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The clean up continues around the Wickham woolstores, where a fire spread asbestos through the neighbourhood late last month. But some residents have been frustrated by the pace of the work. Watch a resident performing his own clean up on our Facebook page.

The New South Wales deputy coroner has declared the death of Janice Garrett in Raymond Terrace a homicide, confirming the 76-year-old died as a result of a fire that was deliberately lit by her partner in 2018.

The heavy seas that whipped up piles of sea foam have died down now, but anyone who saw the foam take over local beaches won't forget it any time soon.

New research from the University of Newcastle reveals a pattern of "brutal" reprisals and "genocidal killings" which began to emerge in the late 19th and 20th centuries as thousands of Indigenous people were murdered. 

The Dartbrook Coal Mine near Aberdeen has had a five-year mining extension approved, after years of legal battles. The mine has been mothballed since 2006, but the NSW Land and Environment Court has upheld Australian Pacific Coal's appeal.

Awabakal people are the only Aboriginal group known to incorporate coal into their Dreaming stories. They used coal for heating and cooking, but also feared it.

This week brought major flooding in Bulga and Singleton, and rivers swelled right around the region. After five days of isolation, the SES used a boat to get students from Hinton across floodwaters to school. Parents watched on as kids enjoyed a water-taxi ride to school.

Generations of Hunter children have been fascinated and thrilled by the mini trains at Edgeworth. Now, after more than 50 years of operation, the Lake Macquarie Live Steam Society has decided it needs to charge visitors to its monthly open days.

Dogs can be more than just "man's best friend", especially when it comes to farming. Aberdeen's Erin Williams specialises in training dogs to keep predators away from livestock.

The three members of Silverchair have come a long way since they were "discovered" as teenagers. Bassist Chris Joannou spoke to Craig Hamilton about hitting the heights of international fame early in life, and what came next.

Do you love before and after photos? Seeing the same spot decades apart can highlight just how much things have changed. Photos from 1906 have been pieced together to create a panorama of Newcastle, looking at Mount Sugarloaf from Lemnos Parade.

Cliff diver inspiring others: Five-time world champion cliff diver Rhiannan Iffland was among an impressive line-up of athletes taking part in Lake Macquarie's first Women's Sport Festival. Iffland is from Lake Macquarie, and will defend her title for the sixth consecutive year when the 2022 Cliff Diving World Series begins in the USA in June. (Pic supplied: Red Bull/Dean Treml).

Strong start for the men's Knights: The men's Knights began their season with an impressive win over the Sydney Roosters. The final score was 20-6, with Leo Thompson and Adam Clune making their debut for the Knights, while Kurt Mann marked his 150th first-grade game. The Knights women lost to the Roosters 28-12.

Baths upgrade begins: The Newcastle Ocean Baths have closed until mid-2023 for an upgrade. The Friends of The Ocean Baths community group applied for an urgent interim heritage order, opposing plans to pour a concrete slab over the existing natural rock and sand floor of the pool. The City of Newcastle says sand would go on top of the new concrete floor, but it can begin some work while the Heritage Council considers the issue.

Fisherman dies at Snapper Point: A man's body has been recovered after being swept off rocks at a notoriously dangerous fishing spot south of Catherine Hill Bay. Police say the alarm was raised on Saturday morning, and his body was found on a rock ledge the next day.

Stormwater recycling: Hunter Water, the Newcastle Jockey Club and the Newcastle Council have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore the possibility of capturing and reusing storm water. The water would be stored and treated in large ponds in the centre of the racecourse.

Mother nature hasn't been too kind recently, but as Karen Wolfe (who snapped this photo) reminds us: "you have to marvel at her ferocity and beauty". This image certainly captures the power of a surging ocean! Thanks Karen for this shot which was shared via #ABCmyphoto on Instagram. You can show everyone what the world looks like where you live by using the hashtag on Instagram or by uploading your photos online here. 

It's been a wet and soggy week in the Hunter, but we're finally seeing floodwaters recede and some sun shine through. We'll still have showers on and off during the next few days though, and for the end of the working week we might get some afternoon thunderstorms. The Bureau of Meteorology is hopeful of some mostly sunny days next week – we're keeping our fingers crossed!

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ABC Newcastle acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and Traditional Custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.