County Durham family want careless drivers jailed
The family of a County Durham man who was killed by a careless driver say they want changes to the law.
Labour leader welcomes new South Shields MP
The new South Shields MP Emma Lewell-Buck, has visited the House of Commons for the first time to take her seat.
Labour winner makes history in South Shields
Labour's Emma Lewell-Buck has made history tonight after becoming the first female MP in South Shields.
Live updates
Community centre saved by charity takeover
Fawdon Community Centre has a library, a playgroup and space for local groups. The council announced it did not have the money to keep it going - so a charity has taken over and saved it.
Newcastle Tenants and Residents Federation moved its offices there this week and will carry out its work representing the people of Newcastle from the centre, while maintaining the building through its existing budget.
Watch Lucy Taylor's full report below.
Stockton MP wants army recruitment age increased
Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham has told ITV Tyne Tees that he wants the age of recruitment in the British Army to rise to 18, arguing that 16 and 17 year-olds cannot make a mature choice about serving in the force.
He said: "It's actually very unusual for a country to recruit at the age of 16. We're only one of twenty countries in the entire world that does still recruit at that age.
"They are children. We think about child soldiers in Africa and the Far East, but these are child soldiers in our country."
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Playgroup saved because manager "couldn't bear to let it close"
When Fawdon Community Centre lost its council funding, the playgroup Helen Wilding had run for nine years was due to go too. She had 24 hours to decide whether to take it on herself, but in the end could not bear to see it close, so she relaunched it as a private company.
Fawdon Community Centre saved by charity
Fawdon Community Centre was due to close after council funding was withdrawn, until Newcastle Tenants and Residents Federation agreed to take over, moving in its offices.
The charity will use its own budget to maintain the building, which houses a library, playgroup and space for community groups.
Stockton MP calls for changes to army joining age
The MP for the Stockton area, Alex Cunningham, has called for the legal age that a person can join the army to be raised the 18-years-old.
The current age that people can sign up to joined the armed forces is 16, although they cannot fight until they are 18.
The MP will debate the idea in the House of Commons later today.
Around The House: news and views from Westminster at 11:35pm tonight
The North East's newest MP Emma Lewell-Buck describes her first few days at Westminster, in tonight's edition of Around The House.
As the Member of Parliament for South Shields, she is stepping into the role previously filled by David Miliband.
She is joined in the studio by the Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald, who was elected six months ago. Both MPs talk about their aims and experiences with Helen Ford.
Also, we question the Hexham MP Guy Opperman about prison reform.
Plus, we consider the future of our region in Europe with a panel of MPs: Redcar's Ian Swales, North West Durham's Pat Glass and the Carlisle representative John Stevenson.
Join Helen and guests at 11:35pm tonight
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Full Report: Hartlepool hospital proposals moving forward
Controversial plans to transfer critical care services from one hospital to another have moved a step closer.
Proposals to move intensive care beds from The University Hospital of Hartlepool to The University Hospital of North Tees - have been approved by a panel of independent health experts.
The hospital has already lost its A&E department, and campaigners say cutting more services will leave people in the town vulnerable.
You can watch the full report from Jonny Blair below.
Full Report: North East MP boosts hope of EU vote
James Wharton is only 29-years-old, but he could be about to decide the future of Britain's membership of the EU.
In a stroke of luck, the MP for Stockton South has been given the chance to design a law forcing a referendum on the issue.
Our Political Correspondent Paul Brand was at Westminster for us - watch his full report below.
Rate of home-owners buying up council houses more than doubles
The Government has announced that the rate at which people in Newcastle are buying their council houses has more than doubled.
The coalition re-launched Margaret Thatcher's famous policy last year and offered eligible tenants up to £75,000 off the price of their rented homes.
Currently you must have lived in your property for at least five years to apply, but that will be reduced to three years in the near future.
Housing Minister Mark Prisk told ITV News that the rise was because the Government had been appealing directly to prospective home-owners.
Around The House: Guy Opperman praises plans to tackle re-offending
On Around The House, Helen Ford talks to former barrister Guy Opperman about the Government's latest plans for all offenders to receive a year's supervision when they leave prison. The proposals also address the problem of drug addiction.
The Conservative MP for Hexham has recently visited Brixton Prison and says it's essential to break the cycle of crime:
You can watch the full interview on Around The House, tonight - Thursday 16th May - at 11.35pm
