ACROSS
1. RECONSTRUCTING* = CUTTING CORNERS <sacrificing quality to save money>
8. <unyielding> RIGID = GI inside RID
9. <chilly weather> NIPPINESS = NIPS outside PINES
11. <confuse> ENTANGLE = E NT ANGLE
12. YE + OMEN = YEOMAN <landholder>
14. <city that burned down> TROY = TR OY
15. <curry favour> INGRATIATE = (N G RAT) inside II AT E
18. (COURT CASE)* outside E = CRETACEOUS <this ended in disaster>
19. <a few> SOME = ←(-m)EMOS←
22. <PR> OPTICS = OP + TICS
24. <it looks like someone> HUMANOID = HUMID outside (AN O)
26. <spin> TEST DRIVE = TE (STD + IVE) outside R
27. <stomach food> TRIPE = RIPE after T
28. <predicts> PROGNOSTICATES = (OPERATING COSTS)*

DOWN
1. <least polite> CURTEST = CUR + TEST
2. <hard line to tread> TIGHTROPE = TIG + H TROPE
3. <I> IODINE = I ODIN + E
4. ←SNUG← LINGER = GUNSLINGER <fixture of Western media>
5. O + OPS = OOPS <that's a mistake!>
6. NO I SETTE(-r) = NOISETTE <sweet>
7. <discharge> RHEUM = R HE + UM
10. <maybe hearing> SENSE = (-bras)S ENSE(-mble)
13. FRAU DU LENT = FRAUDULENT <deceitful>
16. <defender> APOLOGIST = A POLO GIST
17. <guardian> WATCHDOG = WAG outside T(-wi)C(-e s)H(-y e)D(-it)O(-rs)
18. <take over> CO-OPT = COOP + T
20. <continual> ENDLESS = (N LEEDS)* S
21. <play> TACTIC = (-cu)T ACT 1 C(-limactic)
23. (-jun)TA SER(-geant) = TASER <shocking weapon>
25. LID 0 = LIDO <swimming pool>