Latest news with #AndrewJones
BBC News
14-07-2025
- BBC News
Carmarthenshire family urge new law on destroying remains
A family of a murdered man who were only given a small amount of his remains to bury are calling for desecrating a body to become its own crime. Michael O'Leary, known as Mike, was murdered in 2020 by his friend Andrew Jones in Carmarthenshire, who then burnt his body. Mr O'Leary's sister, Lesley Rees said the family will have to accept that they will never know what Jones did with the remains. The family are one of several meeting the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) later in an attempt to make desecrating a body its own criminal offence. Jones shot Mr O'Leary, a 55-year-old father-of-three, in January 2020, after discovering he was having an affair with his wife. He lured Mr O'Leary to his remote farm in Concoed, near the village of Cwmffrwd, and shot him with a .22 Colt rifle. He then took the body back to his home where he burned Mr O'Leary's body on a pile of wooden pallets. All forensic experts found of Mr O'Leary was a 6cm (2.4in) piece of intestine in an old oil barrel. Jones was convicted of murder and is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum of 30 years. Ms Rees said: "When you lose someone to a murder it's difficult enough as it is, but to not have their body to kiss goodbye to or say farewell to, is a totally different experience."Certain countries like Germany and America have these laws already. I think it's about time we had it in this country."It's devastating. We had 6cm of Mike's lower intestine to bury and that's all we have at the grave, which is horrific."We will never know what he's done with the rest of the remains. As a family, we've to accept we'll never know what else he did." Along with the families of other victims whose bodies were destroyed, Mr O'Leary's relatives are backing Helen's Law Part Two: Stop the Desecration. It calls for the reform of ancient burial laws and making desecrating a body its own offence. Helen's Law, introduced in January 2021, was named after Helen McCourt, 22, who was murdered in Merseyside in 1998 by pub landlord Ian Simms. He never revealed the location of her body. As a result of the law, parole judges must take a failure to disclose information from killers into account. The families of Sarah Everard, 33, who was murdered by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, and April Jones, five, from Machynlleth, Powys, also support the expansion of Helen's Law. Ann Davies, Plaid Cymru MP for Caerfyrddin, said Helen's Law Part Two would be an "essential step" in showing such cruelty will never be tolerated. "Some families will never know what happened to their loved ones and will be haunted by unanswered questions and the absence of closure for the rest of their lives," she said. She added: "At the end of the day, today's meeting is about the families. They are the ones who continue to suffer the unimaginable trauma of not knowing what happened to their loved ones."
San Francisco Chronicle
02-07-2025
- Business
- San Francisco Chronicle
California wrote off this red wine. But now it's staging a comeback
Of all the famous European grape varieties that grow in California, the most maligned is arguably Sangiovese. In Italy, this red grape forms the base of beloved wines like Chianti, Brunello and Super Tuscans. But in California, it's been a long time since anyone took Sangiovese seriously. As part of a poorly executed Cal-Italian movement in the '80s and '90s, Sangiovese produced a series of uninspiring, overblown wines that then convinced a generation of winegrowers it wasn't suited to California soil. But now, a Sangiovese movement is afoot, and it looks nothing like the Cal-Ital crusade of a previous era. Attracted by the grape's resiliency in hot climates, winemakers are planting this Tuscan variety in new areas and with newly available plant material. They see in Sangiovese the potential for a fruity but serious wine — not too heavy, but also more structured than 'the fruit punch style that's all the rage these days,' said Andrew Jones, owner of Field Recordings Wine in Paso Robles. This time around, California's Sangiovese producers aren't merely trying to mimic Italian Brunello. They're creating a rainbow of styles all their own. Some of the new Sangioveses are classic expressions, showing the grape's signature red cherry, dusty leather and rustic tannin, but others are light, carbonic and wild. It's a roster that encapsulates the freedom of California winemaking in 2025. Not Cal-Ital. Just Cal. Today's Sangiovese swell is much subtler than the last. In the '80s, wine pundits loudly heralded Sangiovese as the next Merlot, which was beginning to fall out of favor after a wave of popularity. Growers had gotten greedy, planting too much Merlot and farming for yields, not quality. 'Merlot was becoming insipid plonk, and the big wine companies were saying let's steer the Merlot drinker into Sangiovese,' said Peter Stolpman, partner at Stolpman Vineyards in Santa Barbara County. It fit the bill. Sangiovese falls somewhere between medium- and full-bodied, with bright, red fruit flavors and earthy notes — tobacco, potpourri or licorice. Like many Italian grapes, Sangiovese has an appetizing bitterness, accentuated by its toothsome, astringent tannins. In the tradition of amaro and Campari cocktails, it implores a bite of salty food. If drinkers were looking for a wine that had some heft but much more complexity than the cheap Merlot that had flooded the market, this was it. The high-end wineries Dalla Valle, Shafer and Antinori planted Sangiovese in Napa Valley's mountains, and other celebrated Napa winemakers like Heidi Peterson Barrett and Mia Klein started working with the grape. But with the exception of Antinori — the California arm of Italy's most famous wine company — all of those Napa houses eventually gave up on Sangiovese. 'Few think it will ever live up to its promise as the next Merlot,' wrote Wine Spectator critic Tim Fish in 2004. 'Put simply, wineries haven't yet been able to produce consistently compelling wines.' Part of the problem was that many California producers in the '90s, and not just those in Napa, were treating the grape as if it were Cabernet Sauvignon. But Sangiovese doesn't always take well to California Cab levels of new oak — it can be a sponge for those toasty-vanilla flavors — and much of its interesting character leeches out when it's picked too ripe. 'They did exactly what they were going to do to Merlot with Sangiovese — overcropped it, then they'd blend in Merlot and Zin to make it more Californian,' Stolpman said. 'It became an alternative to the Merlot that no one wanted to drink anymore.' Stolpman Vineyards was one of the few that didn't give up. After becoming infatuated with Brunello on an extended work trip to Rome, Peter Stolpman's father planted 10 acres at his estate in Santa Barbara County's Ballard Canyon in 1994. Following the Italian tradition of long aging, the Stolpman Sangiovese spent 30 months in barrel, in part to soften its tannins. They hired the famous Tuscan winemaker Alberto Antonini as a consultant. The estate Sangiovese was a tough sell for restaurants, and Stolpman made very little of it, but it found a devoted fan base. From the beginning, it's been Stolpman's wine club's best seller. Then in 2013, the restaurant 2 Amys in Washington, D.C. asked Stolpman to make a 'chillable pizza wine ' that could be served out of a keg. The Stolpman team had already been talking about making a second version of Sangiovese; their winemaking style had been growing gentler, with less oak and lighter extractions. So they decided to make an 'uncrushed Sangiovese,' as Stolpman put it, using carbonic maceration — an alternative fermentation process that can result in a light wine with candied-fruit and bubblegum flavors. They called it Stolpman Carbonic Fermentation Sangiovese and slapped a makeshift label on it. It sold like crazy, 'even with a horrible label and name,' Stolpman said. The next year, they put more thought into it, giving it a new name — Love You Bunches — and designing a fun label using the vineyard manager's handwriting. Love You Bunches was an early runaway hit in the now-dominant chilled red category. Few could have predicted that it would also become a harbinger of the Sangiovese revolution that was to come — especially since many people drinking Love You Bunches have no idea what grape it's made from. A decade later, the Love You Bunches school of Sangiovese is just as prevalent in California as classically Italianate versions. There are the translucent fuchsia renditions, many of them tutti frutti thanks to carbonic maceration, of producers like Union Sacre, Coquelicot, Margins and Neighborhood Winery. Several producers working with Mendocino County's Fox Hill Vineyard — Broc, En Cavale, Ruth Lewandowski — produce Sangioveses with a downright feral quality. Italy's most famous Sangioveses come from the Brunello and Chianti Classico, and many of today's best California Sangios — like those from Reeve, Disko, Rootdown and High Camp — recall those Tuscan regions. But the muses that inspire California extend beyond Tuscany. Some natural winemakers' bottlings feel akin to the wines of Lazio's zero-intervention winery Le Coste, which macerates the grape juice with its skins for a prolonged period, or even to the fizzy Sangioveses common in Emilia-Romagna. All of these expressions — but primarily those of winemaker Giovanna Morganti, of Chianti Classico's Podere Le Boncie — were in Thomas DeBiase's mind when he started his Jupiter label in 2020. Sangiovese was the driving force: The word is derived from the Latin sanguis jovis, 'blood of Jupiter.' 'It was always Sangiovese,' said DeBiase, who is also the operations director of Idlewild Wines in Healdsburg. 'It's the wine that scratches all the boxes — hedonistic, cheerful red fruit, but there's so much structure that it can be really serious.' Jones, of Field Recordings, plays across the stylistic spectrum. He originally sought out Sangiovese when he was making a canned wine called Antipasto, looking to the carbonic Sangiovese (since discontinued) of Santa Barbara County's Piedrasassi as a model. He loved it so much that he planted multiple clones of Sangiovese at his Paso Robles vineyard. Now, Jones produces a carbonic, chillable Sangiovese (Freddo), a denser expression (Loomis No. 3) made from a Corsican Sangiovese clone called Nielluccio, and a Cabernet-Merlot-Sangio blend (Fiasco) intended as an ode to old-school Chianti. California Sangioveses to try For anyone new to California Sangio, here are a few bottles to start with. Disko Sangiovese Oak Savanna Vineyard Santa Barbara County ($28). This refreshing wine from winemaker Sean Hogan, also the assistant winemaker at Coquelicot Estate Vineyard, has all of Sangiovese's best qualities: tart cherry, rustic tannins, a whiff of fresh forest floor and just enough bitterness to stay interesting. High Camp Estate Sangiovese Paso Robles ($40). A floral, dewy-smelling wine with bright, candied-fruit flavors. Rootdown Sangiovese Jane's Vineyard Mendocino County ($36). A juicy, medium-bodied wine with a hint of Luxardo cherry. Reeve Bosco Sangiovese Chalk Hill ($40). Of the three Sangios made by Reeve, this is the most lithe. It's a Chianti-esque expression, with a denser palate that's still light on its feet. White flowers, pepper, raspberry preserves and dusty tannin. Union Sacre Chipie Carbonic Sangiovese Paso Robles ($52). This wine bears the marks of carbonic maceration, tasting like strawberry candy with an extremely delicate weight. The winery makes another carbonic Sangiovese that's also quite tasty. Wildflower Sangiovese Los Olivos District ($32). This Santa Barbara County wine recalls Gamay in its mix of earthy, floral and red-fruit aromas, with a resounding brightness and some lightly chewy tannins. He sees Sangiovese as better suited to the warm, dry climate of Paso Robles than more commonly planted varieties, like Cabernet. 'These Italian grapes are so much more adapted to the heat and the changing growing conditions,' he said. 'The Italians were very good at choosing grapes that are economical to farm, that are relatively fruitful while keeping high quality.' What Jones appreciates about Sangiovese are its 'grandparent flavors': dirty cherry, cigar box, sometimes even a hint of a musty attic. He's discovered that he's not the only one. 'The surprising thing about the grandparent flavors — I'm always surprised that the younger drinkers are into it.' It's Sangiovese for a whole new generation.
Daily Mirror
16-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Asda announces major change to 180 cafes starting this month
The upgrades in Asda cafes will include digital ordering screens and table ordering service, alongside a new menu which will include pizza options and other items Asda has announced plans to refurbish 180 of its in-store cafes as part of a £180million investment. The upgrades will include digital ordering screens and table ordering service, which will be available alongside manned tills. A new menu will also be introduced with new dishes including smashed avocado on toast, katsu chicken curry, topped salad bowls, wraps and a new sharing range that includes nachos and loaded fries. Asda pizzas will also become part of the new menu with customers able to choose a full 12" pizza or individual slices, including margherita, pepperoni, American sizzler, spicy chicken, meat feast, ham and mushroom or veggie supreme. New drinks added to the menu include flavoured iced coffees, as well as a selection of cakes. Old favourites such as full English breakfast, fish and chips, lasagne, jacket potatoes, burger and chips will still be on the menu. The refurb, led by partner Compass Group will begin this month and is expected to be completed by the end of October. Asda has confirmed its popular Kids Eat for £1 deals will remain available. Some of the options for children include penne pasta with meatballs and a vegan hidden veg pasta meal, alongside fish fingers, chicken nuggets and the all-day breakfast. Ian McEvans, Vice President of Commercial Food at Asda, said: 'Cafes are an important part of the shopping experience for many of our customers, and this significant investment alongside allows us to bring a new look and feel, as well making improvements to the service and a refresh of the menu. 'We have continued to demonstrate our commitment to our cafes over the years with popular deals like the Winter Warmer and Kids Eat for £1 meal deals, and this investment marks another exciting milestone moment for us on our journey and underpins our continued commitment to ensuring Asda is set up for long term success at the heart of communities.' Andrew Jones, Managing Director, Compass Group added: 'It's great to continue our longstanding partnership with Asda, expanding to work across more stores and enhancing the offer with a significant rebrand and investment. The upgrade programme is set to introduce new technology, menu innovations and a new look and feel within the cafes. We look forward to getting started and our continued work together to serve the Asda customer.' It comes after Asda opened its first stand-alone George concept store in Leeds. The shop features George clothing, home and garden ranges from the supermarket and is located in the Crown Point Retail Park. Asda wants to replace all its existing Asda Living stores with this new format. Highlights include the George Spring/Summer 2025 collection, as well as children's ranges from Erica Davies and Billie Faiers, plus the latest At Home with Stacey Solomon Spring/Summer collection.
Otago Daily Times
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Battling Nuggets fade again in final stretch
See previous match reports. They are basically all the same this season. The Otago Nuggets battled hard then faded in the final stretch against [insert name]. Last night it was Nelson Giants who pulled away late to record a 94-82 victory on their home court to help keep their playoff prospects alive. It was the Nuggets' 12th consecutive loss. They only have 35 minutes of good basketball in the tank it seems. The game was in the balance with five minutes to play. The Nuggets had closed to within two points. But they have struggled to keep their composure or match the intensity their opponents have been able to bring when the game has been on the line. The Giants pushed the ball inside to Jeremy Combs for some easy points and they eased away to win by 12. The American power forward bagged a double-double of 25 points and 11 rebounds. Hayden Jones (19 points) hit some clutch shots. Alex Robinson jun joined in with 11 assists, and Andrew Jones added 17 points. Jonathan Janssen led the way for the Nuggets with 26 points and 15 rebounds. Don Carey jun (22 points, eight assists) faded in and out of the game as he does. He was brilliant in patches and invisible in others. Janssen opened the scoring from the free throw line after he strolled past Callum McRae and picked up the foul. Matthew Bardsley drilled a rare three to stun the home team. He seldom takes shots from that range but was left all alone, so he went for it. There were not too many other highlights in the first quarter for the Nuggets. Combs weaved his way to the basket for a bucket despite the Nuggets assigning two defenders. Fellow American Andrew Jones popped in a three-pointer to give the Giants a five-point lead midway through the first. Sam Dempster hit a late three to extend the gap to 25-15 at the end of the period. Carey was rewarded for some hustle early in the second. He cut to the hoop, got the basket and added the extra for the foul. He picked off a steal, lobbed in a step-back three-pointer and threaded a couple of lovely assists through to Josh Aitcheson and Jaylen Sebree. Carey erased all of the margin almost single-handedly in a 14-4 run. Janssen swung in a hook shot to help his side edge in front briefly. But Hayden Jones hit a mid-range jumper to snatch a 43-41 lead at halftime. Andrew Jones swatted away a three-point shot from Sebree and he enjoyed that. So did the crowd. He tossed up an alley-oop to Combs moments later and he slammed it down. McRae proved an easy target under the rim and he dropped a couple more into the cup to help give the Giants a 69-60 lead with 10 minutes remaining. The Nuggets clawed their way back once again. Janssen popped it through the strings for three to lift his tally into the 20s. They pinned the margin back to two points midway through the final stretch. But the drought-breaking victory slipped away leaving only a strong sense of deja vu. The Giants won the Rapid League game 38-26. NBL The scores Nelson Giants 94 (Jeremy Combs 25, Hayden Jones 19) Otago Nuggets 82 (Jonathan Janssen 26, Don Carey jun 22) Quarter scores: 25-15, 43-41, 69-60, 94-82.
Otago Daily Times
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Same script, different opponent for Nuggets
See previous match reports. They are basically all the same this season. The Otago Nuggets battled hard then faded in the final stretch against [insert name]. Tonight it was Nelson Giants who pulled away late to record a 94-82 victory on their home court to help keep their playoff prospects alive. It was the Nuggets' 12th consecutive loss. They only have 35 minutes of good basketball in the tank it seems. The game was in the balance with five minutes to play. The Nuggets had closed to within two points. But they have struggled to keep their composure or match the intensity their opponents have been able to bring when the game has been on the line. The Giants pushed the ball inside to Jeremy Combs for some easy points and they eased away to win by 12. The American power forward bagged a double-double of 25 points and 11 rebounds. Hayden Jones (19 points) hit some clutch shots. Alex Robinson jun facilitated with 11 assists, and Andrew Jones added 17 points. Jonathan Janssen led the way for the Nuggets with 26 points and 15 rebounds. Don Carey jun (22 points, eight assists) faded in and out of the game as he does. He was brilliant in patches and invisible in others. Janssen opened the scoring from the free throw line after he strolled past Callum McRae and picked up the foul. Matthew Bardsley drilled a rare three to stun the home team. He seldom takes shots from that range but was left all alone, so he went for it. There were not too many other highlights in the first quarter for the Nuggets. Combs weaved his way to the basket for a bucket despite the Nuggets assigning two defenders. Fellow American Andrew Jones popped in a three-pointer to give the Giants a five-point lead midway through the first. Sam Dempster hit a late three to extend the gap to 25-15 at the end of the period. Carey was rewarded for some hustle early in the second. He cut to the hoop, got the basket and added the extra for the foul. He picked off a steal, lobbed in a step-back three-pointer and threaded a couple of lovely assists through to Josh Aitcheson and Jaylen Sebree. Carey erased all of the margin almost single-handedly in a 14-4 run. Janssen swung in a hook shot to help his side edge in front briefly. But Hayden Jones hit a mid-range jumper to snatch a 43-41 lead at halftime. Andrew Jones swatted away a three-point shot from Sebree and he enjoyed that. So did the crowd. He tossed up an alley-oop to Combs moments later and he slammed it down. McRae proved an easy target under the rim and he dropped a couple more into the cup to help give the Giants a 69-60 lead with 10 minutes remaining. The Nuggets clawed their way back once again. Janssen popped it through the strings for three to lift his tally into the 20s. They pinned the margin back to two points midway through the final stretch. But the drought-breaking victory slipped away leaving only a strong sense of deja vu. The Giants won the Rapid League game 38-26. NBL Nelson Giants 94 (Jeremy Combs 25, Hayden Jones 19) Otago Nuggets 82 (Jonathan Janssen 26, Don Carey jun 22) Quarter scores: 25-15, 43-41, 69-60, 94-82.
