Townsville, Australia News

QUEENSLAND children as young as seven are using a messaging service that police warn is dangerous as it exposes them to possible contact with sex predators.

A 22-YEAR-OLD woman will appear in Townsville Magistrates Court today after she allegedly bit the ear of another woman in an incident in Peel Street, Garbutt last night.

Former Bowen pool lessee Sidney Pate yesterday gave evidence at the coronial inquest into schoolgirl Rachel Antonio's disappearance in 1998.

Jack Daniel's Racing drivers Todd and Rick Kelly will be looking to wheel a quick pair of Nissan Altimas out of the transporter next weekend at Queensland Raceway, with car setup a key factor on home test track for the Queensland based teams.

A former Townsville soldier convicted of trafficking $400,000 worth of drugs has been granted an early release from jail because he has post-traumatic stress disorder .

A FEDERAL investigation has been launched and a pilot stood down after one of Townsville's two emergency services helicopter struck a tree during a rescue operation.

The Senate Environment and Communications References Committee public hearing into the adequacy of the Federal and Queensland Governments' efforts to stop the rapid decline of the Reef moves to Townsville after hearings in Brisbane and Mackay.

Coal dust has spread throughout the Great Barrier Reef and exceeds toxic levels near the shore, a Senate inquiry has heard.

Indonesia's president-elect is under World Bank pressure to develop manufacturing and trade to keep the country growing.

The grandparents of a murdered Queensland toddler have accused the state government of resisting the introduction of laws that could prevent similar deaths.

On the surface it's one of Australia's more bizarre suicides. But the family of the victim believes in a more sinister truth.

THE strange UFO lights seen floating above Cardwell this week. Local residents of Cardwell and avid UFO enthusists Molly and Archie Dunn sighted strange lights in the sky above the Cardwell foresore on Saturday night.

Robert has married and had a child after being cleared of the murder of Rachel Antonio who disappeared 25 Apr 1998.

Townsville has won the battle of north Queensland connectivity, being described by NBN Co as "the most NBN ready place in Australia."

A MAGISTRATE has begrudgingly granted bail to a boy he said went to court as much as other kids went to the movies.

PARADISE is being prepared for sale as thousands of blocks of prime Queensland coastal land are surveyed and made ready for the open market.

Pic of the Sky Snacks truck that was knocked over by an Alliance plane as it was being pushed back to the run way in Townsville A CATERING truck was flipped after being hit by a taxiing aeroplane at Townsville Airport yesterday, reportedly closing down part of the runway and causing tarmac chaos.

The fast-tracking of coal terminals and dredging along Queensland's coast was endangering the health of vital marine ecosystems, a conservation group has told a Senate inquiry.

Seven-year-old twins who he dropped off at school in April and have never seen since by their father Michael.

UPDATE: 10.36 Coroner David O'Connell has refused an application by Robert Hytch to have Rachel's diary entries and letters to be heard in closed court only.