LAREDO, Texas (AP) — A month after ICE agents sent the young Ecuadorian mother and her 7-year-old daughter to a sprawling detention center 1,300 miles from their Minnesota home, they were finally free.
But when the bus pulled up to a migrant shelter in the border city of Laredo, dropping off a half-dozen families lugging bags stuffed with belongings, the stress of recent weeks tracked mother and daughter like the long shadows on that mid-February afternoon.
Night after night inside south Texas’ Dilley Immigration Processing Center with hundreds of other families, the grade-schooler wept and pleaded to know why they were being held.
“She would tell me, ‘Mom, what crime did I commit to be a prisoner?’ I didn’t know what to tell her,” said the 29-year-old, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear being identified could negatively affect their immigration case. Her husband was deported to Ecuador soon after they were taken into custody.
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Immigrant families settle in for the night at the Holding Institute in Laredo, Texas, on Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)
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Immigrant families settle in for the night at the Holding Institute in Laredo, Texas, on Feb. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)
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Many Americans were alarmed last month when photos circulated showing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in Minneapolis detaining a 5-year-old boy wearing a bunny hat and carrying a Spiderman backpack. The concern followed Liam Conejo Ramos and his father when they were sent to Dilley, surrounded by chain-link fences on a dusty plain about 75 miles south of San Antonio.
But Liam was hardly an outlier. ICE has been holding hundreds of children at Dilley — many for months.
“We are all Liam,” Christian Hinojosa, an immigrant from Mexico, said by phone from Dilley, where she and her 13-year-old son were held for more than four months. They were released this month and allowed to return home to San Antonio where she works as a health aide.
She noted that Liam and his father were released from Dilley after 10 days, when members of Congress and a judge intervened.
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“My son says, ‘That’s unfair, Mama. What’s the difference between him and us?’”
Ramping up family detentions
When the Obama administration opened Dilley in 2014, nearly all families detained there had recently crossed the border from Mexico. Detentions at the facility were scaled back by the Biden administration in 2021, before it was closed three years later.
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EDITOR’S NOTE — This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.
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Since being reopened by President Donald Trump’s administration last spring, life inside Dilley — a compound of trailers and other prefabricated buildings — has been shaped by three decisive changes.
The number of detained families has risen sharply since last fall. The government is holding many children well beyond the 20-day limit set by longstanding court order. And many detainees have lived in the U.S. for several years, with roots in neighborhoods, workplaces and schools, according to lawyers and other observers.
“Just imagine that you’re a child and you’re taken out of your surroundings,” said Philip Schrag, a Georgetown University law professor and author of “Baby Jails: The Fight to End the Incarceration of Refugee Children in America.”
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Suddenly you’re in “a completely strange environment with the doors locked and guards in uniform roaming around,” said Schrag, who counseled Dilley detainees as a volunteer lawyer during the Obama administration.
ICE booked more than 3,800 children into detention during the first nine months of the new Trump administration, according to an Associated Press analysis of data from the University of California, Berkeley’s Deportation Data Project. On an average day more than 220 children were held, with most of those detained longer than 24 hours sent to Dilley. More than half of Dilley detainees during that period were children.
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A young immigrant girl who just arrived at the Holding Institute, a shelter in Laredo, Texas on Feb. 12, 2026, pets a cat as her mother and other families receive a welcome and instructions on how to purchase tickets to get back to their homes in the U.S. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)
A young immigrant girl who just arrived at the Holding Institute, a shelter in Laredo, Texas on Feb. 12, 2026, pets a cat as her mother and other families receive a welcome and instructions on how to purchase tickets to get back to their homes in the U.S. (AP Photo/Valerie Gonzalez)
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Nearly two-thirds of children detained by ICE were eventually deported and almost 1 in 10 left the country when their parents accepted voluntary departure, according to an AP analysis of the latest comprehensive data. About a quarter were released in the U.S., requiring their parents to check in regularly with ICE as their legal cases proceed.
The number of detainees at Dilley has risen sharply since the period covered by the data, nearly tripling between last fall and late January to more than 1,300, according to Relevant Research, which analyzes immigration enforcement data.
“We’ve started to use 100 days as a benchmark for prioritizing cases because so many children are exceeding 20 days,” said Leecia Welch, the chief legal director at Children’s Rights, who visits Dilley regularly to ensure compliance. In a visit this month, Welch said she counted more than 30 children who had been held for over 100 days.
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The increased detention of children comes as the Trump administration has gutted a Department of Homeland Security office responsible for oversight of conditions inside Dilley and other facilities.
“It’s a particular concern that family detention is being increased,” said Dr. Pamela McPherson, a child and adolescent psychiatrist contracted by DHS from 2014 until last year to inspect and investigate conditions at Dilley and other ICE facilities holding children.
“Just who’s providing that check-and-balance now?”
Rep. Tony Gonzales, who represents the congressional district where Dilley is located, said multiple visits have convinced him criticism of the center is unfair.
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He said he’d been impressed by Dilley’s facilities and the professionalism and dedication of staff. “They’re not doing policy. They’re just fulfilling a duty,” said Gonzales, a Republican.
DHS did not respond to detailed questions about Dilley submitted by the AP. But both DHS and ICE sharply refuted allegations of poor care and conditions there.
“The Dilley facility is a family residential center designed specifically to house family units in a safe, structured and appropriate environment,” ICE Director Todd M. Lyons said in a statement this week. Services include medical screenings, infant care packages as well as classrooms and recreational spaces.
But concerns about Dilley are personal for Kheilin Valero Marcano, a Venezuelan immigrant detained with her husband and 1-year-old daughter, Amalia, in December and held for nearly two months.
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Migrants from Venezuela, Stiven Arrieta Prieto and his wife, Kheilin Valero Marcano, with their 18-month-old daughter, Amalia Arrieta Valero, pose for a photo in Southern California on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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Migrants from Venezuela, Stiven Arrieta Prieto and his wife, Kheilin Valero Marcano, with their 18-month-old daughter, Amalia Arrieta Valero, pose for a photo in Southern California on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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When the child got a high fever, Valero Marcano said Dilley staff told her it was just a virus. Two weeks later, Amalia started vomiting, then losing weight. Valero Marcano said she took her to the Dilley doctor’s office at least eight times but was offered Tylenol and ibuprofen.
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The baby was eventually sent to two hospitals, where doctors diagnosed COVID, bronchitis, pneumonia and stomach virus, she said.
ICE disputed Valero Marcano’s account, saying in a statement the baby “immediately received proper medical care” at Dilley before being sent to the hospital. Back in Dilley, “she was in the medical unit and received proper treatment and prescribed medicines,” it said.
The family’s return to Dilley coincided with a measles outbreak there. They were released earlier this month after their lawyers petitioned the court.
“I’m so worried for all the families who are still inside,” Valero Marcano said.
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A teen in distress
After more than two months in a cramped room at Dilley with three other families, the 13-year-old girl’s depression turned increasingly dark.
The eighth grader stopped eating after finding a worm in her food, family members said. Staff sometimes withheld medications she’d long been prescribed to keep her anxiety in check and help her sleep.
When a total lockdown was imposed, a guard blocked the teen from leaving the crowded room to join her mother and sister in the bathroom. She spiraled into crisis, and used a plastic knife from the cafeteria to cut her wrist.
“She said she didn’t want to live anymore because she preferred to die rather than having to keep living in confinement,” her mother, Andrea Armero, told the AP in a video call from Colombia, where the family was deported this month. The AP generally avoids identifying people who attempt or die by suicide.
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The girl’s struggles began before she arrived at Dilley. Soon after starting middle school in Colombia, she learned a family member had sexually abused her younger sister. Armero said she saw no option but to leave and in early 2024 she and her daughters traveled to the U.S. border with Mexico, applying for asylum.
Living with family in Florida, the 13-year-old was doing well in school but sometimes experienced panic attacks about being sent back to Colombia. Under a psychiatrist’s care, she was prescribed anti-anxiety and anti-depression medications and regularly saw a therapist. Then, in December, ICE agents detained Armero and her daughters during a routine check-in.
At Dilley, the 13-year-old calmed herself by drawing, producing haunting pictures of a girl locked inside gates. But when she and other detainees took part in a protest after 5-year-old Liam and his father got to Dilley, guards took away drawing materials and ordered everyone to stay inside.
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This image provided by the family in February 2026 shows a drawing made by a 13-year-old Colombian girl when she was detained at South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, where the Trump administration is holding immigrant families. (AP Photo)
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This image provided by the family in February 2026 shows a drawing made by a 13-year-old Colombian girl when she was detained at South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, where the Trump administration is holding immigrant families. (AP Photo)
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The teen’s mental health collapsed. She tried to harm herself with the plastic knife, Armero said, and repeatedly hit her head. The family was put into isolation without seeing a doctor, then deported to Colombia on Feb. 11 after a judge ordered them removed, she said.
Dilley discharge documents described “active problems,” including a “suicide attempt by cutting of wrist” and “self-harm,” in addition to a “history of post-traumatic stress disorder” and “history of anxiety.” AP also spoke with detainees and attorneys who independently described the girl’s suicide attempt.
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Responding to questions from AP, a DHS official acknowledged there had been “a case of self-harm” inside the facility, but did not specify what had happened, or how staff handled the incident. When AP asked for details, DHS did not respond to follow-up questions.
“No child at Dilley … has been denied medical treatment or experienced a delayed medical assessment,” said Ryan Gustin, a spokesman for CoreCivic, the for-profit prison company that operates the facility under contract with ICE. Gustin declined to answer specific question about the 13-year-old girl, citing privacy rules.
Detention weighs on children
On a phone call from inside Dilley, 13-year-old Gustavo Santino-Josa introduced himself to a reporter by name and the 9-digit identification number ICE assigned him when he was taken into custody with his mother.
“Until today I don’t know what we did wrong to get detained,” Gustavo said. “I’ve seen my mom cry almost daily and I ask God that we can go out and go home soon.”
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He worried they might never be released.
“My mom says that as long as there is hope it is worth fighting for,” Gustavo said before handing the phone to his mother, Christian Hinojosa, the health care aide originally from Mexico.
“All his friends have left already,” his mother said. “Some were deported. Some got released recently. And it hurts. It hurts to see people leaving and you’re staying here.”
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Andrea Armero, right, and her daughter, who were deported from the United States, sit in a park in Colombia, on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
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Andrea Armero, right, and her daughter, who were deported from the United States, sit in a park in Colombia, on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)
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Dilley was built to hold 2,400 people, housed in clusters ICE calls “neighborhoods.” Bunk beds are arranged side-by-side for up to four families, frequently putting parents with young children in close quarters.
Once in full operation, Dilley is expected to generate about $180 million in annual revenue for CoreCivic, according to the company’s recent filing with securities regulators.
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In a video on its website, CoreCivic says Dilley’s “open campus layout allows residents to move freely and unescorted throughout the day.”
It does not mention that parents and their children are locked inside.
In response to questions from the AP, CoreCivic’s Gustin said the staff at Dilley includes a pediatrician, pediatric nurse practitioner, other trained medical professionals, as well as mental health services to “meet the needs of children and families in our care.”
In talks with parents of children held at Dilley, however, the same problems come up repeatedly, said Welch, the children’s rights lawyer.
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Kids cry often and don’t get enough sleep, in part because lights are on around the clock, she said. The water tastes terrible and causes stomachaches and rashes, so some families stick to what they can buy in the commissary.
Their children don’t eat enough and have lost weight, Welch said. There are classrooms, but instruction is limited to an hour daily, mostly filling out worksheets.
A 14-year-old girl, identified in court papers by the initials NVSM, reported there were tensions with up to 12 people sharing their room. At night when she and her mother tried to sleep, others insisted on turning up the TV.
“I feel very sad and stressed to be here,” the teen said in an account filed with the court that oversees a binding settlement governing detention and release of children. “My nerves are so high. I don’t know what is happening. My muscles will twitch because I’m so nervous and on edge.”
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Concerns about oversight
As the government’s detention of parents and their children came under scrutiny in 2014, an ICE official insisted that family detention centers, equipped with basketball courts and medical clinics, were “more like a summer camp.”
The characterization irritated McPherson, the child psychiatrist who, along with another physician, was retained in 2014 by DHS to inspect family detention centers. Their contracts were not renewed by the Trump administration last year after DHS announced sweeping staff reductions.
“Having a clean place to sleep, having food, that’s not the same thing as having family and community,” McPherson said.
The doctors’ investigations of family detention centers exposed consistently inadequate staffing and disregard by administrators for the trauma caused by detention, concerns they reported in 2018 to a Senate caucus set up to hear from whistleblowers.
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At Dilley, the doctors noted a persistent shortage of pediatricians and the inability to hire a child psychiatrist from the time they began their inspections until they alerted senators.
Employees unsure how to deal with 2-year-olds biting and hitting each other placed the children and their parents in medical isolation for days, McPherson and her colleague told senators. Without supervision, a nurse at Dilley gave adult-strength hepatitis A shots to about 250 children in 2015, the American Immigration Lawyers Association reported.
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Kheilin Valero Marcano, hugs her 18-month-old daughter, Amalia Arrieta Valero, in Southern California on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
Kheilin Valero Marcano, hugs her 18-month-old daughter, Amalia Arrieta Valero, in Southern California on Tuesday, Feb. 10, 2026. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
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DHS responded to many of the findings by making changes before a special committee recommended in late 2016 that the government discontinue family detention except in rare cases. The first Trump administration increased family detention before the Biden administration began phasing it out in 2021.
That the Trump administration is again holding families at Dilley after so many warnings feels “dystopian,” McPherson said.
“The decision to knowingly traumatize children and subject them to chronic stress, I just have no words for it,” she said.
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Worries even after release
Huddled around picnic tables at the Laredo migrant shelter, parents released from Dilley searched anxiously for flights back to the homes they left behind. They called relatives, friends, teachers, anyone who might help with money to get there.
The young Ecuadorian mom talked of returning to Minneapolis, where her 2-year-old daughter, born in the U.S., was staying with a friend. With her husband deported, parenting will be entirely her responsibility.
That means getting her 7-year-old back in school. Then the woman, who had a work permit and a job in a Minneapolis restaurant before being detained, needs to keep her children fed.
“Let’s go home, Mom, but don’t go back to work because ICE is going to pick you up again,” the little girl said. Her mother tried to reassure her.
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That won’t happen, she said, because now they have a special paper telling ICE to leave them alone.
She hopes that’s a promise she can keep.
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AP Data Reporter Aaron Kessler contributed from Washington.
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Contact AP’s global investigative team at [email protected] or https://www.ap.org/tips/
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Dylan Darling hit a driving layup as time expired for his only bucket of the game, and St. John’s advanced to its first Sweet 16 since 1999 with a 67-65 victory over Kansas in the NCAA Tournament on Sunday.
Darling, the Johnnies’ tenacious point guard, coolly won it after Kansas (24-11) erased a 58-45 deficit with 7 1/2 minutes to play, making a furious 20-7 run capped by Darryn Peterson’s two free throws to tie it with 13.1 seconds left.
The Jayhawks had four fouls to give, and they used all four to wind the clock down to 3.9 seconds. That was plenty of time for Darling, the Idaho State transfer who had missed his four previous shots.
Darling got the ball up top and drove the lane for a shot that banked in as time expired. His teammates tackled him in front of the St. John’s band in celebration.
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Zuby Ejiofor and Bryce Hopkins scored 18 points apiece for the fifth-seeded Red Storm (30-6), who have roared back to college basketball prominence in just three seasons under coach Rick Pitino.
St. John’s advanced to face No. 1 overall seed Duke in the East Region semifinals in Washington.
The 73-year-old Pitino and 63-year-old Bill Self coached against each other for only the second time in the Hall of Famers’ decades-long careers, meeting for the first time in March Madness. They’re two of the three active coaches with multiple national titles, and now Pitino still has a chance to claim his third.
With Kansas transfer Ejiofor leading the way, St. John’s has won 21 of its last 22 games since early January, capped by the Johnnies’ second and third NCAA Tournament victories in the past quarter-century this weekend.
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St. John’s won the Big East regular-season and tournament titles during its surge, and this Red Storm haven’t eased up a bit.
Peterson scored 21 points and Melvin Council Jr. had 15 points and nine rebounds for the fourth-seeded Jayhawks, who still haven’t returned to the Sweet 16 since they claimed Self’s second national title in 2022. After Kansas ended Arizona’s unbeaten season in a landmark victory on Feb. 9, the Jayhawks subsequently lost six of their final 11 games.
Sharing the latest progress, the business said: “From the original drawings to where we are today, the transformation is well underway, and we’re now around 80 per cent complete on the externals.”
The Consett chippy shared pictures of its planned expansion online. (Image: Golden Fish Inn)
The next phase of the project will focus on installing a new shopfront and completing the block paving in the drive area, with both expected to be finished in the coming weeks. After that, attention will turn to structural changes inside the property.
The update continued: “The new shopfront and block paving drive area will be going in over the next few weeks… and then it’s time for the knock-through!”
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Internal works are set to follow, as the takeaway prepares for a relaunch that will include a refreshed offering for customers.
The business added: “Next up: the internal works. We can’t wait to share our brand new menu with you! Golden Fish Inn 2.0 Coming soon!”
Earlier plans revealed the refurbishment and extension would almost double the size of the long-standing chippie, which has operated with limited space for two decades.
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A spokesperson previously said: “We’ve had limited space for the last 20 years. More equipment will make it easier for our staff.”
They also confirmed ambitions to broaden the menu, adding: “We are looking to expand our menu too and include pizzas and smash burgers.”
The original announcement drew strong support from the local community, with residents welcoming the investment and looking forward to the upgraded facilities and expanded food options.
What’s in store for you today? (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
The Gemini Moon aligning with Pluto in Aquarius means inspiration is firmly on the cards. A new idea or direction could spark big things.
Libra, Scorpio and Sagittarius, ask the right questions today and revelations will flow. Don’t be afraid of collaboration through the day ahead.
Change is brewing, so prepare yourself for this transformation. Whether internal or external, don’t resist this new chapter.
Ahead, you’ll find all star signs’ horoscopes for today: Monday March 23, 2026.
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Your mind may be buzzing, so a casual comment could unlock a powerful realisation. Change is in the air when you listen as intensely as you speak, and ideas need depth, so give them time. This is a chance to question old assumptions, rewrite mental habits, and say the brave thing you’ve been thinking about. Words are tools, so use them to build bridges, not burn them.
Your usual rhythm picks up a clever new tempo. With the Moon keeping pace with Pluto in Aquarius, a conversation about money, values, or self-worth could shift something deep inside you. Curiosity nudges you to question what you need versus what you’ve grown used to. Insight arrives through words, numbers, or news, so let fresh ideas transform old habits.
The Moon in your sign nudges you forward, and a tie to potent Pluto hands you a microphone you’ll be keen to make use of. A conversation, idea, or sudden insight could change how you see your future path. This is not small talk territory, as you’re rewriting beliefs, updating goals, and surprising yourself with how focused you can be. When your mind commits, doors open.
Inner tides are rising and falling, and a realisation may surface through a dream, a message, or an offhand remark that lingers. You don’t need to react instantly; just let insight slowly reveal its meaning. It’s time for some mental decluttering and emotional honesty about what you’re ready to release. Old fears lose their grip when named, and you’ll find rest deeply healing.
The spotlight shifts to your social world, and it’s brighter than you expect. A conversation with friends, allies, or collaborators carries real influence. Ideas ignite quickly, and they’re not superficial. You’re sensing which connections are evolving and which have run their course. This is an opportunity to speak up about your hopes for the future and listen closely in return.
The Gemini Moon aligning with Pluto in Aquarius means work conversations, career plans, or daily systems have the potential to inspire change. A question you ask or an insight you share could shift important dynamics quietly but decisively. You’re seeing how small adjustments create long-term impact. Don’t underestimate your knowledge; it’s truly golden.
Cosmic messages for Cosmic messages for Virgo today
Libra
September 24 to October 23
Your thinking expands, as a conversation, article, or sudden idea could shift how you see the bigger picture. Beliefs evolve when your open mind replaces rigidity. You’re drawn to fresh perspectives, future plans and questions that don’t have tidy answers yet. Explore without needing instant solutions. This is a powerful chance to rethink goals, studies, or travel plans.
Today’s Moon-Pluto link asks you to talk about what is usually kept secret. Shared resources, trust, or emotional entanglements come into focus, and a conversation could lead to you feeling exposed, yet also liberated. Information is power when you ask the right questions. You’re gaining insight into patterns that have quietly shaped your choices. Let insight replace control.
Relationships are classrooms now. A conversation with a partner, client, or close ally could shift the dynamic between you. Words can be revealing and listening matters as much as speaking. You’re learning how collaboration really works, not just in theory. This is a chance to renegotiate terms, clear the air, or imagine a future together that feels more equal and alive.
Are your routines, work patterns, or health habits ready for an upgrade? A conversation or idea could reveal where efficiency needs a tweak. This isn’t about doing more; it’s about doing better. You’re seeing how small mental shifts can improve daily life. Ask questions, modify systems, and release habits that drain you. Learning can be very productive now.
The universe is watching you and your ideas. The Moon in Gemini aligns with Pluto in your sign, so romance and self-expression crackle with intensity. A playful thought could turn profound, or a personal project can seem destined. It’s a chance to own your voice and let others see the real genius behind the intellect. Genuineness is a skill, so be sure to use it.
Your thoughts drift homeward, and conversations about family or emotional roots carry quiet power. A casual remark could unlock a deeper truth about where you belong or what needs healing, so be sure to read between the lines. This is a chance to rethink emotional habits and update old stories you’ve been living in. You don’t need all the answers, just better questions.
Your daily Metro.co.uk horoscope is here every morning, seven days a week (yes, including weekends!). To check your forecast, head to our dedicated horoscopes page.
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The Doctor Who actress was diagnosed with womb cancer and underwent a hysterectomy and radiation treatment in 2024
Alex Kingston has revealed how Strictly Come Dancing was the ‘perfect antidote’ to her cancer treatment as she provided a candid health update.
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The Doctor Who and ER actress competed on the BBC dancing competition with professional dancer Johannes Radebe last year. Early on in the series, Alex was one of the favourites to lift the glitterball as she wowed fans with her commitment.
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Sadly, she and Johannes were eliminated during Musicals Week in November after landing in the dance-off with EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal and Australian native Julian Caillon.
During her time on Strictly, Alex shared that she had been diagnosed with womb cancer and underwent a hysterectomy and radiation treatment in 2024. Speaking in a VT, Alex said of her cancer diagnosis: “It has made me fearless…
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“It’s made me want to encourage people to just go for it. I do hope to help others by speaking out about what I have gone through. I hadn’t made it public, and I just thought, ‘I’m going to because I haven’t been voted off yet!’
In a new interview with Saga Magazine, Alex, who played River Song on Doctor Who, has opened up about how performing on Strictly provided an escape from her turbulent personal period.
“I knew I could hear a beat and that I didn’t have two left feet, and I love dancing to Latin music, but I certainly didn’t think that I was going to be able to do any ballroom dancing.
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“I have to say, I truly loved my experience, and it was the perfect antidote to coming through cancer treatment. To be paired with Johannes Radebe was a dream. He’s got a beautiful soul,” she said.
Speaking about her diagnosis, she added: “I was due to start another TV show when I was diagnosed with cancer and had to walk away – something I’d never done before and which felt very uncomfortable.
“Like many actors, you always fear you won’t work again and I worried people might think I was unreliable.”
Alex is currently preparing for her new ITV drama Secret Service, which based the novel of the same name by Tom Bradby. The series follows the head of the Russia Desk of the British Secret Intelligence Service learning that a senior British politician could be a potential Russian asset.
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Quantum of Solace’s Gemma Arterton, Men in Black: International’s Rafe Spall, Alexander Terentyev, Game of Thrones’ Roger Allam, The Walking Dead’s Avi Nash, Happy Valley’s Mark Stanley, The Responder’s Amaka Okafor and United 93’s Khalid Abdalla.
Speaking about the drama, Alex said: “Secret Service was the first job I was offered after treatment and it felt perfect – not a huge role but enough to ease me back in.”
Asked about how her diagnosis impacted her outlook on life, Alex noted: “I’ve always been a positive, glass half-full type of person, and going through a cancer journey has made me double down on that. It makes you confront your mortality but I intend to live to 100.”
Meanwhile, Alex has previously spoken about her struggles with fertility and has been open about undergoing multiple rounds of IVF treatment to conceive her daughter Salome, who was born in 2001.
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When asked what the most challenging time for her has been, she said: “Going through IVF to have my daughter Salome was very tough.
“It builds up incrementally because you’re on this track and you knuckle down and do it because you have this end game. But it is hugely debilitating, and I think when one’s in it, one’s not fully aware of how debilitating it can be, particularly if you go through several cycles as I did…
“I was diagnosed with uterine cancer in 2024 and I do wonder whether it’s connected in some way.”
Cadbury Creme Eggs are a staple in many Brits’ homes around Easter, but what the ‘goo’ in the middle of the chocolate treat is actually made from is a mystery to many
Easter is right around the corner, and shop shelves are filled with Cadbury Creme Eggs. The small egg-shaped sweet treats are one of the UK’s most beloved chocolates, and even though you can only buy them around Easter, Brits gobble up millions of them every year.
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Mondelez International, the parent company of Cadbury, previously disclosed that approximately 220 million Creme Eggs are sold in Britain annually, accounting for 44 per cent of the worldwide total. But there’s one question that has perplexed chocolate lovers for generations – what is the gooey centre in the middle of a Creme Egg actually made of?
Cadbury fans on social media have previously expressed their bewilderment over the delectable creamy concoction, which is designed to look like an egg with its white and orange colouring.
One perplexed X user queried: “I have a huge problem weighing on my mind: what is the substance in the middle of a Creme Egg called? What is it? A goo?”
Another puzzled chocolate enthusiast asked: “I have a question. What is the goo made from in a Creme Egg?”
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So, with Easter Sunday around the corner on April 5th, we set out to settle the mystery once and for all. Brits can enjoy their Creme Eggs in peace – without pondering what it is they’re actually putting in their mouths.
The two halves of the chocolate shell are filled with a soft fondant. The fondant is designed to replicate the yolk and egg white of a real egg, hence why the ‘goo’ is both white and yellow.
The fondant is also the reason the product tastes really sugary – because there genuinely is a lot of sugar in it.
Each 40g egg contains 177 calories, 6.2g of fat (3.5g of which is saturates), 0.06g salt and 29g of carbohydrates, a staggering 26.5g of which are sugars.
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While the information on the website claims that the egg is around 28% of the Guideline Daily Amount of sugar, the NHS actually recommend that adults and children over 11 only have 30g of “free sugar” a day – meaning one Creme Egg is almost your entire daily allowance.
Free sugars are sugars that are added to food or drinks, including sugars in biscuits, cakes, chocolates, flavoured yoghurts, breakfast cereals, and fizzy drinks. Sugar found naturally in milk, fruit, and vegetables does not count as a free sugar, so while we don’t need to cut down on these, they do still count toward our total daily allowance.
Creme Eggs do contain free sugars, so while they are only 28% of our overall sugar intake allowance, they are almost all of our free sugar allowance. This means that for a healthy and balanced diet, having one Creme Egg means the rest of your sugar intake for the day should only come from natural sugars found in things like fruit.
However, we do love treating ourselves to a Creme Egg all the same! Cadbury previously claimed that around two-thirds of the Creme Eggs made globally are sold in the UK. In monetary terms, that equates to around £70 million spent on the fondant-filled eggs every single year.
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The Cadbury website previously stated: “Cadbury Creme Egg is the most popular and over 500 million Creme Eggs are made every year, with about two-thirds of that number being enjoyed in the UK. That is 3.5 Cadbury Creme Eggs for every person in this country to enjoy.”
So, next time you tuck in to a Creme Egg, remember that the “goo” is really just sugary fondant!
“While the Democrats continue to put the safety, dependability, and ease of our air travel at risk, President Trump is taking action to deploy hundreds of ICE officers, that are currently funded by Congress, to airports being adversely impacted,” the DHS spokesperson said on Sunday.
With prices at the pumps rising rapidly due to the war in the Middle East, saving pennies wherever possible is vital to many motorists.
The average price of diesel is around 160.3p per litre, with petrol at about 141.5p per litre, at the time of writing.
With this in mind, experts have revealed a clever feature on Google Maps that can help you save money.
Google Maps feature that can help drivers save on fuel
Graham Conway, managing director of Select Car Leasing, explained how the feature on one of the most popular sat nav apps only takes seconds to set up but could shave more than £100 off your annual motoring bill.
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He said: “Google Maps is full of great features, but there’s one in particular that is commonly ignored, which can prove a huge boost for motorists.
“All you have to do to take advantage of it is to enter your destination into the app and choose ‘directions’, then look for the three small vertical dots in the top right-hand corner of the screen.
“Select ‘options’ and then look for the ‘prefer fuel-efficient routes’ toggle, which you can switch on by moving to the right.
“You can also select it via the settings in your profile.
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“The software will then use a selection of specific data to make sure you’re not only saving on fuel but also being kind to the planet.”
The ‘prefer fuel-efficient routes’ software can reportedly help to save more than £100 annually on fuel bills (Image: Getty Images)
The Google feature uses real-time traffic data, road conditions and your vehicle type – including motorbikes and electric cars – to find the route that burns the least fuel.
Rather than just picking the greenest route regardless, it weighs up efficiency alongside speed, so you still arrive on time.
A study found that the fuel consumption of the most eco-friendly path is 9% lower than that of the shortest travel time, although journey duration is 9% longer.
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This means that if you’re not in a rush to get to your destination, based on the average annual fuel bill of £1,200, you could be saving £108.
Mr Conway revealed some of the other features worth exploring in Google Maps.
He said: “You can change your vehicle icon to make it more suitable, use the app to remember exactly where you parked your car, plot trips with multiple stops and also avoid toll roads and bridges.”
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What is the penalty for being on the phone while driving?
As explained on the Gov.uk website, it is illegal to hold and use a phone, sat nav, tablet, or “any device that can send or receive data” while driving or riding a motorcycle.
It stressed that this means you must not use a device in your hand “for any reason” even if it is offline.
The law applies if you’re:
stopped at traffic lights
queuing in traffic
supervising a learner driver
driving a car that turns off the engine when you stop moving
holding and using a device that’s offline or in flight mode
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There are some exceptions, such as if you need to call 999 in an emergency and it’s “unsafe or impractical to stop”, if you are safely parked or if you are making a contactless payment in a stationary vehicle, such as at a drive-through restaurant.
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You can get 6 penalty points and a £200 fine if you hold and are caught using a device while driving.
Mr Conway concluded: “The best approach is to plan your journey before you set off, make sure your phone is securely mounted, keep your hands off it and use the voice prompts rather than looking at the screen.”
Do you have any hidden gem apps you use on your phone? Let us know in the comments.
The plans will create around 700 new childcare places across the region, making it easier for parents to balance work and family life while cutting childcare costs.
Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary, said: “Our school-based nurseries are already helping fill the gaps in communities where childcare is hardest to find, giving children the strong start they deserve and helping parents access childcare close to home.
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“By expanding these nurseries further and targeting them at the areas that need them most, we are making sure more families can benefit from quality early education while putting practical support in place to help with the cost of living.
“For too long, where a child grows up has shaped what they go on to achieve.
“This government was elected to change that – starting with giving every child the best start in life and making sure every family can access the childcare they need, wherever they live.”
The government estimates that eligible working families could save on average £8,000 a year per child through its funded childcare offer.
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School-based nurseries are designed to make life easier for families by allowing parents to drop off children of different ages at the same location.
This reduces travel time and helps young children adjust to the school environment.
The next phase of the programme will be led by local authorities, who will use their understanding of community needs to plan and deliver new nursery places where they are most needed.
Families in Bolton, will benefit from the nursery expansion.
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The rollout is part of the government’s wider support for families, including 30 hours of funded childcare.
It also includes free breakfast clubs and measures to reduce school uniform costs, together helping families save up to £8,500 a year.
Schools set to benefit have said the programme will make a huge difference for parents and children alike.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
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“As a parent, I know how hard it can be to juggle work and family life, especially in those early days where time is precious and sleep is short.
“School-based nurseries are already driving a seismic shift in how childcare supports families. Now we’re going even further to build on what works with over 300 new nurseries – cutting
childcare costs, simplifying the school run, and helping parents at a time when household budgets are under real pressure.
“This is about targeting support where it’s needed most, easing the cost of living and giving every child the best start in life.”
An early spring bike ride ended in an unthinkable tragedy for one Pennsylvania family, after a beloved grandfather and avid cyclist hit a pothole that caused fatal injuries.
Joseph Kenas, 69, died at the hospital on Friday after his family made the heart-wrenching decision to take him off life support.
Kenas had been riding his normal route on Tuesday when his bike hit what his family described as a massive pothole on Morris Road in Fort Washington, a suburb of Philadelphia, NBC10 reported.
“It was such a beautiful day,” Stephen Kenas, Joseph’s son, told NBC10. “It was the 80 degree weather we had. He had to get out. He just couldn’t resist. So my mom was like, ‘Make it a shorter ride. We have dinner later. We have to get you back and get you ready.’”
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But his father never made it home. After three days in a Philadelphia hospital, Kenas was declared brain dead, his family said, forcing them to make an agonizing decision.
Joseph Kenas, 69, died three days after he struck a massive pothole while riding his bike in Pennsylvania (NBC10)
“We were there in the hospital. They wanted to do an MRI to check for brain activity, and once we got results, we knew that his life was lifeless and there was no brain activity,” Stephen said.
“And that’s when we had to make the call. And that’s really hard.”
Kenas’ family told NBC10 that he was compassionate, social, and an avid cyclist who rarely passed up a chance to ride – especially on such a beautiful day.
According to his obituary, Kenas loved the outdoors and found joy in cycling, skiing, and spending summers at a family lake cabin shared across generations. He was remembered as a devoted father, grandfather, and a constant source of love and support.
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Kenas was declared brain dead, his family said, forcing them to make an agonizing decision on Friday (George Fitzpatrick Funeral Home)
Neighbors said the stretch of road where Kenas crashed has long been a recurring problem, though the specific pothole involved has since been patched.
“I really wanted to go and see for myself,” Stephen said. “It’s hard for me to believe a pothole took out such a strong man.”
According to PennDOT, more than 13,000 potholes were reported in southeastern Pennsylvania over the past year, including two on Morris Road.
“It was powerful to see the hole, and that helped me process a little better,” Stephen said. “But when you hear a pothole taking someone’s life, you don’t want to believe it. But when you see what it is, you’re like wow. I can’t believe it got to this point.”
The project on the edge of Manchester city centre will see 15,000 homes built across 390-acres of land
The huge Victoria North development has been named in a Government list of seven ‘new towns’, described as the ‘most ambitious housebuilding programme in more than half a century’.
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Victoria North, which will see 15,000 homes built across 390-acres of land, is already well underway, with plans having first emerged seven years ago. Last year it reached a major milestone as the first tenants finally moved into their brand new council homes in Collyhurst.
Today (March 22), the Government announced that the National Housing Bank will launch on April 1, and that it will be backed with up to £16bn of financial capacity and will aim to deliver over 500,000 new homes.
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The regeneration programme will see up to 15,000 new homes built between Victoria Train Station and Queen’s Park in Collyhurst over the next 15 years in seven new and existing neighbourhoods. Each neighbourhood will be linked by high quality green spaces that will open up and celebrate the River Irk.
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Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, said: “We are glad to see Victoria North getting this backing from the Government. It is one of the UK’s most ambitious regeneration projects right at the heart of its fastest-growing city-region. Victoria North will see the building of 15,000 new homes, including many for social rent, alongside high-quality green spaces close to our city centre.
“We believe it is the model of what a new town should be, with modern homes linked to high-quality public transport. Only this week we agreed to invest £60m in a new tram connection for Victoria North from our ground-breaking Good Growth Fund.
“Greater Manchester is ready to deliver a decade of good growth, giving people quality jobs and truly affordable homes, and Victoria North is a crucial part of that.”
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Victoria North stretches from Angel Meadow in town to Queen’s Park in Collyhurst. It’s one of the biggest regeneration projects in Manchester’s history – last year, it was officially backed as one of Labour’s new towns.
Manchester council has also teamed up with the Hong Kong-based Far East Consortium (FEC) on an even bigger project with seven new neighbourhoods spanning from the New Cross quarter near Ancoats, all the way up Rochdale Road to Smedley Dip in Collyhurst.
This project would see Red Bank revamped, a new tram stop built at Sandhills, a 46-hectare park along the River Irk and plenty of ‘affordable’ homes. New business would be expected to move in under the Red Bank railway arches.
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Housing Secretary Steve Reed said: “People want real homes they can actually afford and infrastructure that really works – this government is making that a reality for communities across the country. For Greater Manchester, that means at least 15,000 new homes and a new Metrolink stop that will connect communities to jobs right across Greater Manchester.
“Alongside this, our 40% affordable housing target will mean homes will work for ordinary people, not just those who can already afford it. Greater Manchester is ready to build, and together with the new National Housing Bank, we’re laying the foundations our communities deserve.”
Seven chosen locations for new towns are: Tempsford, Leeds South Bank, Crews Hill and Chase Park, Manchester Victoria North, Thamesmead, Brabazon and West Innovation Arc, and Milton Keynes. The Government also assessed six further new town locations: Adlington, Heyford Park, Marlcombe, Plymouth, South Barking and Wychavon Town — but decided they will not be taken forward.
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The Government said that no decisions have yet been made on the names of new towns. The proposed names the Government is considering include Elizabethtown, after the Queen, Pankhurst, after the suffragette Emmeline, Attleeton, after former Prime Minister Clement Attlee, Athelstan, after the first King of England, and Seacole, after nurse Mary, the Times reported.
Manchester council hopes the first fruits of its £4bn project to be seen in Collyhurst will help sell the wider vision for the area which would effectively expand the city centre on mostly unused land and grow the local population by 40,000 over a 20-year period.
A public consultation on proposed locations and draft planning policy is open until May 18
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