Latest news with #Hawke
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Vote put on hold for agreement to put Discovery Place museum on Matthews Elementary campus
MATTHEWS, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Most Matthews leaders were excited to make an agreement official that would put a Discovery Place Kids museum on a school campus, but that decision was deferred until next month. The town is preparing to enter a partnership with Charlotte-based Discovery Place and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. Matthews Elementary School is slated to be rebuilt through the 2023 school bond, and the museum – which previously cemented plans to come to town – would go up along with it. But town Commissioner Mark Tofano made a last-minute request Tuesday to defer the vote. He says he has tweaks to request before the agreement is finalized. He also is the board member most personally affected by the project; his home on Trade Street is adjacent to it. The vote is now scheduled for the commissioner meeting on June 9. This will be the last meeting for Town Manager Becky Hawke, who is resigning three days later. Mayor John Higdon emphasized the vote must take place then, so Hawke can see the deal she's been so integral to come to fruition. Hawke said the two-week deferment would impact the project's long-term timeline. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Climate
- West Australian
Gibb River Road flooded: Tourists embrace adventure amid Kimberley rain deluge
Tourists are hunkering down along the Gibb River Road after unseasonal heavy rainfall of up to 130mm over two days closed part of the popular dirt track. On Wednesday Main Roads WA advised the Gibb River Road between Mount Barnett and Kalumburu Road was closed because of flooding, making several crossings impassable. Meanwhile the section between the Kalumburu turn-off and Pentecost River was open, with caution for four-wheel-drives, buses and trucks up to 15 tonnes, with some water crossings reaching levels of around 300mm. Roads have been closed across the East Kimberley, including Parry Creek, Valentine Spring, King River and Kalumburu roads. At Kununurra, the Ivanhoe Crossing is also closed as water levels are flowing above the safety markers. The Bureau of Meteorology released the final floodwatch for the West Kimberley, Fitzroy River and desert catchments around midday on Wednesday. Widespread rainfalls of 80mm-100mm were recorded in the 48 hours to 9am on Wednesday, with some isolated totals reaching up to 130 mm. The rain band which passed through the Kimberley has now cleared. At Mt Barnett Roadhouse, about 20 travellers decided to camp and wait it out for the few days it would take for the Gibb River Road to dry out. Mt Barnett Roadhouse manager Matt Hawke said there was a lot of camaraderie among the travellers in the campground. 'Everyone seems more than happy to go with the flow and enjoy that element of adventure,' he said. 'They went knowing that they were going to be in there for a few days and were pretty calm about it. A group of girls have just walked up from the campground, 7km in the mud, to come buy some sausage rolls, who are enjoying themselves,' he said. Mr Hawke said there was only one report of a tourist bus getting bogged, but besides that it was business as usual — even if it was quiet for this time of year. 'The lights are on and we're still here for everyone, making all our handmade food and fresh-baked sourdough bread and everything. So the people that can get to us are having a great time,' he said. Mr Hawke said he was advising tourists who rang about the road conditions to 'sit tight until it dries out.' 'Wherever you are, enjoy the peace and quiet,' he said. For the most up-to-date road advice, go to the Main Roads WA Travel Map at .
Sydney Morning Herald
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
With this much power, Albanese can think big. But here's why he won't
The central reality of Australian politics for the new term of parliament is the dominance of the Albanese government. It has swung its electoral sword so broadly that it has decapitated the Liberals and Greens and panicked the Coalition's scattered survivors into utter disarray. Labor so commands the centre that it has forced its rivals to the peripheries of the parliament. So, as the prime minister returns from his audience with the Pope to offer help to the people suffering the biblical-scale floods destroying rural and regional NSW, the Coalition is lost in self-destructive recriminations. Albanese, a man who has been underrated his whole life and was all but written off last year, can be forgiven a moment to relish his victory: 'It's the first time ever that a government seeking re-election has increased its primary vote, increased its two-party vote and increased the number of seats that it holds in the House of Representatives. Whether it be Hawke in '84, Whitlam in '74, Fraser in '77, Howard in '98, Gillard in 2010 or Turnbull in 2016, they all went backwards.' The scale of Labor's victory surprised even itself. It exceeded even its 'most optimistic expectations', as Jim Chalmers has said. A House majority is 76 seats. Labor was expecting, even in its fondest fantasies, no more than 80. It has won 94 seats. And the future? 'My objective over the next few years is not to just occupy the space,' says Albanese, 'but to change things for the people who voted Labor in this election, and for the people who didn't as well.' The big question, once the government has recovered from its shock, is what Albanese will do with the political capital Australia has just given him. His immediate priority is delivering on his promises. But he now has the luxury of being able to think big. Before the election, a chorus of experts demanded that a new government use a new term to launch major reform programs to re-energise the economy, galvanise investment and boost living standards. The constant refrain was to insist on a reincarnation of 'Hawke-Keating era' reforms. That is, they're asking for wrenching, difficult, politically risky change that sets the country up for long-term prosperity. No doubt Chalmers would love to have licence to design bold and ambitious reforms as his hero Keating did.
The Age
23-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
With this much power, Albanese can think big. But here's why he won't
The central reality of Australian politics for the new term of parliament is the dominance of the Albanese government. It has swung its electoral sword so broadly that it has decapitated the Liberals and Greens and panicked the Coalition's scattered survivors into utter disarray. Labor so commands the centre that it has forced its rivals to the peripheries of the parliament. So, as the prime minister returns from his audience with the Pope to offer help to the people suffering the biblical-scale floods destroying rural and regional NSW, the Coalition is lost in self-destructive recriminations. Albanese, a man who has been underrated his whole life and was all but written off last year, can be forgiven a moment to relish his victory: 'It's the first time ever that a government seeking re-election has increased its primary vote, increased its two-party vote and increased the number of seats that it holds in the House of Representatives. Whether it be Hawke in '84, Whitlam in '74, Fraser in '77, Howard in '98, Gillard in 2010 or Turnbull in 2016, they all went backwards.' The scale of Labor's victory surprised even itself. It exceeded even its 'most optimistic expectations', as Jim Chalmers has said. A House majority is 76 seats. Labor was expecting, even in its fondest fantasies, no more than 80. It has won 94 seats. And the future? 'My objective over the next few years is not to just occupy the space,' says Albanese, 'but to change things for the people who voted Labor in this election, and for the people who didn't as well.' The big question, once the government has recovered from its shock, is what Albanese will do with the political capital Australia has just given him. His immediate priority is delivering on his promises. But he now has the luxury of being able to think big. Before the election, a chorus of experts demanded that a new government use a new term to launch major reform programs to re-energise the economy, galvanise investment and boost living standards. The constant refrain was to insist on a reincarnation of 'Hawke-Keating era' reforms. That is, they're asking for wrenching, difficult, politically risky change that sets the country up for long-term prosperity. No doubt Chalmers would love to have licence to design bold and ambitious reforms as his hero Keating did.
NZ Herald
22-05-2025
- NZ Herald
Boy recovering at home after being hit by a dirt bike in Flaxmere
The father said he was relieved to see his son getting well, though the timeframe for the full recovery is uncertain. 'He is a very active kid.' Since returning home, he said he was happy he 'has not heard one single dirt bike'. 'Those need to stop.' He said he hasn't received any updates from the police yet. Police said a USB, with content regarding the incident, was dropped off at the station on Wednesday afternoon, but no arrests have been made yet. A local resident who shared footage she had of the incident with police told Hawke's Bay Today she heard the boy screaming moments after hearing two dirt bikes circling the neighbourhood. 'I have security cameras at my house, and my security camera faces down the way that little boy got hurt,' she said. 'I actually didn't see him get hurt, but I heard him screaming. I also heard the motorbikes go around our roads a couple of times, because they do it all the time.' The incident is one of two recent crashes involving dirt bikes in Hawke's Bay. Senior Sergeant Ross Smith said police continued to deal with dangerous dirt bike use across Flaxmere and Camberley. 'There continues to be ongoing issues with people of all ages riding dirt bikes illegally on roads, footpaths, and parks,' he said. 'Riders are not wearing helmets or robust safety clothing.' He called the behaviour 'dangerous, and frankly stupid', referencing both the Flaxmere crash and another one in Hastings that happened in April, where a woman was hit by a dirt bike outside a cafe, causing moderate injuries, while the two young riders received critical and serious injuries. Police said riders are often unlicensed, wearing no safety gear, and the bikes are frequently unregistered or in poor condition. 'These riders have little regard for other road users, pedestrians or families using the parks, and the public are paying the price,' Smith says. 'We are also urging parents of children who use dirt bikes to make sure they do so in a safe way, otherwise more people will get hurt.' Police said they are prepared to take enforcement action when necessary. They are asking residents to report any dangerous riding, calling 111 at the time or submitting reports and footage online at Information can also be provided anonymously.
