Barnsley has been named by schools watchdog Ofsted as one of 16 areas in England where less than 60% of children attend good or outstanding schools and which has below average "attainment and progress" at GCSE.

Ofsted chief Sir Michael Wilshaw says more attention must focus on regions where too many schools are "languishing in mediocrity".    

Of the 16 "weak" local authority areas, 13 are in the North and Midlands: Barnsley, Doncaster, Blackpool, Bradford, Derbyshire, Hartlepool, Knowsley, Liverpool, Middlesbrough, Oldham, Salford, St Helens and Stoke-on-Trent.

• Schools watchdog Ofsted warns of north-south divide in England's secondary schools, with about a third in North and Midlands 'not good enough'
• Nottinghamshire Police respond to a video made by a BBC Radio Sheffield listener showing a police officer texting while driving a police van
• A Sheffield taxi driver becomes chauffeur to the stars, external after a taxi gaffe leaves rap legends Public Enemy stranded – moments before their arena performance

Sheffield Star

A Sheffield photographer became chauffeur to the stars, external after a taxi gaffe left rap legends Public Enemy stranded – moments before their arena performance.

Image source, Sheffield Star

Rotherham Advertiser

Lisa Pogson becomes president, external of Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce - its second ever female president.

Image source, Rotherham Advertiser

Maltby fire station will close and Maltby police station will be modified to accommodate fire service vehicles and staff, under plans now approved by Rotherham Council, external.

The project won government Transformation Funding of £560,000 last year. 

The move will help the two emergency services save cash by sharing building running costs, enabling funding to be targeted at frontline services, according to South Yorkshire Police and the Fire and Rescue Service.

BBC Sport

Who will you vote for to be BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2015?

The 12 contenders, who include Sheffield's Jessica Ennis-Hill, have been announced, with the winner to be revealed during a live show in Belfast on Sunday 20 December.

You can vote by phone or online during the programme, which will be screened on BBC One.

Jenny Cork
BBC Sheffield, Local Live

• Nottinghamshire Police officer caught texting while driving
• The Labour MP for Chesterfield says divisions within the party over Syria are affecting how well they can challenge government policies

• Joint police and fire station in Maltby gets approval

Jenny Cork
BBC Sheffield, Local Live

More on news that Nottinghamshire Police has responded to a video made by a BBC Radio Sheffield listener showing a police officer texting while driving a police van.

The officer is now the "subject of investigation", the force says.

He's been referred to the driver training team for reassessment to drive police vehicles.

Planning permission has been granted, external for a shared police and fire station in Maltby.

Jenny Cork
BBC Sheffield, Local Live

A Nottinghamshire Police officer has been filmed texting while driving in Rotherham, the force has confirmed.

The video was emailed to BBC Radio Sheffield by Paul Bent.

Nottinghamshire Police have issued this statement:

Nottinghamshire Police confirm the driver of a police van in Rotherham who was caught on camera texting at the wheel is a police officer.

More to follow.

Tom Ingall
Journalist, BBC Look North

Here's a look at the new tram trains which are currently arriving in Sheffield and should be in service within a couple of years.

The 37m long train has come all the way from Spain. 

By 2017, it's expected three tram trains an hour will run between Sheffield and Rotherham.

Sheffield Star

This was the day Sheffield was buried in record snowfall, external, back on 1 December 2010.

Image source, Sheffield Star

Len Tingle
Political Editor, BBC Look North

In his spending review last Wednesday, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, talked about "the devolution revolution".  

It's all about the big decisions about where money is spent being made locally instead of centrally.

I've been finding out more about what this actually means for Yorkshire and I've discovered the idea's by no means a new one.

Andy Kershaw
BBC Radio Sheffield

The British Figure Skating Championships have arrived in Sheffield. 

The contest's being held at Ice Sheffield Attercliffe.

The Championships are on for the next six days and they're open to the public.

Jenny Cork
BBC Sheffield, Local Live

Psychiatrists have concluded the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, is no longer mentally ill, it's been reported.

They say he should be moved from Broadmoor high-security hospital, where he's been since 1984, into a specialist prison. 

Image source, Getty Images

69-year-old Sutcliffe is serving life for the murder of 13 women and has been told he'll never be released.

Jenny Cork
BBC Sheffield, Local Live

• Police in Nottinghamshire review a video emailed to BBC Radio Sheffield whichappears to show a man driving a police van in Rotherhamwhile texting
• Psychiatrists conclude the Yorkshire Ripper, Peter Sutcliffe, is no longer mentally ill
• Sheffield's golden girl Jessica Ennis-Hill is nominated forBBC Sports Personality of the Year

Sheffield's golden girl Jessica Ennis-Hill has been nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year. 

She's among 12 contenders, including athletes Mo Farah and Greg Rutherford, tennis player Andy Murray, F1-driver Lewis Hamilton and footballer Lucy Bronze.

The winner to be revealed during the live show in Belfast on Sunday 20 December. 

Jenny Cork
BBC Sheffield, Local Live

Thanks to Paul Bent who sent this footage to BBC Radio Sheffield.

It appears to show a man driving a Nottinghamshire police van in Rotherham while texting on his mobile phone.

We're waiting to hear if the driver is an officer, but Nottinghamshire Police have told us they've referred the issue to their Professional Standards Directorate.

If you've got a story, why not email BBC Radio Sheffield?

Owain Wyn Evans
Weather presenter, BBC Look North

Heavy rain will make its way across to the east, but it'll be largely dry this afternoon.

The maximum temperature will be about 13C (55F).  

Watch my full forecast for South Yorkshire below.