State News - NSW

Extra Qantas flights Newcastle to Gold Coast

4:00 AM | Qantas will add four return flights between the Gold Coast and Newcastle each week to give holiday makers and business people more flexibility.

News - General

Animal group wants all pet dogs desexed

4:00 AM | The state government should introduce mandatory desexing for dogs, a Hunter-based animal welfare group says. | A dog attack every day | Teenager mauled in savage dog ...

News - General

Calls to stop return of pipi harvest

4:00 AM | Pipi harvesting could resume on Hunter beaches as soon as next Friday, despite a push to stop the practice indefinitely.

News - Environment

Power bill the killer for Hydro smelter

4:00 AM | A union boss has blamed successive state governments, who failed to deliver a viable electricity supply contract, for the "death" of the Hydro aluminium smelter. | Union warns of aluminium ... | Hydro worker: CASE STUDY 2

News - Business

Warnings on Hydro worksite safety

4:00 AM | The Australian Workers Union has expressed concerns for the workplace safety of employees at Hydro's Kurri Kurri plant, following the announcement of its closure. | Union warns of aluminium ... | Hydro worker: CASE STUDY 2

News - Business

New evidence: Tamworth inquest suspended as police expand inquiries

4:00 AM | THE inquest into the murder of Penny Hill 21 years ago was suspended in Tamworth yesterday after the court was told new evidence had come to light during the police investigation.

News - General

Katie Ebzery named in Emerging Opals squad for tour

4:00 AM | NEWCASTLE Hunters basketballer Katie Ebzery has taken the next step towards her ultimate goal of full-blown Australian selection by being named in the Emerging Opals squad to play six games on a tour of China next month.

Sport - Basketball

Blues breaker: From tears to cheers: has Darius Boyd turned the corner?

4:00 AM | BEWARE the smiling assassin. That was the message from within the Queensland Origin camp yesterday after Darius Boyd’s spectacular return to form in Wednesday’s series-opening triumph against NSW.

Sport - Football - Soccer

Sean Matthews confident in Lake Macquarie players

4:00 AM | LAKE Macquarie captain Sean Matthews believes the Roosters are not far away from turning around their Northern NSW State League season, regardless of who is coaching.

Sport - Football - Soccer

Mark Jones little hope of rejoining Jets

4:00 AM | HE was once promised the job as Newcastle Jets head coach. Now Mark Jones doubts he is a candidate for the vacant youth team role after revealing yesterday his expressions of interest have apparently fallen on deaf ears. Newcastle’s youth coach, Arthur Papas, resigned yesterday to take charge immediately of the Indian under-22 team, whom he will steer into next month’s Asian Cup.

Sport - Martial Arts

Tamworth has motivation aplenty at titles

4:00 AM | TAMWORTH is more than just the host association for this weekend’s State U15 Boys’ Hockey Championships – it also holds the silverware.

Sport - Hockey

Justin Murray fights for Ultimate shot

4:00 AM | A FATHER of two, small businessman, law student and underground miner. For most people this would be more than enough to cram in to one life. But for Cardiff mixed martial artist Justin Murray, a shot at competing in the Ultimate Fighting Championship is, well, the ultimate.

Sport - Martial Arts

Bears coach keeps his options open

4:00 AM | NORTH Tamworth Bears have thrown open their selection possibilities and left it up to the senior players to impress at one last training session before tackling West Lions in a big local derby and top-of-the- table clash at Jack Woolaston Oval tomorrow afternoon.

Sport - Rugby League

Inverell braced for hot Pirates

4:00 AM | PIRATES have warned other clubs to dismiss them at their peril but there’s little danger of Inverell doing that as it fights to hold onto the Central North competition lead.

Sport - Rugby Union

Oxley High teen player of the tournament

4:00 AM | NORTH West might have dipped out in the State CHS Hockey Boys’ Championship semi-finals when beaten 3-1 by eventual winners South Coast but the local region celebrated success when two of its stars – Oxley High’s Sam Liles and Alex McKenzie – were named in the 16-player State CHS team to play a Tri Series against NSW Combined Catholic Schools and NSW Independent Schools next month.

Sport - Hockey