8.40: We'll have to sign off early today as there's a media conference in Narromine at 9am. We hope you have a fantastic day!
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DUBBO | NARROMINE | WELLINGTON | NYNGAN | THE RIDGE | WESTERN MAGAZINE
8.35: Are you planning on travelling this year? TripAdvisor has put together the world's best hotels for 2015.
TripAdvisor has named Gili Lankanfushi Maldives the best hotel in the world for 2015.
The exclusive retreat was name the third best hotel in the world in last years' TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Top Hotel Awards, behind the 2014 winner the Grand Hotel Kronenhof, Pontresina, Switzerland (click for our review) and The Upper House, Hong Kong, China.
8.28: It was an Australian bonanza at the Australian Open last night.
Nick Kyrgios defeated 23rd seed Ivo Karlovic in the second round.
What's making news this morning is the 19 year-olds post match interview.
8.16: Here's today's local sport news
RUGBY LEAGUE: While the signing of Scott Burgess is sure to get tongues wagging among CYMS fans, the Fishies have been dealt a blow with the news star five-eighth Blake Tremain-Cannon is set to miss 2015. Tremain-Cannon was a key part of the CYMS side which took out last year's Group 11 competition and was named Bob Weir medallist as player of the match in the grand final.
RUGBY LEAGUE: Dubbo Cyms have announced one of the biggest signings of the off-season with former Dubbo Kangaroos star Scott Burgess switching codes and joining the Group 11 premiers. Burgess was a key part of the Roos' Blowes Cup winning side last season and his move to league is certain to shock many after he also racked up a number of representative honours in 2014, including selection in a NSW Country side which toured America late last year.
RUGBY UNION: After 10 years of unequivocal service - several as captain - two undefeated premierships, a grand final loss and countless priceless moments in orange and green, Josh Tremain will not play for the Orange City Lions in 2015. Instead, he will line up in the sky blue, navy blue and cardinal of Dubbo Kangaroos.
RUGBY LEAGUE: Dubbo's Litisha Boney will be rubbing shoulders with the biggest names in rugby league next month after being selected in the Indigenous Women's All Stars team for the NRL All Stars weekend at the Gold Coast. Boney's Indigenous All Stars will play the Australian Women's All Star team, the Jillaroos, as the curtain-raiser for the NRL All Stars match where the likes of Greg Inglis, Johnathon Thurston and Paul Gallen will all be in action.
CRICKET: Day two of the State Challenge at Dubbo yesterday saw the metropolitan teams start to show their class in the under-14s division. All four sides from Sydney; West City Scorpions, South City Sharks, North City Silverbacks and the East City Stallions all won yesterday. That makes it two consecutive wins for the Scorpions, Sharks and Silverbacks, giving them a great opportunity to make Thursday's finals.
CRICKET: Newtown have kept hold of their position in the McDonald's Megahit finals spots after a tight, 10-run win over the Cricketer's Arms Journeymen last Friday night. The Tigers came into the match with one win and one loss under their belt but a half century from captain Mat Skinner set up victory number two. Returning to No. 1 Oval for the first time since November, Newtown posted 5-131 from their 20 overs and despite the Journeymen being well placed at 2-61 after ten overs they could only manage 9-121 in reply.
8.09: Check out today's front pages from around the region
8am: Would you be excited or upset if you walked into your house looking like this? I think I would be excited!
7.50: Taking a closer look at today's front page
A former Wellington business owner and now washing machine repairman has become the focus of the investigation into the disappearance of William Tyrell after police discovered the man had carried out work at the home from which the toddler vanished.
Homicide detectives have questioned William Harrie Spedding, 63, and raided his home and business address on the state’s mid-north coast after he allegedly gave a quote to fix a washing machine at the Kendall home where William was last seen.
It is understood Mr Spedding had been at the home of William’s grandmother just four days before the three-year-old vanished on September 12 last year.
The friend said the grandfather was “absolutely devastated” he had been questioned by police and told he was a suspect.
- Fairfax Media
7.44: Take a trip down memory lane while you're getting into your muesli this morning. It's THROWBACK THURSDAY!
The Daily Liberal has travelled back to 1981. Check out the fashions and activities from over 30 years ago.
The Narromine News went back to January 2009. Check out what was happening at the beginning of 2009 here.
7.35: Here's what's making national and international news
MANU ISLAND: An Iranian engineer and a Pakistani human resources manager who were found to be refugees while on Manus Island have voluntarily moved to new temporary accommodation on the outskirts of the island's main town, in the country's first step to resettlement.
POLITICS: Tony Abbott is facing growing backbench anger over his government's mishandling of the GP co-payment and university funding changes from last year's budget, as MPs returning from their electorates express frustration over the government's poor standing with voters. Read more:
FISH-OIL TABLETS: Most fish oil capsules sold in Australia and New Zealand have less omega-3 fatty acids than their labels claim, a new study shows, promoting calls for consumer watchdogs to investigate.
► Prime Minister Tony Abbott has left open the possibility of Australia withdrawing its ambassador to Indonesia if the execution of Bali nine members Myuran Sukumaran and Andrew Chan goes ahead.
Here's today's daily poll
OBAMA ADDRESS: Never before has a US President used the words "transgender", "lesbian" or "bisexual" in a State of the Union address: until yesterday. In Washington DC, Barack Obama used the terms for the first time in history in a section of the widely broadcasted speech where he called on Americans to continue to "respect human dignity"
ISLAMIC STATE: SYRIA Islamic State hostage Haruna Yukawa an enigma in a war-torn country. Haruna Yukawa is not a journalist nor an aid worker, but rather an enigma in a war-torn country, being held captive by Islamic State militants who are demanding $200 million for his release and that of freelance journalist Kenji Goto.
7.30: Here's what's making news around regional Australia
CRIME: A man who threatened to cut his former partner’s head off with a tomahawk was given a 12 month good behaviour bond in Orange Local Court on Monday. Jamie Clive McDonald, of Pindari Place, ran up and down the street wielding a short-handled tomahawk while he waited for his partner to return to her house, police facts said.
ANIMAL CRUELTY: A couple who starved their dog for nearly a month were each fined nearly $7000 in Maitland Local Court on Tuesday.
ANIMAL CRUELTY: Almost 70 dogs and puppies have been rescued after a property was raided north of Bendigo. Forty-eight dogs and 21 puppies were rescued under warrant from an alleged 'puppy factory', after an RSPCA investigation.
RURAL: Fifth generation grazier and Armidale man Tony Menkens is riding high after selling dressed-weight bullocks for $4.20 a kilo. He is one of dozens of the district’s producers reaping record profits from cattle sales after good rains and a dwindling Australian dollar.
7.17: Taking a look at local news this morning:
JANUARY RAINFALL: The early January rain has led to a decrease in the amount of water being used at Dubbo compared to last year. Dubbo City Council water supply and sewerage services client services co-ordinator Kathryn McAlister said in the first two weeks of January this year an average of nine million litres less water was used per day compared to the same time period in 2014.
CAREER: Western Plains Cultural Centre's collections officer Jessica Moore could safely say she was living the dream. During her time at high school she began a passionate love affair with art which she still hasn't cut ties with. After studying history, art history and a master of art administration at Sydney University and the University of NSW, Jessica jumped while the iron was hot and found herself in Dubbo at the Western Plains Cultural Centre (WPCC).
STATE ELECTION: There was no failure by the NSW government to respond to a question on notice regarding the future of Dubbo's Playmates Cottage, according to a spokesperson for Health Minister Jillian Skinner. Country Labor candidate for Dubbo Stephen Lawrence has been critical of the NSW government and Dubbo MP Troy Grant for not confirming the future of the childcare centre.
LOCAL GENEROSITY: The 23rd annual Target/Uniting Care Giving Box has been hailed as a major success with several hundred gifts and gift cards being donated for those in need to have a happy 2015. The Giving Box, which was located at the entrance of Target Dubbo, was bursting full of gifts when the team from the Dubbo Uniting Church arrived to collect it and pass the gifts on to local agencies for their clients.
AVOID FOOD POISONING: Co-ordinating the back-to-school rush can be trying at the best of times but there is help at hand when it comes to ensuring school lunch safety. NSW Food Authority chief executive officer Polly Bennett said the risk of food spoiling and food poisoning is a common concern of many parents, particularly in the warm months of the first school term.
CSU 2015 OFFERS: About 1200 students were sent an offer to study at Charles Sturt University (CSU) last night in the main round of university offers. At 6pm the NSW University Admissions Centre (UAC) released 1216 undergraduate offers to study at CSU campuses, including Dubbo. The latest offers were in addition to the 3478 students who have previously been sent an on-campus offer and 6950 students who were invited to study via distance.
BUSY TIMES FOR PARAMEDICS: School holidays are traditionally a busy time for paramedics across the state and Dubbo has been no exception. Most recently, a crash between a car and a truck on the Newell Highway at Dubbo on Saturday afternoon that claimed the lives of an elderly local couple was one of several serious road incidents paramedics were called to.
CARBON FARMING: Excitement is building as local producers discover how they can help the environment and make money at the same time, according to Regional Development Orana CEO Felicity Taylor Edwards. Emerging opportunities presented by the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) was the subject of a meeting at Dubbo yesterday featuring high-level state and federal government representatives
7am: Good morning everyone, welcome to your Thursday Morning Grill.
You're here with Grace from Narromine this morning, I have to duck off at between 8 and 8.30 and Lynn from Dubbo will take over.
Do you know anyone having a birthday who would like a shout out this morning? Or maybe you know of a community event we should let everyone know about? Shoot me an email: grace.ryan@fairfaxmedia.com.au
DUBBO / TRANGIE / NYNGAN: it's going to be mostly sunny. Trangie will get to 34. Nyngan and Dubbo will get to 33.
COBAR / BOURKE: could see some rain today. Cobar is forecasted to have possible showers and 33 and Bourke may see thunderstorms with a 60 per cent chance of one to five mm. They will reach 34.
