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8.40am: THE nation’s medical marijuana laws sit on the cusp of an historic change after a cross-party bill was tabled in the federal Senate yesterday.
8.30am:
8.20am: A PANEL of six respected Australians has concluded what many locals have proclaimed for years - Tenterfield is ‘perfect’.
8.10am: While Tamworth residents have already given up the use of their garden hoses, Gunnedah is watching a gushing Namoi River flood by and enjoying the lightest level of water restrictions.
8am: TAMWORTH’S “Boulevard of Dreams” is open for business and buskers are expected to register in their hundreds in the hope of being country music’s “next big thing”.
7.50am:
7.40am: Check out this video of the fierce storm that passed through Brisbane late yesterday.
7.30am: SANTOS has revealed plans to transform vast swathes of North West NSW into coal seam gas fields in a briefing to investors this week.
7.20am: TEAM work between police and Armidale’s hoteliers has led to a 16.5 per cent drop in the number of assaults on licensed premises
7.10am: Another restaurant and wine bar will open up in Tamworth's CBD in the coming weeks adding to the large variety of tasty options in the city's main street. But that's not just it - there's also a 28-room 4.5 star hotel in the mix too. Find out the details here.
7AM: YOUR WEATHER
NORTH WEST SLOPES AND PLAINS: Partly cloudy. Medium (40%) chance of showers in the north and east this afternoon and early evening. Near zero chance of rain elsewhere. The chance of a thunderstorm in the north during this afternoon. Winds easterly 15 to 25 km/h becoming east to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h in the afternoon. Daytime maximum temperatures 28 to 33.
NORTHERN TABLELANDS: Partly cloudy. Medium (40%) chance of showers on and east of the ranges, slight (20%) chance elsewhere. Winds easterly 15 to 25 km/h. Daytime maximum temperatures between 19 and 26.
Good morning. Need a national news snapshot first thing - well, we have you covered.
► To check out the front pages of Fairfax publications for today, click here
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National news
WAGGA WAGGA: A cormer Christian Brother who pleaded guilty to abusing four boys in Wagga, Albury and Strathfield between 1972 and 1982 has been jailed for a minimum two years.
BALLARAT: North Ballarat Rebels and St Patrick's College players figured prominently in the AFL national draft on the Gold Coast on Thursday night.
WAGGA WAGGA: Days when world champion boxer Joe Williams is not fighting an opponent, he is battling his own struggle with depression that almost ended his life. The former National Rugby League player from Wagga was on the Border last night for the Albury launch of short film — The Enemy Within — describing his demons and how he copes.
DUBBO: It is exactly 11 weeks today since Kibibi was born at Taronga Western Plains Zoo and the hippo calf is growing in both confidence and size.
WARRNAMBOOL: The battle against wind farms continues to be a lonely road for Moyne Shire councillor Jim Doukas. At the council’s meeting this week, Cr Doukas failed to gain support for his stance on wind farms in the shire.
KATHERINE: The enthusiastic students and staff at Mataranka Primary School are aiming to make next year’s Never Never Festival and rodeo an event to remember, but they need your help.
BATHURST: Just $100,000 will be offered as a reward for information about Jessica Small’s abduction and murder – despite the state’s deputy coroner recommending at least five times that amount be made available.
BURNIE: The Tasmanian government has been condemned by the opposition for ''ignoring calls to immediately fund improved drug rehabilitation services in Tasmania''. Shadow Health Minister Rebecca White said the government had ignored recommendations made by a government commissioned review of drug use and service responses in the North-West region.
REDLANDS: A Mount Cotton man was among 75 people arrested and charged in anti-bikie raids across Queensland this week. The 26-year-old was charged with 16 offences, including drug trafficking and recruiting people to a criminal organisation.
WHYALLA: Increased productivity targets by BHP Billiton will see the company revisit the expansion of its Olympic Dam mine.
BUNBURY: A six-year-old fighting an aggressive brain tumour is set to receive a helping hand from the now well-known fundraising festival, Project Kate.
Weather
International news
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The faces of Australia: Stuart Little
► Imagine having a seizure, being taken to hospital, sent home and then the next thing you know you are waking up in John Hunter Hospital diagnosed with cancer. Gunnedah man Stuart Little doesn’t have to imagine – this is his life, but the 20-year-old remains positive.