EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you nine things you need to know with your morning cup of coffee.

1. #DEATH: A 14-year-old boy has died following a freak accident in Kinsale — Leon Connon became trapped in railings after collapsing while out with friends. He had been receiving treatment for his injuries in Cork University Hospital since Saturday evening.

2. #INCREASE: If you have health insurance with VHI, you’ll be hit with an increase in charges from next month. The price of plans is to be hiked by an average of three per cent — some schemes will go up by as much as six per cent.

3. #ACTION: Barack Obama delivered his annual ‘State of the Union’ address last night. He’s pledged a “year of action” to narrow the gap between rich and poor in America, and promised to use executive power to raise the minimum wage for federal workers on new contracts.

4. #COMPENSATION: Hundreds of residents who live near pylons will be paid up to €30,000, the Irish Independent reports this morning. According to the paper, Eirgrid has insisted it’s not an attempt to buy off communities.

5. #COPPERS: Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald has called on all nightclubs to review their promotions and security arrangements in the wake of Monday night’s crush incident outside Copper Face Jacks in Dublin, according to the Irish Examiner. Seven people were injured in the Harcourt Street incident.

6. #NEW DEPARTURE: Brian Hayes is to run for a seat in Europe. The Department of Finance junior minister will hold a press conference later today where he’ll outline his intention to seek the candidacy of Fine Gael.

7. #CLOSING: The last birth at the Mount Carmel Hospital on Dublin’s southside is set to take place on Friday, with antenatal care at the hospital continuing until mid-February. Unions are set to meet the liquidators of the facility again today.

8. #NEW JOBS: Digital research firm Global Reviews is to open a new European HQ in Cork, creating 30 jobs. The company will be hiring new staff over the next two years.

9. #NEXT PHASE: Dr Joseph Roche, the Dublin-based astrophysicist hoping to head to Mars in ten years time as part of the ambitious ‘Mars One’ project, has begun the medical testing phase of the selection process. He told TheJournal.ie he’s expecting news on the interview stage in April.