Tuesday.

“Seniority without a backbone is just tenure, and after decades in Washington, Senator Collins has failed to demonstrate the leadership required in this dangerous moment in history,” she said in a statement.

Platner has demanded that Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which is part of DHS, be dismantled and said he did not believe Collins or the Trump administration’s promise to leave Maine. He said Tuesday in a post on the social platform X that Collins should have kept her promise to serve just two Senate terms.

“That’s just one of a hundred reasons she doesn’t deserve a sixth term,” he wrote.

Platner recently outraised both Mills and Collins, according to the latest federal filings. The first-time candidate collected nearly $4.6 million, while Mills raised $2.7 million. Collins, who had not yet officially launched her campaign during the filing period, had more than $8 million in cash on hand at the end of 2025.

Collins, who has said she didn’t vote for Trump in 2016, voted to convict the president after his 2021 impeachment over his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. After Collins joined a handful of Republican colleagues in backing a failed effort to limit the president’s ability to unilaterally use force in Venezuela, Trump said on social media that they “should never be elected to office again.”

But Collins has also broadly backed Trump’s agenda, including his tax and spending bill, and his nominees.

Notably, Collins voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Trump’s choice to be secretary of Health and Human Services. Kennedy has since espoused anti-vaccine policy and ousted public health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

She has faced down tough challenges before. Democrat Sara Gideon raised $69 million in 2020, outspending Collins in a bid to help take back the Senate during a presidential election year when the Democrats won the top of the ticket. Collins defeated Gideon by more than 8 points.

Collins has remained in office despite Maine becoming increasingly blue. The proportion of registered Democrats has increased since her last reelection campaign, when “unenrolled” independent voters outnumbered Democrats in 2019 but now trail them in 2026. Republicans have trailed both groups for years.

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Kruesi reported from Providence, Rhode Island.

Louise Stabler will appear at Durham Crown Court later this month for sentencing after pleading guilty to bringing drugs into a prison, in Barnard Castle.

The serial shoplifter admitting an array of theft offences, most in breach of a criminal behaviour order (CBO) put in place by magistrates last May. The 37-year-old, of Shinwell Crescent in Thornley, admitted 29 thefts and 26 breaches of her CBO.

She will also be sentenced for trying to bring/throw drugs into a prison.

Stabler admitted trying to pass alprazolam tablets over on a visit to HMP Deerbolt, near Barnard Castle, on May 17 last year.

She was seen on CCTV handing over a package, found to contain the Class C drugs, to a prisoner.

Stabler was taken into custody, shown the CCTV and replied no comment in interview.

But having now admitted the offence, she will be sentenced along with all other matters at the crown court, on Thursday February 26.

PC Rob Booth, of Barnard Castle neighbourhood policing team, said: “This is a great result, demonstrating that we will take action and target anyone involved in the supply of drugs in and out of prisons.

“We’re working closely with our prison partners to keep drugs out by dismantling illegal activity and ensure those responsible are held accountable, like Stabler.”

He urged anyone aware of any form of criminal activity, or with concerns, to contact police on 101.

The Press has approached Labour MPs in the region as to whether or not they support the Prime Minister.

In their responses yesterday, neither Luke Charters or Rachael Maskell expressed direct support for Sir Keir with Ms Maskell saying she would wait to hear what the PM would say to Labour MPs that evening.

Earlier that day both Selby MP Keir Mather and Scarborough and Whitby MP Alison Hume said they were backing Sir Keir staying on as PM.

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This afternoon, Rachael Maskell told the Press: “I was pleased that the Prime Minister spoke with Members of the Parliamentary Labour Party yesterday, to own the decisions that he took and to show regret of the reprehensible behaviours of Peter Mandelson and the repugnant abuse of the women survivors of Jeffrey Epstein.

“Rightly there was deep scrutiny as the stakes are so high for Labour to get governing right. There was optimism raised over the change that must now happen to prevent further occurrences and to reform the operations of the Labour Party.”

“Luke (Charters) continues to support the Labour Government led by Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.” (Image: Pic supplied)

The statement from Ms Maskell, who represents York Central, continued: “He now has got to propel this confidence across the country.”

 “I will be backing Labour every step of the way to succeed, because if we do not change as a result, we let down the very people we are here to fight for, the survivors of sexual abuse; and those gaslit by powerful men.

“Harriet Harman was right to call this out, as I did last week, and to call for candour. I am glad the Prime Minister heeded that call.

“He now needs to change the culture of the Labour Party so it is open, transparent and inclusive; as accountability prevents such errors reoccurring.”

A spokesperson for York Outer MP Luke Charters told the Press this afternoon: “He would not be giving a daily commentary on leadership matters. Luke continues to support the Labour Government led by Keir Starmer as Prime Minister.”

As previously reported, Mr Starmer told Labour MPs last night: “Every fight I’ve been in, I have won.”

In extracts shared by Downing Street, he also said: ‘I’m not prepared to walk away from my mandate and my responsibility to my country, or to plunge us into chaos, as others have done.”

He added: “I’ll tell you this, as long as I have breath in my body, I’ll be in that fight, on behalf of the country that I love and I believe in, against those that want to tear it up.

“That is my fight, that is all of our fight, and we’re in this together.”

However, Thirsk And Malton Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake told ITN on Monday that Sir Keir’s position is ‘untenable’ after the PM’s advisor Morgan McSweeney resigned.

Mr Hollinrake, who is Conservative Party Chairman, also told BBC Breakfast Sir Keir is “living on borrowed time” and his “tenure is coming to an end.”

The MP also posted on X an interview with LBC radio where he said: “Politics doesn’t like a weak leader and Starmer is the weakest we’ve seen for a long, long time.”

Senator Mark Kelly has blasted Donald Trump’s “outrageous abuse of power,” after a grand jury in Washington reportedly refused to indict him and other Democratic lawmakers in connection with a video in which they urged U.S. military members to resist “illegal orders.”

“This is an outrageous abuse of power by Donald Trump and his lackies,” Kelly, a former NASA astronaut and U.S. naval officer wrote on X Tuesday night, following reports of the behind-closed-doors hearing.

“It wasn’t enough for Pete Hegseth to censure me and threaten to demote me, now it appears they tried to have me charged with a crime — all because of something I said that they didn’t like. That’s not the way things work in America.”

At the urging of U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the DOJ had reportedly opened an investigation into the video featuring Kelly, as well as Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin and four other Dems, who urged service members to follow established military protocols and reject orders they believe to be unlawful.

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All the lawmakers previously served in the military or at intelligence agencies, and included Representatives Jason Crow, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan and Chris Deluzio.

“Donald Trump wants every American to be too scared to speak out against him. The most patriotic thing any of us can do is not back down,” Kelly added in his post.

Prosecutors had sought to persuade the civilian members of the grand jury that the lawmakers violated a law that does not allow interfering with “the loyalty, morale or discipline of the U.S. armed forces,” The New York Times reported.

The Independent has reached out to the DOJ and Pirro’s office for comment.

In her own lengthy post, Slotkin wrote: “Today, it was a grand jury of anonymous American citizens who upheld the rule of law and determined this case should not proceed. Hopefully, this ends this politicized investigation for good.

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“But today wasn’t just an embarrassing day for the Administration. It was another sad day for our country.”

She added: “Because whether or not Pirro succeeded is not the point. It’s that President Trump continues to weaponize our justice system against his perceived enemies. It’s the kind of thing you see in a foreign country, not in the United States we know and love.”

Crow, a former Army Ranger wrote, “Donald Trump’s DOJ just tried—and failed—to indict me in front of a grand jury. We will continue to fight back against their rising tyranny. Don’t Give Up the Ship.”

California Senator Adam Schiff, who was not named in the investigation, wrote: “That the DOJ would even contemplate such an action demonstrates what a repressive regime is now running this country.”

Grand jurors in Washington declined to sign off on charges in the latest of a series of rebukes of prosecutors by citizens in the nation’s capital, a source told The Associated Press.

It wasn’t immediately clear whether prosecutors had sought indictments against all six lawmakers or what charge or charges prosecutors attempted to bring.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

A group has come together in an attempt to buy the property, with one member saying that “it feels like now or never”

A campaign group in a Cambridgeshire village hopes to buy a former pub and Indian restaurant. Save The Hoops – a group of residents in Little and Great Eversden – has come together to “protect the future” of The Hoops.

The award-winning restaurant, Cam Spice, formerly known as The Hoops Tandoori, in Great Eversden, closed its doors last year. The property has since been listed on Rightmove for sale as an Asset of Community Value (ACV).

The community has until the middle of April to submit a bid to the owner. An ACV protects local assets from being sold or redeveloped without the community having a chance to bid.

Paul Trivett, a member of Save The Hoops, has lived in Great Eversden for around seven years. He said: “We don’t have a shop, we don’t have a post office, we don’t have anything that’s open on a regular basis.

”So, this seems to be our last opportunity to have such a thing,” he said. “Once lost, a pub is almost irreparable to replace, with a permanent impact on village life.”

Save The Hoops has launched a website asking people to put pledges in for when the community share offer opens. This is to help strengthen their bid and unlock grant funding, as the group aims to raise £700,000. Around 20 people have come together to raise the funds, including marketing professionals, gardeners, builders, surveyors, and roofing contractors.

Abigail Newnham is a parish councillor for Little and Great Eversden, and a member of the Save The Hoops group. She said: “It feels like now or never. So we either sit back as a village and show no interest in this, or we see what is possible.”

She added: “It is about making sure we don’t lose this community asset, however it might operate in the future, whether that is a pub, a restaurant, a café or shop.”

Another member of the group, Alan Woods, has lived in Great Eversden for 45 years. He said that protecting the pub is important to him because it is “the main centre of the village”. He added: “I have lived here 45 years and there’s more things that go on at the pub than anywhere else.”

The group aims for the community to purchase the property and lease it to a hospitality operator. This would keep it as a community asset without expecting the community to work shifts.

At least nine people have been killed in a mass shooting involving a school in British Columbia Tuesday and dozens more are injured, Canadian police say.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said in a news release the nine victims and the suspected gunman are dead after the shooting that took place across multiple locations in Tumbler Ridge.

Six people were found dead inside Tumbler Ridge Secondary School and another died when being taken to a hospital, according to RCMP. Two more people were found dead in a home in the community, police said.

The suspected shooter was also found dead with “what appears to be a self‑inflicted injury” inside the school, police say. The identities of the suspected shooter and victims are unknown at this time. A motive for the shooting was not immediately clear.

Police said they received a report of an active shooter at the Tumbler Ridge school at around 1:20 p.m. MT Tuesday.

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“The alert was officially canceled at 5:45 p.m. as police do not believe there are any outstanding suspects or ongoing threat to the public,” RCMP said.

Aside from those killed in the shooting, two more victims were airlifted to a hospital with “serious or life‑threatening injuries,” according to police.

RCMP said about 25 others were being treated for “non-life-threatening” injuries. The rest of the students and staff were “safely evacuated” from the school, police said.

Authorities said they are searching other homes and properties for more victims or people “otherwise linked to today’s events.”

“This was a rapidly evolving and dynamic situation, and the swift cooperation from the school, first responders, and the community played a critical role in our response,” Superintendent Ken Floyd, North District Commander, said in a statement.

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“Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones, and all those impacted by this tragic incident. This has been an incredibly difficult and emotional day for our community, and we are grateful for the cooperation shown as officers continue their work to advance the investigation,” Floyd continued.

The local school district said in a statement that the Tumbler Ridge secondary and elementary schools will be closed for the rest of the week “due to the tragic events that unfolded.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he was “devastated” by the shooting and offered his “prayers and deepest condolences” to “the families and friends who have lost loved ones to these horrific acts of violence.”

“I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today, and in gratitude for the courage and selflessness of the first responders who risked their lives to protect their fellow citizens,” Carney wrote on X.

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B.C. Premier David Eby called the shooting an “unimaginable tragedy.”

“Our hearts are in Tumbler Ridge tonight with the families of those who have lost loved ones,” Eby wrote. “Government will ensure every possible support for community members in the coming days, as we all try to come to terms with this unimaginable tragedy.”

Bob Zimmer, a member of Parliament for Tumbler Ridge, also expressed his condolences, writing, “My sincere thoughts and prayers go out for the victims still in hospital and for those Tumbler Ridge families who have lost loved ones today.”

The NHS has also warned people that they may need to dial 111 or 999 in some circumstances

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The NHS has warned anyone feeling unusually “tired” to see their GP. However, in some cases, you may need to dial 111 or 999, as a “fatal” situation can develop quickly.

On social media, the health service highlighted the signs of type 1 diabetes, which can appear at any age. It urged people to remember the four T’s.

Listing “Toilet, Thirsty, Tired and Thinner” as four common signs to look out for, it said that if any of these symptoms come on suddenly, or they are unusual for you, it is time to seek help.

In its post, it took to X, it warned: “Do you know the signs of type 1 diabetes? They can happen at any age, and if left undiagnosed, it can be fatal.”

Type 1 diabetes – explained

Type 1 diabetes is a condition where the body cannot produce insulin, causing blood sugar levels to rise. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin daily and manage their blood glucose through regular monitoring, diet, and insulin adjustments. There is no cure, but it can be managed effectively.

Remember the 4 T’s

It advised people to remember four words – each starting with the letter T. These are:

• Toilet – “going for a wee more often, especially at night”
• Thirsty – “being constantly thirsty and drinking more than usual”
• Tired – “being very tired and having less energy.”
• Thinner – “losing weight without trying to or looking thinner than usual”

Dial 111

After sharing these common signs, the NHS warned: “Ask for an urgent GP appointment or call NHS 111 if you think you or your child has type 1 diabetes.”

According to the NHS website, other signs of type 1 diabetes include:

1. blurred vision
2. breath that smells sweet or fruity (like nail polish remover or pear drop sweets)
3. cuts and wounds are taking longer to heal
4. getting frequent infections or infections that do not get better, such as thrush or nappy rash

The NHS warns: “The symptoms develop quickly, over a few days or weeks.”

It may be time to call 999

The NHS warns you should call 999 if you or your child has been peeing more, feeling very thirsty and tired, and:

• your symptoms are getting worse quickly
• you have stomach pain, diarrhoea, or you’re feeling or being sick
• you’re feeling sleepy or confused
• you’re breathing faster and more deeply than usual

“These could be signs of diabetic ketoacidosis, which can be life-threatening if not treated quickly”, it cautions.

Diabetes UK has a free helpline that’s open from 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. You can call 0345 123 2399 or email helpline@diabetes.org.uk for support and advice.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s top immigration officials appeared before Congress Tuesday for the first time since the shooting deaths of two American citizens in Minneapolis, seeking to defend their officers’ actions as their agencies face intensifying scrutiny over nationwide immigration enforcement operations.

Todd Lyons, who is the acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, came in for some of the sharpest questioning during a more than 3-hour-long hearing in front of the House Homeland Security Committee. He appeared alongside Rodney Scott, who heads Customs and Border Protection, and Joseph Edlow, who leads U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Lawmakers asked them about issues that have dominated the public discourse since Trump launched his mass deportations agenda at the start of his second term. Here are some of their answers.

Defending officers after 2 Americans were killed in Minneapolis

Lyons and Scott faced scrutiny over the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti but they repeatedly declined to answer questions, citing active investigations.

Lyons was asked if he would apologize for the way some Trump administration officials characterized Good as an agitator, which he declined to do.

“I welcome the opportunity to speak to the family in private. But I’m not going to comment on any active investigation,” Lyons said.

Lyons said he had seen the video that captured Pretti’s shooting but said he could not comment because of the ongoing investigation.

Masks worn by immigration officers

Democrats painted masked officers as lawless and unaccountable. Republicans said masks are needed to protect officers from doxing.

Asked if he would commit to making his officers take off their masks and requiring them to wear “standard uniforms with identifiable badges,” Lyons answered with one word: “No.”

Lyons has said repeatedly that he supports officers who feel that they need to wear masks to protect their identities and their families.

Body cameras being deployed to officers

Lyons and Scott said thousands of federal immigration officers are already outfitted with body cameras, with more to come.

Lyons said the body camera footage caught in Minneapolis would be released to the public.

“That’s one thing that I’m committed to is full transparency. And I fully welcome body cameras all across the spectrum in all of our law enforcement activities,” Lyons said.

Lyons denies 5-year-old boy was used as bait

The case of Liam Conejo Ramos, who was wearing a bunny hat and Spider-Man backpack while he was surrounded by immigration officers, has sparked controversy over the administration’s crackdown in Minnesota.

The boy and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, who originally is from Ecuador, were detained in a Minneapolis suburb on Jan. 20.

Asked about the case, Lyons denied that the boy was used as bait to get one of the parents out of the house, as neighbors and school officials have alleged.

“He was obviously upset. We comforted him. The officers actually placed him in one of our vehicles, played his favorite song, favorite music. Then they took him to McDonald’s,” Lyons said.

A DHS funding lapse will threaten the country’s security, officials said

The congressional hearing took place in the shadow of a looming government shutdown that would only affect the Department of Homeland Security.

Democrats are threatening to block funding for the department when it expires unless there are more restraints for ICE and other law enforcement agencies carrying out Trump’s federal immigration agenda.

Republican Rep. Michael Guest of Mississippi blamed Democrats for a possible shutdown and asked the agency heads whether such a shutdown would make the country less safe. They all answered that it would.

“It will have a great impact,” said Lyons. He said a shutdown would particularly harm the department’s task forces on transnational crimes and terrorism.

ICE at the World Cup

Lyons was asked if he would agree to pausing ICE operations during this year’s FIFA World Cup.

A Democratic lawmaker said visitors were concerned by ICE’s tactics. But Lyons declined to commit to a pause.

“ICE is dedicated to ensuring that everyone that visits the facilities will have a safe and secure event,” Lyons said.

Questions over guarding voting precincts

With Trump’s call for the federal government to “take over” elections, the ranking member of the committee, Democrat Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, asked the officials to answer if they are involved in any efforts to guard voting precincts, with the midterms set for later this year.

“You’ve not been asked to start deploying people for areas anywhere?” Thompson asked.

Lyon and Scott each replied, “No, sir.”

WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT Schlosser used a knife to cut off both of her 11-month-old daughter’s arms before attempting to kill herself, in an incident that shocked police and the wider public

When the police operator picked up Dena Schlosser’s call, they would never have expected from her relaxed demeanour and calm tone that something utterly tragic had happened.

When asked if there was an emergency, she showed no panic or hysteria, and was in fact so quiet that the sound of a hymn playing softly in the background could be heard during the 2004 call.

When asked by the 911 operator why she was calling and what had happened to her baby, Schlosser’s answered simply: “Yes.” I cut her arms off.”

Police rushed to an apartment in Plano, Texas, where they found a scene so disturbing it would stay with investigators for years. Schlosser sat quietly in the living room, covered head to toe in blood.

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Nearby, her baby daughter lay in a crib, catastrophically injured. The child was rushed to hospital but sadly died shortly afterwards from her injuries.

Schlosser had used a knife to cut off both of her 11-month-old daughter’s arms before attempting to kill herself. Somehow, she had survived a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

As officers secured the apartment, Christian music continued to play. Those at the scene would later say Schlosser appeared eerily peaceful, even humming hymns as she was taken into custody.

What made the case even harder to comprehend was how normal everything had seemed before it happened.

Neighbours described Schlosser as seeming attentive and even affectionate. She pushed her baby around the neighbourhood most afternoons, she took her children swimming, even stopping to engage in cheery conversations with those she bumped into.

“There were never any red flags,” one neighbour said. “She looked like a great mum.”

But behind closed doors, things had been unraveling.

Earlier that year, Schlosser had suffered a severe psychotic episode following childbirth and was diagnosed with postpartum mental illness.

Child protection services had investigated the family after she was hospitalised, but the case was later closed when she appeared stable and compliant with treatment.

On the day of the killing, something in Schlosser’s brain clearly went very, very wrong.

Psychologists later testified Schlosser believed she was receiving direct instructions from God, becoming convinced her baby was part of a divine plan connected to the apocalypse, and that she was being commanded to mutilate herself and her child.

Hours after her arrest, officers reported hearing her whisper prayers, repeatedly thanking Jesus.

She was initally charged with murder, before medical experts concluded Schlosser was suffering from a profound psychotic break and was incapable of understanding the reality or consequences of her actions.

She was found not guilty by reason of insanity and committed to a state psychiatric hospital. The remainder of her children were removed from the home and she was permanently barred from ever seeing them again.