Townsville, Australia News

IRRESPONSIBLE drivers taking on trains have clocked up almost double the number of accidents at rail crossing boom gates in North Queensland as in other regional areas in the state.

SEVERAL swine flu cases have been confirmed on Palm Island but health authorities are refusing to label it an outbreak of the potentially deadly virus.

Suzy Batkovic of the Fire drives to the basket against Kelsey Griffin and Kristi Harrower of the Spirit during the WNBL Grand Final match between Bendigo Spirit and Townsville Fire at Bendigo Stadium on March 9, 2014 in Bendigo, Australia.

A TROPICAL low off the North Queensland coast may form into a cyclone tomorrow while the Gulf region prepares for intensifying category 1 storm Cyclone Gillian.

North Queensland Cowboys have started their 2014 campaign with a win, scraping home 28-22 in an enthralling match against the Canberra Raiders in Townsville.

A SENIOR medical officer who was part of Townsville HospitalA's paediatric intensive care team has resigned over Queensland HealthA's A'draconianA' doctor contracts.

UPDATE : TWO weather warnings remain for tropical lows approaching the Queensland coast that could turn into cyclones over the weekend, one as early as today.

"The maintenance and interpretation of heritage places is the responsibility of the owners of the sites," a Department of Environment and Heritage Protection spokeswoman said.

Southern Cross Catholic School students Gabrielle Douglas, 6, Ella Bowden-Seade, 7, Lily Pilchard, 6, Ashlee Verzeletti, 7, and Libby Beaton, 8, show their true colours for the Townsville Fire.

Headlines were etched across the world last week when the town of Bowen woke on Monday to the news its giant 10m tall fibreglass mango had been stolen from out the front of the town's visitor information centre.

A cyclone is expected to lash the north Queensland coast this weekend, with destructive winds and possibly flash flooding, forecasters say.

A MAN accused of stabbing his mate in the neck has said it was over an argument about a woman from 25 years ago.

A TOWNSVILLE magistrate has warned returned soldiers they can't continue using post-traumatic stress disorder as a defence for violent crimes Magistrate Ross Mack told a former soldier who pleaded guilty to punching a man in the head on April 27 last year that "public generosity" was wearing thin for former defence force members because crimes had ... (more)

A GLOBETROTTING guide dog that gave a Magnetic Island blind couple more than a decade of loyal service has sadly passed away.

The Returned Services League of Townsville has moved to cap student numbers at this year's Anzac Day parade after a review of last year's march.

The family of a hitchhiker presumed murdered in 1982 say they're disturbed by news a north Queensland abattoir has become the focus of the cold case.

AUSTRALIAA'S largest regional airline has outsourced its ground handling operations to cut costs amid what it says is an aviation crisis.

An oversupply of cattle to the live export market in North Queensland has pushed prices down by as much as 20 cents per kilogram.

OPERATORS of the Abbot Point coal terminal say they are losing the public relations battle against conservationists who they claim are putting out misinformation in the hope of stalling all coal-related developments.

TWO of Townsville's state MPs have rejected senior doctors' claims the region's public health service will be severely diminished if medical officers are forced on to individual contracts.