Three-tier education could be retained in parts of Northumberland - three years after a huge petition to keep it.
A major review of education plans in the county could now ditch the controversial intention to scrap all 44 middle schools.
The original plan to convert the entire county to a system of primary and secondary education is likely to be scrapped as part of a revised Putting The Learner First (PLF) strategy.
Budget proposals - including proposed efficiency savings and likely Council Tax levels - for Northumberland's new unitary council will be discussed at a series of area committee meetings in January, which are open to the public.
The Alnwick district meeting will be held in Rennington Village Hall at 10.30am on the 15th.
Villagers in Swarland are looking forward to continued peace and quiet after plans for a kennels and cattery were thrown out.
Councillors have rejected an application for the erection of prefabricated boarding kennels and cattery on the outskirts of the village.
Police in Rothbury could soon be on the move, with plans to be submitted for the station's relocation.
Northumbria Police are to lodge plans to move the station in Croft Road on the outskirts of Rothbury into the village centre, to offices below the Coquetdale Art Centre in the court buildings on High Street.
Shilbottle CW beat Bedlington Terriers reserves 3-1 in the North Northumberland Football Leabue.
A 13th minute goal from Michael Douglas gave Bedlington a half-time lead but Shilbottle hit back to take the points with Richard Brown, David Davison and David Punton.
Elsewhere Berwick United reserves made the short trip to Belford and won a thrilling game 3-2.
Bumper pay rises of up to 40% for county councillors in Northumberland have been approved in principle - but will be subject to a public consultation exercise on whether they are acceptable and affordable.
Pay rates for the 67 members of the county's new unitary council have been recommended by an independent remuneration panel, and reflect the extra workload which they will face following introduction of the single, all-purpose authority in April.
A callous thief burgled a pensioner's home as he lay dying in hospital.
The burglar broke into 85-year-old Dick Murray's house and took a Christmas present, a jar of marmalade and a penny jar.
Mr Murray was a popular figure in his home village of Rothbury, where in his days as a builder's labourer he carried out repair work on many villagers' homes.
People power has won the day in the choice of the name for Northumberland's new super council.
County councillors agreed last night that the new unitary authority - which takes over in April - will be called Northumberland County Council. They rejected the alternative of calling the all-purpose authority Northumberland Council.
Last night's decision followed a public consultation exercise in which people voted 2-1 in favour of Northumberland County Council. Only staff at the six existing district councils backed the Northumberland Council option - voting 3-1 in favour of that name.
Environment Secretary Hilary Benn yesterday agreed to take up the cause of flood-hit families in Northumberland who are still out of their homes.
Mr Benn made the pledge after a plea from Berwick MP Sir Alan Beith, who said the Environment Agency needed to look into river management in the county.
Children's services at Northumberland County Council have been given a series of positive ratings from the education inspectors Ofsted.
The county is judged as outstanding in the categories of staying safe, making a positive contribution, and capacity to improve. It is rated as good at overall effectiveness, being healthy, enjoying and achieving, and achieving economic well being.
Click here to find some great days out and fantastic family attractions,
Click here to read the new edition of Your Place, incorporating Northumberland County Council's Your County magazine. The magazine can be picked up at Phillips Newsagents, Rothbury.
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