Author: James Anderson, FRSA, CMgr MCMI

Connor Norman, 18, was found unconscious on the bathroom floor at a friend’s house. His stepfather attempted to revive him using CPR and paramedics took him to the Norfolk and Norwich. However, doctors discovered he had suffered an irreversible brain injury and he died two days later. An inquest into his death, held at Norfolk Coroner’s Court this month, was told he had started taking cocaine in June 2024, after a relationship ended. Two months later, Connor, from Aylsham, was taken to hospital after suffering a cocaine overdose, but he recovered. Connor was taken by ambulance to Norfolk and Norwich…

DARTS sensation Charlie Manby was given the day off work by his boss after his mega debut at the World Darts Championship. Manby, 20, stunned the Alexandra Palace crowd by defeating Cameron Menzies 3-2. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! Charlie Manby has revealed he got the day off of work from his bossCredit: Shutterstock Editorial On Monday he stunned Ally Pally by beating Cameron Menzies on his debutCredit: Shutterstock Editorial A bricklayer by trade, Manby had thought he would be back on the building site the day after his Monday night appearance. However, Champagne Charlie revealed he…

Three of those were suicides, the meeting at Hove Town Hall was told on Tuesday (December 16), with domestic abuse accounting for more than ten per cent of all recorded crime in the city in 2023-24. In the same year, more than a thousand women were victims of serious sex offences in Brighton and Hove – about 20 a week. And there were 460 cases of stalking – almost ten a week. Some involved violence and, in a growing number of cases, the perpetrators have ended up in court. The sobering figures were presented to Brighton and Hove City Council’s…

Construction’s historic professional institutions are not doing it right, the government has decided As part of wider plans for post-Grenfell regulation of the construction industry, the government has decided that the historic professional institutions can no longer be trusted to regulate their professions – central oversight is required. “While many of those in the sector are already working to high standards, the current system of regulation and oversight is too complex and fragmented to provide public confidence that this is always the case,” the government asserts in its prospectus for the forthcoming Single Construction Regulator. “No single body has a…

ServiceTitan has announced the release its first annual industry report examining how artificial intelligence is being adopted across the skilled trades, finding that contractors are moving quickly to integrate AI into day-to-day operations and view it as a near-term driver of business transformation. The 2025 AI in the Trades Report is based on a survey of more than 1,000 contractors across residential and commercial verticals. The report explores current AI adoption, perceived benefits, barriers to implementation, and where innovation is gaining momentum within field service businesses. AI adoption already underway According to the survey, AI is no longer viewed as…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsThe UK will need to import around 20% more gas from abroad to meet home heating demand if the Government fails to effectively implement policies to drive up heat pump installations, according to analysis.The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) found households could be left more reliant on foreign gas in the 2030s and therefore exposed to volatile prices – such as the peaks seen during the energy…

Kitchens sell houses. They are the heart of the home, the hub of dinner parties and usually the ‘debrief of the day’ meeting room. So what makes a great kitchen? It’s a balance between a warm and inviting design combined with practical efficiency.After judging the kitchens on The Block last week and taking into account what buyers look for in a kitchen, property buyers expert Frank Valentic gives his tips for ensuring great kitchen design. Activity based design: The key to ensuring the practicality of your kitchen is to zone areas of the kitchen based on activities e.g. food preparation, cooking, clean-up etc.…

In this episode, experts voice concern at a get-out clause in government plans for a £500m Landscape Recovery scheme for farmers. We look at the opportunities for growers and livestock producers from Defra’s Environmental Improvement Plan, and ask: is it fatally flawed? How much risk should you accept when chasing high yields? We get to grips with the new Recommended List for cereals and oilseeds. As African swine fever reaches Spain, we examine the impact on UK pig producers. And should we be more optimistic about agriculture? We speak to former NFU president Sir Peter Kendall and “Cheerful” Charlie Ireland,…

“Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links.”Whether it’s a classic log structure or a modern A-frame, cabins of all shapes and sizes evoke a sense of simple rusticity that is best accompanied by a degree of lived-in comfort. While this certainly can be achieved through the right floor plan, it’s the decorative touches that really make a cabin come together. Trust us, you should never underestimate the power of a well-placed pillow or an expertly chosen coat of paint.Below, we’ve rounded up a list of our favorite designer-approved cabin decorating ideas. From…

ONTARIO, CA — Plumbing industry representatives came together last week at state capitols across the United States for a series of Plumbing Industry Days, advocating for policies that improve public health, water quality, and economic sustainability. The events, held in New Jersey, Missouri, Iowa, and Massachusetts, were part of the broader March4Water initiative organized by IAPMO® to celebrate World Plumbing Day (March 11) and World Water Day (March 22) and included legislative proclamations in New Jersey and California declaring March as March4Water Month in both states.  New Jersey Plumbing Industry Day On March 24, plumbing leaders convened at the New…