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PM Scott Morrison promotes Australia's first lithium-ion battery manufacturing plant 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has visited Newcastle to talk up the first advanced manufacturing facility of lithium-ion batteries in Australia, to be built in an industrial area near the city. Construction on the $70 million plant at Tomago is expected to start within weeks. Batteries produced at the plant will power homes, industry and public transport.

Hunter GPs prepare for AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine rollout 

Doctors across the Hunter region will receive an initial 18,000 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for the first week of the rollout, to start from March 22. The first to receive the vaccination will be those most at risk from COVID-19. 

Former NRL player Jarryd Hayne wanted 'one thing only' before alleged rape, court told 

Former NRL player Jarryd Hayne is facing a Sydney court over an alleged rape in Newcastle in 2018, after a trial in Newcastle failed to produce a verdict. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual assault. Crown Prosecutor Brian Costello told the jury this week that the complainant had told her mother words to the effect of "there's no way I'm about to have sex with him". 

Councils sign joint plea for urgent federal help to cover disaster clean-up costs 

New South Wales and Queensland council representatives signed a joint statement released on Friday, calling on the Federal Government to recognise the devastating impact of natural disasters caused by climate change. Members from 17 councils, including Dungog, have joined together to pressure the Prime Minister into doing more to protect communities from the fallout.  

$212m PFAS payout for property value loss and distress, but residents' contamination fears linger

Three communities affected by PFAS, including Williamtown, have received a $212.5 million settlement for property value loss, and distress and vexation. But Shine Lawyers' Joshua Aylward said the Federal Government was yet to face a class action for health impacts caused by PFAS exposure because the link to various diseases was undetermined.
 

Vets urge horses, owners to get Hendra virus vaccine as new strain identified

Equine vets are urging horse breeders and owners to vaccinate against Hendra virus, following the discovery of a new strain of the deadly virus by Australian researchers. Newcastle Equine Hospital's Dr Lisanne Gallan outlined the symptoms, which included nasal discharge, laboured breathing, as well as neurological signs like "a wobbly stance".
 

Makai Lakes Hawaiian Outriggers hit the water at Lake Macquarie 

Have you ever wanted to see what it would be like to paddle a traditional Polynesian canoe? You don't have to head to Hawaii to get a taste of the action. Members of the Makai Lakes Outrigging Canoe Club show Mornings' Kia Handley how to paddle in an outrigger canoe ahead of their first home regatta. 

International Women's Day 2021: Meet St Joseph's Aberdeen's female leaders 

International Women's Day 2021 welcomed the stories of countless strong women from across the world. Aneira Bray and Meg Southcombe are two of the student leaders at St Joseph's at Aberdeen. They spoke to Bridget Murphy about International Women's Day and what it means to them. 

Roller skaters say leave the foreshore frog pond alone

You might think that a pond without water is a hole without a purpose, but that isn't the case with Foreshore Park's frog pond. Since it was emptied more than a year ago, it's been a magnet for roller skaters and scooter riders of all ages and abilities. Roller skater Bella Beryllium tells Breakfast's Dan and Jenny why she started a petition calling on the City of Newcastle to save the pond.

What else made news this week?

Newcastle Pride: This year's Mardi Gras event in Sydney was different, but the Hunter LGBTIQ community rose to the challenge. This year's theme was RISE and due to COVID-19 restrictions, Saturday's event was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground. It replaced the traditional parade that would've normally featured large floats along the streets of Darlinghurst. Newcastle Pride founder and president Lee-Anne McDougall said it had been a tough 12 months but everybody had a fantastic time. (Also, check out the ABCQueer account on Instagram!).

Anzac march restrictions: The organiser of Newcastle's Anzac Day march has lashed out at the state's Veteran's Affairs Minister, saying he was ignoring the logistical effort required in hosting a march under current restrictions. Minister Geoff Lee has announced up to 3,000 people will be allowed to march in regional areas, but participants will have to register. City of Newcastle RSL sub branch vice president Ken Fayle says the need for registration should be scrapped because it's too much for a handful of volunteers to organise. 

Culcairn abduction: A woman has been arrested in the NSW Hunter region and charged over the alleged abduction of a 12-year-old boy. The boy went missing on Tuesday from the town of Culcairn in the state's Riverina region. Police issued an Amber Alert before finding him safe and well 600 kilometres away in Lake Macquarie. A 36-year-old woman has been charged with taking and detaining a person with intent to obtain advantage. She was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court. 

Aberglasslyn shooting: A man was shot in the stomach after a fight with three men outside a home at Aberglasslyn, near Maitland, on Tuesday night. Emergency services were called to the house on Golden Whistler Avenue at about 10.45pm after reports of a shot being fired. The man was treated by paramedics and taken to Maitland Hospital before being airlifted to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition. The three men fled in a white Mitsubishi Magna, which was later found set on fire in Railway Parade, Telarah. Police say the shooting was a targeted attack and they're investigating possible links to bikie gangs. 

Broadmeadow stabbing: Newcastle police are urging anyone who may have seen or heard anything in the Broadmeadow area between 7pm and 8.30pm on Sunday, or who has dashcam footage from the nearby Nineways Broadmeadow vicinity, to contact Crime Stoppers. They say a 56-year-old man turned up at a Broadmeadow home on Sunday night and the occupant noticed he had a stab wound to the stomach. The man was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition, before dying on Tuesday.  

Koala plan: The State Opposition says the Government's new plan to protect koalas is chaotic and does nothing to give certainty to farmers. The Liberals and Nationals have struck a deal over their contentious policy, which they say balances the interests of farmers and the protection of koalas. It will see exemptions for farming and forestry land, aimed at reducing red tape for farmers. Port Stephens MP and Labor's environment spokeswoman Kate Washington says large areas of the state are not covered by the new plan.  

Hoping for a home win: In rugby league, Newcastle Knights hooker Jayden Brailey says the team is gunning for a win in front of a home crowd this week. The Knights take on the Bulldogs on Friday night at Hunter stadium to open their 2021 season. Brailey will co-captain the side with Daniel Saifiti. He says it'll be a tough first game. 

Stockton clean-up: Members of the Hunter Bird Observers Club filled more than 20 bags of rubbish on Stockton sandspit this week, just one of dozens of groups around the Hunter taking part in Clean Up Australia Day. Organiser Tom Clarke says the volume of rubbish is starting to decline, but there's still been concerning finds including large amounts of drug-taking paraphernalia. He says the return-and-earn scheme introduced by the State Government does appear to be cutting the number of plastic bottles being dumped.  

The listener's library

This week we take you into Kia Handley's monthly bookchat on Mornings. Along with literature lovers Amy and Laura, Kia dissects the best books of the bundle. This month's standout read is...
 
Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops

Shaun Bythell, Scotland's grumpiest bookseller, is back, with seven witty and affectionate portraits of bookshop regulars. Everyone knows who you find in bookshops: people who want to buy books. But, as Bythell, author of the bestselling Diary of a Bookseller and Confessions of a Bookseller, reveals, that's really only half the story.

We join Shaun as he introduces us to seven bookshop characters, from the Person Who Doesn't Know What They Want (But Thinks It Might Have a Blue Cover) to the harried Parents Secretly After Free Childcare, and all the way over to the erotica section, where we'll meet The Person Who Is Up to No Good.

Affectionate, sardonic and laugh-out-loud funny, Seven Kinds of People You Find in Bookshops is your indispensable guide to the flora and fauna of your local bookshop.

Happy reading. xxx

Recipes for our readers

This week's recipe is one for the party goers. Producer Bridget Murphy dubs her famous dip recipe the "This is the only reason I’m invited to parties" cob loaf.    

1x large cob loaf
1x 250g tub of cream cheese
1x 250g tub of sour cream
1.5 cups of shredded pizza blend cheese
½ packet of French onion simmer soup mix
3 stalks of spring onions
3 cloves of garlic
Handful of diced bacon (vegetarian bacon for vegos)
½ red capsicum, diced

Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Cut a ‘lid’ out of the top of the cob loaf, then scoop all the bread from the inside of the loaf, leaving a small amount inside to provide a strong shell once toasted. Tear the removed bread into bite-sized pieces. Spread the pieces on a tray and drizzle with olive oil.

Bake the cob loaf shell and bread pieces until slightly golden, and the shell has hardened slightly (only about 10 mins max).

In a frying pan, sauté the garlic until softened, then add capsicum, spring onions and bacon and sauté until cooked. Set aside to cool slightly. Mix the sour cream, cream cheese, shredded cheese and French onion soup mix in a large microwave safe bowl. Add the capsicum, onion and bacon mix and combine. Microwave the mixture on high for 1.5 mins, stir, then microwave for another 2 mins.

Pour the dip into the cob loaf and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Serve with bread dippers.

The best photos from around the country

Carolyn McKay took this photo of some very ominous clouds over Nobbys Beach and shared it via #ABCmyphoto.  

The #ABCmyphoto team is always on the lookout for the best photos from around Australia. Show us what the world looks like where you are by using the hashtag on Instagram, or by uploading your photos online here. Let's make sure more photos from the Hunter are featured across the ABC! 

How's the weekend weather looking?

Thankfully the weather isn't looking quite that grey for the weekend! We're set for a mostly sunny Saturday with temperatures expected to reach around 31 degrees, followed by cooler temps and a high chance of showers on Sunday.

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