'Serious concerns' for missing Hunter Valley man as bushland search continues

Police are ramping up efforts to try to find a man they believe may have gone missing near his home in a rural hamlet 90 minutes north of Sydney.

Despite being gradually phased out, the toxic chemicals are still found in products like household cookware, waterproof jackets, stain resistant carpets and food packaging, experts say.

The former NRL player remarked "say no more" after the judge read out his sentence for the 2018 sexual assault in Newcastle.

White's seahorse used to be a common sight in the waters off Sydney and Newcastle, but numbers have declined dramatically over the past 20 years. Scientists hope that might be starting to change.

A Lake Macquarie man has pleaded guilty to seven domestic violence offences after a GPS tracking device was removed from his ex-lover's car and police found a listening device in her bedroom.

The Newcastle doctor has told an inquest that the Jehovah's Witness patient was lucid and clear while refusing a potentially life-saving blood transfusion.

More than 400 people, driving cars worth less than $1,500, will drive from Newcastle in New South Wales to Townsville in north Queensland to raise funds for the Cancer Council.

"This type of phenomenon, when they do occur, are more common on the east coast of Australia and the southeast coast of America than anywhere else in the world,” says Don White from Weather Watch.

"I had to find a secure place ... it's got it all and you don't have to walk so many kilometres to go from sculpture to sculpture," says creator of Sculptures at Scratchley, Grahame Wilson.

You probably know Richard Jones as the CEO of the rescue helicopter, but did you know he used to be a keen rugby league player?

Manly-Warringah huffed and puffed but could not overcome Cronulla-Sutherland at Brookvale Oval after Newcastle recorded a much-needed 46-26 win over the Gold Coast Titans.

Channel dredging plans: There's an end in sight for frustrated boat owners in Lake Macquarie, with a plan to dredge in the Swansea Channel. Transport for New South Wales says the works will take place in July this year, with more planned for autumn 2024.

Festival boost: The Scone Chamber of Commerce and Industry says this month's horse festival has brought a much-needed financial boost to the town, with some visitors having to book hotels as far away as Singleton.

Stockton erosion update: The coordination of the Stockton Beach erosion project will be taken over by the Department of Regional New South Wales. Minister for Regional New South Wales Tara Moriarty will become chair of the Stockton Beach Taskforce and will host a meeting next month. She says the multi-million dollar jointly-funded project to address the erosion crisis has been held up because of a lack of certainty over who's responsible for fixing the issue.

Legal services frozen: The New South Wales Aboriginal Legal Service has frozen operations at 13 local courts in regional areas, including Muswellbrook, Scone and Singleton. The service says it's been sliding into crisis because of a lack of funding. A call for a $250 million emergency lifeline for Aboriginal legal services ahead of the May budget went unanswered.

Land offers questioned: Upper Hunter MP Dave Layzell has called for an inquiry into the land acquisition process for the Singleton bypass. Several landholders on the bypass route have claimed Transport for New South Wales gave them low offers for their farms. Regional Roads and Transport Minister Jenny Aitchison says she's reviewing the land acquisition process.

Newcastle sinkhole: A property development company says measures have been taken to fill a sinkhole that's developed on a Newcastle building site. MultiPart Property described the void as a "small pothole" in a location not accessible to the public at the site next to the Newcastle Transport Interchange. It says the hole has been filled with grout and gravel.

CBD upgrades: The Port Stephens Council is implementing a range of changes in Nelson Bay's CBD to make the area more pedestrian friendly. The main changes include reducing speed limits to 40kph in high-pedestrian areas, improving pedestrian crossings and extending several pedestrian refuges.

Shooting success: Federal Hunter MP Dan Repacholi has taken out the national 10-metre air pistol title in Darwin at the weekend as he works towards his next Olympic goal. Repacholi is a Commonwealth gold medallist and has competed at five Olympic games. His goal is to represent Australia at the 2024 Olympic games.

Rugby win: The Hunter Wildfires remain on top of the table in the Shute Shield after a dominant win in Newcastle at the weekend. Andrew Tuala scored two tries as the Wildfires beat Norths 29 to 5.