THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Friday, February 13, 2026

Morning York. The Knights have only gone and done it — beaten the reigning champions on their Super League debut in one of the most dramatic nights the LNER Community Stadium has ever seen. While you were recovering from that, councillors were quietly voting through a 5% council tax hike, five people have died from drugs 500 times stronger than heroin, and York's hospitals are in crisis mode with trolley waits surging 60% in a single month. Oh, and there's snow coming. Right. Let's get into it.

🏉 SPORT

🏆 York Knights 19-18 Hull KR: the night York made Super League history. If you weren't there last night, you'll be hearing about it for years. York Knights - back in Super League for the first time in 40 years - beat reigning champions and treble-winners Hull KR 19-18 in a jaw-dropping opener at a packed, rain-soaked LNER Community Stadium. The Knights, seven of whom were making their Super League debut, opened the scoring through Sam Wood in the 18th minute after Paul McShane's bullet pass. Hull KR fought back to lead 18-6 with 20 minutes left - then Mikey Lewis was sin-binned for a trip on Liam Harris and York turned the game on its head. Wood grabbed his second, Scott Galeano finished a Hingano grubber, Harris converted both, and with four minutes left Ata Hingano slotted a drop goal to send the home crowd into raptures. Head coach Mark Applegarth: "Yes, we proved them all wrong. Seven lads on Super League debuts - they were amazing." It's already being called one of the biggest wins by any promoted club in Super League's 30-year history. York, be proud. Match Report

🏇 York Racecourse ranked #1 in the UK - again - The Knavesmire has retained its top ranking from the Racehorse Owners Association for 2025, scoring 97% across mystery shopper reviews and post-race owner surveys. The racecourse also welcomed a record number of runners in 2025, including its highest-ever overseas entry. Racing returns on May 13.

Chief Executive William Derby: "Owners are the biggest investors in the sport and bring their thoroughbred horses to the Knavesmire for us all to enjoy."

🏛️ POLITICS & COUNCIL

💸 4.99% council tax rise approved — and more pain ahead. York councillors voted through a 4.99% council tax rise and a £187 million spending plan for 2026-27 on Thursday evening. Band D households will now pay £1,817.93 per year (before police, fire, mayoral and parish precepts). The budget includes £10 million extra for adult social care, £2.3 million for council home improvements and £12 million for highway maintenance - but officials warn of £10 million black holes forecast for 2027-8 and 2028-9, with the city set to lose £20 million over three years due to the Government's Fair Funding Review.

🌉 Lendal Bridge delay branded "disinformation" — Labour and Lib Dems clash. The council's decision to push back £3.2 million Lendal Bridge repairs from April 2026 to 2027 has triggered a political row. Lib Dem transport spokesperson Cllr Stephen Fenton says the delay "increases the risk of gridlock" and repeats the costly mistakes of the past. Labour's Cllr Kate Ravilious fired back, saying Fenton "either failed to understand the council's plans or was trying to score cheap political points" — and confirmed the Rougier Route bus gate trial will not run at the same time as any bridge closure. "It is disappointing that the Liberal Democrats are seeking to spread disinformation," she said.

🗳️ Lib Dem Spring Conference coming to York — Tories already in Harrogate. York Barbican hosts the Liberal Democrat Spring Conference on 13–15 March - the party's first visit to the city in years. Fringe events will run at the Novotel Fishergate and Hilton York, bringing hundreds of party delegates into the city. The Conservatives, meanwhile, have been gathering in nearby Harrogate. Good news for York's hospitality trade.

🚨 CRIME & SAFETY

☠️ Five deaths in York and North Yorkshire linked to synthetic opioids 500 times stronger than heroin. Five people have died in York and North Yorkshire after taking nitazenes - synthetic opioids up to 500 times more potent than heroin. Inquest records show two of the deaths were in York (one in 2023, one in 2024) and three in North Yorkshire. North Yorkshire Police recently jailed a Scarborough dealer for 11 years after nitazene samples were seized. The drugs have been linked to hundreds of deaths nationally. Police work with the University of York's Drug Analysis Project to test seized substances and issue public safety alerts.

🪪 Two York drivers fined £2,056 for Blue Badge fraud. York Magistrates ordered two drivers to pay a combined £2,056 for misusing disabled parking badges. Ela Guneri, 20, from Bedford - a student in York - was fined £856.70 after using a stolen badge in Castle Car Park during a Parking Day of Action on 23 May 2025. She told the court she thought displaying it would help the owner find it. York resident Sara Knaggs, 49, of Woodlea Avenue, was found guilty of using a relative's badge to park illegally on Stonebow — she was abusive to a council officer when caught — and ordered to pay £1,199.20. Since 2020, the council has completed 128 investigations into Blue Badge misuse, resulting in nine prosecutions.

"Fraudulent use of Blue Badges undermines this important scheme which helps enable disabled people to travel and supports their independence."

📞 Serial 999 pest sent to Crown Court. York Magistrates have committed Andrew James Peacock, 46, of Alexandra Way, Richmond, to York Crown Court for sentencing after deciding his offences warranted more than the 12-month maximum they could impose. Peacock made 14 fake emergency calls in May last year and seven in June, breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order banning him from contacting emergency services except in genuine emergencies. During the calls he threatened to start fires and cause violence.

🔥 Van fire in Haxby. York and Huntington fire crews attended a van blaze in Haxby at 10.49pm on Wednesday, using one hose reel jet and two breathing apparatus to extinguish the fire. The cause remains undetermined.

🚌 TRANSPORT

🚧 Station Gateway: what's closing and when. If you're heading into the city centre over the next six weeks, here's what you need to know. Night works run 9 pm - 6 am throughout. From 16–17 February: taxis diverted from the main rank during crossing installation in front of the station. From 18–20 February: lane closure on Queen Street at the York RI junction with two-way traffic lights. From 16 March for two weeks: the footpath outside The Milner York hotel closes 24/7 — pedestrians will need to cross at the signalised junction and follow the city wall route. York's first pedestrian countdown crossing timer will be installed as part of the project.

🏥 HEALTH

🛏️ Hospital trolley waits surge 60% in one month. York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has apologised after 759 patients waited more than 12 hours on trolleys in December - up 453 from November, a 60% increase in a single month. The Trust cited significant increases in ambulance attendances and patient complexity. One silver lining: average ambulance handover time in December improved to 22 minutes against a trajectory of 42 minutes.

🎓 EDUCATION

🍳 170,000 free school breakfasts coming to 10 York primaries. Ten more primary schools will join York's Hungry Minds breakfast scheme from the summer term, delivering more than 170,000 free breakfasts over three years, funded by the York Community Fund. The schools are: Haxby Road Primary, Hob Moor Primary, Tang Hall Primary, New Earswick Primary, St Lawrences Primary, Poppleton Road Primary, Woodthorpe Primary, Osbaldwick Primary, Stockton on Forest Primary, and Lakeside Primary. They join Westfield, Burton Green and Fishergate which already run the pilots.

💼 BUSINESS

🚗 Ray Chapman Motors opens its first new brand in 57 years. York's Ray Chapman Motors - a family business established in 1969, known for decades as a Volvo specialist - has opened its first new franchise since the company began. The new Chery dealership at 223 Malton Road, Huntington, built on the former D&J Woodcock Garage site, opened this week attended by Lord Mayor Martin Rowley BEM. It showcases the TIGGO 7, TIGGO 8, and award-winning TIGGO 9 SUVs.

🌿 COMMUNITY & WHAT'S ON

🐀 "Haven for rats" — litter pickers slam Morrisons car park. The Greater Acomb Community Forum has hit out at what it calls "masses" of waste in the Front Street Morrisons car park, claiming gardening staff piled leaf mould on top of litter creating "a very attractive haven for rats." The group had to curtail their monthly litter pick to focus on the site. The car park is council-owned but managed by Morrisons under a 1985 agreement. The forum is calling on the council to provide a staffed waste recycling centre on York's west side.

🤝 Volunteering fair at Priory Street Centre — March 4. York CVS is hosting a volunteering fair at Priory Street Centre on Wednesday 4 March, 2:30–4:30pm. Over 40 stalls from local charities will showcase more than 100 ways to get involved in your community. Free to attend — book tickets to help organisers plan numbers.

🦁 Yorkshire Wildlife Park reopens for 2026. Yorkshire Wildlife Park has reopened for the season with a new look and new animal species. Free entry for children aged 3–15 runs from 14–22 February. Worth a Valentine's weekend trip.

🎭 THINGS TO DO IN YORK TODAY

🎵 Here & Now – The Steps Musical, Grand Opera House. The feel-good touring musical based on the songs of Steps runs until Sunday. Multiple showtimes — check the box office.

🍺 Al Murray: All You Need Is Guv, York Barbican. The Pub Landlord brings his brand-new stand-up show to Paragon Street tonight. 7:30pm.

🎬 SPARK Cinema Club: 13 Going on 30, SPARK:York. Valentine's Eve screening at 17-21 Piccadilly. 7pm. Grab a date or drag your mates.