Brian Batchelor, once described by the Daily Echo as ‘the most versatile singer in the South’, has died at the age of 87.

Despite a surge in support for independence in the last few weeks, the Better Together campaign came through with a majority sufficient to put to bed the question of independence for Scotland, at least for now.

THERE’S no doubt that the Prime Minister spoke from the heart when he addressed the Tory conference in Birmingham this week, speaking of the NHS.

News you don't want to miss for April 7:

1. A nursing home in Orinda is being hit hard by a covid-19 outbreak that has infected 49 people, including 27 residents and 22 staff members, the East Bay Times reports.…

News you don't want to miss for April 13:

1. "If the country’s most popular coronavirus model proves accurate, California will reach the peak of its outbreak this Wednesday," the San Francisco Chronicle reports, when it will reach a predicted 66 deaths.…

News you don't want to miss for April 17-19:

1. "The good news: California has an $18 billion rainy day fund, the biggest in its history.…

News you don't want to miss for April 22:

1. Oakland is looking at a potentially historic $80 million budget shortfall over the next year, Bay City News reports.…

News you don't want to miss for April 23:

1. BART learned on Thursday that $250 million in recent federal relief funds will allow it to balance its budget for this fiscal year, with $78 million remaining, BART Board Director Rebecca Saltzman said.…

Coronavirus Journal: Virus hitting unincorporated areas in Alameda County hard. The forecast for Alameda County's short-term fiscal health will come into focus this week and it could be sobering news for those who depend greatly on the county's safety net services. County supervisors will learn at a budget workshop session on Thursday the extent of the damage caused by COVID-19 on the local economy.…

News you don't want to miss for May 1:

1. Oakland's lawsuit against the Raiders and the NFL over the team's relocation to Las Vegas was dismissed by a federal court judge on Thursday, according to Bleacher Report.…

News you don't want to miss for May 4:

1. Businesses such as bookstores, florists, clothing retailers, among others, can begin to reopen on Friday, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced, according to the Associated Press.…

Impossible Foods, whose huge production facility is ion 85th Street in Oakland, has just announced a huge retail expansion, with its mega-popular plant-based Impossible Burger being rolled out this week at over 1,700 grocery stores nationwide.

All of those stores are owned by The Kroger Co., which operates in 28 states under many different brands including Pay Less, Ralphs, Albertsons, Vons, Fred Meyer, and many more.…

News you don't want to miss for May 7:

Just a few months ago, California was sitting on an overflowing reserve fund. After covid-19, the state is now reconciling with a massive $54.3 billion deficit over the next fiscal year, Calmatters reports.…

A helmet for rotational energy management can include an outer energy management layer comprising an outer surface and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The inner surface can comprise a first slidable finish comprising a first glaze comprising a thickness less than or equal to 2 millimeters (mm). An inner energy management layer can be disposed within the outer energy management layer and further comprise an outer surface oriented towards the outer energy management layer and an inner surface opposite the outer surface. The outer surface can comprise a second slidable finish that directly contacts the first slidable finish. The second slidable finish can comprise a second glaze comprising a thickness less than or equal to 2 mm. A space between the first slidable finish and the second slidable finish can be devoid of a lubricant and devoid of any interstitial slip layer.

A garment worn on the upper body is disclosed having a right and left body portions that are joined at the front and rear by a corresponding fastening mechanism. This allows the right body portion and left body portion to separated from one another and interchanged with other body portions to vary the visual characteristics of the garment. The right and left body portions can have different visual characteristics.

An article having a panel secured between two layers of a trim piece and having a pocket affixed to a zipper, where a first zipper tape is affixed to the panel, and a second zipper tape is secured between the two layers of the trim piece such that the pocket is in communication with an incised opening in the panel is provided. The panel may be secured between the two layers of the trim piece at a first edge, and the incised opening may be formed proximate to the first edge such that the article comprises a pocket presented proximate to the trim piece. The present invention further comprises a method of manufacturing the article including a pocket presented proximate to the trim piece.

A fabric having moisture management properties is disclosed. The fabric can also be made to be fire resistant. The fabric is particularly well suited for being used as an inner lining in protective garments. The fabric contains first yarns and second yarns. The first yarns extend in a first direction and the second yarns extend in the second direction. The yarns are woven together such that the first yarns form a pattern of shapes. The pattern of shapes concentrate the FR cellulose fibers and provide channels for carrying away moisture and improving the moisture management properties of the fabric.

An emergency anti-hypothermia system has a thermally insulating vest that is sufficiently portable to be carried for emergency use in a pocket, purse, backpack, compartment of a vehicle, ski pole or other location, with the vest providing thermal insulation by being made with thermally insulating air impervious material that also provides for its inflation. A multiplicity of interconnected inflated chambers situated about the vest, provides thermal insulation by anti-conduction, anti-radiation and anti-convection in a highly portable system. An outer surface having radar reflective properties further improves visibility of the vest.

The invention is a glove having a palmar side panel and a dorsal side panel and a thumb stall and a plurality of finger stalls for receiving a thumb and fingers of a human hand. The invention further includes a finger or thumb stall having a transverse expansion zone and/or a longitudinal expansion zone comprised of expandable material for accommodating fingers of varying sizes.

This is a warning to everyone with a mortgage. The rates on new mortgage deals are getting more expensive, and there is a plausible chance of UK base rates increasing. If you have a mortgage, you should check urgently if you can slice the rate down – you may gain £1,000s right now.

The invention relates to a product for pilgrims performing the rites of Haj and Umrah. Used to reduce the crushes resulting from pilgrims colliding because, for example, pilgrims places their shoes close to the gate from which they entered thinking that it will be easy to return to the same place once they have performed the rites of circumambulation (tawaf) and running (sa'ay). However, in reality the pilgrims must walk against the flow, causing collisions and severe crushes, or he is forced to leave his shoes behind, which is a burden for cleaning staff, looks untidy and is a nuisance for pilgrims, the main figures for the inventions are FIG. 7 before wearing the shoes and FIGS. 8,9,10 and 11 after wearing it.

The present invention relates to an interchangeable footwear device. The device may include a flip-flop sandal design wherein the device may include interchangeable structural features to allow a user to change features as associated with a particular terrain. The interchangeable footwear device includes a gripping system to traverse a number of different terrains. The footwear may include a sole member having a thong member attached to a top of the sole and a heel strap selectively attached to the sole. The heel strap may be selectively attached to the sole with a fastener that may be manually adjusted in a secured or unsecured position to remove the heel strap from the sole. In particular, the interchangeable footwear device may include a gripping unit selectively attached to the sole member of the footwear. The gripping unit may include a toe grip pad and a heel grip pad.

A SOUTHAMPTON home has been pelted with bricks in a series of targeted attacks.

More people have been choosing to get married in recent years.

AN ICONIC Hampshire hotel which closed its doors after going into administration has been bought by an international hotelier.

IT'S the perfect antidote to cold winter afternoons - and this year it's bigger than ever.

Kevin Pietersen's hopes of a second England chance have been dealt another blow after coach Peter Moores appeared to rule out the possibility while he is in charge of the national team.

Kevin Pietersen marked his long-awaited return to domestic cricket with 170 for Surrey against Oxford MCCU.

Former Australia captain Steve Waugh has urged England to move on from Kevin Pietersen, believing the controversial batsman no longer merits a place in the side and brings too much baggage as well.

TELEVISION presenter Piers Morgan has aimed a dig at a BBC Radio Solent journalist today over former Hampshire Cricket star Kevin Pietersen's exclusion from the England squad.

HE’S the former England cricket captain best known for his ability as an all-rounder.

EASTLEIGH manager Ben Strevens admitted wishing his side’s match against second-from-bottom Chorley was postponed after all.

Ben Strevens is hoping that Eastleigh will sign him some reinforcements as his injury crisis worsens.

Eastleigh are facing an unwanted FA Cup replay after being held to a 2-2 draw at Stourbridge.

HARRY Foyle stole the show with two best-yet individual performances as St Cross Symondians thrashed hapless New Milton by 162 runs to move fourth in the ECB Southern Premier Division.

“IT WAS the best decision I ever made.”

Paultons CC won the Southern Premier League’s T20 Plate after a thrilling final at the Ageas Bowl.

BOURNEMOUTH manager Eddie Howe has been given the full backing of chairman Jeff Mostyn.

Sutton United's former Eastleigh manager Paul Doswell has no sympathy for Arsene Wenger following Arsenal's spectacular collapse against Bayern Munich in the Champions League.

GABI Taylor lost in the quarter-finals of the Surbiton Trophy, but has a wildcard entry for a WTA international tournament in Nottingham next week.

BRITISH No 2 Heather Watson believes rising star Gabi Taylor deserves a Wimbledon wildcard.

Gabi Taylor put up a brave fight but her maiden senior Wimbledon outing ended in a three-set defeat to Eugenie Bouchard.

SHE’S the woman behind such beloved creations as The Gruffalo, Zog and Stick Man.

JOFRA Archer will spearhead the Southern Braves attack alongside Chris Jordan when The Hundred begins next summer - and James Vince will also play for the Ageas Bowl-based franchise.

HAMPSHIRE legend Gordon Greenidge has been awarded a knighthood in the New Year honours list.

A COLLEGE in Eastleigh has ranked as the best in Hampshire and tenth nationally for student achievement rates.

AN EX-Barton Peveril student has been nominated for "Rookie of the Year" after playing football at an American college.

New Liverpool signing Adam Lallana believes England's World Cup failure will make him mentally tougher.

HE has found the purr-fect home thanks to some help from the Daily Echo.

A DAILY Echo campaign calling on the government to scrap tuition fees for student nurses doing their part in the battle against coronavirus has been backed by civic chiefs.