The Know Daily - Thursday 1 May 2025

_{Read in 4m 46s ∙ Listening to Jubël ∙}

The Roxy – a historic cinema in Cumbria – was saved from closure thanks to the hard work of campaigners. The Roxy Collective purchased the cinema in 2023 and it has now been given a £500k funding lifeline. “This investment ensures that it remains a vibrant space for arts, culture, and connection for years to come,” said the group’s chair 🎥

🗳️ Local elections

Elections are taking place in local authorities in England today. 

Tell me more.
Local elections are being held in 23 councils. Most of the local authorities up for election are county councils – like Kent or Warwickshire – that look after services such as education, social care and libraries. There are also a handful of elections in unitary authorities where the services of a county council and smaller councils (think – rubbish, recycling and housing) are combined. Plus, a by-election is being held in Runcorn and Helsby in the North West after its MP stood down in March. 

Major elections are happening in 6 regions, with Hull and East Yorkshire and Greater Lincolnshire electing mayors for the first time. To see if there’s an election taking place in your area, check here. Some county council elections will be postponed until May 2026, as the government is encouraging them to merge with other local authorities to become unitary ones. 

Why do they matter?
This will be the first “big test” for all parties since the general election last year. The outcome could have a “significant national impact”, according to Sky News. For the first time in a while, Labour and the Conservatives face possible unseating by other parties such as the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK. The Conservatives have the most to lose as they currently hold 20 out of the 23 local authorities. 

Is it too late to vote?
Nope! As long as you’re over 18 and are already registered, you can still cast your ballot until 10pm today. Use this tool to find your nearest polling station (it has to match the one on your poll card) and make sure you bring a form of photo ID.

🏠 Hot homes: The UK government has announced more options for homeowners wanting to upgrade their heating to lower bills ahead of next winter and beyond.

• The bigger story: They’re considering additional technologies to include – like clean electric heating – and improving financial accessibility for families. It comes after the highest demand yet for boiler upgrades over the last 2 months. 18k people will also be trained to install heat pumps, insulation and solar panels to speed up the process.

🌌 Cosmic cloud: Scientists have discovered an invisible “glowing” cloud close to Earth that sheds light on how stars and planets formed.

🇺🇸 US-Ukraine latest: A minerals deal has been signed between the US and Ukraine to support a fund for aid and rebuilding - here’s what it means for future peace talks.

🥼 Health innovation: NHS England has announced plans to introduce a new injection of drugs for 15 different types of cancer, said to be quicker and so it allows more people to be treated.

🌴 Protecting paradise: Fiji has launched ‘Loloma Hour’, asking tourists to spend at least one hour of their holiday giving back to the environment or local communities.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Support services: The Welsh government is proposing same-day mental health services, meaning people won’t need referrals and can receive support sooner.

🤫 Peaceful places: Quiet zones are being designated in this European city to help manage noise and improve quality of life for locals and visitors.

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Trivia answer: B) The 3mm snail with an unusual shell was discovered in South East Asia and has been named after Picasso.

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