Liddell: The end of an era

A Supreme Court justice finds the charges against Zack Mavin to have been proved, but says the 26-year-old is not criminally responsible for his actions.

The last running turbine at the Liddell Power Station has powered down, marking the end of a 52-year legacy of generating electricity in the NSW Hunter Valley.

The mother of Central Coast woman Leisl Smith, who vanished in 2012, calls for laws to be amended to allow a verdict for the man who stood trial for her murder — but died — to be released.

The convicted killer's lawyers say the attorney-general has the legal power to allow her release, five years before her sentence is up. Here's what would need to happen for Kathleen Folbigg to be pardoned.

Ruby was just six when she died. Her parents donated her brain tumour to a paediatric cancer research laboratory, hoping her short life might help others.

With the country's oldest coal-fired power station now closed, calls have intensified for the federal government to set up a National Energy Transition Authority and allocate funding to it in next month's budget.

Public submissions on a proposal to create an offshore wind zone between Norah Head and Port Stephens closed on Friday, despite communities calling for more time.

Processing the grief of her partner's sudden death was hard for Haylee Penfold as she struggled to find people her age who understood what she was going through.

Hunter Valley Steamfest is back in Maitland for the first time in three years. For a lot of people it's all about riding the steam trains, but the festival also celebrates the historical contribution of steam in industry and agriculture.

Young people encounter grief in moments of loss, such as when they lose a parent or grandparent. But how do young people cope when a partner unexpectedly passes away?

Archibald finalist: A portrait of Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns is among the finalists for the 2023 Archibald Prize. Titled Echoes of a Teenage Superstar, the piece by artist Matt Adnate was created with spray paint on acrylic and linen. You can listen to more about this stunning artwork here.

Rental crisis: Renting in the Hunter region has never been more difficult, according to Anglicare Australia. A report commissioned by the charity shows a snapshot of rental listings across the Hunter and Central Coast on a weekend in March. It found no affordable rentals advertised for people on Centrelink payments, including those who rely on JobSeeker, Parenting Payment or Youth Allowance.

Pokie data: New data on poker machine profits released by the New South Wales government shows alarming figures on how much people across the Hunter are gambling. In the second half of last year, gamblers at Lake Macquarie lost $270,000 a day on poker machines in clubs. State rankings of pubs by takings per machine reveals suburban hotels — in East Maitland, Raymond Terrace and Wallsend — raked in the biggest profits.

Property prices: A new report by real estate company Domain shows house prices across Newcastle are still declining in the first quarter of this year, but the rate of decline has eased. Prices are down 3.5 per cent compared to March last year. In Singleton prices are continuing to grow, up 10 per cent in the past 12 months.

Cockle Creek plans: Lake Macquarie City Council has developed a plan to create a commercial and industrial precinct at Cockle Creek. The project will be located on the site of the old Pasminco smelter, near large retail stores already built in the area.

Drug shortage: The critical shortage of human medications as supply problems continue is leaving animals vulnerable to serious illness. A Newcastle vet says antibiotics and barbiturates used for euthanising animals are in short supply, and one of the biggest concerns is the lack of availability of a vaccine for leptospirosis.

Fire season finished: The Rural Fire Service is urging Hunter residents to remain vigilant throughout the cooler months, despite the start of autumn marking the end of the bushfire season. The RFS says there was an increase in fire activity across New South Wales during the 2022-23 season compared to the season before.

Knights thumping: Newcastle suffered its third consecutive defeat, going down 43-12 against Parramatta. The Knights have a bye this week ahead of a home game on Mother's Day against the Gold Coast Titans.

Jets season over: The Newcastle Jets went down to Sydney FC 2-0 in the final round of the A-League regular season. The Jets have missed out on a spot in the finals. It's the fifth consecutive season the club hasn't featured in the finals.