Today's news about Christa Pike has brought the death penalty front and center. As a writer, the only way I could organise my thoughts, was to write. So, for Letters from Lauren, my thoughts on the death penalty, as an American in the UK. laurencrosbymedlicott.substack.com/p/i-grew-up-...

I grew up in America thinking the death penalty was just. I don’t anymore.

I grew up believing some crimes deserved the death penalty. Sixteen years in Britain have forced me to question what I once accepted as justice.

laurencrosbymedlicott.substack.com

When Daniel was five, he was placed with Jane and Dave as foster carers. Years later, Shared Lives meant he could stay with the family he’d grown up with. Their son Kyle even became a Shared Lives carer to support his brother. For The Valleys Lead. thevalleys.thelead.uk/p/he-will-be...

“He will be part of our family forever”: The foster carers who didn’t stop caring when their foster child turned 18

After spending his childhood with foster carers Jane and Dave, Daniel faced an uncertain future at 18 — until Shared Lives gave the family a way to stay together.

thevalleys.thelead.uk

I love a happy story. And this one is just that. As someone who secretly wishes she was indeed a ballerina (really, it is my one wish), I couldn't believe that the Royal Ballet and Opera store all their past productions right here in the south Wales valleys. thevalleys.thelead.uk/p/the-extrao...

The extraordinary Royal Ballet & Opera secret hiding in the south Wales valleys

The little-known warehouse is home to hundreds of productions, thousands of costumes and some seriously unusual props.

thevalleys.thelead.uk

A freelance journalist struggling with a mind blank? Not sure what to cover next? Wishing you had a community to bat ideas around with? Afraid you may be forced to publish a blank page reading, “I’ve nothing left to write”? I feel like that. Basically every day. (next)

Hey! I'm Lauren, your local, and dare I say - favourite, journalist in the south Wales valleys. Can you help? (next)

Six weeks of wildfire left parts of the Blorenge blackened, destroying grazing land, habitats and livestock. Farmer James Bourne says the impact will last for years. More on what he and others in the south Wales valleys are facing post-wildfires. thevalleys.thelead.uk/p/there-was-...

“There was nothing I could do”: Farmer recalls watching his sheep caught in Blorenge wildfire

A south Wales valleys farmer describes losing livestock and grazing land, as residents in Merthyr Tydfil recall the devastation caused by fires over the summer.

thevalleys.thelead.uk

A couple weeks ago, there were some concerning results released about how Welsh children are doing in maths and literacy as compared to the rest of the UK, and the rest of the world. Long story short, we're not performing nearly as well as other countries. (Next thread)

Wales’ PISA results are a warning light. What’s gone wrong?

Wales’ latest PISA scores are the lowest recorded in almost every area since 2006. We look at what the results mean for education, poverty and the future of young people across the south Wales valleys

thevalleys.thelead.uk

In 2022, Renee walked away from a 25-year career in education. Then worked part-time at Anthropologie. No title. No pressure. No mask. For the first time in years, she had space to simply be her while she figured out what was next. www.businessinsider.com/principal-qu...

I went from school principal to Anthropologie employee. The step down was exactly what I needed.

After 25 years in education, a principal quit without another job or partner to support her. She trusted herself to figure out what came next.

businessinsider.com

$87,000 on daycare in five years. 😳 For one working mom, childcare sometimes cost more than the mortgage — and when her son started kindergarten, the relief was just as big as the savings. www.businessinsider.com/daycare-cost... #Childcare #Daycare #Parenting #CostOfLiving #WorkingParents

People ask if I'm sad my son started kindergarten. After $87,000 in day care bills, I'm celebrating.

Mesha Griffith isn't sad that her son left daycare. After five years of paying about $1,500 a month, she's relieved to have the money back.

businessinsider.com

Reform's Welsh leader has stepped down following his arrest and, just moments later, an MS announced she was leaving Reform for Plaid Cymru. But that’s only the start. What does this mean for Reform in the Valleys? And what happens next? thevalleys.thelead.uk/p/reform-wal...

Reform Wales rocked by dramatic Tuesday as leader quits and MS defects

Dan Thomas steps down after arrest as Sarah Cooper-Lesadd leaves Reform for Plaid Cymru — while former and newly recruited party figures give contrasting views on the party’s future in the valleys.

thevalleys.thelead.uk

Did you manage to grab a Snoopy cup from Starbucks today? Charlotte did. I heard about it for @businessinsider.com www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-sn...

My daughter is obsessed with Snoopy. I woke up at 3:30 a.m. to hunt down Starbucks' new viral cup.

Charlotte Mandrier woke at 3:30 a.m. to get Starbucks' new Snoopy cup for her daughter's birthday and spent about $200 on Peanuts merchandise.

businessinsider.com

Another lush story on quitting the conventional, the corporate, to pursue a dream. I love how Heigi gave herself a year to pursue a dream. If it works, lush. If not, she knows she can always find another corporate job. www.businessinsider.com/quit-six-fig...

I went from earning $173,000 a year to making $6 one month. I don't regret quitting.

Heigi Jeong quit a $173,000 tech job with good work-life balance to write a book and create content. She's giving self-employment one year.

businessinsider.com

In 2000, Murat Bedir used Abertridwr Library’s computers to find work after moving to Wales from Turkey. It helped him connect with family and build a community. Now it faces closure. “It’s heartbreaking.” thevalleys.thelead.uk/p/how-will-c...

How will Caerphilly residents be affected by impending library closures?

Murat Bedir says his local library helped him find a job, connect with his community and support his family — and he fears its planned closure will hit vulnerable residents hardest.

thevalleys.thelead.uk

Esther and Ryan Steele turned an idea born over a coffee in Swansea into La Bocata, a thriving Spanish-inspired sandwich shop attracting customers from across south Wales, reports @laurenmedlicott.bsky.social

The Merthyr Tydfil couple who turned redundancy into a sandwich shop sensation

Esther and Ryan Steele turned an idea born over a coffee in Swansea into La Bocata, a thriving Spanish-inspired sandwich shop attracting customers from across south Wales.

thevalleys.thelead.uk

My favourite stories. Women choosing something else. Something different. Something for them. www.businessinsider.com/luxury-hotel...

I worked 12-hour days in a corporate job I loved. I wanted my life back, so I quit, and now I'm a waitress.

Lisa Eder left a luxury hotel director role she loved and took a part-time waitressing job. The career change gave her something she wanted more: freedom.

businessinsider.com

When Ryan Steele was made redundant in 2025, he and his wife Esther found themselves asking: what next? Fast-forward to September 2025 and La Bocata opened its doors in Merthyr Tydfil, serving Spanish-inspired sandwiches made with fresh ingredients. thevalleys.thelead.uk/p/the-merthy...

The Merthyr Tydfil couple who turned redundancy into a sandwich shop sensation

Esther and Ryan Steele turned an idea born over a coffee in Swansea into La Bocata, a thriving Spanish-inspired sandwich shop attracting customers from across south Wales.

thevalleys.thelead.uk

58 articles covering the south Wales valleys since launching in February. Feeling chuffed. The Valleys Lead has been my baby, and I've loved watching the publication grow from a little corner in my Merthyr Tydfil basement. Link to follow along in comments.

Mother of three, Kadie Phillips, is proposing a specialist school for children who struggle in mainstream education but do not qualify for specialist provision, @laurenmedlicott.bsky.social reports

Merthyr Tydfil parents call for a new autism provision amid ALN crisis

Mother of two, Kadie Phillips proposes a specialist school for children struggling in mainstream education but unable to access existing provision.

thevalleys.thelead.uk

After 15 years of marriage, three children and years of putting everyone else’s needs before her own, Farhana Hussain woke up one morning and realised: this couldn’t be it. inews.co.uk/inews-lifest...

I gave up my job to raise our children -  I lost my identity and it broke our marriage

I had stopped asking myself what I wanted outside of being a mum and keeping our family going

inews.co.uk

Kadie Phillips in Merthyr Tydfil has met with the Director of Education to discuss her plan for a unit for children who are "inbetweeners" - those who aren't coping in mainstream schools, but who don't qualify for for specialist provision. thevalleys.thelead.uk/p/merthyr-ty...

Merthyr Tydfil parents call for a new autism provision amid ALN crisis

Mother of two, Kadie Phillips proposes a specialist school for children struggling in mainstream education but unable to access existing provision.

thevalleys.thelead.uk

Kadie Phillips in Merthyr Tydfil has met with the Director of Education to discuss her plan for a unit for children who are "inbetweeners" - those who aren't coping in mainstream schools, but who don't qualify for a place at Greenfield School. thevalleys.thelead.uk/p/merthyr-ty...

Merthyr Tydfil parents call for a new autism provision amid ALN crisis

Mother of two, Kadie Phillips proposes a specialist school for children struggling in mainstream education but unable to access existing provision.

thevalleys.thelead.uk

I've heard that charities and third sector organisations in the UK are being targeted by digital fraudsters. For Big Issue, I am looking for charities in the UK that have been impacted. If you are part of a charity that has been impacted, could you email laurencrosbymedlicott@gmail.com?

It's been a while since I've been able to cover international stories. Yesterday, I spoke with Saimon, a British medical student visiting family in Nepal, who talked to me about what he's been observing in the aftermath of the flash flooding. inews.co.uk/news/world/b... #news

Nepal warns of more floods as rescuers race to save 639 trapped in tunnels

Teenage girl and boy among at least 33 Britons missing after devastating flash flood, with rescue efforts 'at critical stage'

inews.co.uk

From Merthyr Tydfil and Caerphilly to Blaenavon, communities have faced weeks of smoke, scorched hillsides, damaged habitats and fears that fires could reach homes. So what caused this summer’s fires — and what can be done to prevent another? thevalleys.thelead.uk/p/blackened-...

Blackened hillsides and lingering smoke: The summer of wildfires in the south Wales valleys

Communities across the valleys have faced smoke, damaged landscapes, threatened homes and disruption — but what is driving the fires, and how can another summer like this be prevented?

thevalleys.thelead.uk

I've heard that charities and third sector organisations in the UK are being targeted by digital fraudsters. Is this something you have heard about on the ground? Or could you connect me to someone who has? Email laurencrosbymedlicott@gmail.com if so. #journorequest

Today, I'm looking to speak to people in Nepal impacted by the floods. If you can connect me with someone, please could you contact me at laurencrosbymedlicott@gmail.com? #journorequest

Eight years after 20-year-old Sophie Brimble was killed in a Brynmawr crash, her sister Aimee is still fighting for justice. Her petition to reform the law on “unfitness to plead” has nearly 10,650 signatures. The Government says it is considering changes. thevalleys.thelead.uk/p/how-could-...

“How could he be driving again?”: Sister of crash victim fights for change after driver escapes punishment

Sophie Brimble was 20 when she died in a 2017 crash in Brynmawr. Nine years later, her sister Aimee Coombes is campaigning to change the law after the driver of the car was allowed back on the roads.

thevalleys.thelead.uk

🎨 Told there was no career in art, Matt Dey didn’t pick up a paintbrush again until he was nearly 40. Now he’s a full-time artist, transforming walls, homes and communities across the south Wales valleys. For The Valleys Lead. thevalleys.thelead.uk/p/dont-let-a...

“Don’t let anyone stop you”: How a valleys artist turned a childhood passion into a full-time career

After being told as a teenager that there was no career in art for him, Matt Dey has gone on to transform communities across south Wales with colourful murals.

thevalleys.thelead.uk

Kristi, a homeowner in Manhattan, told me how she transformed her stoop into an ever-changing art installation, with themes ranging from flowers and lemons to Legos and Knicks basketballs. Thursday light read as your day ends ♥️ www.businessinsider.com/manhattan-st...

I turned my Manhattan stoop into an art project. It brought my neighborhood together.

Kristi Hemric began decorating her stoop for fun. Now strangers take photos there, neighbors help with displays, and one couple even got engaged on it.

businessinsider.com

My latest for The Valleys Lead.

The Lead@theleaduk.bsky.social · 2mo ago

More than 550 people have signed a petition after residents reported rising disorder, with Blaenau Gwent Council data showing a significant increase in incidents of anti-social behaviour, @laurenmedlicott.bsky.social reports for The Valleys Lead