Deborah McGurran
BBC Political Editor, East of England

In total £137m is to be spent on improving the road and rail corridor between Cambridge and Oxford, taking in Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. 

Helen Burchell
BBC News

On a cold mid-week lunchtime, what could be nicer than a picture of Elvis Presley in his pants?

Carole Clark came across this while sorting through her late cousin's things in Godmanchester.

Image source, Carole Clark

Now, we're not saying everyone loves looking at Elvis in his swimming trunks, but the photo stirred a lot of memories around the film when she posted it on Facebook, external.

It's an old postcard advertising Elvis, starring in the Paramount smash-hit musical comedy Blue Hawaii, to be screened at The Grand in Huntingdon. But what year is it?

There's a lot of speculation, but if you know, why not drop us a line by email.

The National Living Wage (NLW)  will increase from £7.20 to £7.50 in April next year, the chancellor has confirmed. 

"That’s a pay rise worth over £500 a year to a full-time worker," he says. The NLW has replaced the minimum wage for workers aged over 25.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

Philip Hammond is a very different chancellor to George Osborne - he's not as showy, he doesn't have leadership ambitions - so it was always going to be the case that this mini budget would be "big picture" stuff with very few local announcements. 

But we will all be affected by what he's said today and the view at Westminster is that when it comes to investment, the East is likely to be one of the main beneficiaries.

Science and research parks in Cambridge, Norwich and Ipswich will be in line for the extra funding for research and development, some of the many mobile and broadband "not spots" across the region can expect to benefit from the increased funding confirmed today, we might get some of the money for new housing and the commitment to east west rail, and an express roadway from Oxford to Cambridge will make it much easier to get about and do business. 

The details will emerge in the days and weeks to come.

Critics will say it isn't enough, but for a region that feels it's been underfunded for many years, anything extra will be welcome.

It looks like it's good news on the funding front for Justice Secretary Liz Truss...

It's the news we were expecting, thumbs up for Oxford-Cambridge expressway.

The Conservative MEP for the East, Vicky Ford has welcomed news that the Chancellor Phillip Hammond is investing £23bn in innovation and infrastructure. 

Helen Burchell
BBC News

Last week we told you about this little lot - eight feral kittens from two litters - desperately looking for their forever homes in time for Christmas.

Image source, Fenland Animal Rescue

The "incredibly friendly" kittens had a "tough start" in life but were taken in by volunteers at Fenland Animal Rescue, external, fostered out and socialised.

Four of them found new homes soon after and we're pleased to say we've just been told the final four, Bela, Polo, Molly and Dixie have also got new owners.

Image source, Fenland Animal Rescue

After a home-check by the organisation, one woman came in to collect her new kitten and also fell in love with two adult cats at the shelter.

"Those cats would have been spending their Christmas here with us, but instead both them and the kitten have an excellent home with a new owner who's truly smitten with them," the charity's Josh Flanagan said.

Chancellor Philip Hammond is in the process of delivering his Autumn Statement... BBC East political correspondent Andrew Sinclair is in Westminster.

Hannah Olsson
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire political reporter

There’s no doubt the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Devolution Deal is significant for the county - I’ve repeatedly heard it being called a "once in a lifetime opportunity" -  but there is also a wider context.

Image source, Andrea/Geograph

It may have been happening in big cities for a while, but we are the first rural area to get an elected mayor -  and with the collapse of the Lincolnshire, Norfolk and Suffolk deals, we don’t know if and when there might be another one.

Devolution was something heavily backed by the then prime minister David Cameron and former chancellor George Osborne - but a different government has different priorities.

Although it may be committed to the deals already in progress, we don’t know if there’ll be more in the pipeline.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

Chancellor Philip Hammond will shortly deliver his Autumn Statement, a kind of mini budget.

On a national level it is probably the most important budget statement for six years, as the new administration outlines its priorities as we prepare for Brexit.

But don't expect lots of local announcements. 

Whilst George Osborne had leadership ambitions and loved to name check as many local bits of spending as possible, Mr Hammond is a very different person. He believes in outlining the big picture and leaving it to others to reveal the local detail in the days and weeks to come. 

We will all be affected by the expected fuel duty freeze, as well as by any tax cuts or increases. We already know that money is going into science and research as well as in tackling poor broadband and mobile phone provision and it's very likely that some of that will come our way. 

But anything else? Watch this space.

Hannah Olsson
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire political reporter

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough's new combined authority will be formed in February 2017. There'll be eight members, with an elected mayor following in May.

Each of our seven local councils will have a representative, as well as the Local Enterprise Partnership.

There's so far been an assumption the leader of each council would be the representative - but the Lib Dem Leader of Cambridgeshire County Council Lucy Nethsingha questioned this, pointing to a lack of diversity.

"The current make-up of the combined authority will be six Conservative council leaders, all men, and one Labour council leader - also a man," she said.

Ms Nethsingha put herself forward as an alternative representative for the county council, but members voted against the idea. She told me she wouldn't consider standing as the mayor.

Hannah Olsson
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire political reporter

So far the only candidate to declare their intention to stand is Ely-based Peter Dawe (below), an entrepreneur who describes himself as a "thought leader".

He says he'll stand as an independent candidate and added: "It's an opportunity for a non-politician to demonstrate you can deliver local services in partnership with the electorate, without party political silliness".

The leader of Cambridgeshire County Council Steve Count has been widely tipped for the role. He told me he hasn't decided whether to stand yet, but is considering it. 

I'm sure many others are as well and I'd expect some announcements to be made, possibly before the end of the year.

Hannah Olsson
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire political reporter

The democratic dust may only just have settled on the final devolution votes, but attention is already turning to who our first elected mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough might be.

Elections are being held in May 2017 and although the details are yet to be decided, it's thought they'll be along the same lines as the Police and Crime Commissioner Election.

Image source, Rodney Burton/Julian Dowse/Geograph

If that's the case, it would mean a substantial deposit, with the backing of a large number of signatories. 

This system usually results in political parties selecting a single candidate, with a small number of independent candidates (if any).  

Sam Edwards
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

A man who lives in Fitzroy Street in Cambridge said it was "somewhat disconcerting to wake up and find I'm in the middle of a crime scene".

Image source, David Bidwell

Sam Morrow was speaking after a man in his 20s was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital following a stabbing which left him in a life-threatening condition.

He says he saw police officers in the street as he left his home this morning.

Sam Edwards
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire

A man is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after being stabbed in Cambridge last night.

He was injured in Fair Street, near the Grafton Centre, at about 19:00.

Image source, David Bidwell

The man, in his 20s, was was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital, police said.

They tell me no-one's been arrested yet, but a cordon remains in place in the area while investigations continue. 

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

The idea of a fast link between the university cities of Cambridge and Oxford isn't new. 

A government study has already said a "brain belt" expressway between the cities could boost the UK economy.  

If the money is forthcoming it could mean sections of the A428 and A421 between Cambridge and Buckingham would need to be dualled, including what could lead to changes to the famous Milton Keynes grid system. 

Image source, Geograph/N.Chdwick

The Department of Transport report also highlights, external the need for significant improvements to the A1 between the Black Cat roundabout in Bedfordshire and the A14 at Huntingtdon.

Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent

It's hoped an announcement will be made this afternoon in the Autumn Statement for £1bn to be spent on creating a new expressway between Oxford, Milton Keynes and Cambridge.

Martin Tett, the Conservative leader of Buckinghamshire County Council, says:  "any extra money on our roads and reducing congestion is good news". 

Although he says as an estimated £12bn is needed just to repair our existing pot holes and £55bn is being spent on HS2 "it's a relatively small amount of money in the context of transportation."

Image source, WSP

Cleaning and security staff uniforms from a Peterborough shopping centre are being sent more than 4,500 miles across the world to Kathmandu to help clothe 400 people. 

Image source, Michael Trolove/Geograph

The manager of Serpentine Green in Hampton came up with the idea to help victims of the earthquake which devastated parts of Nepal in April last year.

The property investment company British Land is funding the collection and transport of the uniforms.