Weather: Cessnock and Toronto (all 13 degrees), possible rain at Nelson Bay (13 degrees) and light rain in Scone (11 degrees). Snow at times in the Barrington Tops (2 degrees).
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Traffic: A burst water main at Rutherford has closed one of two westbound lanes on the New England Highway near Aberglasslyn Road. Drivers are urged to exercise caution. Scheduled roadworks are also underway on the Golden Highway at Denman three kilometres east of Rosemont Road.
Trains: Good service on the Newcastle and Hunter lines.
Beachwatch: With a strong wind warning in place it’s going to be a very cool day beachside but there will be some okay waves. The wind will be north-west to south-west with the swell from the south around 1 to 2 metres. Wave conditions will be nice and clean but are likely to be a bit windblown in the afternoon.
Hunter headlines
PHOTOS A COLD weekend across the Hunter has delivered plenty of snow for those eager enough to head into the high country. Read more.
CONSTRUCTION investment in Newcastle is predicted to soon top $2 billion with $700 million going into the west end as the city’s new high-rise housing hub. Read more.
“HE told me no matter how hard it gets, just keep having a go,” said Damian Jobson as he recalled a surprise encounter with legendary rugby league coach Wayne Bennett. Read more.
A TRIO of whale tails that have surfaced on the Port Stephens waterfront are capturing the imaginations of residents and visitors alike. Read more.
Maitland police have issued a warning to parents to monitor their children’s time online following an incident involving three teenagers last week. Read more.
PORT Stephens mayor Bruce MacKenzie’s family company has not entered a plea after a first appearance in the NSW Land and Environment Court on a charge of using its sand quarry as a waste dump. Read more.
The historic Segenhoe Inn, which was established in 1837, opened its doors to the public on Sunday – and hundreds of locals and visitors alike took advantage of the hospitality. Read more.
Dungog mayor Harold Johnston has welcomed the Coalition’s $1 million commitment to upgrade a Gresford Road, if re-elected, but said there were many more roads in the district that also needed cash. Read more.
IT’S the question worried Knights fans are starting to ask after their side slumped to a ninth consecutive defeat: will they win another game this season? Read more.
Thousands of punters are expected to flock to the legendary Jungle Juice Race Day at Cessnock Racecourse. Read more.
TRAGEDY has struck NBA No.1 draft pick Ben Simmons, with his cousin killed in a hit-and-run incident in New Jersey little more than 24 hours after he attended the draft. Read more.
STATE of the NATION
►WOLLONGONG: Doctors haven’t been able to tell Brett Connellan when he’s likely to jump on a surfboard again, but one thing’s for sure the 23-year-old is determined to catch a wave again, soon.
The shark attack survivor has spoken to the media for the first time since losing three-quarters of his left thigh at Bombo Beach on March 30.
►BENDIGO: The Catholic Church will meet with members of the Bendigo community on Monday night to answer questions about the church’s history of child sexual abuse. The sessions will help form the Catholic Church’s response to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
►BALLARAT: A Ballarat man is feared dead after spending more than two days in the freezing waters of Bass Strait. Police suspended the search for the 45-year-old on Saturday after he fell overboard the Spirit of Tasmania at about 11.40pm on Friday night.
It’s still unknown how the man ended up in the water, with various media reports announcing that he either fell, or jumped off the ship about 124 kilometres south-east of Port Phillip Heads.
Meanwhile, a witness has described the mayhem that unfolded on deck of the Spirit of Tasmania I after a man went overboard on Friday night.
►LAUNCESTON: Mental illness does not discriminate, but the data is clear: among those who are homeless, people with a mental illness are overrepresented. Bethlehem House chief executive Patrick Carlisle said 87 per cent of men accessing the Hobart shelter identified as having a mental illness.
►BUNBURY: A seven-year-old boy riding a motorcycle has died after he veered off a track and struck a tree near Katanning on Saturday afternoon.
►BAROSSA VALLEY: Winemakers and gin – the two go hand-in-hand, especially during a long, hot vintage. So it should come as no surprise that a team of Barossan winemakers have finally developed their own.
National news
Need a national news snapshot first thing - well, we have you covered.
►The consequences of a Brexit on the global economy and Australia have been exaggerated in the mainstream press, a UK political advisor believes. On Friday, the UK voted in a nation-changing referendum in favour of leaving the European Union, causing global market panic and forcing the resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron.
South Wales Public Affairs & Political Advisor and former Launceston student Mark Wells said contrary to popular belief, a Brexit would not damage Australian free trade agreements, international security and long-term share markets.
National weather radar
World news
► MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin of Russia received the geopolitical equivalent of manna from heaven on Friday when British voters opted to leave the European Union, speeding his long-term goal of weakening the most powerful alliance confronting the Kremlin as it seeks to rebuild its superpower muscles.
Officially, Moscow presented a sombre facade, repeating its pre-vote stance that the British referendum was of little direct concern. Read on
►NEW JERSEY, US: Tragedy has struck NBA No.1 draft pick Ben Simmons, with his cousin killed in a hit-and-run incident in New Jersey little more than 24 hours after he attended the draft.
Former Newcastle basketball phenomenon Simmons paid tribute to his cousin Zachary Simmons, 21, on Sunday morning, just two days after he was, as expected, selected with the top pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. Ben Simmons tweeted a photo of Zachary and him, taken at the draft in Brooklyn, with the simple hashtag #ripZacharySimmons.
On this day: June 27
1997: Radiohead, Cast, The Bluetones, Manson, The Chemical Brothers, Ash, The Seahorses, Smashing Pumpkins, The Prodigy, Beck, Sheryl Crow, Sting, Dodgy, Travis, Ray Davies, Kula Shaker, Steve Winwood all appeared at the 3-day Glastonbury Festival.
Faces of Australia: Isaac Buckell
Bendigo teenager Isaac Buckell has become the youngest winner of the prestigious Melbourne Cup on Wheels cycling classic. The 16-year-old outsprinted a class field to win the 2000m wheelrace at the Darebin International Sports Centre.
Buckell joins Australian cycling greats Russell Mockridge, Sid Patterson, Danny Clark and Dean Woods on the Melbourne Cup on Wheels honour roll.