Severe heatwave on the way for Newcastle

A severe heatwave coming from the west will bring the hottest weather in four years to parts of New South Wales this week.

Offshore wind offers great promise for Australia, but the industry will have to win an information war to convince some towns to take it up.

A cold case investigation has resulted in a 62-year-old man being charged over the unrelated alleged abduction of a teenage girl in the Lake Macquarie region of New South Wales in the 1980s.

The vibrant handprint display tells hundreds of unique stories about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and culture and unites some of the country's most respected Indigenous trailblazers.

As school holidays come to an end and people return to work, Australians are reminded to take precautions against another "substantial" wave of COVID-19.

With one in seven Australian women likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer, concern is growing about the wait times for diagnostic mammograms around the country.

Residents near the Ourimbah State Forest have aired concerns over debris left behind by loggers, with experts claiming the remains are a threat to homes and lives.

Over the past six months, Australia has gone from a parched landscape on the brink of extreme drought to flooding rains in summer. In the background, several climate drivers have been helping guide the weather.

It might be hard to imagine, but sheepdog trials were once so popular in Australia they were broadcast on TV each weekend. But if you're new to sheepdog trials, let's take a few steps back and revisit the basics with Muster Dog breeder Mick Hudson.

From a Texan superstar to the finest new voices in Australia, there's so much to absorb at the Southern Hemisphere's biggest celebration of country music.

Dr John Ward has devoted his life to providing outstanding medical care for disadvantaged people and ageing Australians – often at personal cost and with little recognition.

Join us live from Canberra as we reward the great work and dedicated service of everyday Aussies at the Australian of the Year Awards, from 7.30pm Thursday, January 25 on ABC Radio, ABC TV and ABC iview.

Art gallery upgrade: The re-development of the Newcastle Art Gallery is on track and it should be open to the public by the end of 2024, according to the Newcastle City Council. The expansion of the gallery off Darby Street will add 1,600 square metres of exhibition space, as well as a cafe and shop — costing more than $45 million. On Tuesday the foundation stone was unveiled by New South Wales Arts Minister John Graham, alongside council, government and gallery staff.

Pictured, from left: Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes, Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp, Newcastle Art Gallery Foundation chair Suzie Galwey, federal MP for Newcastle Sharon Claydon and New South Wales Arts Minister John Graham.

Fast rail plans: The federal government says a business case for the touted high speed rail link between Sydney and Newcastle will be complete by the end of the year. The High Speed Rail Authority's new chief executive Tim Parker, who began in his role last week, will oversee the coordination of the early stages of the $500 million Sydney to Newcastle high speed rail connection. He was the former head of the Sydney Metro project. Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King says a clear picture of that connection will be completed by the end of 2024.

Restarting mothballed coal mine: Australian Pacific Coal has secured more funding to refurbish the Dartbook underground coal mine at Aberdeen. The company has been working for more than a year to restart production at the mothballed mine, after receiving approvals in 2022. Global energy company Vitol is providing a $91 million loan to go towards capital works. Australian Pacific Coal says it's accelerating the installation of new equipment and the recruitment of coal miners will begin soon.

Immunologist recognised: Viral immunologist Professor Nathan Bartlett is Newcastle's citizen of the year. The University of Newcastle researcher helped develop a nasal spray to prevent respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 which is being tested in clinical trials. During the pandemic he also helped raise public awareness about the evolving virus and COVID-safe practices.

Music festival on the moove: Maitland City Council Mayor Philip Penfold says it's a shame to lose a popular music festival, but he's glad Groovin the Moo is staying in the Hunter region. The event is under new ownership and will be moved to the Newcastle Foreshore Park when it's held on May 4. The touring regional festival had been held at Maitland Showground for almost two decades, but the owners say they want to grow its audience.

More sand dredging planned: The state government says it's considering putting dredged sand from the Swansea Channel on nearby Blacksmiths Beach. The first stage of channel dredging has finished, with more than 16,000 cubic metres of sand deposited on Elizabeth Island. Stage 2 will begin later this year once it's determined where more sand might need to be removed from. Transport Minister Jo Haylen says they'll seek advice from experts on where that sand should go.

Insurance cost concerns: A Hunter Valley hobby farmer says her home and contents insurance is skyrocketing. Sue Jolliffe owns a property in Singleton near the Hunter River and says her insurance bill is now $7,000, a seven-fold increase on five years ago. Ms Joliffe says she's concerned about the rising costs of home ownership in regional communities.

Award nominations for local screenwriter: A Newcastle screenwriter says she's overwhelmed to see a TV show she helped create have such success. Emma Myers was part of the team which wrote Latecomers, a series that explores sex and relationships by people with disability. The show has been nominated for an Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts award and most recently an Australian Writers' Guild AWGIE award. She says it's an honour to be recognised for her writing, some of which was based on her own life.

Mountain bike event for Lake Mac: The Watagans National Park will host the Mountain Bike National Championships for the first time. The event is expected to attract more than 1,500 competitors and act as a gateway competition for this year's Paris Olympic Games. It will be held at the Awaba Mountain Bike Park over six days in March.

Mixed results for Jets: In the women's A-League the Newcastle Jets went down 2-1 to Sydney FC at the weekend, the team's first match since its head coach left the club. The score was level at 1-all up until injury time, when Sydney sealed the win with a goal. It comes after coach Gary van Egmond left the club effective immediately last week for an overseas opportunity, leaving assistant coach Ryan Campbell in the top job. In the men's A-League the Newcastle Jets put a 4-nil loss behind them Tuesday night with a 3-1 win over Brisbane Roar at Hunter Stadium.