Townsville, Australia News

Conservationists working to protect cassowaries in north Queensland are worried the species' numbers have dropped to an all-time low.

Daniel Morcombe's killer is a 44-year-old father who had previously been known to police for molesting children but it wasn?t until Daniel's death that he became the focus of their investigations.

Moments of Daniel Morcombe's young life were celebrated in this touching tribute, chosen by family to be shown at his funeral service.

Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey released figures yesterday on Australian visitor spending in Queensland in 2013 showing Townsville, the Whitsundays and Brisbane were the standouts with spending increasing 21, 18 and 7 per cent respectively.

THE grandparents of murdered Townsville toddler Mason Parker say the State Government didn't even approach them before knocking back their calls for childcare workers to become mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse.

You might have heard yesterday that the iron ore price tumbled, suffering its largest one-day drop in four years.

Twenty jobs could be lost in Hughenden in north west Queensland if a rail service depot is shut down.

Cardwell local Archie Dunn, 87, has been told he is to old to volunteer at the Cardwell Bush Telegraph Museum.

THE popularity of walking up Castle Hill has forced Townsville City Council to restrict access to Kennedy St and build a 2.5m-wide footpath to get pedestrians off the road.

Federal MP for Leichhardt Warren Entsch speaking at the Bulletin Investor breakfast at Jupiter's Casino, Townsville.

QUEENSLAND Health will have to replace every emergency physician from at least four public hospitals if the contracts dispute is not resolved.

A 58-YEAR-OLD woman who was found with a cocktail of drugs at her Magnetic Island home told a court that she had planned to use them at parties.

China urged Malaysia to step up the search for a Malaysia Airlines jetliner that went missing with 239 people on board and says it has sent security agents two help with an investigation into the misuse of passports.Sarah Toms reports.

Museum Victoria live exhibits keeper Maik Fiedel with "Lady Gaga-ntuan", a half a metre long stick insect rediscovered in rainforest near Cairns Scientists from the Museum of Victoria have rediscovered Australia's longest stick insect near Cairns, during an expedition into the rainforest in January.

The Search for Kyle Coleman donation page was set up last Friday and lists Kyle's parents Robert and Sonia Coleman as the beneficiaries.

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.