Good morning, Canberra. We're in for a top of 29 with some possible smoke haze and rain to end the working week. Here's what's making headlines.

Region on high alert after epic battle to tame runaway beast

Fire-fighters fought through the day to tame a blaze which stretched from the airport to Queanbeyan. On Thursday night, the Beard fire was finally downgraded to "advice".

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Sport

Slipper, Lolesio step up in Brumbies' trial demolition

Subscriber only: Super Rugby trials are supposed to be about fearless attack and unearthing stars. The Brumbies did both last night.

Kyrgios survives stumble to make third round

The Canberran beat crafty French veteran Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 in an eventful second-round clash on Melbourne Arena.

Netball ACT may strike Lightning in a bottle

A partnership between Netball ACT and Sunshine Coast Lightning could see the Super Netball franchise make the capital their second home.

Fires force athletes into scramble for ACT event

Fires burning in the ACT region have forced athletes into a mad scramble on the road to Tokyo as they look to launch into an Olympic Games year.

Times Past

The historic Tharwa bridge would be saved, after the ACT government took 16 months making up its mind whether to keep the historic link over the Murrumbidgee River in place, The Canberra Times reported on its front page 12 years ago today. Chief Minister Jon Stanhope announced the government would spend $14.7 million restoring the bridge, which had been closed since 2006, isolating the village south of Canberra. READ MORE