This week we exclusively reveal that UKIP and the Green Party are close to announcing candidates as general election fever rises.
UKIP has formed a new Dewsbury, Batley and Spenborough branch and hope to have nominees for our two parliamentary constituencies by early next year.
The Green Party, who have also launched their own branch here, could have a candidate for Dewsbury and Mirfield within weeks.
Nominations for the right to challenge sitting Tory MP Simon Reevell close on Monday. A similar process for Batley and Spen may not end until after New Year.
We name three suspects charged with human trafficking offences following an investigation which led police to Ravensthorpe.
Elsewhere, Birstall's public toilets will close on December 31 after traders were unable to raise enough cash following the end of temporary council funding.
Also in Birstall we detail the plight of residents whose lives are being made a misery by anti-social neighbours.
In Birkenshaw a school is to join a chain of Leeds-based academies while in Mirfield a street naming consultation turned out to have a sting in the tail.
And families should look out for our special 12-page guide to all the Christmas light switch-on events across the area.
We have features on all the fun festive activities in places including Ossett, Horbury, Batley, Birstall, Mirfield, Heckmondwik and Roberttown.
In sport, Batley Bulldogs have revealed the extent of the challenge they face in the 2015 Championship season under new the RFL funding scheme.
The Bulldogs face the prospect of facing sides with far greater budgets than them after the distribution of funding changed under the new ‘Super 8s’ league structure.
In other club news the Bulldogs have re-signed Keegan Hirst from Featherstone for the 2015 season.
Dewsbury Rams will meet Batley at the inaugural Summer Bash at Blackpool in May.
The new concept, based on the Super League’s Magic Weekend, will see Bloomfield Road play host to a round of Championship fixtures over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend.
The Rams-versus-Bulldogs clash will open proceedings on the Sunday (May 24) with a 12.45pm kick-off.
Boxer Gary Sykes says he is not fazed by Liam Walsh’s unbeaten record as he aims to add the Commonwealth title to his collection.
‘Five Star’ Sykes will face the unbeaten Cromer fighter in a Commonwealth and British super-featherweight title unification fight at London’s ExCel Arena on Saturday November 29.
Walsh has so far had 16 professional bouts without a loss and has picked up notable wins against Scott Harrison and Joe Murray.
But the Batley-trained fighter, who fights out of Central EBC on Field Lane, claims he isn’t worried by his opponent’s unbeaten standing.
In local rugby league, Dewsbury Moor continued their climb up the Championship One table after a high-scoring victory over St Josephs.
Plus, we have a review of all the amateur rugby league action from across the district, including Dewsbury Moor, Shaw Cross Sharks and Dewsbury Celtic's juniors in the Yorkshire Cup.
It's all in The Press, the only newspaper which has all of North Kirklees covered.
