Welcome to your daily look at the news in the North East.
Each morning and afternoon we'll bring you some of the latest from the North East - from breaking news and top stories to NUFC updates and the cost of living latest.
Today Covid-19. is reporting on two musical legends: Stevie Wonder has been honoured with the Freedom of Newcastle, while local icon ChronicleLive put a smile on the face of a grieving sister at Wembley over the weekend. Then there's how, following his horrific death, Cramlington dad Danny Humble saved four others - through the magic of organ donation.
Read more: The courageous Newcastle boy, three, who cannot walk or talk and suffers 15 seizures a day
There's also some good news about Whitley Bay's buses and more criticism for former Health Secretary Matt Hancock from some who lost loved ones to Covid-19.
This is your morning North East Today update.
Sam Fender puts smile on face of stabbed teen Gordon Gault's grieving sister during emotional cup final trip
It was a momentous day Gordon Gault should have been alive to see. But when the Elswick teenager's heartbroken family made the trip to Wembley to watch Newcastle's Carabao Cup final, they felt like he was there with them.
And for Gordon's sister Jessica, handing a flier to musical icon Sam Fender was a wonderful moment. North Shields singer Sam posed for a selfie with her outside the stadium, too.
It has now been almost four months since the 14-year-old died after he was stabbed in the Elswick area of Newcastle.
Cramlington dad killed on night out helps save the lives of four people through organ donation
Danny Humble's death shocked Cramlington. A much-loved dad, he died after being attacked on a night out with his girlfriend. He has now been honoured with an award for organ donation.
Danny had been enjoying his first night out since lockdown restrictions eased in May 2021 and was walking home with his girlfriend when he was attacked by a group of teenagers.
His mum Deb explained that she "couldn't bear to think that was it for Danny", so with the consent of family spoke about the option of organ donation with nurses at the hospital.
Stevie Wonder awarded Freedom of Newcastle as music icon hailed as 'an inspiration'
Stevie Wonder has been hailed as “an inspiration” as city leaders agreed to award the music legend the Freedom of Newcastle.
Councillors voted on Wednesday evening to confer Newcastle’s highest civic honour on the American chart-topper. The 72-year-old, who played at the City Hall in the 1960s, was chosen in recognition of his campaign to establish Martin Luther King’s birthday as a national holiday in the USA.
Newcastle has long held great pride in its links with the civil rights leader, who visited Tyneside in November 1967 to receive an honorary degree from Newcastle University – the only British institution to honour him before his assassination, which came just five months later.
Daughters who lost loved ones to Covid slam Matt Hancock after claims he allegedly rejected test advice
Two daughters who lost loved ones to coronavirus have slammed Matt Hancock following accusations that he rejected advice to test everyone in care homes equally.
Ann O'Connor, 54, lost her mother Elsie Matthewson, 86, when she contracted Covid-19 during the first national lockdown. Elsie, who lived in a care home in Durham, died on April 22, 2020.
Elaine Rennie, 52, lost her dad Alistair Rennie, 82, and brother Mark Rennie, 47, both from Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, to Covid within days of each other.
Delight as Whitley Bay bus routes saved from threat of cuts with minor alterations proposed
Nexus has confirmed the formerly at-risk 51 and W2 bus routes are here to stay following a strong public response.
Nexus considered withdrawing the 51 service between Whitley Bay and Holystone. The W2 route, operating between Whitley Bay metro and Briardene, also faced servicing Beaumont Park, Red House Farm, and Earsdon Village, reducing the frequency of the service.
113 Whitley Bay residents signed a petition, started by the North Tyneside Public Transport Users Group, in opposition to the proposed changes. Nexus has decided to continue to fund the routes, with the exception of lightly used evening journeys on the 51.
READ NEXT:
- Greggs factory worker's 1,215 mile Land's End to John O'Groats hike for mental health causes
- Family's heartbreak as renowned Northumberland artist and 'amazing' grandmother dies of cancer
- 'No coincidence' North East has highest rate of unpaid carers in England says charity boss
- Tot was 'hours away' from death after common cold led to heart failure - now she's waiting for a transplant in Newcastle
- Paramedic's stark knife crime warning after seeing 'devastation' it causes first-hand
