Jobs the big issue of the NSW election?

After more than a century, the remains of an Awabakal ancestor will finally be returned to Newcastle. They are one of more than 1,650 Aboriginal ancestors that have been returned to Australia from around the world since 1990. But there are thousands more still to come home.

People in the most marginal seat in regional NSW, Upper Hunter, usually work in coal mines, power stations, or on farms. There's both concern and optimism about traditional jobs.

Daniel Norman Hatton, 55, has pleaded not guilty to allegedly abusing two juniors in the sport, with the court hearing he told police he "physically couldn't do it". Why?

Sev.en Global Investments acquired the plant last year and says Australia's power requirements are at risk in terms of capacity.

Port Kembla, Newcastle and Brisbane are all shortlisted as possible east coast sites for a nuclear submarine base, but what are the pros and cons of each location?

The Myall Lakes MP retired from state politics in October last year, after revealing his diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Cassandra Jewell was the first female electrician at her workplace. She says the rewards far outweigh the challenges.

When was the last time you had a decent night's sleep? Chief executive of the Sleep Health Foundation Dr Moira Junge spoke with Craig Hamilton about the true value of a good night's rest.

ABC Newcastle's biggest dog-lover Dan Cox wanted to meet the region's newest hearing dog Kalli to find out how she's changed the life of her human, Margaret.

It's 22 years to the day since Newcastle woman Maria hit rock bottom and stopped playing pokies for good. But she says local clubs and lawmakers need to break their own addictions to gambling revenue.

Laurise Dickson hears Maria's story and also finds out just how big the poker machine problem is in New South Wales.

Election countdown: Campaigning across the Hunter has been heating up in a last-minute bid to woo voters before they head to the polls on Saturday. Pre-poll booths are now open, with the NSW Electoral Commission estimating about 30 per cent of residents will vote early. It says it's received 540,000 postal vote applications – the largest number ever for a NSW election. Find out where you can grab a democracy sausage here.

Arrest over Beresfield fires: A Sydney man is before the courts after allegedly lighting four fires at Beresfield on Saturday. Fire crews extinguished the blazes on grassland near Weakleys Drive and police arrested a 43-year-old man on John Renshaw Drive a short time later. He's been charged with four counts of intentionally cause fire, being reckless as to its spread and breach of bail.

Charges follow Newcastle pub brawl: Six people — four men and two women — have been charged with multiple offences after a fight in a pub at Minmi on Saturday, February 18. Police allege a few hours afterwards, the men returned to the hotel and assaulted patrons in the car park, including a 33-year-old man who was knocked unconscious. Officers searched four properties in Cardiff, Edgeworth, Gillieston Heights and Newcastle West last week where they allegedly found firearms, cannabis and MDMA.

Plant extinction fears: The Hunter Community Environment Centre is calling for an immediate moratorium on land clearing in specified zones to avoid a mass plant extinction. Its most recent study, focusing on a large patch of land from the Barringtons to the Hawkesbury, found half of the plants found within the area could have their habitat wiped-out within 50 years. The group has identified corridors that it says need to be prioritised to protect threatened flora and fauna.

Water watch: Hunter Water says it's already preparing for the next potential drought. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued an El Niño watch, with a 50 per cent chance the wet conditions experienced across the east coast are likely to cease later this year. Hunter Water says while water storage is at a healthy 92 per cent, it doesn't take long to deplete.

Future housing planning: The Urban Development Institute of Australia has launched a 13-point plan to tackle the housing shortage in the Hunter and NSW. It has listed better infrastructure planning and delivery as important to support new housing developments in the region. The institute's Hunter chapter chairman Geoffrey Rock says improving water, sewerage and road infrastructure would support developments already in the pipeline.

Super withdrawal: New data has shown sharp differences across the Hunter region as to which residents withdrew from their superannuation accounts during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than $38 billion was paid out nationwide under the federal scheme. In Maitland, Muswellbrook, Raymond Terrace, Kurri Kurri and The Entrance, as many as a quarter of working-age residents withdrew super. An analysis reveals that on average, those who took the maximum amount of $20,000 reduced their super balance on retirement by $120,000.

Surfest turns 37: The Surfest Qualifying Series is underway in Newcastle, with big names like Morgan Cibilic, Jackson Baker, Philippa Anderson and Julian Wilson among those competing in the World Surf League event. The Indigenous Classic wrapped up on Sunday, with the Gold Coast's Taj Simon winning the open men's and Northern Rivers teen Ocea Curtis taking out the open women's event.

A-league results: The men's Newcastle Jets drew 2-all with Perth Glory at Hunter Stadium during the weekend. Newcastle was leading but conceded a goal in the dying seconds of the match. It'll face ladder leaders Melbourne City this week. The women's team also drew 2-all this weekend, against Adelaide United. Its next match is against Wellington.

Knights defeat: The men's Newcastle Knights went down to competition newcomers the Dolphins 36-20 on Friday night. Knights forward Dylan Lucas has been cited by the match review committee for a grade 1 crusher tackle on Dolphins centre Euan Aitken. The 22-year-old has entered an early guilty plea and is facing a $1,500 fine. He won't serve any match suspension time.