Boxing in 2024 is promising to deliver a sequence of key fights and the big bills keep on coming.
A series of major events is coming up live on Sky Sports.
In the early hours of Saturday morning, Seniesa Estrada and Yokasta Valle will fight for the undisputed minimumweight world championship with Oscar Valdez vs Liam Wilson the co-feature.
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The latest episode of ‘The Gloves Are Off’ featuring Fabio Wardley and Frazer Clarke is available now on the Sky Sports Boxing YouTube channel
The much-anticipated grudge match between British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley and Olympic bronze medallist Frazer Clarke then takes place on Easter Sunday. The bitter rivals collide at London’s O2 Arena on March 31 live on Sky Sports, with rising star Ben Whittaker and much more on the bill.
American heavyweight hope Jared Anderson fights Ryad Merhy on April 14 and May will feature an array of outstanding fights.
Naoyo Inoue puts his undisputed super-bantamweight crown on the line again Luis Nery on Monday May 6.
The following week, on May 11 Olympic gold medallist Lauren Price will challenge Jessica McCaskill for the WBA welterweight world title and on May 12 Vasiliy Lomachenko returns to world title action as he fights George Kambosos for the IBF 135lb championship, all live on Sky Sports.
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Heavyweight rivals Frazer Clarke and Fabio Wardley will fight for the British and Commonwealth titles on Sunday March 31
On May 18, Sky Sports Box Office will screen the Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk undisputed heavyweight championship fight.
On May 19, Emanuel Navarrete takes on Denys Berinchyk for the vacant WBO lightweight world title and May 24 Lawrence Okolie comes back to challenge Lukasz Rozanski for the WBC bridgerweight belt, both live on Sky Sports.
The key upcoming fights:
Saturday March 30
Desert Diamond Arena Arena, Glendale, live on Sky Sports
Seniesa Estrada vs Yokasta Valle (Undisputed minimumweight)
Oscar Valdez vs Liam Wilson
Sunday March 31
O2 Arena, London, live on Sky Sports
Fabio Wardley vs Frazer Clarke (British & Commonwealth heavyweight)
Ben Whittaker vs Leon Willings
Florian Marku vs Chris Kongo
Viddal Riley vs Mikael Lawal
Sunday April 14
American Bank Center, Texas, live on Sky Sports
Jared Anderson vs Ryad Merhy
Efe Ajagba vs Guido Vianello
Monday May 6
Tokyo Dome, Japan, live on Sky Sports
Naoya Inoue vs Luis Nery
Saturday May 11
Cardiff International Arena, live on Sky Sports
Jessica McCaskill vs Lauren Price
Sunday May 12
Perth, Australia, live on Sky Sports
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs George Kambosos (IBF lightweight)
Saturday May 18
Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, live on Sky Sports Box Office
Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk (Undisputed heavyweight)
Sunday May 19
Pechanga Arena San Diego, live on Sky Sports
Emanuel Navarrete vs Denys Berinchyk (WBO lightweight)
Saturday May 24
Podpromie Arena, Rzeszow, Poland, live on Sky Sports
Lukasz Rozanski vs Lawrence Okolie (WBC bridgerweight)
This is The Marshall Project’s Closing Argument newsletter, a weekly deep dive into a key criminal justice issue. Want this delivered to your inbox? Subscribe to future newsletters here.
Last October, students at Northwestern University near Chicago wrapped a parody article imitating their student newspaper around hundreds of copies of the real publication. The fake front page led with the headline: “Northwestern complicit in genocide of Palestinians.”
The parody touched a nerve with many in a country where the war between Israel and Hamas and the ensuing humanitarian toll in Gaza have created an inflection point, both personally and professionally.
Furor over the article was swift and spread far beyond the campus. In response, the university police filed charges against the two students behind the production, accusing them of “theft of advertising services,” a high-level misdemeanor that carries a potential prison sentence. The charge is seldom used in Cook County, reporters found, and was originally intended to prevent the Ku Klux Klan from inserting recruiting materials in newspapers.
The office of the Cook County State’s Attorney, whose jurisdiction includes Chicago and its suburbs, dropped the charges earlier this month. I spoke with State’s Attorney Kim Foxx about how her office handled the case.
While lawyers in her staff review all felony cases before filing charges in court, Foxx said misdemeanors bypass this process. In misdemeanor cases, the law enforcement agency can file directly to court, and prosecutors may not see the details until then. That’s what happened in this case, Foxx said.
Foxx told me she views the Northwestern case as a First Amendment and free speech issue, in which charges should not have been filed. She said she found the situation frustrating.
“The suggestion that these two students should be treated in the same vein as someone who is causing harm to community because they’ve chosen to do parody as a form of protest — is an insult to the criminal legal system,” Foxx said. She added that the case was a prime example of unnecessarily bringing matters into the criminal justice system.
In case you’re unfamiliar with spicy humor, here’s a quick breakdown. Parody, as with the case of the Northwestern students, is an attempt to imitate someone or something in an exaggerated manner for comedic effect. Satire often employs comedy to criticize behavior — it’s meant to have more of a pointed bite than parody alone.
Last summer, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals sided with a Louisiana man who made a Facebook post in early 2020 saying his local sheriffs’ department had orders to shoot people with COVID-19 on sight. Waylon Bailey’s post included a hashtag referencing a zombie movie starring Brad Pitt.
The Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested Bailey, without a warrant, on “terrorizing” charges. Bailey sued, saying his arrest violated his First Amendment and Fourth Amendment rights — free speech and protection from unlawful search and seizures. The Fifth Circuit overturned a lower court’s ruling that Bailey’s post was unprotected speech.
But not all court cases arguing that jokes are free speech have the same conclusions.
In 2016, Ohio resident Anthony Novak created a Facebook page named after his local police department and began making satirical posts, including a claim about an available job posting that excluded minority applicants. The police department arrested Novak, jailed him for four days and searched his apartment.
Novak sued, arguing that his First and Fourth Amendment rights were violated. But a lower court granted the police officers involved in Novak’s ordeal qualified immunity, which protects government officials — including police — from lawsuits alleging rights violations unless those rights are “clearly established” under the law.
“Americans can be put in jail for poking fun at the government? This was a surprise to America’s Finest News Source and an uncomfortable learning experience for its editorial team,” wrote the publication’s head writer, Mike Gillis.
He went on to explain how the lower court’s interpretation of parody could be harmful.
“The court’s decision suggests that parodists are in the clear only if they pop the balloon in advance by warning their audience that their parody is not true. But some forms of comedy don’t work unless the comedian is able to tell the joke with a straight face,” the brief reads. “Parody is the quintessential example. Parodists intentionally inhabit the rhetorical form of their target in order to exaggerate or implode it — and by doing so, demonstrate the target’s illogic or absurdity.”
We’ve got exciting news to share—the Wit & Delight Creator Drop is here! We teamed up with Etsy seller Willow Shipfor this limited-edition collection of cocktail napkins, dinner napkins, placemats, and table runners. I’ve had to keep this a secret for months, and it’s been killing me not to share it! I am so proud of what we made together.
This collection draws inspiration from vintage textiles and feminine detailing, offering a unique blend of nostalgic charm and modern sophistication. The collection features four pieces: cocktail napkins, dinner napkins, reversible placemats, and table runners. They are handmade and printed in Portland, Oregon, and feature beautiful block print designs created by Willow Ship.
When we set out to design this collection, I thought about what was missing from my linen closet. I have been drawn to classic prints like a cabana stripe and windowpane print, and I wanted to create a classic look with an updated modern twist. I love the mix of patterns and the way they infuse a burst of energy when combined with other prints.
The Wit & Delight Creator Drop is exclusively available on Etsy for a limited time, from August 15 through September 13. We are so proud to partner with Willow Ship for this Creator Drop, and we can’t wait to see how you style it in your home. The collection is available for a limited time only, so don’t miss out!
These products make great gifts for the host in your life. And, you know what? They’ll upgrade your linen closet, too. We designed each piece to stand alone and bring a bit of vintage charm to your existing collection. I know I’ll be using these pieces for all my holiday gatherings this year!
Editor’s Note: This post is sponsored by ETSY. The compensation we receive in exchange for placement on Wit & Delight we use to purchase props, hire a photographer, write/edit the blog post, and support the larger team behind Wit & Delight.
While we receivecompensation in exchange for coverage, all thoughts and opinions are always my own. Sponsored posts like these allow us to continue to develop dynamic unsponsored content. Thank you for supporting our partners!
Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
Last month I asked our Wit & Delight Instagram audience to share their gardening and landscaping questions with us. Well, friends, do I have answers. I was fortunate enough to speak with Jessie Jacobson, the owner and landscaping and gardening expert over at Tonkadale Greenhouse, one of my favorite places to visit. (Tonkadale is also the driving force behind my recent front yard update!). Jessie was kind enough to share some of her expertise in answering your top landscaping and gardening questions.
General Gardening Tips
Q: What is the #1 piece of gardening advice you wish people knew OR the #1 mistake you see most often?
A: Let’s not call them mistakes. Your intention is to plant plants and that is never a mistake. We definitely see gardeners get discouraged by trying to do too much at once. It’s always important to rely on the experts at your local garden center to make sure you plant the right plants for your location, amend your soil at the time of planting, and continue to water newly planted perennials, trees, and shrubs until the ground freezes solid in the fall.
Always remember, the joy is in the journey. Gardening is a thing you do over time—you learn as you go, gaining momentum from small successes.
Q: Will all plants bloom again if I prune after flowering?
A: No, not necessarily. Some perennials will give a second flush after pruning, but this is not the case with most. Plant a mix of perennials with early, mid, and late bloom times to ensure you always have color. Leave pockets for annual plants which provide flower power all season long!
Q: What are the hardest plants to kill?
A: This really depends on the application. Plants that are planted in the right location will thrive with proper planting and care during their first year of establishment. The easiest way to kill plants is to not provide enough water, especially after planting. From here, we can deduce that drought-tolerant plants are the hardest to kill! Perennials that tolerate drought include ornamental grasses, alliums, milkweed, echinacea, and many more. Check out this list of drought-tolerant plants!
Q: What are your tips for planting container gardens?
A: These are my main tips for thriving container gardens:
Always start with rich, organic potting soil.
Choose your foliage first. This provides the architecture for your design and provides color and interest even when flowering plants cycle in and out of color.
Water, water, water.
Fertilize with a bloom booster fertilizer at least weekly.
Deadhead spent blooms and don’t be afraid to pinch and trim overgrown plants throughout the season.
Q: How do I plant a garden that looks professional without professional help?
A: Visit your local garden center and take advantage of their resources and customer service. Before you go, consider your answers to these questions:
What do you want your garden to do for you or the environment?
Are you interested in curb appeal/increased property value, energy conservation, cut flowers, entertaining, cooking, or planting for pollinators and songbirds?
How much time do you want to spend in the garden each week and each season?
What type of planting style do you prefer?
Do you like cottage, contemporary, wild, or manicured gardens?
Generally speaking, I’d recommend starting with a small area, planting in multiples, choosing a color palette, varying bloom time, bloom size, and bloom shape, mixing perennials, trees, and shrubs, including evergreens, and leaving pockets for annuals and herbs.
Q: I have plants picked out but don’t know how to design a layout for the best visual impact. What is your advice?
A: Here’s what I suggest:
Plant in mass, as this approach has the most visual impact.
Group like plants together.
Plant more of each variety, and fewer varieties in total.
Make sure to include trees, shrubs, and evergreens in your plan. Single specimens offer a place for your eyes to rest.
Consider adding sculptural elements like a path or a well-placed boulder.
Q: Hydrangea care! Are hydrangeas worth the investment?
A: Hydrangeas are always worth the investment! We have an amazing blog post, “All About Hydrangeas,” to answer all of your hydrangea questions!
Trees
Q: What are the best small trees to plant beside my home?
A: Trees planted near the home are considered foundational plantings. Trees and shrubs soften harsh architectural lines and can provide shade and insulation which promotes energy efficiency. Trees or shrubs planted close to the house should be smaller in stature, complementing the design of the house while not blocking windows or interesting features. Here is a list of trees and shrubs to consider:
Serviceberry, specifically “Standing Ovation” or “Autumn Brilliance”
Hydrangea bushes or standards
Smaller evergreens (Look for the word dwarf or compact, or try Golden Hinoki False.)
Cypress
Golden Duke Eastern Hemlock
Eastern redbud
Pagoda dogwood
Viburnum
Lilacs, including Bloomerang, Miss Kim, Tiny Dancer
Japanese maples
Ginkgo Jade Butterfly
Smoke bush
Azalea/rhododendron
Purple Leaf Sand Cherry
Some crabapples
Magnolia
Boxwood
Elderberry
Q: How do I know what to prune from mature trees and shrubs?
A: I’m not an expert on pruning trees, but I do know a bit about pruning shrubs. Here are the basics of pruning shrubs.
Pruning is done to improve the shrub’s appearance and help maintain its natural or manicured form, promote new growth, branching, and flowering, and promote overall plant health by improving airflow and removing dead or diseased branches.
New Wood or Old Wood
First, we need to know if our shrubs bloom on new wood or old wood. Shrubs that bloom on old wood set buds for next year at the end of the growing season. Prune these shrubs after flowering to encourage new flower bud formation. These are generally spring or early summer blooming shrubs including lilacs forsythia, mock orange, rhododendron, azalea, weigela, and ninebark.
Shrubs that bloom on new wood form buds on growth during the current growing season and tend to bloom mid to late summer. Prune shrubs that bloom on old wood in late winter or in early spring before the shrub has broken dormancy. Examples include panicle hydrangea, smooth hydrangea, summersweet, smoke bush, and roses.
Note that some newer shrub varieties provide blooms on new and old wood, including varieties of weigela such as the Sonic Bloom series, the Bloomerang series of lilac, and newer continuous blooming varieties of bigleaf hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla).
Pruning Tips
Prune at a forty-five-degree angle right above a node or side branch with a clean, sharp pair of bypass pruners or loppers to ensure a clean and healthy cut. Pruning at an angle will allow water to run off the cut and prevent pooling that may encourage disease.
Prune out any dead, broken, or diseased stems, spent blooms (if desired), rubbing branches, duplicate/parallel branches, and dense growth in the center of the shrub. Keep in mind the overall shape you desire in the process and keep the branches that will help develop or maintain that structure. Do not remove more than one-third of the plant at one time.
Rejuvenation pruning can be done on well-established (at least three years old) shrubs to encourage a flush of healthy new growth, removing the oldest wood down to the ground.
Grass
Q: What is the best/easiest grass and/or plant to start from seed and maintain here in the Twin Cities?
A: Turfgrass is needy. Copious amounts of water and fertilizer are what keep grass looking full and fluffy. At Tonkadale we choose to sell grass seed that is certified by the Turfgrass Water Conservation Alliance. These grass mixes require up to 30% less inputs—less water, less fertilizer, less chemicals, and less mowing. Consider overseeding your lawn with this type of grass seed if you are interested in conservation-friendly turf.
Another option is to plant a bee lawn or native bee lawn mix. The bee lawn mix follows recommendations from the University of Minnesota, combining Dutch white clover, self-heal, and creeping thyme to create a seed mixture that can transform your lawn into a pollinator habitat while maintaining the function and recreation associated with a traditional lawn. The bee lawn seed mixture has been shown to support more than sixty bee species in Minnesota. Bee lawn flower seed can be overseeded into a pre-existing stand of healthy fine fescue or Kentucky bluegrass turf.
The native bee lawn mix uses all native wildflowers (self-heal, yaak yarrow, blue-eyed grass) to transform your home lawn into a beautiful mix of turfgrass and flowers. This seed mix is designed to reinforce the longstanding evolutionary relationships we observe in nature between pollinators and the native plants they depend on.
Q: How do I start a garden where there is currently grass?
A: In this case, it is best to remove the grass first. You can remove turfgrass by hand with a shovel, but it’s so easy to rent a sod kicker from your local hardware store. If time is on your side, you can cover the area with plastic for several weeks to kill grass for easy removal by hand. Herbicides would not be our preferred method.
After the grass is removed, rent a tiller and work in compost at a rate of one cubic foot per ten square feet. Next, lay edging and then it’s time to plant!
Sun and Shade
Q: What are solutions for a bed where one part gets full sun and the other part gets full shade?
A: Totally different light requirements require totally different plants. If your garden space is continuous, there will be a transition zone that is part-sun. Use this area to plant things in common with both the sun and shade area. Many can tolerate a good amount of sun and still perform in a shady situation. Examples include astilbe, Japanese forest grass, heuchera, and hosta. Don’t worry about the sun and shade areas being a perfect match. Think more about the colors, textures, and structure you want to bring to each area.
Q: How do I stop a garden from dying in 110-degree weather?
A: Here are my tips on caring for a garden in the heat:
Water. Water in the morning before the heat of the day to avoid evaporation.
Depending on the duration of extreme heat, it might be time to plant drought-resistant plants, especially native plants that adapted to our climate.
Place containers and hanging baskets in a shady area during a heat wave.
Add mulch to garden beds to help retain moisture and keep the soil cool. If extreme heat is coupled with high humidity, evapotranspiration slows as does plant growth.
Q: What are the best shade plants other than hostas? I’m looking for something with color.
A: There are so many plants that are great for shade that offer color and interest both in foliage and flower. Some of our favorites include:
Astilbe
Aruncus/goat’s beard
Solomon’s seal
Ligularia
Ferns
Cimicifuga/snakeroot
Bleeding heart
Brunnera
Chelone/turtlehead
Pulmonaria/lungwort
Polemonium/Jacob’s ladder
Heuchera
Filipendula
Bergenia
Epimedium
Japanese forest grass
Lady’s mantle
Toad lily
Pests
Q: I’m terrified of jumping worms. How can I prevent/treat?!
A: Jumping worms are invasive worms that have made their way to the Twin Cities area through the transport of plants and soil. They can be very destructive, especially in major ecosystems as they change the structure of soil and strip it of nutrients.
My best advice is to purchase soil (bagged or bulk) and plants from reputable garden centers. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources asks that you report sightings of jumping worms. Destroy and dispose of jumping worms if you find them. After they become established, there is not a whole lot you can do.
The fear of jumping worms is a real thing and can be labeled as solastalgia, which is the stress caused by environmental change. Many of us will experience distress over the implications of climate change, invasive species, and extreme weather events.
Read more about jumping worms by visiting the UMN Extension website.
Q: How can I prevent pests (rabbits) from eating new growth?
Q: How can I be a responsible eco-conscious gardener (i.e., planting pollinator-friendly, native, and drought-tolerant plants)?
A: Just the fact that folks are thinking about this topic is a step in the right direction. If you are planting plants, you are already a responsible, eco-conscious gardener.
These are some must-read blog posts on the topic:
Q: How to plan a cohesive garden that blooms all season long?
A: Planting a garden for continuous color is not only appealing to us but also has great ecological benefits. Continuous color means a constant food source for pollinators and beneficial insects. Find out what blooms early, mid, and late in your area. At Tonkadale, we have a really great chart! Also, pay attention to what is blooming in your neighborhood or city over the course of the summer, then plant that!
Q: Real talk: How close are we to a zone 5 perennial surviving in the Twin Cities?
A: Perennial survival is most closely related to how long our lowest minimum temperatures are sustained. In the Twin Cities, we can hit temperatures as low as -30 degrees Fahrenheit which classifies us as Zone 4. Although the summers seem to be getting hotter, Zone 5 classification has more to do with winter lows than summer highs. In urban or protected areas, heat accumulates and gardeners in our area are able to have success with Zone 5 perennials, trees, and shrubs.
Editor’s Note: This post is sponsored by Tonkadale. The compensation we receive in exchange for placement on Wit & Delight is used to purchase props, hire a photographer, write/edit the blog post, and support the larger team behind Wit & Delight.
While compensation was received in exchange for coverage, all thoughts and opinions are always my own. Sponsored posts like these allow us to continue to develop dynamic unsponsored content. Thank you for supporting our partners!
Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
For the increasingly tense U.S.-Israel relationship, the fallout from passage of the U.N. cease-fire resolution was immediate, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that he would not send a planned high-level delegation to Washington for meetings with U.S. officials.
President Biden had requested the meetings to discuss alternatives to a planned Israeli offensive into Rafah, the southern Gaza city where more than a million people have sought refuge, an offensive that American officials have said would create an humanitarian disaster.
The United States had vetoed three previous U.N. Security Council resolutions calling for an end to the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas, agreeing with Israel’s argument that it would leave Hamas intact and in control of the enclave after it carried out the Oct. 7 assault on Israel.
But on Monday, when the Security Council took up a less strongly worded resolution, calling for a cease-fire for the holy month of Ramadan, the U.S. representative abstained, allowing the measure to pass.
Mr. Netanyahu, in a statement, denounced the abstention as “a retreat from the consistent American position since the beginning of the war,” one which “gives Hamas hope that international pressure will enable them to achieve a cease-fire without freeing the hostages.”
In response, he said, the Israeli delegation that was to discuss Rafah would not go to Washington. The practical impact of his decision may be limited — Mr. Netanyahu has said repeatedly that although he would hear out the White House position, the offensive would proceed — but it is still a sharp, public rebuke of Israel’s closest and most powerful ally.
Briefing reporters at the White House, John F. Kirby, a spokesman for the National Security Council, insisted there had been no change in the American position, and said that the United States had abstained, rather than vote for the U.N. measure, chiefly because “this resolution text did not include a condemnation of Hamas.”
“The prime minister’s office seems to be indicating through public statements that we somehow changed here,” Mr. Kirby said. “We haven’t.”
As for the canceled Israeli delegation, he added: “We were looking forward to having an opportunity to speak to a delegation later this week on exploring viable options and alternatives to a major ground offensive in Rafah.”
“We felt we had valuable lessons to share,” Mr. Kirby said.
He noted that Yoav Gallant, the Israeli defense minister, was in Washington and was still meeting with President Biden’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, on Monday, and would be meeting with Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III.
Mr. Gallant, before meeting with Mr. Sullivan, gave no sign Israel would agree to a cease-fire. “We will operate against Hamas everywhere — including in places where we have not yet been,” he said. He added, “We have no moral right to stop the war while there are still hostages held in Gaza.”
Mr. Gallant and Mr. Austin will discuss Israel’s planning for Rafah when they meet on Tuesday, said Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, and Israel’s request for more American weapons. He reiterated the administration’s position that before going into Rafah, Israel must have a detailed plan to protect, shelter and feed the civilians there.
“A ground invasion, especially without any type of credible plan, is a mistake given the large number of people, displaced people, that are there at the moment,” General Ryder told reporters.
The U.N. resolution and the American role in it drew angry responses from far-right elements of Israel’s government. Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister, called the move “proof that President Biden is not prioritizing Israel and the free world’s victory over terrorism, but rather his own political considerations.” The resolution, he said in a statement, should prompt Israel to intensify rather than moderate its military campaign.
Israel has faced intense international criticism over its conduct of the war in retaliation for the Oct. 7 attack — a bombing campaign and ground invasion that have killed some 30,000 people, displaced most of Gaza’s population and reduced much of the territory to ruins.
President Biden and other U.S. officials have become increasingly, openly critical of the war effort, saying that Israel should do more to avoid civilian casualties and allow more aid into Gaza — an unusually stark breach between the two nations.
Hamas is holding more than 100 hostages seized during the Oct. 7 attack, and negotiations have been underway for the release of hostages in return for Israel freeing Palestinian inmates in its prisons. The U.N. resolution calls for the immediate release of hostages.
Hamas welcomed the U.N. Security Council resolution in a statement on Telegram, adding that the Palestinian armed group was willing “to immediately engage on a prisoner exchange process that would lead to the release of prisoners on both sides.”
“Hamas calls upon the Security Council to pressure Israel to comply with a cease-fire and end the war, the genocide and ethnic cleansing against our people,” the group said.
Eric Schmitt, David E. Sanger and Cassandra Vinograd contributed reporting.
Leah Williamson has been named in the England squad for next month’s Euro 2025 qualifiers against Sweden and the Republic of Ireland.
Last month the Lionesses captain was forced to withdraw from her first England squad since April after injuring her hamstring, but the Arsenal defender has since recovered to be included in the 23-player squad.
The 26-year-old, who was captain for England’s Euro 2022 triumph, missed last summer’s World Cup after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury that kept her out for nine months.
But Williamson’s inclusion for the start of England’s European Championship title defence raises hopes she will make her first Lionesses appearance since April 11, 2023.
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Manchester United defender Millie Turner, who replaced Williamson in last month’s squad, keeps her place but team-mate Maya Le Tissier misses out.
Sarina Wiegman’s side face Sweden in their opening qualifier on April 5 at Wembley, the scene of their famous Euro 2022 final victory, before playing the Republic of Ireland at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium four days later on April 9.
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The recent review of Bratenahl Police Department ticketing from February 2023 through the end of the year shows officers cited Black drivers in 69% of their stops.
The news outlets’ initial review of tickets issued between 2020 and 2022 estimated Black drivers received 60% or more of all Bratenahl police citations.
Village leaders said they are concerned by the new findings. They hope mandating additional training on bias-free policing and requiring officers to log more data during traffic stops will reduce the ticketing trends and identify its root causes.
Bratenahl Police Chief Charles LoBello said the data collected after the policy change affirms the need for including race on traffic stop data.
“The other way of doing it was not the right way,” LoBello said. “I was surprised at the discrepancy.”
LoBello, the village’s top cop since September 2021, ordered officers to start logging the race of all drivers in traffic stops beginning in February 2023 in response to The Marshall Project – Cleveland and News 5 investigation.
The Marshall Project – Cleveland and News 5 found that Bratenahl police pulled over Black people in 69% of all stops in 2023. NEWS 5 CLEVELAND AND THE MARSHALL PROJECT
Many Black Clevelanders say they bypass Bratenahl — even if it means driving more miles — to avoid village officers and the potential fines and court costs that come from being pulled over.
Traffic stops involving Black drivers are so prevalent, some have nicknamed it the “Bratenahl tax.”
Vince Robinson, a 66-year-old Black Cleveland resident, has lived on the Bratenahl border for over 32 years. He said he has been pulled over three times and cited twice by village police.
He sees ticketed Black people line up every two weeks to get into Bratenahl’s Mayor’s Court, he said.
“When you drive through Bratenahl, you have to be careful,” Robinson said. “You learn where they set up their traps.
“It’s a state of operation. It comes back to the culture in Bratenahl. Things from the top flow down.”
The latest departmental changes in response to the news outlets’ investigation don’t end with ticketing practices.
Mayor Keith Benjamin said he now plans to require that all 17 officers take additional bias-free policing training to address the suburb’s reputation of disproportionate ticketing.
The mayor is also calling for outside experts to explore how the village can better analyze data to assess potential patterns of bias and identify reasons that may explain disproportionate ticketing.
He said he doesn’t believe officers racially profile drivers, but he concedes the disparate numbers raise concerns.
“We have an obligation to proactively address these issues to gain public trust and ensure that everyone is treated equitably, fairly and justly,” Benjamin said.
The high cost of collecting ticket revenue from poor Black Cleveland residents has kept hundreds, if not several thousand, trapped in Ohio’s license-suspension cycle as they struggle to maintain payment plans and meet other requirements before they can apply for reinstatement.
Benjamin took office in July. He had spent the previous 15 years working on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the public sector.
“It is my responsibility to ensure that we are committed to constitutional policing,” Benjamin said.
While Benjamin and Lobello don’t yet have a comprehensive plan for ticketing, both said the goal is to determine why so many Black Cleveland residents are stopped and cited by village police.
Benjamin also pledged to engage Cleveland residents in discussions to hear concerns, seek solutions and dispel rumors about village policing.
Additionally, he wants to examine how technology might be useful in removing questions of bias from policing.
He also plans to introduce legislation to the village council that would prohibit using race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation/identity, among others, as the basis for a traffic stop.
Councilman Kevin Conwell, who represents Cleveland’s Glenville neighborhood, said Bratenahl leaders need to make sure officers are not targeting the city’s Black residents.
He’s been sounding alarms about the traffic stops for years, he said.
“This is so concerning,” Conwell said about the latest findings. “This has to stop. When is it going to end?”
LoBello pledged to look even deeper into the ticketing practices now that he has one year of traffic stop data to evaluate.
After reviewing the outlets’ analysis, LoBello added more information fields for officers to collect during traffic stops: whether the stops are on Interstate 90 or village streets, and which shift made the stops.
“We don’t have our game plan set in stone as of yet,” LoBello said about finding improvements.
“But we do realize that it needs to be looked at. If any irregularities are found and discovered, we will address them. It dawned on us that maybe we should delve a little deeper.”
Ohio does not have uniform guidelines requiring officers to report race on traffic citations.
Following the 2022 investigation, state Rep. Juanita Brent, a Democrat from Cleveland, vowed to introduce proposed legislation in January 2023 requiring police agencies to record race data when conducting traffic stops.
But Brent has not finalized the proposal. She told a reporter in July 2023 that she was working on a bill.
This month, Brent said she is still seeking a bipartisan member to co-sponsor the proposal while she finalizes the language.
Brent said she is leaning toward a proposal that would allow the public to review the traffic-stop data on the Ohio Department of Public Safety’s website. She is seeking a way to pay a state employee to create and maintain the database.
“We need to find money to ensure there is justice for the people,” Brent said.
Benjamin said he supports Brent’s quest for a statewide mandate to record race data in all traffic stops.
“I do believe that every community, every police department should be required to collect the same information across the board so it can be analyzed and compared effectively,” he said.
LoBello believes it is crucial to build better community relations with Cleveland residents to help change the negative perception of the village’s police force.
The additional implicit bias training, LoBello said, is something he wanted to do years ago. At the time, he wasn’t the chief and Benjamin was not the mayor.
“We are going to do this to build on top of what the state mandates,” he said.
When reporters visited Bratenahl’s Mayor’s Court in late 2022, the hearing room was largely packed with Black, Cleveland residents.
Fines, forfeitures and court costs from traffic tickets brought the village $251,000 in 2020; $315,000 in 2021; and $140,000 through August 2022, records show. Bratenahl collected nearly $114,000 in revenue in 2023.
Benjamin said it is concerning when the court hearings are filled with people of color from Cleveland.
As we near the end of summer 2023, I’ve been reflecting a lot on what these past few months have meant to me. The big thing this summer has shown me is that it’s possible to be going through a difficult, trying period and still find so much joy. It’s shown me that two things can exist at the same time. This realization has given me a lot of confidence as I face what it means to get older—to have more responsibilities and more things to worry about.
Even when a worst-case scenario happens, I know I still have so many wonderful things to be thankful for. A lot of this is because of privilege, yet a lot of it has come from making the choice to not give up on the parts of life that matter most to me simply because I’m consumed by fear. I can be afraid and still get up every day, move forward, and live life as fully as possible.
Today I’m recapping this summer of transformation and sharing what the past few months have looked like in my life.
June
June was a really busy month. I did my best to support my kids as school ended and they moved into their summer routines, while also trying to navigate the ups and downs that came with transitioning my business and closing a big chapter with my team.
I felt really numb throughout a lot of this month. In the middle of June, we made the announcement that Wit & Delight would be evolving into a new chapter, and I had a full-on breakdown. I’ve never been more scared. I had some really difficult conversations and I learned that the only thing you can do when things break down like that is to have grace for everyone involved. This time period felt like an ego death.
As I tried to navigate through the changes, I found periods of joy in the in-between moments. On June 9, Joe and I went with a few friends to Chicago for the Dead & Company concert. I enjoyed time in our new front yard. I announced the Nine Pines design project—something I’m so excited to be working on.
Throughout the month, I spent plenty of time outside. I went to dinner parties with friends, including a gorgeous dinner hosted by Brooke Faudree. I walked so many miles and played a lot of tennis. Our family had a pizza night at a nearby pizza farm. We went to the pool a ton. I ran in the rain with the kids. We celebrated Joe as he started a new job.
July
July kicked off with an extended family vacation in Hilton Head. I thought going on vacation was going to mean I could fully unwind, but this was not the reality. I was faced with a lot of triggers from family members—something that was no one’s fault. We just fall into old patterns sometimes. I felt a lot of my success fall into question because of the choices I had made in June. I questioned my ability to do this next phase on my own. I thought about getting a corporate job and setting this space aside entirely. It was a total “Who am I?” moment.
This month, I started to get really nervous about all of the changes I’d made with Wit & Delight. Summer has always been a really slow time in terms of incoming opportunities, but I didn’t know what this slowness would actually feel like this year. The wise part of me knew these changes needed to happen but my ego definitely didn’t take the quiet well. It was humbling, but something I needed to face and start to process.
Amid all of this reflection and doubt, there were some wonderful highlights. I took some incredible morning walks at sunrise. When Joe was out of town for work, I took the kids out for pizza and ice cream. It felt really meaningful to share those sweet little moments with them.
I learned the virtues of wide-leg slouchy trousers and found the perfect little black dress, which I’ve worn four times already. I made my favorite potato salad recipe. I watched all of Wimbledon and saw the Barbie movie—even with all of the hype leading up to it, I was still blown away. I read Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado. It’s my favorite book I’ve read this year so far. Her writing reignited the hunger in me to express myself through words again.
On July 9, I went to one of my favorite restaurants, Myriel, to celebrate their second anniversary. The food was delicious and the space was beautiful as always. On July 16, the celebrations continued as we threw August an epic seventh birthday party in the backyard.
On the work front, I received all of the new Wit & Delight planners I designed for 2024. It was so fun to see them in person after the long design process. They’ll be available to buy starting this fall! I also finalized a lot of design details for the Nine Pines project and shared some colorful design updates in our basement family room.
At the end of July, we went up to Lutsen for our annual trip with Joe’s side of the family. I had the best sandwich on the drive up at Northern Waters Smokehaus. We ate lots of good food and spent plenty of time outside. Every year, I appreciate the simplicity of this trip more and more.
August
In August, clarity began to emerge for me around where I’m at with work and the content I want to create, particularly as it relates to my newsletter, House Call. I found myself feeling more excited about what’s to come and finding it easier to get into a flow state with work.
On August 1, I went to Goodwill and found an amazing set of canary yellow dishes. I’m so excited to entertain with them on countless occasions to come. Speaking of entertaining… I also launched a line of tabletop linens this month! I love how all of the patterned pieces turned out. You can shop them now through September 13 on Etsy.
This month, we had a few epic afternoon thunderstorms and I loved every moment. Getting to experience the mix of thunderstorms and gorgeous, sunny summer days has been really special. I’m so thankful to have a brain that can access such delight for both sides of the spectrum.
On August 7, Birdie had surgery to remove her tonsils and adenoids. The surgery went well but the recovery was somewhat difficult. After a week or so, she was feeling so much better, and her breathing and sleeping improved dramatically compared to pre-surgery.
On the reading front, I dove into FourthWing by Rebecca Yarros and loved it so much. I’ve found fantasy books to be such a positive escape for me in times when I’m feeling adrift. It’s a lighter way to support me through difficult times.
I played tennis more days of the week than not. The process of learning to play tennis has taught me a lot about how to have a more trusting relationship with my body. It’s taught me to remain calm, even in constantly changing circumstances, and to trust that I’ll know how to react. On the court and off, I’ve been learning a lot of lessons through the act of not giving up.
This summer has felt different than summers past. I have that twinge of melancholy that comes with the back-to-school season, but also a sense of relief to be moving on.
This summer has felt different than summers past. I have that twinge of melancholy that comes with the back-to-school season, but also a sense of relief to be moving on. Things felt slower, heavier, and more difficult than usual through most of the season. I kept thinking about how I needed to be in this space, not run away from it. In the end, I think it was a real gift to take things slower and not try to numb the complicated mix of happiness and sadness that drummed through the background of all our fun summer moments. I can be in the middle of a really challenging time and still find ways to bring joy to my life. I’m so thankful for that lesson.
Editor’s Note: This article contains affiliate links. Wit & Delight uses affiliate links as a source of revenue to fund the operations of the business and to be less dependent on branded content. Wit & Delight stands behind all product recommendations. Still have questions about these links or our process? Feel free to email us.
Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
I spent a lot of time organizing my closet this month. I took inventory of what I had, what needed mending, and what items I wanted to fill holes in my wardrobe. I’ve fallen victim to buying things that I wear only a few times or buying too many pieces that are the same style. This has left much of my closet underutilized! So the process of cataloging and categorizing the items I have has brought some renewed excitement to my fall wardrobe staples, or what I’ll call my “uniform” or “essentials.”
I wanted this style of turtleneck sweater to round out my collection. This one looks like something you’d see Jane Birkin styling with little plaid skirts or cropped denim. I’d pair it with high-waisted jeans or skirts and would complete the look with ankle boots and a statement bag. It’s not bulky (and is a bit sheer) so you can easily layer on top of it, too.
A Note on Fit: This runs a tad small. Consider ordering up a size.
02
Giacomo trousers
$175
These trousers are so good—a true wardrobe essential. They are elegant enough to dress up but could easily be styled down with a slouchy tee and sneakers. Pair these pants with a simple blouse or sweater and a pair of loafers for a chic and effortless look.
A Note on Fit: I have to get mine hemmed, but other than the length, they fit true to size.
03
Tomboy shirt
$110
With its classic collar and straight cut, the Tomboy Shirt provides a tailored silhouette that is both comfortable and stylish. I reach for a crisp button-down all year round and like to bring in a fresh design each season. I love this pattern mix. I paired it with cropped jeans and flats (shown above).
A Note on Fit: Go up a couple of sizes if you want an oversized look. I opted for one size up from my usual.
04
Paula Babies
$215
This Mary Jane-style shoe has been on my list for a while. I couldn’t decide between black or camel so I went with a khaki color which can work with a variety of outfits. It’s also a little unexpected! Pair these shoes with a flowy midi dress for a romantic look, or with wide-leg trousers and a tucked-in blouse for a streamlined, sophisticated look. These also pair perfectly with a cute mini skirt and a tank top on a warm summer day.
A Note on Fit: These fit true to size.
05
Brut Sexy
$125
This pair of jeans has a hold on me. I have been wearing my grey ones nonstop and have gotten compliments on them at the grocery store. It’s a great cut if you miss the style of denim with a narrower leg but still want to feel very current. I love pairing cream denim with crisp whites and navy. Pair these with a tucked-in blouse or a fitted tee for an effortless yet elegant silhouette.
A Note on Fit: Size up in these jeans. I’m usually a size 25 in denim but wear a 27 in these. Also, be sure to consider the fit notes listed below each wash, as different washes will fit differently. This cream color is made of 99% organic cotton and 1% elastane and runs bigger than my grey pair, which is 100% organic cotton.
06
Romie Bag
$430
A classic, minimal black bucket bag was high on my list. I love styles by The Row and Céline but they aren’t in my budget. The Romie is absolutely gorgeous and has that understated luxury feel that reminds me of what I love about The Row and Céline. It’s also a fraction of the cost of those bags! The Romie bag is the perfect accessory to carry all your essentials in an effortless, elevated style.
07
Basile cardigan
$170
This cardigan is so good. When it comes to Sézane knitwear, you really cannot go wrong. I love the inky blue color, how the buttons blend in with the hue, and how the sleeves bell out a bit. It looks great tucked in with jeans and is so cute with shorts. It could also be worn over a dress for an extra-cozy layering option. It’s a wardrobe essential I’ll be living in all fall and winter.
A Note on Fit: This runs a little big. Consider ordering one size down for a more fitted look.
08
Le Crop
$125
Wide-leg jeans often look overwhelming on my figure, too shapeless in the leg, or like the crop is too high. These wide-leg jeans are different—I love the way they look! Pair these jeans with a simple white t-shirt for a more relaxed style or dress them up with a silk blouse and heels for a night out.
A Note on Fit: They run a tad small so go up a size if you are in between sizes.
Editor’s Note: This post is sponsored by Sézane. The compensation we receive in exchange for placement on Wit & Delight we use to purchase props, hire a photographer, write/edit the blog post, and support the larger team behind Wit & Delight.
While compensation is received in exchange for coverage, all thoughts and opinions are always my own. Sponsored posts like these allow us to continue to develop dynamic unsponsored content. Thank you for supporting our partners!
Kate is the founder of Wit & Delight. She is currently learning how to play tennis and is forever testing the boundaries of her creative muscle. Follow her on Instagram at @witanddelight_.
