Welcome to your daily look at the news in the North East.
Each morning and lunchtime we'll bring you some of the latest news from the North East - from breaking news and top stories to NUFC updates and the cost of living latest.
Today, we bring you news that Newcastle United footballer Joelinton has appeared before magistrates after being charged with drink driving.
The 26-year-old, of Ponteland, was pulled over at about 1:20am on Thursday January, 12, Northumbria Police said. The Brazilian star has been charged with driving while above the prescribed limit for alcohol.
He appeared before magistrates in Newcastle today (26 January).
Earlier this month, Northumbria Police said: “Shortly before 1.20am today, officers pulled over a vehicle in the Ponteland Road area of Newcastle and arrested the occupant.
“Joelinton Cassio, 26, of Ponteland, has since been charged with driving whilst above the prescribed limit for alcohol. He is due to appear before magistrates in Newcastle on January 26.”
Joelinton has been fined £29,000 and must pay £85 costs and a £2,000 victim surcharge. He has also been banned from driving for 12 months. He has been offered the drink drivers’ rehabilitation course, which, if completed, will knock 12 weeks off his ban.
District Judge Paul Currer told Joelinton that he “sincerely hopes” he has learned from his mistake, adding: “This offending could, potentially, have had disastrous consequences for the lives of others, as well as yourself.”
Follow the updates from the court on our live blog here
What comes next in Gateshead leisure centres saga after council presses pause on closure plans
We also brought you news that uncertainty over the future of two at-risk leisure centres in Gateshead is set to continue for months to come, after the sites were granted a reprieve this week.
Gateshead Leisure Centre and Birtley Swimming Centre would have been shut on March 31 under plans that came before councillors on Tuesday, but decision-makers have instead agreed to a three-month pause in the budget cut proposals. It is hoped that the delay will allow for progress on possible community asset transfers that would allow local people to take control of their facilities, which have been deemed unaffordable for the cash-strapped Gateshead Council to keep running.
Emotions ran high at a tense cabinet meeting on Tuesday as the decision was made, while campaigners furious at the local authority’s plans have vowed that they “will not stay quiet” amid “palpable anger” from residents. While the deferral of the closure decision has been welcomed, there remain a number of unanswered questions about what comes next in this saga.
How long will this reprieve last?
This is unclear. Gateshead Council’s cabinet agreed on Tuesday to a three-month extension of the leisure centres review, but did not actually set a new date on which a final decision would be made or when the two at-risk sites could close. It was not obvious to those attending the meeting whether this meant three months from now or three months added onto the proposed March 31 closure date, and the council is yet to confirm any formal timeline.
Council leader Martin Gannon said that deferral would likely last until June, or possibly July, after May’s local elections. But there are no cabinet meetings yet scheduled for the summer months so it is not known at this stage when exactly the Labour leadership could be asked to make their decision.
Read more about this story here
Tim Healy steals the show at The 1975's Newcastle gig with star turn
We also brought you the news as Tim Healy was dubbed the 'king of the city' by son Matty as he made an unexpected appearance at The 1975's sold out show in Newcastle on Wednesday night.
While The 1975 frontman Matty spent much of his early life in the north west of England, he has firmly planted Geordie roots, thanks to his parents being Auf Wiedersehen Pet and Benidorm actor Tim and Coronation Street and Soldier Soldier star Denise Welch. And, while after being given a royal reception in Brighton, Denise was nowhere to be seen on Tyneside on Wednesday, Tim had quite the impact.
After son Matty and his bandmates had got their two hour plus set off to a great start with the likes of Somebody to Love, Oh Caroline and Happiness, Tim, a fine singer in his own right, walked onto the stage to do Matt proud with a great rendition of The 1975 track All I Need To Hear.
Tim's held the packed Geordie audience in the palm of his hand as his soulful vocals filled the air and got the reception he so richly deserved as the song came to an end.
Tim then got some well earned recognition from Matty later in the show, when, as well as describing him as the 'king of Newcastle,' an immensely proud Matty said he owed him everything.
A stalwart of Sunday for Sammy, a show that also gave Matty one of his early big stage performances, Tim can't fail to have got goosebumps as the crowd at Newcastle's Utilita Arena welcomed his son like one of their own and gave him and his band a reception worthy of a bunch of Geordie icons.
Read more about this story here
Anthony Gordon set for Everton showdown talks as Newcastle wait for green light
We also brought you news that Newcastle United transfer target Anthony Gordon is expected to hold showdown talks with Everton ahead of what the Magpies hope will be his Goodison Park exit.
The 21-year-old did not turn up for training on Wednesday but is set to return to their Finch Farm base this morning. It is understood that Gordon has not handed in an official transfer request but has made it known he wants to leave via his representatives.
The Magpies are keen to add Gordon to their squad before deadline day and negotiations remain ongoing over his price tag. Eddie Howe is eager to work with Gordon and feels he is exactly what they need to bolster their frontline.
Newcastle are hoping to get a deal close to £40million for the Liverpool-born player. Speaking on transfers, Howe said earlier this week: "There is no guarantee with the short time we have left and the very small pool of players available that we will be able to make any signing.
"That is the difficult situation we now face but, certainly, there will be an eye on the future and trying to get the right player in."
Meanwhile, Hull City have claimed victory on landing Karl Darlow on a six-month loan deal. Although, the loan is yet to go through with Newcastle using Darlow in their semi-final first leg win over Southampton as sub keeper.
Read more about this story here
That's all from us for now, but check back at 5am tomorrow for your next North East Today update.
In the meantime, keep up-to-date with all the latest and sign up to our newsletters here.
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