In the closing weeks of the Vietnam War, hundreds of orphaned babies and children were airlifted to Australia for a new life, but not all of them were adopted.
 

NSW government plans to trial an "entertainment precinct" in Byron Bay are being hotly debated after a community-led meeting raised concerns about alcohol-fuelled violence. 
 

A Gold Coast couple's defence lawyer says they were trying to hide their wealth from Russian president Vladimir Putin's administration, not the Australian Federal Police.

Australia lifts its biosecurity restrictions on US beef imports, one of the Trump administration's key trade grievances, but the industry does not believe it will change much for consumers.

As fire ants continue their relentless march across south-east Queensland, a biological control expert from the United States warns Australia's eradication plan is under threat.

Only one dog comes out on top at a five-day event where 80 handlers and 180 dogs battle to be named Australia's best working cattle dog.

Hot housing market: Byron, Tweed and Ballina Shires are among the most expensive areas in regional NSW to buy a house. Domain's house pricing report for the June quarter shows Byron Shire remains the most expensive regional local government area, with an average buy-in cost of $1.5 million. Tweed has the fourth-most expensive housing with an average price of $1,150,000. In the past 12 months, Ballina has cracked the million-dollar mark — an increase of more than 10 per cent. Lismore outstripped them all in terms of year-on-year growth. House prices have jumped 17.4 per cent in the past 12 months to $635,000 and almost 55 per cent over the past five years.
 

Image: ABC News
 

Flood insurance reinstated: Tweed Shire Council has regained its flood insurance cover after investing more than $60 million on mitigation projects and improving the resilience of its community assets. The council's insurance company, Statewide Mutual, withdrew its cover for council assets after paying out on massive damage bills from the 2017 and 2022 floods. General manager Troy Green says the move forced the council to respond with support from state and federal government grants.
 

South Grafton social housing: A $9 million housing complex in South Grafton has become the largest modular social housing development ever built in NSW and has been delivered in half the time of a traditional housing project. Twenty-four homes have been constructed for people in need, comprising 12 one-bedroom and 12 two-bedroom units. The components were constructed on the Central Coast and transported to South Grafton where the homes were assembled, installed and connected to water and power in six months, compared with around 18 months for a traditional build.
 

Punch allegations: Investigations are continuing after a Lismore retail worker was allegedly assaulted while trying to prevent a theft on the weekend. Police allege two females tried to steal a jumper from a shop in Lismore Shopping Square on July 19. Centre management says its security team responded immediately to the alleged assault, and that it was an isolated incident involving an offender well-known to authorities.
 

Cane field security: Cameras are being installed in some cane fields across the region in an attempt to stop joggers, walkers, and hoons from trespassing on private farms. Farmers have raised their concerns with police about people jogging, or walking their pets, riding motorbikes, and doing burnouts in the cane fields. Tweed Cane Growers Association president Rob Hawken says it's a safety risk, especially during the crushing season.
 

Outdated hospital: The Ballina mayor says the state government mu