Man shot by police after allegedly stabbing officers

A man is dead after he was shot by NSW Police at Wickham on Friday morning, after he allegedly stabbed one officer in the chest and wounded another.

Michael Kable was supported by a group of students as he had his case heard at Maitland Local Court on Thursday.

A man believed to be in his 70s drowned during a family outing at Fingal Bay Beach in Port Stephens. He was one of three separate drowning deaths on Easter Sunday.

A coronial inquest hears that the 41-year-old man was left by police on his parents' doorstep against their wishes in 2019, where he was later found dead from acute alcohol intoxication.

An amber alert has been issued by New South Wales health officials for certain dosages of a life-saving blood-thinning drug and a sleep-inducing anaesthetic.

Domenico is one of an increasing number of Australian men over the age of 80 who are dying by suicide, with figures rising sharply since 2021.

Vets at Taronga Zoo call on fishers to responsibly dispose of their hooks after saving a turtle found in Lake Macquarie.

Steve Tickner was hunted by Myanmar's military regime. After a year in hiding, he escaped with the help of the Australian embassy and an underground network of dissidents who hatched a plan to smuggle him out of the country.

At the start of 2023, WorldPride came Down Under to celebrate and promote LGBTQIA+ rights. But rewind 70 years and queer people living in regional NSW had a very different story to tell.

Jai West always thought her career lay in the health sector until she got a taste of life as a carpenter. She's never looked back and has never been busier.

"It’s competitive, social and fun,” says champion pickleball player Tony Morgan. He has high hopes for the sport in the Hunter and is looking forward to the return of elite pickleball players from the Asian Pickleball Championships.

Changing energy landscape: The state's new Energy Minister says she has been briefed on the challenges ahead as the region prepares for power station closures. The Liddell plant near Muswellbrook will shut down at the end of this month, with the Eraring operation set to follow in 2025. Minister Penny Sharpe says "all options are on the table" to ensure energy security during the transition to renewables.

Ash Barty visit: Former tennis world number one Ash Barty was in Newcastle on Thursday to launch the 2023 National Indigenous Tennis Carnival. Since retiring from tennis, Barty has taken up the First Nations Ambassador role with Tennis Australia. She was joined by more than 100 First Nations kids from across the Hunter for a day of cultural activities and tennis lessons.

Brailey's season-ending injury: Newcastle Knights co-captain Jayden Brailey has been ruled out for the remainder of the NRL season after suffering a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and torn meniscus in his right knee. The star hooker was injured during Sunday's 34-24 win over the Warriors. It's the latest blow in a string of injuries for the Knights.

Hayne granted bail: Former NRL star Jarryd Haynehas been granted bail ahead of his sentence hearing for sexually assaulting a woman in Newcastle. On Thursday, District Court Judge Graham Turnbull SC allowed him to return home, accepting Hayne's argument that he would be a target if held in a remand prison while awaiting sentence.

Hunter Valley fire: An investigation is underway after a man suffered serious burns in a large fire at Woodville. Fire crews were called to a 100-metre long shed on Paterson Road around midday on Saturday. It took firefighters until the following morning to extinguish the blaze. A 68-year-old man was flown to Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital.

Muswellbrook home invasion: Police are stepping up efforts to track down two people they believe can help with inquiries into an alleged home invasion in Muswellbrook last month. Police have been told five men, armed with weapons including machetes, knives and hammers, forced their way into the house and demanded money, before assaulting four occupants inside. Detectives have now released CCTV footage from a business in Wellington of a man and woman they believe can assist with the investigation.

Upper Hunter greyhound facility: Greyhound Racing NSW says it will use noise blocking technology to reduce the sound of barking dogs at their proposed rehoming farm at Martindale. The facility would be capable of housing up to 400 retired racing dogs. Residents have raised concerns about noise and flood risks. The regional planning panel is still considering the application.

Brucellosis spike: Vets in the Upper Hunter have noticed a rise in cases of brucellosis in hunting dogs. The deadly bacterial disease was first detected in the region late in 2021 in feral pigs. It can then spread to dogs and in rare cases, can also be transferred to humans. Hunter Local Land Services District vet Jim Kerr says current guidelines recommend infected dogs be euthanised.

World Surf League: Newcastle surfer Ryan Callinan has moved to sixth in the World Surf League rankings after making the Bells Beach Pro final on Tuesday afternoon. Callinan went down to fellow Australian Ethan Ewing in the men's event. Australian Tyler Wright, who now calls Newcastle home, secured back-to-back wins at Bells in the women's event. Newcastle's Jackson Baker also moved up six places to world number 24 in the rankings, after making his first Championship Tour quarter finals.

Newcastle Jets loss: Brisbane Roar's men's team has kept the Jets scoreless, recording a 3-0 win on Saturday. Coach Arthur Papas says it was "a disappointing night" calling for more "accountability about performance of the officials". The Jets take on Macarthur this Friday at home.