THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Thursday, January 15, 2026

✨ Morning, York!

Right then – hope you’ve got your voter ID sorted if you’re in Heworth, because polls are open till 10pm tonight. While you were sleeping, government announced billions for our railways, York College students are prepping for an epic charity walk, and scientists at the University discovered a breakthrough in plant medicines. Let’s get you sorted with what matters today...

🌤️ WEATHER UPDATE

Partly cloudy today with highs around 7°C and lows of 3°C, according to Met Office.

🚆 TRANSPORT & INFRASTRUCTURE

💷 Multi-billion pound boost for Yorkshire rail; Government launched major Northern Powerhouse Rail plans yesterday with faster commutes across Yorkshire first in the 2030s. The first phase prioritizes upgrades between Leeds-Sheffield, Leeds-York and Leeds-Bradford with £1.1 billion for planning and development work starting immediately. Improvements planned for Leeds, Sheffield and York stations will unlock tens of thousands of homes and jobs. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said “the North has been held back by underinvestment for too long” but that “ends now.”

“The exciting improved stations across Leeds, Sheffield, York and Bradford will reflect the prestigious place rail holds in the northern economy, and regenerate vibrant, bustling districts in these cities”

🚌 840 Coastliner showcases Yorkshire’s scenic route; The 840 Coastliner bus runs hourly from Leeds and York to the coast, traveling through some of Yorkshire’s most beautiful locations including Malton – the region’s food capital. The route passes Castle Howard, Eden Camp, Flamingo Land, Pickering and the North York Moors before arriving in Whitby. All buses are wheelchair accessible with step-free boarding.

🗳️ POLITICS – HEWORTH BY-ELECTION TODAY

📋 Heworth voters go to polls today; Polls are open from 7am to 10pm today for the Heworth ward by-election, with six candidates vying for the council seat. Labour’s defending its majority of one on the 47-member council after incumbent Labour Cllr Ben Burton stepped down for work. Candidates are Anna Perrett (Labour), Ian Eiloart (Lib Dem), Emma Dolben (Conservative), Ben Ffrench (Green), John Crispin-Bailey (Reform UK), and Emma Hardy (Independent). Results announced tonight at The Centre @ Burnholme. Voters must bring photo ID.

🎓 EDUCATION & UNIVERSITY

🚶 York College students tackle 40-mile charity challenge; First-year Uniformed Protective Services students Billy Hamlyn and Josh Wilson will hike 40 miles from Scarborough Railway Station to York Minster on March 7th for charity. Josh is raising funds for Saint Catherine’s Hospice while Billy supports the MND Association, inspired by rugby legend Rob Burrow. They’re setting off at 5am aiming to arrive by 9pm, and have already raised £430 combined.

Billy said:

I’m raising money for the MND Association because of Rob Burrow. He was a big inspiration for me.

🔬 York scientists discover new way to produce medicines; University of York researchers have shown how plants produce powerful natural chemicals that could help create new medicines more sustainably. The team discovered a plant called Flueggea suffruticosa uses a bacterial-like gene to make securinine, a powerful alkaloid. This breakthrough means scientists can now search for useful natural chemicals in more plants and potentially produce them in labs, reducing environmental impact and the need for harsh industrial chemicals.

🚦 Moorside Primary pupil wins road safety award; Arthur, 10, from Moorside Primary School won first place in a road safety sign design competition organized by Taylor Wimpey North Yorkshire. His winning design will be displayed at the developer’s nearby Fountains Walk development. Ellie, 10, and Lacie-Mai, 11, secured second and third place.

💼 BUSINESS

🏗️ Brown Company opens Edinburgh office; York architects Brown Company are expanding north with a new Edinburgh office as part of their business development plans. The firm is growing its footprint across Scotland.

👟 Deichmann hosting closing down sale; The shoe shop on Davygate is shutting for good with a massive closing sale now on. Stock’s flying off shelves as shoppers grab bargains before it’s gone for good.

🍽️ Cut & Craft closes for makeover; The popular York restaurant has shut temporarily for a three-week renovation. They’re promising a fresh look when they reopen in early February.

📱 Meet Media Events sold; York and Harrogate-based networking company Meet Media Events has been acquired in a business sale. The company organizes networking events across the region.

☀️ Solar farm judicial review rejected; A campaign group’s bid for a judicial review over a solar farm development in North Yorkshire has been rejected, clearing another hurdle for the renewable energy project.

🚨 CRIME & EMERGENCY

🐂 Bull shot dead on railway near Selby; Armed officers had to shoot a bull yesterday after it escaped onto railway lines between Brayton level crossing and Selby station. Police say it was “a last resort” after drones and livestock handlers couldn’t safely contain the animal, which posed a serious risk to trains and passengers. North Yorkshire Police defended the decision, saying tranquilizers would have taken too long to work.

🏥 HEALTH & TECH

🤖 Half of Yorkshire using AI to self-diagnose; New research reveals 49% of Yorkshire residents are turning to artificial intelligence to diagnose their symptoms before seeing a doctor. Long GP wait times and desire for quicker answers are driving the trend, with 56% using AI for symptom checks. Experts warn AI should only be used for initial research, not as a replacement for proper medical advice. The study from Confused.com Life Insurance shows 42% believe AI is quicker than waiting for GP appointments.

"More individuals are taking steps to support their own and their family’s wellbeing, getting ahead of health concerns and addressing situations as quickly as possible.

⚽ SPORT

🥅 York City Ladies chase cup quarter-final; York City Ladies are in cup action this week as they look to secure a quarter-final spot. Manager Dan Jackson said he’s proud of the team’s FA Cup run so far.

🏉 York Knights players join Newcastle; York Knights duo Ukuma Ta’ai and Brenden Santi have joined Newcastle as the Knights continue their season preparations.

🎭 WHAT’S ON

🎬 Banff Mountain Film Festival returns; The acclaimed Banff Mountain Film Festival is coming back to York Barbican on February 11th at 7:30pm. The touring festival showcases stunning adventure films from around the world.

🎨 YorkAOS Kids Open Studios in February; SPARK is hosting YorkAOS Kids Open Studios during February half-term for children aged 5-11. Young artists can get creative in the open studio sessions.

🎵 Pick Theatre staging Next to Normal; The Tony Award-winning musical “Next to Normal” is coming to Grand Opera House. The powerful show tackles mental health themes through compelling music and storytelling.

📽️ Purpleman documentary getting re-release; The beloved documentary about York’s colorful local character Purpleman is set for a re-release later this year. The film captured the story of the eccentric York resident who became a local legend.

That’s your Thursday sorted, York!

Don’t forget to vote in Heworth if you’re in the ward (polls close 10pm), support Billy and Josh’s charity walk fundraising, catch the Banff films before they sell out, and if you’re using AI for health advice, remember it’s no substitute for a proper GP visit. Results from Heworth tonight could change the balance of power at City of York Council.

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