Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

School absences linked to Leaving Cert drop — ESRI researcher Dr Emer Smyth warns that missing 20+ days a year could cost students more than 80 Leaving Cert points and impact long-term health and career outcomes.

Ryanair and Aer Lingus rank poorly — Irish Travel Agents Association VP Paul Hackett reacts after Ryanair finishes bottom in a UK short-haul survey, while Aer Lingus struggles in long-haul rankings.

Pothole crisis sparks fury in Offaly — Sinn Féin Cllr Aoife Masterson says chronic underfunding has left roads in “abysmal” condition after her own tyre was blown out by a reported pothole.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner

Midlanders stranded in US blizzard — Birr native Michael Caman and other locals in New Jersey and Rhode Island describe being snowed in for days after Storm Hernando shut down cities and cancelled transatlantic flights.

Electricity price gap under fire — Sinn Féin MEP Lynn Boylan says it’s “grossly unfair” that Irish households are paying almost twice as much for electricity as data centres.

Latte levy backlash grows — Offaly TD Carol Nolan calls for the proposed single-use cup levy to be scrapped, warning it would pile further costs onto small businesses and consumers.

A Westmeath footballer tackles homophobic hate online, rent prices and Better Health with midlands pharmacist Liam Butler are all coming up to today’s Midlands Today Show.

Midlands Today with Will Faulkner