Yorkshire Evening Post

It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie... But a major think-tank has today urged the government to scrap HS2 in favour of superfast pods that it says could really narrow the North-South divide - and slash the Leeds to London journey time to just 30 minutes, external.

Image source, Hyperloop/Yorkshire Evening Post

Bradford City sign defender Adam Thompson on a season-long loan from League One rivals Bury.

A martial arts club which has produced two young World Champions needs to raise £3,000 so the pair can defend their titles.

Image source, Supplied

Modern Martial Arts in Athersley says it's £3,000 short of its £6,000 target to send seven competitors to the World Karate and Kickboxing Council (WKC) World Championships in Portugal this October.

Caitlan Williamson and Lilian Baxter, both now aged 11, became World Champions in the novice sections for Traditional Kata at the 2016 WKC World Championships.

About half of North Yorkshire Police officers are currently experiencing low morale and nearly two-thirds wouldn't recommend the job to others, the findings of a new survey suggest.

The statistics come from members of the North Yorkshire force who responded to a national survey by the Police Federation, external, the organisation which represents rank-and-file police officers in England and Wales.

More than 80% of officers in the North Yorkshire force say they're not paid fairly for the work they do, according to the survey, external.

The poll shows the treatment of the service as a whole, pay and work-life balance, are having the biggest impact on morale. It also shows that nationally almost three quarters (72%) of officers are happy with their pay, the highest level since the survey began.

In response, North Yorkshire's temporary assistant chief constable, Phil Cain, says the force has "made significant investment over recent years in an extensive well-being programme, to support and assist officers".

"North Yorkshire Police is grateful for the insight the Police Federation survey provides and is always open and listening to the concerns of our highly-valued workforce," he adds.

The replica, modelled on the Globe and Rose, would show four Shakespeare plays in York.

Have you seen these women? They're both wanted for recall to prison and police in Wakefield are asking for information about their whereabouts.

Image source, West Yorkshire Police

Amanda Briggs (left) and Coleen Kerins (right), both aged 38, are known to frequent the city centre area of Wakefield.

They are also both known to have links to most towns within the district, according to police.

Both women have previously been convicted for theft offences.

There are just two days left for people to have their say, external on whether fines should be introduced in Sheffield for drivers leaving their car engines idling outside schools and other buildings.

Image source, PA

Sheffield City Council says it's had at least 1,000 responses to its consultation so far.

The council's asking whether a scheme aimed at imposing on-the-spot fines should be introduced.

Jack Scott, cabinet member for transport at Sheffield City Council, says: "There’s no reason for drivers to leave engines idling at any time, but especially near schools, care homes and hospitals."

Council cuts are one cause, say funeral directors reacting to figures obtained by the BBC.

The Press

A beauty spot near Selby has been closed to the public after two dogs died, external from poisoning.

Image source, York Press

Derby County FC has handed a lifetime ban to a fan who posted "abusive" tweets about the death of Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp's son.

The boy, Luey Jacob, was born with his intestines outside his body - known as gastroschisis - and died just two days after his birth in 2011.

Image source, Shutterstock

The fan, called Jordan Byrne on Twitter, retweeted a message from the official Derby County Twitter feed about Sharp scoring a goal, but added the words "Dead son".

He has since deleted the tweets and posted a message saying: "Sorry to everyone for any harm caused."

Derby County FC say they condem all forms of abuse:

Kat Cowan
Reporter, BBC Radio Sheffield

Rother Valley Country Park, external has had its own floating obstacle course this summer.

And it's proved a big hit with children off school for the summer.

If you like to see people fall into water, this is the video for you:

It's the last full day for working parents to apply for 30 hours of free childcare for their three and four-year-olds for the autumn term.

The government already funds 15 hours of free nursery care for three and four-year-olds.

This is due to rise to 30 hours for working parents from September.

York is one of a number of areas over the past 12 months to have been piloting the idea.

The scheme has been hit by administrative problems and criticism about a lack of spaces.

Tina Morley is the manager of a pre-school in Harrogate. She says the extra hours will be more difficult to fund:

Nick Wilmshurst
BBC Yorkshire Live

Did you know that the organ in Leeds Town Hall is a record-breaker?

Image source, Leeds City Council

It is, in fact, Europe’s largest "three-manual" organ - which, to me and you, means it has three rows of keys.

The reason I mention it is that Leeds City Council's just announced a series of lunchtime organ recitals next month - all of them, of course, featuring this record-breaking instrument.

If you fancy seeing - and hearing - this record-breaking instrument in action, the series of recitals starts on Monday 18 September.

The time between someone dying and the official registration of their death is getting longer in South Yorkshire, new figures show.

Image source, Getty Images

By law, all deaths, except those which need investigating by a coroner, must be registered with a local authority within five days.

But Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster are all failing to meet that target, according to a new report by the General Register Council.

In the year 2015-16, 1,592 deaths weren't registered within the five-day target in Sheffield while 730 missed the target in Barnsley.

Rotherham registered 65% of deaths within target, whereas Doncaster only managed 61.9%.

The number of "ugly" shopfronts in Bradford city centre has reached "pandemic" levels, Bradford Civic Society is warning.

Si Cunningham, head of the society, says the city has many examples of buildings with impressive features which are let down by "poorly thought-out street level shopfronts".

He says city centre conservation areas are being spoiled and more needs to be done to combat the problem.

"There have been some unsympathetic designs in recent years. Most of the buildings are fantastic, but some of the stuff at street level is horrible," according to Mr Cunningham.

Plans for a full-scale "pop-up" Shakespearean theatre next summer in York would be of "enormous benefit" to the area, according to the city council.

If approved, the replica theatre will run between May and September next year.

However, it would mean the loss of about 135 city centre car parking spaces because it would be built on part of York Castle car park.

City of York Council estimates it could bring in about £7m to the city and says it would be reimbursed for the loss of parking revenue by nearly £200,000.

The bid to transport audiences back to the 16th century all hangs on a decision tomorrow by City of York Council's executive board.

Councillor Nigel Ayre says the proposed site, next to Clifford's Tower, is perfect for the theatre:

Sheffield City Council's admitted it "doesn't always get it right" when it comes to finding the right education provision for children with special needs.

Image source, Google

The admission follows the launch of a petition accusing the authority of failing disabled children as a result of trying to save money.

Campaigners from Sparkle Sheffield, a support group for children with autism, say the Special Educational Needs department is denying their children the right to an education.

They claim the authority's lack of help is causing children as young as six to suffer from anxiety and depression.

In a statement, the council says: "We are continuing to work hard to bring about improvements in finding the right provision for children with special educational needs and disabilities across the city.

"We recognise that we have not got this right in the past, and despite improvements we still do not always get it right currently. We truly regret this."

A man was left needing hospital treatment for a fractured jaw after being attacked in Huddersfield.

Image source, Google

The assault happened at about 04:00 on Sunday morning outside the Verve Bar on Byram Street (pictured).

The victim, a man in his 30s, was attacked following an argument with a group of men, according to police.

The suspect is described as Asian, about 5ft 9ins tall, of slim build, with dark short hair and he was wearing dark clothing.

Det Con Chris Eglen says: "This assault has left the victim with serious injuries and I would like to hear from anyone who witnessed it."

Morale is low among three in every five police officers, with South Yorkshire Police officers among those worst affected, a new survey shows.

The poll by the Police Federation, the body which represents rank-and-file officers in England and Wales, shows the treatment of the service as a whole, pay and work-life balance were having the biggest impact on morale.

The national survey, external, which a quarter of police officers responded to, showed almost three quarters (72%) were unhappy with their pay, the highest level since the survey began.

Meanwhile, the numbers suffering from low morale increased by 5% to 60% over the past year.

The Home Office said policing offered competitive pay and a good pension.

Morale was found to be lowest among the South Yorkshire, Greater Manchester and West Midlands forces.

Oli Constable
BBC Local Live, Yorkshire

A South Yorkshire ice cream seller is considering selling-up, claiming he can no longer have his usual pitch on the Wentworth Estate, near Rotherham.

Eric Brown usually parks his Monty's Ice Cream van outside the main entrance to the Wentworth Woodhouse Georgian country house, somewhere it's been for more than 40 years.

But Mr Brown says Anthony Barber-Lomax, Wentworth's estate manager, has said he has to move it:

However, Mr Barber-Lomax says he has not said the ice cream van must be moved: