Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Gardaí are investigating a social media influencer accused of scamming fans out of Electric Picnic tickets, allegedly making a six-figure sum before repaying part of it.

School secretaries and caretakers will strike indefinitely from next week, demanding equal entitlements with teachers and SNAs.

A Westmeath school has been ordered to pay €85k in compensation after a teacher was discriminated against during an interview, when the principal commented she should “enjoy every moment at home with the baby.”

Leprino Foods will shut its Portlaoise plant in 2026, ending mozzarella production and affecting local jobs despite promises of redundancy support and transition plans.

Fine Gael’s presidential race has kicked off, with Heather Humphreys and Seán Kelly both declaring their bids to replace Mairead McGuinness as party nominee.

Laois businesswoman Marie Byrne has gone public about repeated sexual harassment at her holistic therapy centre, vowing zero tolerance for inappropriate requests.

Filmmakers from Birr are creating The Last Dance, a documentary on the closure of Melba’s nightclub, exploring its legacy and the decline of rural nightlife.

Donald Trump hosted European leaders and Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Washington after his Alaska summit with Putin, as he pushes for a Ukraine peace deal.

Domestic abuse calls to Gardaí have soared 45% in four years, with nearly 42,000 already logged this year, prompting concern and calls for stronger support.

The Jim O’Connor Memorial Castle to Castle Swim returns this weekend, aiming to raise thousands for Pieta in memory of the late Athlone swimmer.

Thousands marched in Ballinasloe demanding full maternity services be restored to Portiuncula Hospital, accusing the HSE of abandoning rural mothers.

Oasis electrified Croke Park with their long-awaited reunion gig, delivering a slick 21-song set that left fans in euphoric nostalgia.

A damning Crowe Report has found poor productivity, weak supervision, and equipment issues within the Garda Roads Policing Unit, prompting calls for an urgent overhaul.

Fine Gael is scrambling for a new presidential candidate after Mairead McGuinness withdrew from the race on health grounds.

Developer Ciaran Fitzpatrick says his firm could build 10,000 homes in three years if given land with planning permission and proper infrastructure.

Laois TD Brian Stanley says over 80 families in Portlaoise are locked out of new homes due to missing ESB connections, accusing developers of misleading buyers.

Records show subversive prisoners in Portlaoise Prison have long been allowed to order luxury groceries, from rib-eye steaks to speciality coffee, paid for from personal funds.

Fashion chain Claire’s has entered administration in Ireland and the UK, putting over 2,100 jobs at risk as the company seeks a rescue deal.

An Indian nurse in Portlaoise says cancelling India Day after recent racist attacks sends the wrong message, arguing the event should have gone ahead.

Fierce opposition has erupted in Clara after plans to expand Inchmore House’s capacity for asylum seekers from 36 to 230 were confirmed without community consultation.

Mental health charity Turn2Me warns that nearly 1 in 10 Irish adults had a romantic relationship with an AI chatbot in the past year, calling it a sign of a deepening loneliness crisis.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Abbeyleix native Martin Whelan has been appointed CEO of the Housing Agency, tasked with driving sustainable and affordable housing delivery.

Laois primary schools are facing severe funding gaps, with some relying on parents to fundraise for basics like toilet rolls.

A coroner in New Zealand says the electrocution death of Laois man Sean Clear on a farm could have been prevented by “simple, no-cost steps.”

The Fleadh Cheoil in Wexford has broken a Guinness World Record, with 1,018 musicians forming the largest céilí band ever.

A political row has erupted in Athlone as Minister Boxer Moran is accused of hypocrisy over his withdrawal from legal action against a planned 1,000-capacity asylum centre.

Health researcher Charlotte Blease says AI could help tackle gender bias in medicine, but warns it risks repeating mistakes if trained on flawed data.