THE feelgood factor has returned to Welsh rugby and, by definition, to the Welsh nation as well for the two are inextricably linked. Okay, we are 'celebrating' no more than another defeat and, as All Blacks of yesteryear said until defeating Wales became
THE Assembly's e-commerce advice service Opportunity Wales says it has helped create over 2,300 jobs since its launch in April, 2001. More than 3,720 organisations have benefited and the goal is to assist 4,500 businesses by February, 2007. Andrew Davies
DAVID Jones Garages has acquired the former Hartwell garage on Newport Retail Park for an undisclosed sum. Around 100,000 will be spent on refurbishment and the business will be known as Newport Volkswagen Centre. Managing director David Pugh-Jones said
A BLACKWOOD single mum unable to work for 15 years due to severe arthritis has set up her own cake-making company. Tracey Smith, who has three children, said: "I've spent so many years unable to work because of my arthritis, I felt I was merely existing
LEARNING LINKS, a Newport scheme set up in 2002 to embrace isolated members of the community, has been recognised in a national awards ceremony. The scheme was launched by Charter Housing, now a member of the Seren Group. Learning Links builds bridges
WAY back in 1948 US President Harry Truman was fighting a re-election campaign. To see the most people in the shortest time he organised a railway trip using a special train. He made up to eight speeches a day from the observation platform at the rear
THE Assembly has pledged over 250,000 towards a pioneering scheme that could dramatically improve public transport services in Caerphilly. KickStart is a three-year initiative by Stagecoach, one of the largest bus operators in the UK, to encourage more
Mike Ruddock has called on Welsh rugby fans to 'back the boys' and give the Millennium Stadium a problem for the fourth and final game in the Lloyds TSB Autumn Series against Japan on Friday night. With 35,000 tickets already sold for the game against
A FORMER Newport social club secretary who had more than 700 indecent images of children at his home has been jailed for 12 months. James Evans, 57, gave no reaction as Judge Roderick Denyer passed his sentence at Newport crown court yesterday . Evans
CUSTOMERS at a Newport cafe are breathing easy - thanks to its new smoking ban. Following the lead of California, New York, Ireland and Scotland, the Copper Fields Coffee Shop in Caerleon Road is now a total smoke-free zone. Six weeks ago owners Peter
A GWENT councillor is being investigated by the local government ombudsman for his role in a controversial planning application. Cwmtillery councillor Mark Holland is being scrutinised for an alleged breach of the Blaenau Gwent councillors' code of conduct
A MONMOUTHSHIRE farmer has spoken of the'devastating' impact her business suffered at the hands of sheep rustlers. Jan Morris and her husband Theron, the joint owner of a farm outside Abergavenny, have been the victims of rustlers three times in recent
WALES must show their ruthless side when they face Japan at the Millennium Stadium on Friday in the last of their November internationals, says Rhys Williams. "Each of the autumn games has been different, the physical challenge of South Africa, then see
NEWPORT Gwent Dragons full back Kevin Morgan, hoping for an international return for Wales against Japan on Friday, today claimed: "I feel I'm far from being a spent force. There's plenty more to come." Morgan was yesterday called into the Wales squad
Caerphilly council's communication team won the best use of internal communications accolade at the Institute of Public Relations awards in Cardiff. The council team triumphed for a campaign called Unlock the Potential. The initiative is designed to get
A NEWPORT designer has launched a clothing company featuring a collection of T-shirts and fleeces for men and women. Maria Bowden has been inspired by her experiences and encounters while travelling through India, Asia and South America. Her label is
A PONTYPOOL software house has been the subject of a 500,000 management buy out (MBO). FM Workshop's new team is being led by managing director Steve Richards. He wants to increase FM's current 400,000 turnover to 1million in three years. He said: "Our
A CWMBRAN ceramics business is about to take a leap into the big time with a move to a high-profile site offering 20,000 sq ft of space. From March 2005 Tiles Ahead will be based at a large unit on Ty Coch Way, opposite the Territorial Army base. Managing
THERE is still no decision on whether Percy Montgomery will be able to play for Newport Gwent Dragons in their crucial Heineken Cup tie against Perpignan at Rodney Parade a week on Saturday. Montgomery is a vital member of the Dragons team and is crucial
A NEWPORT man who helped a'dangerous criminal' escape custody was jailed for eight months yesterday. Ian Muir, 39 of Marshfield Street, Newport, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender when he appeared at Cardiff crown court. The court heard Muir was
FORGET the Yellow Brick Road, a Newport pantomime has replaced it with the city's Mendalgief Road. Because the Wizard of Oz has been transported into the Wizard of Pill by a city rugby club for their annual Christmas panto. The 2004 production by Pill
A DELICATE show pony was stolen from a stable in Risca. Miss Moneypenny, a British miniature pony, which measures just 32 inches at the shoulder, was taken on November 14 at about 6pm shortly after being locked in the stable on the Twmbarlwm mountain
DRIVERS faced tailbacks of more than five miles this morning after part of the M4 in Gwent was closed following a five-vehicle crash. Only minor injuries were reported after the collision at 5.45am on the eastbound carriageway just before Magor. All three
FIVE generations of one Pontypool family gathered to celebrate two birthdays, 86 years apart. Mary Evans was joined by her three children, three grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren to commemorate reaching her 90th
A GWENT man left a savagely mutilated greyhound to die in agony on a lonely mountainside. A court heard yesterday that the male greyhound, Charlie - also known as Rusty, and his racing name, Last Hope - was found with horrific head injuries and his ears
