Heather Ewart was a powerhouse political reporter when she was asked to create a show about regional Australia. A decade later, and with her final season going to air, Ewart admits that getting the idea off the ground was no easy feat.

John Norman was once lauded as the future of the farming industry. On Wednesday, the award-winning cotton grower was jailed over an $8.7 million fraud that "brought an important public water program into disrepute".

Across the board, Australians are reading less, with young men reading the least and older women reading the most.

Almost half a billon dollars worth of vapes have been taken off the street since new laws came into force 18 months ago as research shows fewer young Australians are taking up vaping.

Decades after it was last seen in the region, the threatened pookila has reappeared in the Goobang National Park, boosting hopes for the species' survival.

Archie McMahon and his brother Freddie convinced their parents to feed up a pen of heavy lambs, and it has paid off with a national record price.

Ambulance station upgrades: The Broken Hill delegate for ambulance workers says he appreciates any funds directed towards improving the city's ambulance station. NSW Ambulance has confirmed the Broken Hill station, which is four decades old, will be refurbished this financial year. While it's unclear exactly what this will involve, Health Services Union delegate and local paramedic Ben Weller (pictured) says he hopes the station's managers and staff can contribute ideas.
 

Image supplied: Ben Weller
 

Fuel theft: A Broken Hill man has been arrested and extradited from South Australia after allegedly attempting to evade police over stolen fuel. The Barrier Police District was investigating multiple fuel thefts reported from properties near Wilcannia and identified a rural contractor as a possible suspect. Wilcannia police say they approached the 24-year-old on the Barrier Highway around 9pm on July 10 but he drove away, resulting in a pursuit which was ultimately terminated near White Cliffs. The man was later found in Port Augusta and arrested by the Rural Crime Prevention Team, with assistance from South Australian officers, and extradited to Broken Hill Police Station. He faced a magistrate on Thursday charged with police pursuit and larceny, and has been bailed to appear on July 23.
 

Truck company fined: A Broken Hill mining company has escaped bigger fines for having an overlength and overloaded heavy vehicle in the Millewa district in Victoria. The Mildura Magistrates' Court was told a road train belonging to Consolidated Mining and Civil failed an inspection at a roadside in Merrinee on December 6 last year. The court heard the combined vehicle was 63 centimetres too long, and the prime mover and one of its trailers were both several tonnes over the weight limit. The company was ordered to pay $525, as it had no history of breaches, and actions had been taken to prevent repeat offending.
 

Fraud charges in court: A man accused of several fraud-related offences is now facing further charges related to allegations of perverting the course of justice. Broken Hill man Lyndon Jake Rogers briefly appeared in the Broken Hill Local Court on Wednesday after a hearing initially scheduled for this date was vacated at a prior appearance. The 32-year-old is facing eight counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. After prosecution served a compliant brief to the defence last week, the matter has now been adjourned to September 9 for charge certification with the ODPP. Mr Rogers will also face seven fresh charges of making a false official instrument to pervert the course of justice.
 

Aged care pay negotiations: A Broken Hill un