A Member of the Senedd was put on the spot by sixth-form politics students at the Maelor School in Penley. The school recently received a glowing report from Estyn, which praised its "welcoming and inclusive community" and the "positive attitudes to learning" of students. Maelor Sixth students were also recognised by His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales for their active engagement and enthusiasm for learning.

Wales will take part in a UK-wide 'National Year of Reading' campaign aimed at boosting literacy levels and inspiring a lifelong love of reading. The  bilingual initiative ‘Go all in’/ Ymgolli’ will build on work already underway to support schools, learners and families, to improve literacy standards and nurture a lasting habit of enjoying reading. Schools, local authorities, libraries, and community groups will also play a vital role and take part in events across the year to showcase the joy of reading to people of all ages.

The Welsh Government has taken a further step towards introducing a national Deposit Return Scheme, with new regulations laid before the Senedd. The Deposit Return Scheme for Drinks Containers, Wales Regulations 2026, set out the legal framework for the scheme, which is due to launch on 1 October 2027 in line with the rest of the UK. Under the scheme, shoppers will pay a refundable deposit when they buy an eligible drink and will be able to reclaim it by returning the empty container to a collection point, such as a reverse vending machine.

The Welsh Ambulance Service has pledged to become an Endometriosis Friendly Employer. The Trust has signed up to a scheme run by Endometriosis UK, committing to support staff with the condition and to challenge taboos around menstrual health in the workplace. Endometriosis is a condition where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb grow in other parts of the body. It affects one in 10 women and those assigned female at birth from puberty to menopause, although the impact may be felt for life. Symptoms vary and can include pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, painful bowel movements and fatigue.

An award-winning organic estate strengthened its position as a UK leader in sustainable agriculture and innovation, unveiling a wave of environmental achievements. The 12,500-acre Rhug Estate, near Corwen, has made significant progress across carbon measurement, regenerative farming, renewable energy, education and biodiversity - underlining its long-term commitment to net zero and resilient food production. At the heart of the latest advances is a deeper understanding of carbon impact, and following its Planet Mark Business Certification, the Estate has now worked with Planet Mark and key suppliers to calculate Scope 3 emissions linked to the Farm Shop, covering purchased goods, transport, business travel and employee commuting.

It was lights, camera, action for students in Wrexham during a recent event showcasing career opportunities in the film and television industry. Held at Coleg Cambria's Yale Campus on Tuesday, 10 February, Careers in Screen brought together industry leading professionals in screenwriting, special effects and TV design to share their experiences. Delivered through the Discover! Creative Careers Cymru programme, led by leading education charity Into Film Cymru, the day offered an opportunity for local students to hear from acclaimed Welsh actor and director Celyn Jones (pictured), who recently directed Rupert Everett, Callum Scott Howells and Ruby Stokes in upcoming historical drama 'Madfabulous' about Henry, the 5th Marquess of Anglesey.

Barristers on the Wales and Chester Circuit have met local MPs at Cardiff Crown Court and Swansea Crown Court to oppose Government proposals to restrict jury trials. The meetings formed part of the “Justice needs juries” campaign, led by barristers who argue that court delays are caused by chronic under-investment rather than the use of juries. Under the proposals, the right to elect a jury trial would be removed in cases where the sentence may be up to three years. At Cardiff Crown Court, Circuit Leader Christopher Rees KC met Stephen Doughty MP, Labour member for Cardiff South and Penarth, and Alex Barros-Curtis MP, Labour member for Cardiff West.

A Wrexham-based charity that provides vital support to children with autism and their families has announced it is closing down. Your Space, in Llay, has supported families in Wrexham and the surrounding areas for more than 13 years, filling a gap in services for over 300 families, with a further 60 on a waiting list. Despite consistent demand for its services, i…

A Senedd motion calling on the UK Government to restrict social media access for children under 16 was opposed by Labour and Plaid Cymru following a debate on Tuesday. The motion, tabled in the name of Paul Davies MS (Welsh Conservative, Preseli Pembrokeshire) and moved by Natasha Asghar MS (Welsh Conservative, South Wales East), urged ministers in Westminster to introduce age restrictions on social media platforms.

A yellow weather warning has been issued with widespread icy conditions forecast overnight. The Met Office alert is in place across Wales and large parts of England between 5pm this evening and 10am on Saturday morning. A band of rain and sleet is forecast to move southwards across England and Wales this evening and overnight. The Met Office say that as skies clear, temperatures will "fall below freezing leading to a risk of ice forming on untreated surfaces."

Wrexham’s 10 branch libraries will remain open after nearly 1,000 residents responded to a public consultation on their future. Uncertainty has surrounded the future of the county's libraries and community resource centres for more than a year, after Wrexham Council warned in November 2024 that the service faced cuts of at least £185,000 due to wider budget pressures. The local authority manages 10 branch libraries, a homelink library and a pop up library, and five community resource centres across the county borough.

A disqualified driver from Wrexham who fled from police despite being arrested weeks earlier for dangerous driving has been jailed. Thomas Williams, 38, of Cristionydd, Penycae, admitted a string of driving offences including two counts of dangerous driving and driving whilst disqualified. He also admitted possession of Class A and B drugs. At Mold Crown Court on Thursday 12 February, he was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.

A leading land-based college’s Equine provision is firmly in its stride after securing a landmark new partnership with British Dressage, bringing the nationally recognised apprenticeship to Wales for the first time. The collaboration marks another significant step forward for Coleg Cambria’s long-established Equine programmes and builds on a strong track record of delivering high-quality, work-based learning across North and Mid Wales. The British Dressage Apprenticeship has already been successfully delivered in England and Scotland and is now available to learners aged 16 and over who are living and working in Wales.

Members of the Environment and Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee were concerned the about the impact on theatre-goers. v.1

Chester Zoo has become the first zoo in the UK to be officially recognised as an internationally important botanic garden. The Cheshire-based conservation charity is only the second zoo in Europe to receive a prestigious accreditation from Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), the global organisation dedicated to plant conservation. Botany and horticulture experts at the zoo said the recognition marked a watershed moment for its plant conservation work, strengthening the role zoos can play in national and international efforts to protect threatened plant species. Philip Esseen, Head of Plants at Chester Zoo, said the recognition is proof that the team's plant work has "real conservation value."

An investigation has been launched into illegal weight-loss medication allegedly being advertised online and sold at beauty salons across Wrexham and Flintshire. North Wales Police have executed warrants at three premises to date, where suspected Retatrutide - a medication not licensed in the UK - and other suspected counterfeit medications purporting to be Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and Semaglutide (Ozempic) have been recovered.

A major new investment in skills, education and regional growth has been confirmed for North East Wales, as Coleg Cambria and Wrexham University announce the creation of a pioneering joint venture backed by significant funding from Medr. The investment will enable the development of the North East Wales Skills Partnership, known as the Advanced Skills Hub (ASH). The Hub will change the way education and skills are delivered across the region, supporting plans for a more integrated tertiary system that is shaped by employer demand and regional priorities. ASH will operate as a new type of provider for businesses across Flintshire, Denbighshire, Wrexham and the North West.

School leavers in Wales will be able to apply to become train drivers from the age of 18 from 30 June 2026, under new legislation laid by the UK Government. The legal minimum age will fall from 20 to 18 in a move ministers say is aimed at tackling skills shortages and opening up new career routes for young people.

The Welsh Government has been urged to take action and ban pavement parking on streets across the country. Rhys ab Owen MS, who represents South Wales Central, criticised the lack of progress since a 2019 Welsh Government consultation on the issue during a Senedd debate on Wednesday (February 11). In 2023, the then Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters…

Staff and pupils at a local primary school are celebrating after receiving a glowing report following a recent Estyn inspection. Ysgol Llan-y-Pwll, on Borras Park Road, was described as a "caring, happy and inclusive learning community" during a visit by His Majesty's Inspectorate for Education in October 2025. The Welsh-medium school, which opened in 2022, has 47 pupils on roll and, at the time of the inspection, provided education for pupils up to Year 3.

Wrexham.com has invited the four North Wales Members of the Senedd to write a monthly column with updates on their work. You can find their updates – along with contributions from the local MPs and MSs – here. In this month’s column, Welsh Conservative Member of the Senedd Sam Rowlands writes: I am really pleased to report that following my campaigns the Welsh Government is taking action to improve transport around Wrexham. As the Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Transport and Infrastructure, I have been calling for improvements to Junction 4 on the A483 and for better bus links within Wrexham, and the Welsh Government has listened to my concerns.

A renowned conductor from Wrexham will join a rising young star from the classical music world for a spectacular concert at Chester Cathedral. Robert Guy, best known for the community opera 'Gresford: Up From Underground', will accompany acclaimed cellist Mariatu Kanneh-Mason for the concert, which will be staged by Chester Philharmonic Orchestra at the Cathedral on Saturday 28 February at 7.30pm. It will see Mariatu Kanneh-Mason perform one of the most celebrated and moving works in the cello repertoire, Sir Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto. Written in the aftermath of the First World War, the Concerto, regarded as Elgar's musical farewell, is described as being filled with longing, dignity and introspection rather than celebration.

The Welsh Government has defended its Nation of Sanctuary policy after the Welsh Conservatives criticised spending on the scheme, warning it diverts money away from frontline public services. In a written statement published on Monday, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Jane Hutt said the policy was about “responsibly managing and harnessing the opportunities which migration brings to Wales” and stressed that immigration and asylum decisions remain the responsibility of the UK Government. She said delivery of the Nation of Sanctuary approach accounted for around 0.05 per cent of the Welsh Government’s overall budget, but argued it had a clear impact on integration, community cohesion and wellbeing.

Plans to extend a local care home and provide additional bedroom facilities have submitted to Wrexham Council. Maesglas Care Home, in Holt, is seeking permission to build a single-storey extension at the rear of the property. The organisation, operated by AccuroCare, provides care for up to 28 people with dementia. As part of the plans an additional six residential bedrooms with en-suite facilities will be created. Associated landscaping and the addition of four new car parking spaces are also proposed as part of the redevelopment of the site. The plans also indicate the planting of new trees and shrubbery at the front of the care home.

A 19-year-old Wrexham man has been charged with drug supply. Police say that Tyler Priddin of Wynnstay Gardens, Ruabon, is charged with six offences including being concerned in the supply of cocaine and heroin and possession with intent to supply Class A drugs. He is also charged with possession of Class A and B drugs. Priddin was remanded into custody to appear before Wrexham Magistrates Court today, Wednesday 11 February.