Toowoomba News

• End of school holidays sees sunshine in south-east Queensland, rainfall in north

  The south-east corner will see slightly warmer temperatures and sunshine until Sunday, however, localised heavy falls are on the cards for parts of the central interior and north-west. 

• Australia's largest cattle feedlot on the market as grain-fed beef surges

  Mort & Co, which fattens hundreds of thousands of cattle on grain before being slaughtered for beef, puts the majority of its assets on the market.  

• North Queensland set for more rain as ex-Cyclone Maila heads for coast

  Beautiful one day, heavy rain, dangerous surf and frosts, the next — Queensland faces a mixed bag of weather throughout the state over the coming days. 

• Great-grandfather named Qld's second-oldest newly admitted lawyer

  A 77-year-old great-grandfather from Toowoomba proves age is no barrier to launching a new career as he is admitted as a lawyer.

• Farmers take action as dry grips Queensland region

  Queensland farmers gripped by a dry spell are turning to drastic and inventive measures: offloading most of their livestock and laying kilometres of water pipelines.

• 'A real tease': Cyclone Maila weakens as it moves towards Queensland

  Cyclone Maila has been downgraded to a category two system, pushing back the expected time it will make landfall to Tuesday.

• Cyclone Maila moving again towards Far North Queensland coast

  Cyclone Maila has woken up and is heading west, with the category four system still likely to reach Queensland's far north on Monday.

• Tourists urged not to cancel plans as Cyclone Maila intensifies

  Severe Tropical Cyclone Maila is now a category five system and is expected to cross into Far North Queensland on Sunday.

• POLAIR vision of the arrest of 39-year-old man following a carjacking spree

  On April 6, an allegedly stolen LandCruiser was spotted by police in Toowoomba and, less than three hours later, Special Emergency Response police arrested the man outside a cafe on the city’s east side.

• Man charged over alleged carjacking spree across southern Queensland

  Police allege Beau Wallace Flegler, 39, stole multiple vehicles at gunpoint across the Easter long weekend before his arrest in East Toowoomba.

• Tropical Cyclone Maila likely to cross Far North Queensland

  The Bureau of Meteorology is increasingly confident the system will move towards the Queensland coast later in the week, potentially crossing Cape York Peninsula. 

• Toddler dies after being pulled from water on Queensland property

  An 18-month-old boy has died after being pulled from water at a private property on the Western Downs.

• Scattered rain, strong wind along Qld coast as forecasters watch TC Maila

  The majority of Queensland will enjoy mild weather this week, with scattered showers across the east coast, while further north, Cyclone Maila is set to intensify.

• After decades of success, love and loss, outback pub changes hands

  After turning "the worst pub you ever walked into" into a tourism award winner, Stephen Burns is stepping away from managing the Nindigully Pub.

• Cyclone could form on Saturday, but that's not clouding Qld long weekend

  Expect average temperatures and good weather inland, with scattered showers along the coast as Queensland heads into the Easter long weekend.

• Supermarket chicken could get cheaper due to grain breakthrough

  Australian researchers develop a high-protein sorghum variety, hoping to replace expensive livestock feed with systems that could lead to cheaper meat and eggs.

• Former accountant jailed after defrauding Toowoomba theatre of $850k

  A man has pleaded guilty in Toowoomba District Court today to two counts of fraud as an employee, with one of those fraud charges involving more than $100,000.

• National campdraft competition cancelled over soaring cost of fuel

  One of Australia's biggest campdrafting events is postponed due to the fuel crisis, with organisers hoping to reschedule the event within a few months.

• Farmers clash with government over new water basin laws

  The Queensland government says new legislation will protect a vital groundwater reserve, but farmers warn the new laws will make things worse.

• Diesel cost hikes hurt 'travelling city' of resilient showmen

  Showmen are determined to keep putting on agricultural shows for regional Australia despite the "frightening" cost of fuel. 

• Petition calls for video of death in custody to be released despite coroner ruling

  Raylene Nixon says the public should be able to make their own minds up about what happened to her son in his final moments.

• Here's who you should see at comedy festivals across Australia

  Comedy season is in full swing, with festivals across the country hosting the best acts from Australia and the world. We asked our favourites to share their recommendations.

• Pastoral company fined record $45,000 for Queensland biosecurity breaches

  A pastoral company has been hit with a record $45,000 fine after moving thousands of cattle across state lines without proper tracking. Authorities say the penalty sends a clear warning.

• More than 1,600 new gas wells approved for rural Queensland until 2081

  A major multinational gas venture has just secured federal approval to ramp up extraction in rural Queensland — locking in operations for the next 55 years.

• Footballers jailed for sexually abusing girl at party in regional Victoria

  A judge described Jaiden Fidge and Riley Smith's offending as having an element of "abhorrent male bravado", with the court hearing one of the footballers boasted about the assault.