> Seven packages of what police believe is cocaine have washed up on beaches between Newcastle and Sydney covered in barnacles.

> Key points: > > - The RFS says people in the areas of Cessnock Road, Charles Street, York Street, Ridley Street, William Street and Hebburn Road in Abermain are at risk > - They are urged to leave now in a northerly direction if the path is clear to Kurri Kurri > - Embers blown by the wind could start spot fires, which may impact homes sooner than the main fire front

> Key points: > - An empty coal train derailed and sparked a grassfire west of Muswellbrook on Wednesday > - The blaze is now listed as under control but has burnt nearly 40 hectares > - No one was injured and an investigation will be carried out when the area is deemed safe

Couldn't find a non-paywalled story, sorry. Even the MEET Facebook page just says 'closed due to unforseen circumstances'.

> Key points: > > - John Maitland was cleared of corruption offences involving a Hunter Valley mining licence > - He is calling on the NSW government to compensate distressed coal investors > - The NSW premier's office says Mr Maitland's release will not change its position

> A Krispy Kreme delivery van containing 10,000 fresh doughnuts has been stolen, the US doughnut chain has reported. > > The van was en route to various delivery sites in Newcastle when it was stolen from a Carlingford service station about 3.30am on Wednesday. > > NSW Police are currently searching for the van, along with the sweet-toothed thief, believed to be a woman, who allegedly stole the van while the driver was inside the service station.

> Key points: > > - Sniffer dogs have been trained to detect the invasive weed Chinese violet > - The weed is commonly found in the Hunter region and can smother native plants > - Henry and his counterpart Daisy can detect the species in any location

> Key points: > - A New Zealand researcher says varroa mite caused feral bees to die-off within two seasons > - An infestation of 9,000 varroa mites has been detected in a Central Coast feral bee swarm > - Swarms are being caught to help amateur beekeepers restock

> Key points: > > - Birdlife Australia says "wreck" events are "confronting", but not unusual > - It is suspected that stormy weather or an ocean warming event may have caused the deaths > - Some birds are being euthanased and others are being moved to safe places to recuperate

> Key points: > > - Teacher Michael John Kable has his conviction overturned on appeal > - A court heard Mr Kable punched a school boy after being tormented by a group of students > - Judge Peter McGrath said it was Kable's first criminal offence and "out of character"

> Key points: > > - Newcastle's mayor confirmed the news after speaking with a Supercars representative this morning > - The mayor says it is unclear whether the city will hold the race again beyond 2024 > - A recent survey found 59 per cent of locals did not want the event to return for another five years

> A man has been rushed to hospital after he was set on fire during a terrifying pre-dawn attack, before seeking help at a nearby McDonalds. > > Emergency services were called to the fast-food store at King St in Newcastle, on the NSW Hunter Coast, shortly after 3am on Thursday. > > Police said the 23-year-old man had been assaulted and set on fire before seeking help at the northeast city store suffering serious burns. > > He was rushed to John Hunter Hospital before being transferred to Royal North Shore, where he remained in a serious but stable condition. > Police have since established a crime scene with investigations underway into the circumstances surrounding the incident. > > Local media reported that officer believed the man was involved in an altercation with two men in the busy street in Newcastle > > Investigators appealed for any witnesses or anyone with dashcam vision in the area at the time to come Crime Stoppers.

> Girvan Estate is in the hinterland of Nelson Bay.

> Key points: > > - Resources will be reallocated to slowing the spread of the pest > - Non-compliance from beekeepers and illegal hive movement was a major factor in the failed eradication effort > - Government and industry groups made the unanimous decision to move to a management approach

> Key points: > > - NSW Police have suspended the use of bean-bag rounds when responding to high risk incidents > - Krista Kach, 47, died last week after a shot fired by police struck her heart > - Ms Kach was involved in a 10-hour stand-off with police at Stockton in Newcastle

> Key points: > > - The woman barricaded herself in her unit early Thursday afternoon after threatening people with an axe > - Officers entered the 47-year-old's unit just before 10pm following a 10-hour stand-off > - Police say she was able to walk to an ambulance, but her condition deteriorated and she later died

> The rugby league great, who played 223 games for the Knights, is battling the symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) which is a progressive brain disease that is connected with repeated traumatic brain injuries and dementia.

> “I was a little man in a big man’s game so my height level was ducking through (opposition players) forearms and it was a habit of seeing stars, getting hit and seeing stars,” Robbie said.

> Asked about what he remembers from his two premierships that he won with the Newcastle Knights, Robbie struggles to recall any details about the games. > > “All I remember is that I played for a good team, played for a town,” Robbie replied. > > “Even watching the grand finals now, I’ve watched them that many times, I can’t remember doing them.” > > Depression and mood swings are symptoms of CTE, and as life got so bad for Robbie, he contemplated the same suicide attempt while sitting on the edge of a cliff six times.

> "[…] she (Dr Rowena Mobbs, one of Australia’s leading concussion and CTE experts) said that he (Robbie) has one of the worst brain scans that she’s seen,” she said

> Hours of opening: Saturday and Sunday 10am to 5pm, Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm.

> Key points: > > - An 18-year-old man has been charged with allegedly lighting bushfires in the Hunter Valley > - He's been charged with 15 offences > - Police allege the man lit several bushfires at multiple locations in July and August

> Beachgoers from Newcastle to Wollongong caught in the middle of shark politics this summer > > From September 1, shark nets will return to NSW beaches from Newcastle to Wollongong.

> The NSW Government has reached a vital agreement to get the full complement of New Intercity Fleet trains on the tracks as soon as possible, including the Hunter.

> Key points: > > - Tim Crakanthorp resigned from the Ministry on August 2 > - The premier raised questions about Mr Crakanthorp's failed property disclosures and referred him to the ICAC > - A governance review has cleared a renewal project linked to property holdings of his wife's family

> Key points: > - A petition is calling for Fipronil baits to be banned in the varroa mite response > - There is concern the baits are killing native bee populations > - The DPI says it has mechanisms in place to ensure the baits strictly target European honey bees

R.I.P.

> Key points: > > - NSW Premier Chris Minns announced a Labor minister had been asked to step down > - Tim Crakanthorp self-reported a breach of the ministerial code of conduct over land holdings > - Mr Crakanthorp was Minister for the Hunter, and Minister for Skills, TAFE and Tertiary Education

> Key points: > - David Chandler alleged there was an "absolute heap of danger" at an Adamstown site > - The CFMEU has compiled a list of concerns regarding safety at that site and another in the Newcastle CBD > - Sophie Cotsis says there is "absolutely no excuse" for noncompliance in the industry

> New South Wales Work Health and Safety Minister Sophie Cotsis says she is shocked by the state of two Newcastle building sites that have been issued stop work orders. > > Work has ceased at sites on Brunker Road in Adamstown and Watt Street, in Newcastle's CBD, after NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler raised serious safety concerns.

> Key points: > - A young person has died in NSW after contracting influenza B > - It comes as hospitals record a rise in admissions > - Health authorities are calling for parents to vaccinate their children against the virus

Coordinates 32.91622° S, 151.78913° E

I thought that they were under construction 3 years ago, but they still aren't finished. They're not on satellite view on Google Maps.