Federal and state lawmakers are calling on Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to intervene at Michigan’s only women’s prison after a third inmate in less than a month died Saturday, intensifying scrutiny over conditions and medical care at the Huron Valley Correctional Facility.

Ashley Hoath of Hillsdale County was rushed to Trinity Health Ann Arbor Hospital, about 15 minutes from the prison, where she was pronounced dead, Jenni Riehle, spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Corrections, confirmed in an email.

Earlier Saturday, an officer had noticed Hoath wasn’t feeling well and promptly escorted her to a healthcare unit within the prison, where medical staff determined she needed to be sent to the hospital, according to Riehle.

The 36-year-old’s death is the third inmate death since May 13. Khaira Howard, 28, died on May 13 and Rebecca Fackler, 57, died on May 17.

The deaths have prompted bipartisan calls for Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington to resign.

And now, fellow Democrat and US Rep. Debbie Dingell is urging Whitmer to “direct every appropriate effort” to address concerns “raised repeatedly by women in custody, their families, advocates, attorneys, medical professionals, and the public.”

“Too many continue to report that the underlying problems remain unsolved,” Dingell wrote in a Monday letter to Whitmer. “It is essential that you give this issue your immediate attention and take urgent action to address the serious issues threatening the safety of these women under MDOC supervision.”

The governor’s office responded by repeating a statement first released in May, following the deaths of Rebecca Fackler and Khaira Howard:

“The health and safety of those under MDOC’s supervision must always be their top priority,” said Whitmer spokesperson Bobby Leddy.

“The governor has directed MDOC to conduct a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation. This process will include a careful assessment by an independent medical examiner. When this process is complete, we will release the results of the investigation. Families deserve to have the answers they need during the grieving process.”

In a separate statement, Washington said MDOC is “working aggressively to investigate the circumstances that led up to Ms. Hoath being sent to the hospital.”

“We ask the public, out of respect for the family, to refrain from speculation without the facts, while investigations are conducted. I can promise you that the community will have answers to what caused this death, and the ones that have preceded it.”

Riehle, the MDOC spokesperson, said the department is working to “expedite the investigations into the recent deaths” at Huron Valley.

“During a briefing held earlier today, legislators and stakeholders were informed that the department has been in discussions with our legal team regarding the request to issue the findings of the mold testing that was conducted at WHV as part of ongoing litigation,” she said in a statement. “The department has requested a summary of the findings from the third-party expert who conducted the tests and the department will release them as soon as they are received.”

Bridge Michigan requested the report from the most recent environmental testing under the Freedom of Information Act on May 28. The department denied the request on June 4, saying the records are are exempt from disclosure due to attorney-client privilege.

Three deaths

The three recent inmate deaths at the women’s prison are an unusually high number. There were only four prisoner deaths at the facility in all of 2025 and three in 2024, according to critical incident reports submitted to the state legislature by the MDOC.

State Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, who has been leading calls for action at the prison, said she was at the correctional facility on Friday evening to visit another inmate and was notified of Hoath’s death Saturday afternoon.

“The conditions of confinement, inadequate access to medical care, and reported retaliation against those women brave enough to speak out are intolerable,” she wrote in a social media post.

“The state’s response has been woefully inadequate. Legislative oversight alone is not enough. Michigan’s correctional facilities are in a crisis that demands concerted action by the Department and the attention of our governor.”

In the case of both Fackler and Howard, the department confirmed the women died after life-saving measures were taken by prison staff as well as emergency medical technicians who had arrived on the scene.

David Champine, whose firm is representing women in a related lawsuit, said he received reports that Fackler recently had surgery and sought medical care but the corrections staff prohibited her from going to a health care unit.

Prison records indicate Fackler was serving 3 to 20 years for home invasion in 2000, then charged with four counts of assault at the prison in 2012.

Howard had been in a medical observation cell. Records indicate she was sent to prison last year for stealing credit cards from the mail and other financial crimes

Her attorney said she had been eligible for parole since March 5, but the department failed to enroll her in the programming required for release, delaying her parole, which had been rescheduled to the week of May 25.

Shaquilla DeShields, Howard’s mother, expressed concern that her daughter was not receiving her schizophrenia medication. During their last video visit on April 30, DeShields said Howard told her she was being held in observation and that they wouldn’t let her out.

Howard “cried out for help” and they ignored her, DeShields recently told Bridge. “Would they do that if it were their child?”

The state previously said it did not suspect foul play in Howard or Fackler’s deaths.

Calls for resignation

The Huron Valley Correctional Facility has faced months of scrutiny over living conditions, including overcrowding, poor ventilation and allegations of toxic mold.

Even before the third death at the women’s prison this weekend, state lawmakers were calling for Washington to resign over conditions at the facility and other issues.

“Significant policy and culture change must occur” within the department, but it has “become abundantly clear to each of us that such change cannot and will not occur under your leadership as director,” Pohutsky wrote in a May 21 letter to Washington that was signed by more than 30 current and former lawmakers from both major political parties.

“In the over a decade that you have served as Director of the Michigan Department of Corrections … inmates have died due to suicide, preventable health conditions and dehydration,” the letter continued.

On Saturday evening, Democratic US Senate candidate and former Wayne County Health Director Abdul El-Sayed called the situation at the women’s prison a “ public health emergency ” and said he thinks “Heidi Washington must be held accountable and removed.”

Advocates and lawmakers have urged Gov.Whitmer to grant clemency to another inmate, Krystal Clark, arguing she is suffering from severe medical issues tied to mold exposure at the correctional facility.

Clark, who has repeatedly complained about mold since 2016, tested positive in 2023 for Aspergillus niger — a common black mold — and other bacteria linked to mold exposure, according to medical records obtained by Bridge.

The Department of Corrections has disputed claims of dangerous mold conditions at the prison, saying an independent review found typical results for a large residential facility, though a recent report noted ventilation problems and failing air circulators.

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This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

The new app feature is free to use and gives each customer a team to back for the World Cup with prizes up for grabs.

When joining the sweepstake, you’ll receive a free treat to collect in store, and you can look forward to more prizes as the tournament gets underway.

Here’s what we know about the Big Match Sweepstake and how you can join in.

Morrisons launches Big Match Sweepstake for World Cup on More Card app

On Reddit, a Morrisons customer was confused when they saw an England flag next to their name, despite being a customer in Scotland.

Sharing a screenshot of their profile and the England flag icon, they said: “Perhaps I have not noticed this but why do I have a flag next to my name on the Morrisons app?

“I don’t recall this before and I didn’t see a setting to add it.

“It’s also odd to have an England flag when my profile and shopping in Morrisons all take place in Scotland.”

Once you have been given a team on the More Card app, your profile will reflect the team it picked out for you.

Someone commented: “Did you do the reveal your team thing.

“I got Spain so I have 🇪🇸 next to mine and a free bag of bacon crisps 😆”.

Morrisons customers must be signed up to the More Card loyalty scheme to play (Image: Newsquest)

Another person said: “I’ve just checked my app, had to ‘click to reveal’ my team, I got France and I now have the French flag next to my name.

“(Also go some free doughnut dots).”

This Morrisons customer said: “I got England and a free box of mint matchsticks.”

Someone joked: “I got Scotland. I’m English ha. Swap?”

How to enter Morrisons Big Match Sweepstake for 2026 World Cup

Morrisons customers who have signed up to its More Card loyalty scheme can take part in the new Big Match Sweepstake by tapping on the feature on the app.

It explains that you must reveal your team (done by clicking the reveal team button) by Wednesday, June 24.

Once you have your team, you can reveal your treat to get your first freebie, which can include things like Morrisons bakery cookies, ice cream and fresh fruit.

To claim this, you’ll need to check that your offer is activated so you can redeem in-store when scanning your More Card – you can do this in the ‘My Offers’ section on the app.

Make sure to claim the free treat before the expiry date, which is also available to check in this section.

UK supermarket rankings 2026

Customers can look forward to rewards at each stage of the World Cup, including More Points, plus freebies and money-off vouchers.

If your team, selected by the app, wins the World Cup, Morrisons says there are 1 million More Points (worth £1,000) up for grabs.

Customers who hold the winning country will be entered into the draw, with 10 lucky winners each walking away with 1 million More Points.

Gareth Lloyd, Head of Loyalty at Morrisons, said: “Nothing says a summer of sport like a football sweepstake.

“This interactive More Card app game allows our customers to enjoy the football with some added rewards, from delicious bakery treats to ice creams and money-off vouchers and millions of More Points.

Have you downloaded the Morrisons More Card app? (Image: Morrisons)

“We’re encouraging everyone to sign up now and reveal their team ahead of kick-off. Good luck to all who take part!”

When does the World Cup start?

The FIFA World Cup 2026 starts on Thursday, June 11 and will see 48 countries battle it out for the prestigious trophy.

There will be 104 games over the course of six weeks, and both England and Scotland are hoping to impress.

Have you backed a team with Morrisons’ Big Match Sweepstake? Tell us who you’re backing in the comments below.

Disclaimer: This story contains EastEnders spoilers.

It’s thought that Chelsea Fox is set to accept help from evil villain Gray Atkins’ nan Sheila who will appear in upcoming episodes, played by Sheila Ruskin.

Fox is struggling as she takes care of her injured son Jordan and comes to terms with her mum Denise’s cancer diagnosis.

She feels she has no other option but to ask for help from her abusive ex-husband’s nan – someone she didn’t want to get involved, reports Digital Spy.

An insider told Digital Spy: “Chelsea vowed to banish evil Gray from her life forever.”

They added: “But with Jordan facing a long rehabilitation after his accident, there’s rising costs involved.

“And now with Denise’s news, the pressure is building up.

“Chelsea hates herself, but she has to do this.”

Sheila reportedly helps Chelsea financially after asking her sister Libby for support and to tell her about Denise’s illness.

At first, the pair clash but then they start to get along.

Do you know what else these EastEnders stars have done?

Libby Fox, played by Belinda Owusu, is returning to the show for a short period after 20 years away from the soap – she was last seen in a flash forward episode in January this year.

Chelsea reveals that she has never cashed the cheques that Sheila has sent for Jordan.

The pressure Chelsea feels is obvious and Libby takes it upon herself to contact Sheila behind her sister’s back.

It backfires as Chelsea sees Libby’s phone and a text from Sheila which makes her angry.

But, after speaking to Eve, Chelsea thinks she should take Sheila up on the offer of help for Jordan’s sake.

The Digital Spy insider adds: “Chelsea’s not making this decision lightly.”

They continued: “And there are conditions attached.

“She has to know that Sheila is in no way involved with Gray, as she can’t risk any connection with that twisted man.

“But she has to do everything she can to help Jordan, so she needs to at least check out this option.”

Chelsea and Libby meet up with Sheila and Chelsea asks about Sheila’s relationship with Gray and she’s relieved to find out the pair are estranged.

The insider adds: “Sheila offers to help Chelsea out, and although it goes against her better instincts, Chelsea reluctantly agrees.”

They add: “But as she returns home, Chelsea is overwhelmed with guilt.

“Should she have stuck with her gut – and could this money from Sheila come at a price?”

Newsquest has approached EastEnders for comment.

You can watch EastEnders on BBC One at 7.30pm or on iPlayer from 6am Monday to Thursday.

Do you think Chelsea is doing the right thing? Tell us in the comments below.

The victim believed that the robber had a knife in his waistband

A robber who threatened to stab a man in Peterborough has been jailed for two years. Leonard Devall, 28, approached the 25-year-old man in Lincoln Road, Millfield, in the early hours of January 22.

He asked the victim for money, which was handed over. Devall then threatened to stab the victim unless he allowed him to use his mobile phone to call someone. The victim complied but Devall refused to hand the phone back, forcing the man to leave without it.

Devall, of Whitsed Street, Eastfield, Peterborough, was identified through CCTV footage and arrested just over a week later in the city centre. He was jailed for two years at Cambridge Crown Court on Friday (June 5), after previously pleading guilty to robbery.

DC Hannon, who investigated, said: “This would have been a terrifying ordeal for the victim who believed he saw a knife concealed in Devall’s waistband.

“Thanks to both the bravery of the victim in coming forward, and the quick work of our officers, we were able to arrest Devall, and he will now be spending time behind bars.”

England Hampton; Le Tissier, Carter, Morgan, Charles; Walsh, Stanway, Blindkilde Brown; Hemp, Russo, James.
Substitutes Moorhouse, Baggaley, Bronze, Toone, Wubben-Moy, Greenwood, Kelly, Kendall, Mead, Park, Beever-Jones, Fisk.

Ukraine Boklach; Savka, Olkhova, Shmatko, Shayniuk; Kotyk, Zaborovets; Molodiuk, Kohut, Kunina; Boychuk.
Substitutes Basanska, Hlushchenko, Holovach, Keliushyk, Khrystiuk, Kotiash, Podolska, Radionova, Samson, Semkiv.

Northern Ireland’s Justice Minister Naomi Long has said “hate cannot be allowed” to win, as disorder broke out in a number of areas following a knife attack in Belfast on Monday.

Ms Long said: “Earlier today, I stood beside the First Minister, deputy First Minister and the PSNI Chief Constable and we appealed for calm.

“Sadly, there are those who have chosen to ignore those pleas; they are intent on wreaking destruction on the very communities they claim they are trying to protect.

“They are weaponising the genuine hurt, concern and anger that people are feeling for their own misguided purposes.

“There is no place for masked thugs to take to the streets and threaten, intimidate, disrupt and cause wanton damage – it is simply disingenuous to claim this is being carried out for the good of Northern Ireland.

“I would appeal once again to communities not to allow themselves to be used and abused in this manner. Disorder on the streets, such as we are seeing tonight, is diverting valuable police resources away from those who genuinely need them. These are not the actions of people who genuinely care about their communities.

“While I recognise and understand the concerns following on from the attack in north Belfast, hate cannot be allowed to win.”

For the latest on this developing story follow our live blog here.

BUNIA, Congo (AP) — More than 100 people have died from Ebola less than a month after authorities declared an outbreak of the disease in eastern Congo, a grim toll as officials intensify efforts to slow the disease discovered weeks late.

Attacks on health workers from angry residents, skepticism among some locals and armed conflict in hot spots continue to challenge efforts to stop the Ebola outbreak declared on May 15, caused by a severe form of the disease.

Out of the 550 cases confirmed as of Sunday, there have been 101 deaths and 19 recoveries, the latest situation report said late Monday. The outbreak is concentrated in Congo’s eastern province of Ituri, which accounts for more than 90% of the cases. Cases have also been recorded in the North Kivu and South Kivu provinces, and has spread across the border to Uganda.

However, the number of cases in Congo is believed to be higher because the outbreak was confirmed weeks late and the contact tracing coverage rate, which has improved in recent days, is still at 64%.

The World Health Organization said Tuesday that over the last 24 hours, only 137 samples have been tested, with 35 coming back positive.

The latest Ebola outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus, which does not have an approved vaccine or treatment unlike the “Zaire virus,” another name for the Ebola virus, responsible for most of Congo’s past 16 outbreaks of the disease.

The rapid increase in the number of cases is partly due to the scale up of diagnostic capacities, enabling testing of the backlog of previously collected samples, authorities said.

There is still widespread skepticism and disregard for health protocols in some parts of the province. Survivors of Congo’s 2018 Ebola outbreak, the second-biggest in history, have warned that a repeat of past mistakes could lead to a high number of preventable deaths.

Front-line health workers, who labor with little pay or rest, have been attacked multiple times by angry residents, and have been unable to reach some communities cut off by conflict involving armed rebels.

Eastern Congo has for years seen attacks by dozens of separate rebel and militant groups, some of them with links to foreign countries or the extremist Islamic State group.

Since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, more than 520 incidents impacting the work of health professionals have been reported, according to Marie Roseline Darnycka Belizaire, WHO’s emergency director for Africa. She did not elaborate on the incidents or say whether anyone was hurt.

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Conflict and movement complicate disease tracing

The fighting is “disrupting surveillance and response activities, and increasing the risk of undetected transmission,” WHO said Monday. “Such incidents underline the challenges of the context and the importance of working closely with local leaders and communities.”

Nearly a million people have been displaced by conflict in Ituri, according to the U.N. humanitarian office, making contact tracing difficult as people flee attacks or move frequently in the vast province with dense forests, poor roads and remote villages that can take days to reach.

Tracing also is difficult among the thousands of artisanal miners who regularly move between remote sites in the mineral-rich region.

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WHO currently assesses the risk of spread for the rest of Africa and at the global level as low.

“(Ebola) patients can recover if they get the medical support they need,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Monday during a visit to Uganda.

Protests in Kenya over US plans for Ebola quarantine

On Tuesday, Kenyan police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the town of Nanyuki, near a military air base where the United States plans to build an Ebola quarantine center, a project that has since drawn protests but was later halted by the courts.

A heavy deployment of riot and regular police prevented the protesters from marching toward the base.

Last month, U.S. officials said Washington intends to send Americans exposed to Ebola while abroad to a new facility in Kenya rather than flying them back home. They said the center would be located at Laikipia Air Base with a capacity of 50 quarantine beds.

For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Sharam Muhamadi was last seen in Birmingham after he vanished after being granted bail

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A manhunt has been launched for a child sex trafficker who failed to appear in court for his trial after being granted bail.

Today (Tuesday June 9) Sharam Muhamadi was found guilty of two counts of arranging or facilitating travel of another person with a view of exploitation at Sheffield Crown Court. However, he was convicted of the crime in his absence as he failed to appear for the trial, which started on May 18.

Last month, the 21-year-old was remanded in custody between being charged and his trial date, but he won a bail application submitted by his defence team and has seemingly vanished, reports Birmingham Live.

South Yorkshire Police said officers had been searching for him ever since but had been unable to appeal for the public’s help until the end of the trial due to reporting restrictions.

It said its officers were ‘actively conducting extensive enquiries’ to find Muhamadi and had trawled through hours of CCTV, and phone records.

His last known sighting was in Birmingham on Monday, May 18 – the date of the start of his trial.

He was known to be in the city centre and then travelled to the Coventry Road and Small Heath Park area but then the trail went cold.

South Yorkshire Police said: “Enquiries have established that Muhamadi has links to the West Midlands area, and we know he travelled to Birmingham New Street Station via train between Saturday 16 and Monday 18 May.

“Our officers rushed to the Birmingham area where, working alongside West Midlands Police, they have conducted extensive enquiries over multiple days – patrolling the streets, officers have shown his photo to members of the public.

“The last confirmed sighting of Muhamadi was at around 9pm on Monday 18 May in Birmingham city centre.

“He then travelled in a taxi from the centre towards Coventry Road and the Small Heath Park area, southeast of the city.

“We do not know where Muhamadi travelled from there, but we are determined to find him and are now appealing for the public’s help.”

South Yorkshire Police said: “Enquiries have established that Muhamadi has links to the West Midlands area, and we know he travelled to Birmingham New Street Station via train between Saturday 16 and Monday 18 May.

“Our officers rushed to the Birmingham area where, working alongside West Midlands Police, they have conducted extensive enquiries over multiple days – patrolling the streets, officers have shown his photo to members of the public.

“The last confirmed sighting of Muhamadi was at around 9pm on Monday 18 May in Birmingham city centre.

“He then travelled in a taxi from the centre towards Coventry Road and the Small Heath Park area, southeast of the city.

“We do not know where Muhamadi travelled from there, but we are determined to find him and are now appealing for the public’s help.”

Assistant Chief Constable Hayley Barnett said: “Our priority has been and will continue to be securing full justice for the victims tragically involved.

“They have shown commendable bravery throughout our full investigation and the complex trial which followed. We are wholly focussed on finding Muhamadi and ensuring his faces the consequences of his actions.

“Officers have been relentlessly pursing all lines of enquiries. We are keeping an open mind of his whereabouts.

“We believe he is still in the country, but if he is found abroad, we will seek the Government’s help in doing everything we can to extradite him.

“We will not stop until we find him, and we will ensure these young girls get the justice they deserve.”

Anyone who sees Muhamadi was asked not to approach him but to call 999 quoting South Yorkshire Police incident number 610 of 21 May 2026.

People can also report any information anonymously to Crimestoppers, online at https://crimestoppers-uk.org or by calling 0800 555 111.

The figures show there were 27,352 recorded discharges from storm overflows during the year, lasting a combined 123,521 hours.

The data has prompted GMB to call for workers to be given representation on the board of the Government’s proposed new water regulator, which is set to replace Ofwat.

A waste water pipe on the beach (Image: PA MEDIA)

Delegates at the union’s annual congress debated a motion on Monday (June 8), calling for “a permanent worker seat on the board to safeguard from future failures”.

Water campaigner and former Undertones frontman Feargal Sharkey addressed delegates in support of the motion.

Speaking at the conference, Mr Sharkey criticised the privatised water industry and regulation of the sector.

“The brutal reality is as employees, bill payers, as customers, we have been lied to, we’ve been misled, we’re being extorted, we’ve been cheated,” he said.

“For 37 years, we’ve been subjected to nothing more than the greatest act of organised criminality perpetrated against the British people.”

He added: “We’ve had little in return apart from corporate greed, profiteering, financial engineering, political failure and regulatory incompetence.”

Water coming from a pipe into the river (Image: PA MEDIA)

However, Northumbrian Water said the figures relate to permitted storm overflow discharges, which are designed to operate during periods of heavy rainfall to prevent homes, businesses and infrastructure from flooding.

A spokesperson said: “We share our customers and communities’ passion for having clean waterways, and we understand that reducing the use of storm overflows is one of the most important things we can do.

“Between 2025 and 2030, we are investing £1.7 billion in environmental improvements, which will help reduce the number of spills from storm overflows and enhance water quality across our coasts and rivers.

“Data for 2025 shows that spills from our storm overflows have decreased by 32 per cent over the past year, and this is partly due to investment in infrastructure and trials of our world-leading Smart Sewers project, which uses AI to predict rainfall and reduce the reliance on storm overflows.”

Storm overflows are permitted by the Environment Agency to discharge excess water during periods of heavy rainfall when sewer systems risk becoming overwhelmed.

The discharges are typically heavily diluted with rainwater and are intended to protect properties and sewage treatment works from flooding.

The Government announced earlier this year that Ofwat would be abolished and replaced by a new water sector regulator, although details of its structure and governance have yet to be confirmed.

As for England, the Three Lions face Costa Rica at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando, Florida, in their final warm-up match. That should include the four late-arriving Arsenal stars, before the squad fly out to their World Cup base in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 13. You can follow all the latest news and updates from across the tournament – including insight and analysis from Dom Smith in the States – with our rolling news live blog below!