There is a total fire ban for six regions in NSW, with hot and windy conditions on the way for northern parts of the state.

A judge says Michael John Kable, 63, "was subject to extreme provocation as a casual teacher" prior to the assault at Maitland Grossman High School, and the offence was "out of character".

A jury has been told an alleged getaway driver did not know Stockton woman Stacey Klimovitch was shot and killed as he sat waiting for an alleged shooter.

Hundreds of people gathered to pay tribute to those who were tragically killed after a bus rolled at a roundabout near Greta in June.

One water carter says he's making up to 15 deliveries a day and has dozens of people on a waitlist, desperate for water.

Newcastle's lord mayor says the 2024 event will no longer go ahead, after speaking with a Supercars representative.

Noel Johnson was a on school trip to London's Heathrow Airport when he first saw The Beatles. Sixty years later, he's getting a chance to hear their songs live in his home town.

Sarah Williams successfully campaigned to make drink spiking and sexual violence prevention training mandatory for bar and security staff. Now, she is urging changes to the NSW Festivals Act.

As the climate changes, an increasing number of houses in Australia are projected to be exposed to bushfires. Now, a new tool, flagged by a royal commission, has been developed that enables individuals and communities to identify their vulnerabilities, plan for change and face the next disaster better prepared.

A trial into a groundbreaking drug in Newcastle is testing where it not only slows the brain disease but prevents it.

The John Hunter Children's Hospital has been running a new program designed to get babies home from hospital sooner. The ABC's Rachel Cronin went along to the neonatal intensive care unit to find out more. 

Get ready for 2024 with a brand new calendar or diary! We have prizes up for grabs from Gardening Australia, Organic Gardener and Muster Dogs.
 

To enter, tell us what your favourite plant is and why it brings you joy. Competition closes Monday, October 30.
 

Like the look of them? You can order your diaries and calendars here. What a great Christmas gift!

Residents told to stay alert: Efforts to contain two fires which started on Sunday in the Hunter Valley continue. A fire in the Wollemi National Park at Baerami Creek remains out of control. Air tankers and helicopters have been called in to try and prevent its spread, but the Rural Fire Service says containing it has proven difficult because the area is so isolated. A fire at Scone is being controlled but people north of Gundy Road are urged to stay on alert. Extreme fire conditions continue ahead of predicted rain in parts of the Hunter. Keep up-to-date with advice with  ABC Emergency.
 

Photo supplied: Sarah Brooks
 

Gastro warning: Hunter New England Health says people should be on alert for symptoms of gastroenteritis as it circulates in the community. Twenty-four child-care centres in the region have reported outbreaks of the highly infectious illness. Symptoms include diarrhoea, cramps and nausea. Health physician Dr David Durrheim says gastro outbreaks normally last between four and eight weeks.
 

Birth rate down: New research shows the fertility rate in Newcastle is continuing to decline, although the number of births last year was higher than previous years. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures on births and fertility rates for 2022 shows women are having fewer babies and having them later in life, with 1.63 babies born per woman last year in Australia. The ABS says the fertility rate in the Newcastle local government area has been steadily declining since about 2013 and is currently at 1.52 babies per woman. There were just over 2,000 babies born in the area last year, the highest it's been in several years.
 

Sarah Lee in administration: The Australian iconic dessert manufacturer Sara Lee has gone into voluntary administration. Sara Lee has been producing its famous cheesecakes, pies, crumbles and other desserts at Lisarow on the NSW Central Coast since 1971. FTI Consulting has been appointed voluntary administrator as it seeks to restructure or sell the business while its operations continue. Sara Lee was acquired by a New Zealand equity firm in 2021, and about 200 staff are employed at its Lisarow manufacturing facility.
 

Plans to reduce traffic congestion: The Newcastle City Council is seeking feedback on plans to widen and upgrade Minmi Road, which it says will reduce traffic congestion for several western suburbs. Minmi Road is a critical link for suburbs including Wallsend, Fletcher and Maryland. The council says the region is growing rapidly and upgrades are needed to improve traffic flow. It plans to widen Minmi Road to two lanes in each direction from Summerhill Road to Maryland Drive, as well as construct a central median and separated turning lanes to help remove bottlenecks and improve safety.
 

More train services as bridge work continues: Transport for NSW says urgent repairs to the damaged Tarro rail overpass bridge on the New England Highway are still several weeks away from being completed. It's been a fortnight since speed limit and lane reductions were imposed on motorists using the bridge. Additional train services between Newcastle and Telarah have been added in peak commute times and Transport for NSW says works to fully reopen the bridge are being going ahead as fast as possible.
 

More people playing soccer: Northern NSW Football says it wants to continue to grow female participation in the sport. The number of registered female players in the region increased by 19 per cent this year, with just under 20,000 players registered. Overall, the number of people playing soccer in the region grew by 20 per cent this year compared to last year. There were more than 73,000 registered players across northern NSW, ranging in age from four to 94.
 

Jets for sale: The time is right to find a new owner for the Newcastle Jets Football Club, according to its general manager Shane Mattiske. The club was officially listed for sale on Monday, with a management firm appointed to direct the process and communicate with potential buyers. Its current owners are a consortium connected to other A-League clubs, which formed in 2021. Mr Mattiske says he's confident the club will attract a suitable buyer before the end of the year.
 

Mixed results for Jets: The Newcastle Jets men's side kicked of its A-League season with a 2-all draw with Perth Glory. In its second game of the season the Jets women suffered a 1-0 defeat against Perth. The women have a week off this weekend, while the men will take on Victory in Melbourne.