EVERY MORNING, TheJournal.ie brings you the nine stories, a little before nine, you need to know with your morning coffee.

1. #REFORM: An overhaul of the Leaving Certificate grading scale has been unveiled. The existing 14 bands would be reduced to eight.

2. #ROAD DEATH: A 18-year-old male has died and a 16-year-old left seriously injured in a single car collision last night in Tipperary. The car they were travelling in struck a wall shortly before 2am last night.

3. #BOSTON STRONG: The Boston Marathon takes place later today under increased security after last year’s deadly bomb attack. A fourth wave of starters have been added to accommodate the additional runners.

4. #GARDAGATE: Whistleblower Maurice McCabe has revealed hundreds of new allegations of garda misconduct, the Irish Independent reports. They have been handed over to senior counsel Seán Guerin, who is currently assessing previous claims.

5. LEGAL AID: The waiting times for free legal aid have risen dramatically across the country, the Irish Examiner reports. The worst hit area is Cork South, where the waiting time for a solicitor is 64 weeks.

6. #SOUTH KOREA: The behaviour of the captain and crew of the ferry that capsized five days ago with 476 people on board has been described the South Korea president as “tantamount to murder”. Four more people have been arrested, AFP reports..

7. #QUANGO CULL: The government has abolished 45 state agencies and created 33 new ones, despite a pledging to ‘cull’ up to 100, the Irish Times reports. Some of the new agencies are ‘significantly larger’ than than previous quangos, it is claimed.

8. DOG CONTROL: More than a thousand on-the-spot dog control fines were handed out in South Dublin last year. That’s more than 10 times the national average.

9. #RING RING: A ban on mobile phones is a growing trend in restaurants across the country, the Irish Independent reports. While some say it will add to the ‘relaxation’ of dining, the Restaurant Association of Ireland does not support the move.