THE YORK BRIEF ⏰ Tuesday, January 13, 2025

✨ Morning, York!

Sombre Tuesday ahead. Inquests opened yesterday into the Withernsea sea tragedy where two drowned trying to save a teenager. A murder trial begins at Leeds Crown Court with both defendants blaming each other. St Denys Road’s shut after a water leak. And an 18-year-old former Heworth resident starts cycling 27,000km back to New Zealand tomorrow from York Minster.

Right then, let’s crack on...

🌤️ WEATHER UPDATE

Overcast with highs of 9°C (feels like 6°C) and lows of 1°C. 50% chance of light rain around 10am, cloudy throughout. Winds 8-10mph from the south. (Met Office)

⚖️ CRIME & COURTS

🔪 York Murder Trial Opens: Both Deny, Both Blame Each Other; Michael Mulvana, 32, and Jobie Tyers, 35, deny murdering Indrit Mustafaj in a Vyner Street bedsit last November. Both accept being present but prosecutor John Harrison KC told Leeds Crown Court each blames the other for the machete attack that killed the 26-year-old and seriously injured two others.

Mr Harrison said the prosecution will show the jury at Leeds Crown Court evidence that in the hours before the attack on November 23, 2024, Mulvana visited Decathlon at Monks Cross and bought clothing that was later found by the police and linked forensically by DNA evidence to both defendants and the deceased.

🚪 Raiders “Batter Door In” At Sophie York Café For Second Time; Burglars smashed through the front door of Sophie York on Lendal Bridge early Sunday morning, stealing cash and causing significant damage. It’s the second time in a year the café has been targeted, and comes ahead of Lendal Bridge closing for two months in April.

🚗 TRANSPORT

🕳️ St Denys Road Closed After Void Opens From Water Leak; Yorkshire Water teams are investigating after a leak caused a void on St Denys Road, shutting the street and forcing East Yorkshire Motor Services to divert routes 747, X45, X46, and X47. Repairs expected to start today. YorkMix

🏘️ HOUSING & DEVELOPMENT

🏗️ Tockwith Airfield: 1,100 Homes, Five Landowners, 13-Year Build; Hallam Land’s secured agreements with five landowners for the massive development that would double Tockwith’s size by 2042. Construction could start 2029 with completion projected for 2042, including a primary school, convenience store, health centre, and sports facilities. YO1 Radio

🎓 EDUCATION

⚽ St Peter’s School Plans Multi-Use Sports Pitch Behind North Parade; The fourth-oldest school in the world wants a MUGA for five-a-side football, basketball, netball, and tennis. Previous flood-lit pitch plans drew 239 objections and were withdrawn in 2022.

🔬 RESEARCH & INNOVATION

🦟 University Plans Shipping Container Labs For Black Soldier Fly Research; Two climate-controlled containers in Car Park G would house insect engineering research for novel food production and waste management. The mobile labs could be relocated overseas for field trials.

🏉 SPORT

🏉 York Knights Learn Challenge Cup Third Round Opponents; Mark Applegarth’s Super League newboys will travel to either amateur sides Wigan St Judes or Leigh Miners Rangers, or Championship outfit Barrow Raiders on the weekend of February 6-8.

⚽ Maynard: Boateng Is City’s “Unsung Hero” After Sutton Win; Stuart Maynard singled out midfielder Hiram Boateng after he scored his first goal in Saturday’s 2-1 win at Sutton that took the Minstermen top of the National League.

“The players like Hiram, they don’t get the true praise that they deserve, but I thought he was an absolute warrior today.” Maynard said.

💰 BUSINESS & ECONOMY

📈 “Cruel Blow”: York Pharmacy, Dentist And Library Face Major Tax Hikes; Business rates are hitting York hard. A city pharmacy, dental surgery and libraries face major tax increases under the new business rates system, according to York’s Liberal Democrats.

🗳️ ELECTION REMINDER

🗳️ Thursday: Heworth By-Election Could Flip The Council; Labour’s one-seat majority hangs in the balance. Six candidates, polls open 7am-10pm, photo ID required.

💔 REGIONAL TRAGEDY

🌊 Inquests Confirm Drowning In Withernsea Sea Rescue Tragedy; Inquests opened Monday into the deaths of Sarah Keeling, 45, and Mark Ratcliffe, 67, who drowned January 2nd trying to rescue Sarah’s 15-year-old daughter Grace after she was swept into the sea at Withernsea. Search continues for Grace. Yorkshire Post

🏺 HISTORY & CULTURE

🪙 Rare 2,000-Year-Old Iron Age Coin Sells For £3,300; A gold coin found by a metal detectorist in East Yorkshire sold for £3,300 at Scarborough auction. The Corieltavi tribe stater from 50-10BC features an unusual fifth dot and is only the second ever found.

🎨 ARTS & EVENTS

🖼️ York Printmakers Mark 10th Anniversary With Rivers Exhibition; The Rivers of York exhibition runs at City Screen until February 7, featuring work inspired by the Foss and Ouse. Special event “Prints and Cake” happens Saturday, January 17, 2pm-4pm.

🧘 January Reset Wellbeing Event At The Ivy York; Women’s network This is Yorkshire Beauty hosts a wellbeing event January 30 at The Ivy designed to help start the year with clarity, calm, and confidence.

🎁 York Residents’ Festival Returns January 31-February 1; Free entry to top attractions, 10% off at Lucy Pittaway and The Potions Cauldron, 50% off guided tours. Pre-booking opens Friday 9 January at 12pm. Show York Card or ID.

🚴 PEOPLE

🌍 Former Heworth Resident, 18, Starts 27,000km Ride Home To New Zealand; George Malcolm sets off from York Minster tomorrow morning (Wednesday, January 14) on an 18-month bike journey across 30 countries back to New Zealand. He lived in Heworth until age three and is raising money for charity Qhubeka.

That’s Tuesday sorted.

Don’t forget Thursday’s Heworth vote - one seat could change everything. St Denys Road commuters, check those bus diversions. And if you’re at York Minster tomorrow morning, you might spot George Malcolm starting his epic 27,000km cycle home.

We’ll be back Wednesday morning with more news. Until then, stay warm and watch for that rain around mid-morning.

Cheers,