MSPs vote on a bill which would make stealing a dog a criminal offence.

Tue 16 Dec, 6.00 pm

Nicholas Rossi: Fugitive who faked his own death jailed for rape

They're man's best friend and, for many, they're simply one of the family. So how would you feel if they were snatched away from you?



Would you go as far as offering a reward of £35,000?



That's the situation one family finds itself in, as they appeal for the safe return of their pet dog, Bear.



They're welcoming a bill to make dog theft a criminal offence.

Political Correspondent

Ewan Petrie

One family are welcoming the bill as they appeal for the safe return of their pet dog, Bear.

MSPs vote to make stealing a dog a specific offence

A man with terminal lung cancer who underwent 80 rounds of chemotherapy is urging the Scottish Government to introduce a targeted screening programme for the disease.



Graeme Dickie from Johnstone never smoked but says too many people like him are still being diagnosed too late.



Charities argue Scotland is "falling behind" other parts of the UK, but the health secretary says things are moving as fast as possible.

Political Reporter

Laura Alderman

Graeme Dickie never smoked but says too many people like him are still being diagnosed too late.

‘Don’t be like me, get tested if you have lung cancer symptoms’

Residents in North Lanarkshire say they are increasingly worried about a smouldering, underground fire near their homes.



The fire, believed to have started in July, is at a colliery in Coatbridge, and is leaving back gardens coated in soot - raising fears about respiratory health. The local council says it could take some time to put out the fire.



STV News has been speaking to local residents about their growing concerns.

Rahim Cham

STV News has been speaking to local residents about their growing concerns.

Underground coal fire covering homes in layers of soot

With Christmas fast approaching, a North East charity is making sure thousands of children will have a gift to open.



The Giving Tree Appeal was set up by Instant Neighbour over 30 years ago.



Presents donated by the public are now being handed out to those in need.

Reem Satar

Presents donated by the public are now being handed out to those in need.

Charity making sure kids have presents to open this Christmas

The NHS is coming under additional pressure because of flu, with a higher number of people attending A&amp;E.



That's according to the health secretary, as latest figures show more than two-fifths of patients in Accident and Emergency waited longer than the target time.



Leading health experts warn we've failed to apply lessons learnt from the Covid pandemic, as flu cases surge.

Steven Brown

Leading health experts warn we've failed to apply lessons learnt from the Covid pandemic.

NHS facing additional pressure from rising flu cases

The funding crisis facing Scotland's colleges is an "'attack on working class people' according to industry leaders. 



Further education facilities say they've faced 20% cut in real terms over the last five years. Forth Valley college is considering closing its Alloa campus due to the pressures. 



Lewis Michie has speaking to staff and students who know all about the importance of the institutions.

Lewis Michie

The funding crisis facing Scotland&#8217;s colleges is an &#8220;&#8216;attack on working class people&#8217; according to industry...

College funding crisis ‘an attack on working class people’

The planned closure of a Lanarkshire bank has prompted protest from local residents who have branded it “one of the worst decisions” made in the town.



The Bank of Scotland in Larkhall’s Union Street, which has served the community for over 50 years, is set to shut its doors on January 8.



Hundreds are calling for an independent review into the decision, raising concerns over transport and digital access.



Larkhall Plan Partnership chairperson Nancy Barr said the move will hit older and vulnerable people.

Journalist

Tara Fitzpatrick

The Bank of Scotland in Larkhall, which has served the community over 50 years, is set to shut its doors in January.

Closure of Larkhall’s last bank ‘will hit vulnerable hardest’

Concerns have been raised about the structural maintenance of a historic viaduct in Moray, after it partially collapsed over the weekend



One of the spans of the popular Spey Viaduct twisted and fell into the river on Sunday.



Moray Council says an initial inspection confirmed fast flowing water resulted in erosion around the foundations.



No one was on the bridge at the time of the incident while a police cordon remains in place as the investigation continues.

Grainne NiGhreachain

Concerns have been raised about the structural maintenance of a historic viaduct in Moray, after it...

Historic rail bridge collapses into River Spey

A Kinross-based charity is urging families with children living with life-shortening conditions to seek financial help at what can be one of the most expensive time of the year.



Children's Hospices Across Scotland, known as CHAS, says families they support are often hit hardest by the ongoing cost of living crisis. as the children they care for rely on vital costly equipment.

Reporter

Vanessa Kennedy

Children's Hospices Across Scotland warn that families with children living with additional needs can struggle.

CHAS call for more support for families at Christmas

Leaders of Scotland's Jewish community say they fear being victims of an attack like the one in Australia. 



Fifteen people are now confirmed dead after the shootings at Bondi Beach in Sydney at the weekend. 



Those who were killed had been at an event celebrating the start of Hanuka.

Senior Reporter

Gordon Chree

First Minister John Swinney called the attack an 'unspeakable act of hatred and violence'.

Scotland’s Jewish community ‘very afraid’ after Bondi Beach attack

The First Minister has agreed to meet the families of children with dementia after coverage of a damning report into the state of care and support on STV News last night.



We heard the heartbreaking stories of families having to watch helplessly as their children suffer from the incurable condition, which has similar death rates to childhood cancer.

It comes after coverage of a damning report into the state of care and support on STV News last night.

Swinney agrees to meet families of children with dementia

It's been two years since it became illegal to park on the pavement in Scotland, and Edinburgh City Council, which became the first local authority to enforce the legislation, have handed out almost 9,000 fines since.



However, some council areas have still not initiated enforcement - a change campaigners say is necessary.

Some council areas have still not started enforcement - something campaigners say needs to change.

City council hands outs almost 9,000 pavement parking fines

Designs to heighten Brechin's flood defences have gone on display today as public engagement sessions take place.



The town's defences on River Street were overwhelmed during Storm Babet two years ago.



The scheme remains in good condition, but reports indicate its protection level has reduced

Saul Sievwright

Brechin's defences on River Street were overwhelmed during Storm Babet two years ago.

Plans for town’s flood defences to be heightened go on display

As flu cases continue to rise across Scotland, a record number of children are in hospital in Aberdeen with the virus.



One in six beds at Aberdeen's Children's Hospital is occupied by youngsters with flu, more than three times the number at the same point last year.



The number of people with the virus in Scotland has increased by nearly a quarter. Experts warn that it could still get worse.



This afternoon, the Scottish Government chaired a resilience meeting to discuss the rising numbers and the continued pressure on services.

Haley Bouma

One in six beds at Aberdeen's Children's hospital are occupied by youngsters with flu.

Record number of children in hospital as flu cases spread

The First Minister has apologised to a victim of an alleged grooming gang in Scotland.



The woman, who we are calling 'Taylor', was invited to Bute House after speaking to STV News about the abuse she experienced as a teenager living in care.



She is among the growing number of victims calling for the Scottish Government to launch an inquiry into group-based child sexual abuse, like the one in England and Wales.



Survivors say they are concerned the latest Scottish Government review will not get them the justice and answers they are fighting for.

STV News

Survivors say they are concerned the latest Scottish Government review will not get them the justice and answers they are fighting for.

Swinney apologises to victim of alleged grooming gang

The Unlikely Lads choir in Kilmarnock is gearing up for its annual Christmas concert, which sees them deliver festive favourites for the local community.



The group, based at the Centre Stage community hub, is made up of older men who have formed friendships and found company through singing.



STV News joined them on the eve of their much-loved show.

Laura Boyd

The group is made up of older men who have formed friendships and found company through singing.

Unlikely Lads choir gearing up for annual Christmas concert

Campaigners have launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the final funds needed to replace Edinburgh's iconic Lochrin Belle barge boat with an electric version.



The project is expected to reduce carbon emissions. 



The hope is that the replacement will play an important step toward a more sustainable canal environment.

The hope is that the electric replacement will play an important step toward a more sustainable canal.

Fundraising underway to replace Lochrin Belle barge boat

Since its formation on December 13, 1800, the Dundee Curling Club has been a resounding success.



As it celebrates its 225th anniversary, the club is looking to the next generation to keep the roaring game going.

Lynne Rankin

Dundee Curling Club has been a sweeping success ever since being formed in 1800.

Curling club celebrating 225 years looking to recruit next generation

They're used to making a big noise.



The music charity Sistema targets and works in underprivileged areas of the country, involving children in an orchestra.



This afternoon, performers from the Torry group in Aberdeen were bringing a bit of Christmas magic to their audience.

The music charity Sistema targets and works in underprivileged areas of the county.

Kids bring Christmas magic in performance with music charity

An Inverness charity which supports victims of domestic abuse says a contract wrangle with the Highland Council is putting a question mark over its future.



Inverness Women's Aid says it's being asked to sign a contract which could compromise the anonymity of its staff and is urging the local authority to come to a compromise to protect the service.

Nicola McAlley

Inverness Women's Aid says it's being asked to sign a contract which could compromise the anonymity of its staff.

Domestic abuse charity says council contract could threaten service

A judge has told a man who has been jailed for his part in a gangland feud in Edinburgh that "extreme acts of planned, targeted and wanton violence on the streets of Scotland will not be tolerated".



Arran Reid, 27, has been jailed for eight years and four months after admitting to being involved in a machete attack which left the victim with a broken skull.



Reid was arrested under Operation Portalege - the police investigation into organised crime.

Arran Reid admitted being involved in a machete attack which left the victim with a broken skull.

Man jailed for eight years after gangland machete attack

Work officially began today on the public inquiry into the murder of Emma Caldwell, with the publication of what it will investigate.



Ms Caldwell was killed in 2005, but it took until last year before Iain Packer was convicted of her murder.



Her family has raised concerns that the remit of the inquiry may see police and the Crown Office avoid accountability.

Ms Caldwell was killed in 2005, but it took until last year before her murderer was convicted.

Work begins on public inquiry into murder of Emma Caldwell

A 20-year-old student from Kinross who was diagnosed with an extremely rare brain tumour is trying to raise £250,000 for treatment.



Joscelyn Kerr was just 18 when she was told she had a schwanoma tumour.



She's now awaiting more scan results, after being told her current medication may no longer be effective.



But despite her devastating diagnosis, she's continuing with her university studies in astrophysics and is trying to raise as much money as possible for an option which she hopes could save her life.

Joscelyn Kerr was just 18 when she was told she had a schwanoma tumour.

Student hoping to raise £250,000 after rare cancer diagnosis

Two young brothers from West Lothian were so worried that some families might not have enough money for Christmas presents this year, they took their pocket money and bought as many toys and gifts as they could themselves.



When word spread of their mission, neighbours and friends flocked to help.

Laura Piper

When word spread of their mission, neighbours and friends flocked to help.

Young brothers fundraise for Christmas present donations

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Tipping Point

Ben Shephard hosts the quiz show in which players take on an extraordinary machine.

Ben Shephard hosts the quiz show in which three players take on an extraordinary machine in the hope of winning a cash jackpot.

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