Latest news with #JamesLewis
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Funding secured for county's £2.1bn tram project
A project to bring trams back to West Yorkshire has received a major funding boost from the government. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that £2.1bn of local transport funding would be allocated to the county. According to West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the grant would mean "spades in the ground" by 2028, with the first trams operating before the mid-2030s. Following the announcement, Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: "It is time for trams. Today is a huge moment for our region." The first phase of the £2.5bn mass transit programme is expected to see the creation of two tram lines. A Leeds line will run from St James's University Hospital through the city centre to the White Rose Centre, while a Bradford Line will connect Bradford and Leeds city centres. Brabin said the funding meant that "other vital projects" could also go ahead, such as new bus stations for Bradford and Wakefield. That would "help us create a better-connected region that works for all", she said. The combined authority is expected to publish its preferred route options for the tram system later this year, with a full public consultation planned for 2026. According to the authority, the scheme would improve local transport for 675,000 people and benefit West Yorkshire's most deprived communities. James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: "Delivering a tram system will transform connectivity across our city, and between Leeds and Bradford, bringing jobs and opportunities within easier reach of thousands of local people." Today's announcement is a big leap forward for those who have long campaigned for trams to return to West Yorkshire's streets. But political leaders will understand voters' scepticism after the failure of two previous schemes. The proposed Supertram network was given the go ahead by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in 2001. Early building work got under way, but the project was cancelled by Transport Secretary Alastair Darling in 2005 due to rising costs. A proposed electric bus system with overhead wires, known as New Generation Transport, was then promised - before it was also axed after a planning inspector ruled it was "not in the public interest". The new tram network – being called a mass transit scheme - is a region-wide proposal serving Leeds and Bradford initially, with the ambition to extend it to other towns and cities in West Yorkshire. The money pledged by government today will allow work to start. But with an estimated cost of at least £2.5bn, additional finance will be needed. Meanwhile, the government has also allocated £1.5bn of local transport funding to South Yorkshire. About £530m of the money is expected to go towards renewing the county's tram network, providing a fleet of new vehicles and modernising tram stops. A £350m cash injection is also expected to see the reform of bus services, with franchised buses operating in Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham by 2027, and across the whole of South Yorkshire by 2029. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard called the investment "game-changing" for communities. "It will mean new and better buses, new electric vehicles, integrated ticketing and better information," he said. "It will mean new trams and better tram stops and lays the foundation for extending the tram network. "It will mean that our young people will be able to get to jobs and opportunities; that we can all access services, see friends and family, or go for a day, or a night out, without worrying how to get home." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Chancellor to announce £15bn for transport projects 'Two thirds' support Leeds to Bradford tram route Plans for West Yorkshire tram system published West Yorkshire Combined Authority
BBC News
04-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Funding secured for West Yorkshire's £2.1bn tram project
A project to bring trams back to West Yorkshire has received a major funding boost from the government. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced that £2.1bn of local transport funding would be allocated to the to West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the grant would mean "spades in the ground" by 2028, with the first trams operating before the the announcement, Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said: "It is time for trams. Today is a huge moment for our region." The first phase of the £2.5bn mass transit programme is expected to see the creation of two tram lines. A Leeds line will run from St James's University Hospital through the city centre to the White Rose Centre, while a Bradford Line will connect Bradford and Leeds city said the funding meant that "other vital projects" could also go ahead, such as new bus stations for Bradford and would "help us create a better-connected region that works for all", she said. The combined authority is expected to publish its preferred route options for the tram system later this year, with a full public consultation planned for 2026. According to the authority, the scheme would improve local transport for 675,000 people and benefit West Yorkshire's most deprived communities. James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said: "Delivering a tram system will transform connectivity across our city, and between Leeds and Bradford, bringing jobs and opportunities within easier reach of thousands of local people." Analysis: Spencer Stokes, BBC Yorkshire business and transport correspondent Today's announcement is a big leap forward for those who have long campaigned for trams to return to West Yorkshire's political leaders will understand voters' scepticism after the failure of two previous proposed Supertram network was given the go ahead by Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott in building work got under way, but the project was cancelled by Transport Secretary Alastair Darling in 2005 due to rising costs.A proposed electric bus system with overhead wires, known as New Generation Transport, was then promised - before it was also axed after a planning inspector ruled it was "not in the public interest".The new tram network – being called a mass transit scheme - is a region-wide proposal serving Leeds and Bradford initially, with the ambition to extend it to other towns and cities in West money pledged by government today will allow work to with an estimated cost of at least £2.5bn, additional finance will be needed. Meanwhile, the government has also allocated £1.5bn of local transport funding to South £530m of the money is expected to go towards renewing the county's tram network, providing a fleet of new vehicles and modernising tram stops.A £350m cash injection is also expected to see the reform of bus services, with franchised buses operating in Sheffield, Doncaster and Rotherham by 2027, and across the whole of South Yorkshire by Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard called the investment "game-changing" for communities."It will mean new and better buses, new electric vehicles, integrated ticketing and better information," he said. "It will mean new trams and better tram stops and lays the foundation for extending the tram network. "It will mean that our young people will be able to get to jobs and opportunities; that we can all access services, see friends and family, or go for a day, or a night out, without worrying how to get home." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Sun
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
The easy decking mistake that means you're laying it wrong and it could cost you thousands, says gardener
WITH summer nearly here, many homeowners are looking to give their garden a glow up ready for the sunshine. A garden deck is the perfect place to pull up a lounger and soak up the rays on a hot day. 3 3 But if it's not installed correctly, it can quickly become slippery and dangerous to use. Poorly laid decking is more likely to warp or rot so you could have to fork out all over again for the job. It could set you back £2,400 or more to replace your decking depending on the size of the area and the type of boards you choose. Garden expert James Lewis, of said there's one extremely common error that can drastically cut the lifespan of your deck. James told The Sun: 'While it might be a bit of an old faithful, it's surprising how often decking is actually installed completely wrong." What's the correct way to lay decking? The landscaping pro has warned that many DIY enthusiasts and even some tradespeople are laying their decking upside down. He said: 'Often even in advertising images you'll see it with the grooves facing up. 'Because of this, so many people who want to build decking areas believe this is the correct way. 'Some also prefer the look of it, and others have the mistaken belief that the grooves facing up will make it less slippery – a common hazard with decking. 'But actually the correct way to install it is with the grooves in the wood facing downwards.' And contrary to popular belief, having the grooves facing up doesn't prevent it from becoming slippery, according to James. In fact, it's the reverse. He said: 'Installing it grooves upwards can risk trapping water and debris, causing your decking to rot. 'If you wish for your decking to last longer, I recommend that you have it installed with the grooves facing down. 'This will allow for better air circulation within your decking and more efficient drying and drainage of its surface.' Some decking has grooves on both sides. In this case it's designed to go with the wider grooves facing downwards and the narrower ones facing up, according to manufacturers. How to maintain decking 3 If you want your deck to last as long as possible, you need to keep on top of algae and grime, according to Mark Irving, an expert at DIY supplier Build & Plumb. Mark said: 'Regularly cleaning your timber decking is crucial for increasing the longevity of your deck and preventing the build-up of dirt. 'I recommend using a specialised decking cleaner for this process and always following the manufacturer's instructions before use. 'However, warm water and washing up liquid is a delicate, but effective solution for removing dirt and stains. 'Always ensure that you rinse your decking thoroughly after cleaning and leave it to fully dry before moving furniture back onto the deck. 'In addition, it's important to apply a good quality deck sealer to the surface of your decking at least once a year. 'This will create a protective layer on the surface of the decking, to prevent moisture penetration and decrease the likelihood of wood rot.' How much does decking cost and how long should it last? The most affordable material is pressure-treated softwood. For an average sized deck, this costs roughly £2,400 in total, including the materials and installation costs, according to Mark. He said: 'Typically, you can expect timber decking to last an average of 15 to 30 years, if it's installed and maintained correctly.' Composite decking, which is made of plastic or synthetic materials, can cost about double the price of wooden boards. But it's designed to last a lot longer. Mark said: 'Composite decking is typically much more weather-resistant than timber decking. 'It requires far less regular maintenance and cleaning than wooden decking. 'Although composite decking does have higher initial costs than timber decking, its lifespan can reach up to 50 years, adding around 20 years onto the lifespan of wooden decking.' How to find gardening bargains Doing up your garden to enjoy on warm and sunny days needn't cost the earth. Sun Savers Editor Lana Clements explains how to get a top deal on items for the garden… You can bag big savings on plants, shrubs and flowers, as well as gardening tools and furniture. Many retailers have flash sales across entire seasonal ranges – often these promotions tie into payday at the end of the month or Bank Holiday weekends, so keep a lookout. Sign up to mailing lists of your favourite brands and you'll be first to know of special offers. It can be worth following retailers on social media too. Use a price comparison site to search out the best value items. And keep a close eye on the specialbuys at Aldi and middle of Lidl drops which drop a couple of times a week and usually mean great value seasonal items for your outdoor areas. If you are not in a hurry to buy an item, try adding it to the shopping cart online and leaving it for a couple of days. Sometimes big brands will try to tempt you into the sale by offering you a discount. And always check if you can get cashback before paying. It's especially worth using sites such as Topcashback, Quidco and app Jamdoughnut when buying bigger ticket items such as garden furniture as you'll get a nice kickback.
CTV News
30-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
B.C. dad credits ‘child life specialists' for reducing trauma of son's cancer treatment
A Vancouver Island dad is praising a group of health-care professionals for protecting his child from some of the trauma associated with cancer. A Vancouver Island father is praising a group of health-care professionals for protecting his child from some of the trauma tied to a cancer diagnosis. Four-year-old Eli Lewis was diagnosed with an aggressive form of leukemia in December. Since then, he has endured chemotherapy, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant. 'Eli kind of saw the hospital as the thing that was causing him harm, which we all know wasn't true,' said his father, James Lewis. The Lewis family lives in Black Creek near Campbell River. They've spent the past 162 days at B.C. Children's Hospital in Vancouver, where Lewis estimates they've encountered more than 100 health-care professionals. Eli is quite taken with one group of hospital workers in particular. 'Even on those days where Eli was really sick in bed and unable to move, having the child life specialist come in and make a baking soda volcano — that would boost his spirits,' Lewis said. B.C. Children's Hospital employs dozens of child life specialists, who help sick kids cope with the stress of hospitalization. They play with young patients and explain complex medical procedures in child friendly ways. 'It is … a relatively newer field,' said B.C. Children's Hospital child life specialist Ashley Tolerton. 'With that awareness, hopefully, will come the opportunity for there to be more child life specialists within more hospitals across B.C. to better support our patients and families in their local communities.' Child life specialists are clinically trained. They must get certified and complete a 600-hour internship after obtaining a bachelor's degree, Tolerton said. 'I'd love to play!' The team talked Eli through his fear of anesthetic, Lewis said 'He would talk about how he didn't like the darkness,' Lewis said. 'Having professionals around to help Eli … come to terms with this and talk about fears and being able to approach him in a constructive manner was really, really nice.' They also helped Eli get comfortable with a port that was put in his chest to administer medication. 'He really had body image issues after that. He didn't like anybody looking at it,' Lewis said. 'They had dolls where they could show Eli and myself and Eli's mom what this is, how the port goes in, how it works, and how it looks.' As the family prepares to leave the hospital on Friday, Tolerton remembers how fearful Eli was when he first got there. 'Now we're at the point where Eli comes and knocks on my door and he peeks his head in … and he goes, 'Ashley?' And he's like, 'I'd love to play!'' she said. Lewis expects his son to make a full recovery. He knows Eli isn't leaving mentally or physically unscathed, but credits the child life team for limiting the hurt his child will carry. 'It really did help us through this to the point where Eli, he's probably going to walk out of the hospital tomorrow and he has nothing but good things to say,' Lewis said. He hopes donors continue to support the program, so more children can experience the care Eli received.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Who Was the Tylenol Serial Killer? Revisiting the Terrifying True Story of Netflix's' Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders'
In 1982, seven people died in Chicago after ingesting cyanide-laced Tylenol James Lewis, who died in 2023, was considered a primary suspect for decades, though he was never charged in connection with the crime In May 2025, Netflix released a docuseries titled Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders, featuring LewisIt's been over 40 years since the Tylenol serial killer triggered a nationwide panic after seven people in the Chicago area ingested poisoned pain medication and were left dead. Over the course of just over 48 hours, victims between the ages of 12 and 35 suffered cardiac arrest immediately after taking Tylenol capsules that had unknowingly been laced with lethal doses of cyanide. As each victim was hospitalized, medical professionals worked around the clock to uncover what had caused their sudden deaths. It was the joint effort of a fire lieutenant, a public health official and an ICU doctor who connected that all the patients had taken the pain killer just before their death. Given their symptoms, the doctor concluded that the victims had exhibited signs of cyanide poisoning, and lab tests quickly proved his theory correct, per the Chicago Tribune. The swift thinking of emergency personnel helped expedite the process to inform the public and save the lives of many other potential victims. But just who was behind the murders was a mystery — and the case remains unsolved to this day. While James Lewis, a man who sent a ransom letter to Tylenol manufacturer Johnson & Johnson shortly after the murders, has been a primary suspect for the past 40 years, he was never charged with the crime. Although he did spend time behind bars for extortion, he maintained his innocence until the day he died in 2023. Now, the Tylenol murders are being revisited in the Netflix documentary Cold Case: The Tylenol Murders, which is currently streaming and features interviews with Lewis. So what happened during the Tylenol murders? Here's everything to know about the crimes and decades-long investigation. In September 1982, numerous people in the Chicago area died under mysterious circumstances over the span of just a few days — and their deaths were eventually linked to Tylenol capsules that had been contaminated with cyanide. The incident led to mass panic from the public surrounding over-the-counter medication. Within hours of contaminated medication being discovered, news spread around the Chicago area. News publications and radio stations extensively covered the poisonings to spread the word before more people could be impacted. Police officers drove through neighborhoods and used bullhorns to tell the public to throw out their Tylenol. Public health officials went door-to-door with flyers. Tylenol was quickly pulled from shelves around Chicago, per the Chicago Tribune, eventually leading to a nationwide recall of Tylenol products. In total, seven people were killed by ingesting contaminated Tylenol, although there may have been other unknown victims. The casualties included a child as well as three members of the same family: Mary Kellerman, 12, Adam Janus, 27, Stanley Janus, 25, Theresa 'Terri' Janus, 20, Mary McFarland, 31, Paula Prince, 35, and Mary Reiner, 27. The first death linked to the Tylenol poisonings was 12-year-old Mary Kellerman, who collapsed at home and was pronounced dead just hours after ingesting a laced capsule, per the Chicago Tribune. Later that day, Adam Janus, a 27-year-old mailman, also died shortly after being hospitalized. His death was initially ruled a heart attack, according to CBS News, but what happened in the days that followed alerted medical professionals that foul play may have been involved. Just hours after Adam was pronounced dead, his brother Stanley and his wife Terri visited his home to begin making funeral plans. Not feeling well, they each took Tylenol capsules from the bottle that had unknowingly caused Adam's death. They both immediately began experiencing chest pains and collapsed. It was Fire Lt. Chuck Kramer who recognized that just that morning, authorities had responded to a similar emergency at the same address. Believing the incidents were linked and could have affected other members of the family, he ordered everyone else in the house to be quarantined at the hospital. He then contacted Arlington Heights' only public health official, Helen Jensen, to begin an investigation into the deaths, per the Chicago Tribune. After interviewing family members, Jensen concluded that all three people had taken Tylenol shortly before their deaths. She later went to the Janus family home and picked up the bottle of Tylenol, realizing that it was a new bottle that had only been used by the three family members. She brought it back to the Cook County medical examiner's office and declared that there must be something wrong with the pills. She was initially ignored. Meanwhile, others were coming to the same conclusion. Dr. Thomas Kim, who was treating the Janus family, told Lt. Kramer that he believed the deaths were caused by something they had all ingested. Later that night, when Lt. Kramer spoke to a firefighter on the scene of Kellerman's death, he learned that the little girl had also taken Tylenol — and they began putting things together. When Dr. Kim learned of the connection, he began brainstorming what could have caused such a sudden onset of symptoms. After consulting with poison experts, he concluded that the effects of cyanide matched up with the victims' sudden cardiac arrest. Unable to run tests at his hospital, he sent two vials of blood from Stanley and Terri to a 24-hour lab via a taxi cab. With the information from Dr. Kim, the medical examiner's office began to look into the Tylenol bottles from the Janus and Kellerman households. With just a smell test, an investigator could tell there was cyanide inside. The county's chief toxicologist began to run tests on the Tylenol capsules and quickly realized that some of the pills contained nearly three times the amount needed to kill someone. Shortly after, lab results confirmed that Stanley and Terri — as well as several other victims — had died from acute cyanide poisoning. No one has ever been charged for the deaths resulting from the tainted medication, and the identity of the Tylenol serial killer remains unknown. However, Lewis has long been considered the primary suspect. In the midst of the investigation surrounding the contaminated Tylenol bottles, authorities uncovered that Lewis had sent a ransom letter to Tylenol's parent company, Johnson & Johnson, demanding $1 million in order to 'stop the killing,' according to the Associated Press. He immediately became a suspect in the case. At the time, Lewis was described by police as a 'chameleon,' living across several states and using at least 20 aliases. He worked numerous different jobs, including computer specialist, tax accountant, importer of Indian tapestries and salesman of jewelry, pharmaceutical machinery and real estate, per AP. He also had a history of trouble with the law. Several years prior to the poisonings, he had been accused of murdering and dismembering Raymond West, who had been one of his accounting clients. The charges were ultimately dropped because West's cause of death was not determined and some evidence had been illegally obtained. Then, in 1981, Lewis was convicted of mail fraud as part of a credit card scheme, using the name of a former tax client to illegally obtain 13 credit cards. Around that time, he also sent a letter to then-President Ronald Reagan, threatening to kill him with a remote-controlled plane, per UPI. Given his troubled past and his letter to Johnson & Johnson, authorities began an intensive investigation into Lewis's involvement in the crime. Lewis was never convicted of murdering the seven people who died after ingesting the contaminated medication, but remained a primary suspect for the majority of his life. During early interviews with Lewis, he denied involvement in the poisonings but confessed to writing the extortion letter to Johnson & Johnson. The letter referenced how 'easy' it could be to contaminate medication and said it could take him 'less than 10 minutes per bottle.' While he did not admit to contaminating the Tylenol, he did offer an explanation as to how he believed the crime took place. He told authorities that the culprit was likely to have bought the Tylenol and then later added the cyanide and returned the bottles to store shelves. In the years that followed, he said he offered the explanation because he was treating the investigation as he would a business situation. 'I was doing like I would have done for a corporate client, making a list of possible scenarios,' he told AP in 1992. He called the killer 'a heinous, cold-blooded killer, a cruel monster.' Lewis was not able to be linked to the tainted bottles through forensic testing, and he could not be placed in Chicago at the time of the crime. Despite the suspicion surrounding him, there was not enough evidence to convict Lewis. He was never charged with murder but did go to trial on charges of extortion stemming from the ransom letter he wrote to Johnson & Johnson. In June 1984, he was convicted of extortion and sentenced to 10 years in prison, per The New York Times. Over the past four decades, authorities have continued to investigate the Tylenol serial killer case. On several occasions, they have come up with leads, with many seemingly pointing back to Lewis. Around 2007, further investigation was prompted by authorities who wanted a 'complete review of all evidence developed in connection' with the poisonings with the benefit of advances in forensic technology. During an undercover sting operation, Lewis confessed that it had taken him three days to write the extortion letter, per the Chicago Tribune. Using advanced technology, investigators were able to uncover that the letter had an Oct. 1, 1982, postmark — meaning that Lewis began writing the letter before news of the poisoned Tylenol was made public. When Lewis was presented with the information, he recanted his statement, claiming to have a 'faulty memory.' In the years that followed, the FBI met with or had phone conversations with Lewis at least 34 times, according to CBS News. The FBI also obtained fresh samples of his DNA and fingerprints, but they did not match any of the DNA recovered on the contaminated bottles. Authorities also raided Lewis' suburban Boston condo and storage locker, seizing a laptop among other items. They also collected a poison handbook that Lewis had in his home prior to moving to Chicago in 1981, per the Chicago Tribune. Investigators even found Lewis' fingerprints on pages that discussed how much cyanide would be needed to kill someone. Lewis continued to deny his involvement in the crime, and authorities were unable to charge Lewis with murder. In July 2023, Lewis died at the age of 76. Police in Cambridge, Mass., told PEOPLE that Lewis was found unresponsive in his home and was pronounced dead shortly after. 'Following an investigation, Lewis' death was determined to be not suspicious,' police added. After the news was made public, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeremy Margolis, who had prosecuted Lewis for extortion, told the Chicago Tribune and CBS News Chicago that he 'was saddened to learn of James Lewis' death' — not because of the death itself but because Lewis 'didn't die in prison.' However, before his death, Lewis was interviewed for the 2025 Netflix docuseries about the case. He continued to deny his involvement in the poisonings, saying, "They make it look like I'm the world's most horrible, dangerous person ever ... and I wouldn't hurt anybody." Read the original article on People
