A SEARCH of open ground near a Laois village, as part of an ongoing investigation into Fiona Pender’s murder, was concluded on Thursday afternoon.

The funding will support young people become engaged and competent in the use of ICT.

HARD hats and high-vis vests were all the rage when pupils from the Doonane and Crettyard areas of Laois who attend Newtown National School were given a guided tour of the Breedon Ireland quarry site in Spink as part of Biodiversity Week.

PORTLAOISE has ‘about 100’ roundabouts while Portarlington has only four, including one that drivers can go straight through without steering.

A 27-YEAR-OLD man who targeted elderly residents in bogus house calls was remanded in custody for sentencing, after pleading guilty to two counts of deception.

Charles Miller, Boveen House, Sharavogue, Birr, Co. Offaly, R42YD45 and Vicarstown died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday 28 May.

Liam Quigley, Dairyhill, Ballacolla, Laois died peacefully at his home on 28 May, surrounded by his loving family. Predeceased by his wife Mary, son Colm, parents Mary and Bill, sisters Mary and Lilly and grandchild Karl.

A LAOIS village is “dying on its feet” due to dangerous speeding, which has forced some parents to send their children to schools elsewhere.

A MAN was brought before a special sitting of Portlaoise District Court this morning charged with offences relating to a message he allegedly posted on his social media page.

There were a record 4,300 entries in the competition.

TRESPASSING, speeding and anti-social behaviour are causing serious problems for residents in a Portlaoise housing estate, who have appealed to Laois County Council for help.

THE discovery of an emaciated dog in Portlaoise has caused upset and heartbreak for animal rescue volunteers. The puppy is so thin that he was described as ‘a little bag of bones’ by the Laois Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA).

The 16-year old teenager Jake Cunningham Burke who had been reported missing from Mountmellick since Friday 23 May has been found safe and well.An Garda Síochána would like to thank the public for their assistance.

A POP-UP restaurant at Heywood Community School in Ballinakill was a five-star success, as students cooked up a storm for almost 100 guests.

GARDAÍ investigating the murder and disappearance of Fiona Pender commenced a second search operation in Laois today 26 May. The search comes a day after they concluded a search for her body on lands at Killeigh in County Offaly.

GARDAÍ investigating alleged threats that were shared online arrested a man in Abbeyleix, this morning Wednesday 28 May. He is currently detained at a Garda Station in the Eastern Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

A SAFETY check is to be carried out on ‘wobbly cobbles’ that are causing trip hazards in Portlaoise.

A CAR was seized from a learner diver on cannabis who tried to evade a Laois garda checkpoint. Gardaí said that cannabis was found in the vehicle and the driver, who had no insurance, failed a roadside drug test.

Former Waterford Rose of Tralee winner Kirsten Mate Maher tied the knot with her partner Ger Butler at the stunning Castle Durrow in Laois on Saturday.

"Workers' rights in many cases have gone backwards and that needs to change," said the TD.