Bin lorries will be out and about on their normal collection days and residents across the County are being reminded to put their bins out as normal, despite the bank holiday.

A Durham County Council spokesperson said: “There are no changes to bin collections over this bank holiday everyone can put their bin out as normal.”

A Darlington Borough Council spokesperson added: “All bin collections will be as normal this Easter.”

It comes days after changes were made to how recycling is collected across the country this week.

New rules for household waste and recycling have come into force as part of efforts to standardise collections across England meaning residents will have a maximum of four bins.

Changes came into effect across County Durham on Tuesday (March 31). Residents should no longer use their green box for glass and should put all blue-lidded bin along with paper, card, plastic, cans and other so-called “dry recycling”.

If the bin becomes full, residents can put extra recycling, apart from glass, in a clear plastic bag next to the bin. The council says it will not collect any glass that is not inside the bin.

Waste and recycling collections will continue to be on alternate weeks. Bins must be placed out on the kerb by 7am on the day of collection.

New food waste collections will also be rolled out across the region in the coming months.

Every household will receive two new bins: an external caddy to be kept outside and another caddy for inside.

The food waste containers will be collected by new bespoke vehicles and will be collected on the same day as rubbish and recycling, but at a different time.

The collections were also due to start from March 31, but more than a quarter of councils in England, including Durham and Darlington, have missed the deadline.

Darlington will start food waste collections on Tuesday, June 2, said it was “let down by a key supplier”.

A further two alpacas suffered facial injuries that required immediate veterinary care

Four alpacas have died after a dog attack in a Cambridgeshire town farm. Officers from the Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) were called to reports of two dogs attacking livestock at a farm in Wisbech St Mary just after 6:30am on Tuesday, March 24.

The attack left four alpacas dead and a further two with facial injuries that required immediate veterinary care. Officers seized the two dogs involved.

An investigation into attacking and worrying livestock is ongoing. Cambridgeshire Police has issued a warning to dog walkers to keep pets under control following the attack.

Sergent Tom Nuttall, from the RCAT, said: “This was an extremely distressing incident for all involved, and I would like to thank the victim and the dog owner for continuing to be cooperative with our investigation.

“Livestock worrying is a criminal offence under UK law. Following the introduction of the Dogs Protection of Livestock Amendment Act 2025 last month, llamas and alpacas are now included in the definition of livestock.

“I would like to remind dog owners to ensure their animals are kept secure and on a lead in the rural areas of our county in a bid to keep all animals safe.”

Cambridgeshire Police has provided some advice for dog owners alongside farmers and landowners.

Advice for farmers and landowners

• Install clear signage to remind walkers of legal requirements;
• Position troughs away from public paths;
• Maintain fencing and consider deterrents like electric fencing;
• Install CCTV or trail cameras to deter and record evidence;
• Photograph injuries and cover carcasses to retain DNA evidence.

Advice for dog owners

• Always keep dogs on a lead near livestock, even if they are well-trained;
• Observe local signage and seasonal rules (e.g. mandatory leads on open access land between March 1 and July 31);
• Ensure fencing and gates are secure to prevent dogs from escaping;
• Be aware of surroundings and only allow dogs off lead in areas free of livestock;
• If your dog is involved in an incident, call 101 immediately.

In the full video, Woods, who was wearing a blue polo shirt, shorts and dark sunglasses, was filmed calmly kneeling on one knee and telling the officers: “I looked down at my phone, and all of a sudden, boom.”

After an initial search, an officer left Woods and went to speak to witnesses at the scene on Jupiter Island, with one saying: “He kept coming. I was getting ready to turn in, he was coming fast.

“I don’t think he was looking, that’s the thing.”

Nobody was injured in the crash, but Woods had to crawl out of the passenger door to free himself. He passed a breathalyser test but refused a urinalysis test for other drugs, according to Martin County Sheriff John Budensiek.

In the arrest affidavit, an officer wrote Woods was “sweating profusely”, his pupils were “extremely dilated” and his movements were “lethargic and slow”.

Woods told officers he had not drunk alcohol that day but when asked if he had taken any prescription medication, Woods replied “I take a few”, while adding he had done so earlier in the morning.

He then listed the medication, which was redacted from the footage.

He was told officers suspected his “normal faculties are impaired” by an “unknown substance”. Authorities then found two white pills in his pocket, which were identified as hydrocodone – an opioid used to treat pain.

Woods, who remained still while officers searched him and placed him in handcuffs, was asked if he had anything else on his person. He said he did not.

On Wednesday, it was announced that Woods had turned down the role of United States Ryder Cup captain when the biennial tournament takes place in Ireland in 2027.

A homeowner in San Francisco who trimmed five trees in an attempt to secure property insurance has been ordered to pay $50,000 in fines by city officials.

Paul Dennes, whose family has owned the house in the city’s Panhandle neighborhood since 1988, said he carried out the work to satisfy a requirement from his insurance broker. He sought to clear branches that were touching the building and interfering with overhead power lines.

“I got an email from my broker saying in order for you to qualify for insurance you need to trim the trees so many feet from the property,” Dennes told ABC News. “I’ve never seen the city trim these trees, never!”

However, city officials said the trees were located in the public right-of-way and fell under the jurisdiction of the San Francisco Department of Public Works.

Under the StreetTreeSF program, approved by voters in 2017, the city assumed full responsibility for the maintenance of all public street trees.

The Department of Public Works issued the fines just before Christmas, alleging “illegal tree pruning.” Inspectors claimed the trees were “topped” — a practice where main branches are cut back to stubs — removing a significant portion of the canopy and potentially shortening the trees’ lifespans.

“As stewards of San Francisco’s urban forest, it is our job to hold people accountable when they harm or damage a street tree,” Public Works told ABC News.

The department initially sought $10,000 per tree, stating the damage was severe enough to warrant total removal.

Dennes, who lives in Marin, argued that the city failed to adequately notify residents of the 2017 policy change. While the city maintains it distributed flyers and postcards, Dennes said the primary property owner at the time had been his 94-year-old father, who did not use the city’s website to track maintenance rules.

“It feels like bullying,” Dennes told ABC News. “I don’t want to start a big war.”

The city’s stance on the severity of the damage shifted following an administrative hearing. A senior inspector determined the trees might recover, though with compromised structures. The city also offered to reduce the fine to $12,950, or $2,590 per tree.

On Wednesday, Public Works confirmed it would further reduce the penalty to $6,475, provided Dennes hired a certified arborist to oversee a five-year recovery plan for the trees.

Christopher Campbell, a certified arborist and owner of CC Tree Design, said confusion over tree ownership is common among residents.

“People don’t realize, but the tree that grows in front of their home on the sidewalk in what we call a sidewalk basin, that’s actually city property,” he told ABC News. “That’s the public right-of-way.”

San Francisco residents are advised to consult the city’s street tree map or contact the Bureau of Urban Forestry before performing any maintenance on trees adjacent to their homes.

The San Francisco Department of Public Works did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent.

PHOENIX (AP) — Sarah Strong of UConn was named The Associated Press women’s basketball Player of the Year on Thursday after leading the Huskies to an undefeated season, setting the stage for a run to the Final Four.

Strong became just the fifth player to win the award in her sophomore year, joining Oklahoma’s Courtney Paris (2007), UConn stars Maya Moore (2009) and Breanna Stewart (2014), and USC’s JuJu Watkins, who won it last year. The AP started giving out the award in 1995.

It’s the 13th time that a Huskies player has won the award with Paige Bueckers being the last to do it before Strong in 2021.

Strong received 25 votes from a national media panel that votes for the Top 25 each week. Vanderbilt’s Mikayla Blakes garnered four votes and UCLA’s Lauren Betts got the other two. Voting was completed before the NCAA Tournament began.

“Anybody that’s watched us play would probably tell you that she’s the heart and soul of our team,” UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. “She elevates the play of everyone on our team.”

He called Strong “the most low-key superstar you ever saw.”

“You don’t see that look in her eyes, you know, like, oh, my God, there’s always just, a calmness,” he said. “That’s the best way I can describe it. That allows her to just be free and fluid and play without worry. ”

Auriemma has coached some of the greatest in the game including Breanna Stewart, Sue Bird, Maya Moore and Diana Taurasi. Strong fits in with them.

“The great ones, the great ones all had it. I never saw (Taurasi) nervous,” he said. ‘You know that they came in as freshmen and you can tell by the look in their eyes, ’I can handle this. This is what I think. This is why I came here.’ You know some may pretend, but you know deep down you’re not ready for that moment. She’s ready for that one.”

Strong is averaging 18.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 steals and 1.6 blocks a game while helping UConn go 38-0. She’s shooting 59.4% from the field, 40.4% from 3 and 84.8% from the the foul line while playing just 27 minutes a game.

The sensational sophomore raised her game when the Huskies faced Top 25 opponents, averaging over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game. She reached 1,000 career points in her 59th career game, the third-fastest player in school history to reach the milestone.

Strong was the Big East Player of the Year as well as the Most Outstanding Player of the Fort Worth Regional.

___

AP March Madness bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-womens-bracket and coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness

France winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey has won the Player of the Championship award after his starring role in the 2026 Men’s Six Nations.

It is the second year running the 22-year-old has received the best player accolade.

He shone in his country’s title win – including in the decisive final game against England, where he ran in four tries to help seal back-to-back titles for the French.

The Bordeaux Begles man secured 44% of fan votes to claim this year’s award, with a record 151,525 supporters having their say.

Italy centre Tommaso Menoncello, Ireland centre Stuart McCloskey and Scotland wing Kyle Steyn were also on the shortlist.

Bielle-Biarrey set a record for the number of tries scored in a single Six Nations last season, with eight – and he went one better in this year’s campaign, crossing the line nine times.

He is already fifth in the rankings of all-time leading try-scorers in the championship.

“I’m just really happy, honestly. It’s yet another reward for the team’s hard work throughout the tournament,” Bielle-Biarrey said.

“We were able to defend our title. Winning the tournament two years in a row is no small feat. We’re very happy to have done it.”

Temperatures across Cambridgeshire will be good, but people should expect high winds

Unfortunately, if anyone is venturing out in Cambridgeshire over the Easter bank holiday weekend, they shouldn’t expect the calmest conditions.

Across parts of the county, winds of between 30mph and 40mph are expected across Saturday (April 4) and Sunday (April 5). This will drop down to average winds of around 25mph on Monday (April 6).

Despite the windy conditions, temperatures won’t be low, with highs of 16C expected in parts of Cambridgeshire on Saturday, dropping down to 12C on Sunday. Temperatures will rise again for Monday, with some forecast at around 15C.

Here is a full forecast of temperatures expected in parts of Cambridgeshire over the next few days:

Cambridge

• Friday, April 3 – highs of 16C, lows of 7C. Some rain and clouds are expected
• Saturday, April 4 – highs of 16C, lows of 6C. Cloudy conditions expected
• Sunday, April 5 – highs of 12C, lows of 1C. Some cloud and sun expected
• Monday, April 6 – highs of 15C, lows of 8C. Sunny conditions expected

Peterborough

• Friday, April 3 – highs of 16C, lows of 6C. Some light rain expected, with some sun and cloudy conditions
• Saturday, April 4 – highs of 16C, lows of 6C. Cloudy conditions expected
• Sunday, April 5 – highs of 12C, lows of 1C. Some cloud and sun expected
• Monday, April 6 – highs of 15C, lows of 8C. Sunny conditions expected

Ely

• Friday, April 3 – highs of 17C, lows of 6C. Some rain and cloudy conditions are expected
• Saturday, April 4 – highs of 16C, lows of 6C. Cloudy conditions expected
• Sunday, April 5 – highs of 12C, lows of 1C. Some cloud and sun expected
• Monday, April 6 – highs of 15C, lows of 8C. Sunny conditions expected

St Neots

• Friday, April 3 – highs of 16C, lows of 6C. Cloudy conditions
• Saturday, April 4 – highs of 16C, lows of 6C. Cloudy conditions
• Sunday, April 5 – highs of 12C, lows of 1C. Some cloud and sun expected
• Monday, April 6 – highs of 15C, lows of 8C. Sunny conditions expected

Huntingdon

• Friday, April 3 – highs of 16C, lows of 6C. Some light rain expected, with some sun and cloudy conditions
• Saturday, April 4 – highs of 16C, lows of 6C. Cloudy conditions
• Sunday, April 5 – highs of 12C, lows of 1C. Some cloud and sun expected
• Monday, April 6 – highs of 15C, lows of 8C. Sunny conditions expected

Coral Springs Vice Mayor Nancy Metayer Bowen was found dead at home after officers conducted a wellness check, officials said on Thursday.

Her death is being investigated as domestic violence and her husband has been charged with premeditated murder and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, Chief Brad Mock said at a news conference.

Stephen Bowen, 40, is being held at Broward County’s main jail, according to online records and there are no additional suspects, Mock said.

Metayer Bowen, the city’s first Black and Haitian American female commissioner, was elected in 2020 and reelected in 2024 and appointed to serve a second, one-year term as vice mayor in November, according to her biography on the city’s website. She was an environmental scientist and before serving as a commissioner she led environmental justice efforts across Florida with a focus on community resilience.

Metayer Bowen also served as the vice chair of the Florida Democratic Party. In a statement, Party Chair Nikki Fried remembered hugging Metayer Bowen at a leadership summit two weeks ago, “never imagining it would be one of our last moments together.”

An attorney was not listed on Stephen Bowen’s behalf and one responded immediately to messages left by The Associated Press at phone listings for Stephen Bowen and his relatives. A person hung up at one of those phone numbers.

“She loved her community deeply and believed, with every fiber of her being, that a better and more equitable future was possible for all of us,” Fried said. “Above all, Nancy was my friend and a friend to everyone who has ever believed that democracy was worth fighting for. The world is less bright without her in it.”

Metayer Bowen gave much of herself to Coral Springs, which is about 20 miles (32 kilometers) northwest of Fort Lauderdale, City Manager Catherine Givens said at Wednesday’s news conference.

“She wasn’t just a leader. She was the light in every room that she entered. She was a steady voice in difficult times, a compassionate soul who lifted others up and a friend to so many,” Givens said. “Our hearts are truly broken.”

Sole traders and landlords earning more than £50,000 must use new software for quarterly updates to HMRC from April 6

Self-employed individuals and landlords with earnings exceeding £50,000 from self-employment and property are being encouraged to take action immediately, with only days remaining to get ready for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax.

From April 6 2026, those who qualify will be required to use approved software to maintain digital records and submit straightforward quarterly updates of their income and expenditure to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). It is worth noting that these are not additional tax returns.

HMRC is offering a variety of free resources to assist people in getting prepared, including online guidance, webinars and videos. Those who genuinely are unable to use digital tools may apply for an exemption, with further details and guidance available on GOV.UK.

Free software options are on offer and once income and expenditure have been logged, the software produces a straightforward summary to submit to HMRC.

At the close of the tax year on April 5, those within MTD for Income Tax will still be required to file a tax return by the subsequent January 31 — however, the software will already contain the information from the quarterly updates, eliminating any last-minute scramble for records or receipts, reports the Daily Record.

Craig Ogilvie, HMRC’s Director of Making Tax Digital, said: “A range of software is available and the system is straightforward and helps reduce errors. Thousands of volunteers have already used it successfully.

“This will make it easier for sole traders and landlords to stay on top of their tax affairs and help ensure everyone pays the right amount of tax.

“Spreading your tax admin throughout the year means avoiding that last minute scramble to complete a tax return every January. Go to GOV.UK and start preparing today.”

Thousands of sole traders and landlords have already enrolled in MTD for Income Tax, with more than 12,000 quarterly updates successfully submitted via a voluntary testing programme.

Those joining MTD this month will still file their tax return for the 2025 to 2026 tax year in the usual manner by 31 January 2027, as this covers the period prior to MTD commencing.

The first MTD tax return, covering the 2026 to 2027 tax year, will be due by 31 January 2028.

To ease the transition, the government has confirmed that customers joining MTD for Income Tax in April will not receive penalty points for late quarterly updates during the first 12 months.

Under the new system, penalty points will be issued for each late submission, with a £200 fine only applied once four points have been accumulated. This means the occasional oversight will not result in an immediate financial penalty.

HMRC is urging those within the scope of MTD for Income Tax to act promptly: read the guidance, select suitable software and sign up via GOV.UK.

Those who use a tax agent are advised to consult them about getting prepared.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The president of the University of Wisconsin system said in letters obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday that he’s been told to either resign or be fired, but has been given no reason and won’t step aside.

Jay Rothman, president of the multi-campus 165,000-student university system since 2022, said in a letter addressed to the head of the Board of Regents dated March 26 that he’s been given no reason why regents want him to leave.

Rothman said he’s been told that his options are to resign or retire, and that if he doesn’t then the board “was prepared to terminate my employment despite all that has been accomplished.”

The Board of Regents held a closed emergency meeting on Wednesday night to discuss personnel matters.

“The Board is responsible for the leadership of the Universities of Wisconsin and is having discussions about its future,” Amy Bogost, board president, said in a statement to AP. “We don’t comment on personnel matters.”

Rothman declined to comment when reached via email on Thursday.

“I believe my letter speaks for itself,” he said.

In the letter addressed to Bogost, Rothman said he had not been “provided any substantive reason or reasons for the Board’s finding of no confidence in my leadership.”

Because of that, Rothman said, “I am not prepared, as a matter of principle, to submit my resignation.”

Rothman also refused to resign in a second letter sent to two other regents on Wednesday after he said they urged him to step down during a Tuesday meeting. Rothman said the regents told him if he didn’t resign, the board was prepared to meet this weekend to fire him.

Rothman said those regents also could not give a reason for them wanting him to resign or be fired.

“I find this process to be nearly (if not completely) indefensible,” Rothman wrote.

Rothman said he asked for an opportunity to discuss the situation with the board and was told that would not happen.

Rothman’s tenure has been marked by his efforts to increase state funding amid federal cuts, debates over free speech on campus amid pro-Palestinian protests, and declining enrollment leading to eight branch campus closures.

Rothman raised the possibility of resigning in 2023 when the Board of Regents rejected a deal reached with the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature over diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. The board later reversed its vote and approved the deal.

Rothman noted in the March letter that “among so many other things,” the university will need to replace the chancellor of the flagship Madison campus this year. Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin is leaving to take the job as president of Columbia University.

“I do not believe my resignation at this time is in the best interests of either the Universities of Wisconsin or the state of Wisconsin,” Rothman said.

Rothman said in the letter that he has devoted his “heart and soul to the mission of the Universities of Wisconsin” and that he was surprised when told “an unidentified majority of the Board of Regents had lost confidence” in his leadership.

“When I asked you to articulate reasons for the Board’s conclusion and apparent lack of confidence in me, you merely noted that each Regent has his or her own perspective on the matter,” Rothman wrote. “You did not provide any tangible reasons for the Board’s determination.”

Rothman, the former chair and CEO of the Milwaukee-based Foley & Lardner law firm, was chosen as UW president in 2022. He had no prior experience administering higher education.

The Universities of Wisconsin consists of 13 universities and several other branch campuses.