<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom">  <channel>    <title>Laois Live Sandra Malone</title>    <link>https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/author/sandra-malone/rss</link>    <description>Visit now for the latest news direct from Laois Live Sandra Malone and updated throughout the day</description>    <language>en-gb</language>    <copyright>Copyright 2026, Iconic Media Group Ltd</copyright>    <pubDate>Tue, 10 Nov 2026 01:07:43 GMT</pubDate>    <dc:date>2026-11-10T01:07:43Z</dc:date>    <dc:language>en-gb</dc:language>    <dc:rights>Iconic Media Group Ltd or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. 2026</dc:rights>    <atom:link rel="self" href="https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/author/sandra-malone/rss" type="application/rss+xml" />    <link rel="hub" href="https://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/" />        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Street cleaning in Laois to cost over €1 million next year]]></title>          <link>https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/politics/street-cleaning-in-laois-to-cost-over-eur1-million-next-year-9340068</link>          <description><![CDATA[<p>Laois County Council passed its €140 million budget on Monday, November 9</p>]]></description>          <pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2026 20:05:31 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">9340068</guid>        <media:content url="https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/jpim-static/image/2026/11/09/16/03/nuno_lopes-rubbish-bin-976921.jpeg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;trim=5%2C0%2C5%2C0" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>File photo: Pixabay.</media:credit>                    </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sandra Malone]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2026-11-09T20:05:31+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Public sector pay deal could impact Laois' 2027 Budget]]></title>          <link>https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/politics/public-sector-pay-deal-could-impact-laois-2027-budget-9339832</link>          <description><![CDATA[<p>Laois County Council passed its €140 million budget for 2027</p>]]></description>          <pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2026 18:35:23 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">9339832</guid>        <media:content url="https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/jpim-static/image/2026/11/09/15/09/Screenshot-2026-07-07-160549.jpeg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;trim=10%2C0%2C60%2C0" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>Áras an Chontae in Portlaoise.</media:credit>                    </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sandra Malone]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2026-11-09T18:35:23+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Politics]]></category>        </item>        <item>          <title><![CDATA[Construction to finally resume on special school in Laois]]></title>          <link>https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/school-education/construction-to-finally-resume-on-special-school-in-laois-9338382</link>          <description><![CDATA[<p>Saplings Special School has been left unfinished since 2023</p>]]></description>          <pubDate>Mon, 09 Nov 2026 10:05:08 GMT</pubDate>          <guid isPermaLink="false">9338382</guid>        <media:content url="https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/jpim-static/image/2026/11/09/9/36/MixCollage-09-Nov-2026-09-58-AM-6214.jpeg?width=1200&amp;auto=webp&amp;trim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0" type="image/jpeg" medium="image">            <media:credit>Deputy Brian Stanley at the site of the unfinished Saplings Special School in Graiguecullen.</media:credit>                    </media:content>          <dc:creator><![CDATA[Sandra Malone]]></dc:creator>          <dc:date>2026-11-09T10:05:08+00:00</dc:date>          <category><![CDATA[Schools &amp; Education]]></category><category><![CDATA[News]]></category>        </item>  </channel></rss>