Despite regional butcher shops closing, owner of Broken Hill Gourmet Meats Darryl Whitelaw says there is still room for your friendly neighbourhood butcher due to the service and quality you can't get at a supermarket. 
 

Extreme heat forecast across western NSW has river rangers, locals and the state government worried about the possibility of another mass fish kill.

Two Riverina towns reached record December highs on Monday, but several other southern and western NSW towns fell short. It comes as a heatwave sweeps across the country.

Australia is a leading wool producer globally, but a new report predicts production will reach its lowest level in more than a century by mid-2025.

Wednesday's update to the budget will reveal billions less in tax is expected from the mining sector, as the government sets expectations for a coming decade of budgets in deficit.

Solomon elected to Bombers board: Former Broken Hill footballer Dean Solomon has been elected to the board of the Essendon Football Club. The former North Bulldog received the highest number of votes from club members to win a spot for the first time. Solomon played 158 games for Essendon and was a premiership player in 2000. His election was formally declared at the Essendon Football Club Annual General Meeting on Wednesday night. He will serve a three-year term. 
 

Photo supplied: AFL
 

Council condemns Rex cancellations: The Broken Hill City Council is planning to contact the Federal Transport Minister following ongoing flight cancellations by Regional Express Airlines. Since being placed into administration earlier this year, Mayor Tom Kennedy says the carrier has become far less reliable and it's the worst he's seen in a long time. Council is hoping the federal government or other airlines can intervene to provide services to Broken Hill. Mr Kennedy says travelling health professionals, business people and locals are all being impacted by the cancellations. 
 

Hypoxic water in the Darling: Communities along the Darling River are being warned to brace for the potential of fish kills. Floodwaters are making their way down from the northern catchment, with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water confirming it's bringing hypoxic, low oxygen water through the system. The department is not expecting a repeat of 2023, when millions of fish died near Menindee, but it's preparing for the possibility of smaller kills in stretches of the river where there are no refuges for native fish. Director of planning implementation Allan Raine says the hypoxic flows are expected to arrive in Menindee by the end of December, but crews will be on standby to minimise any potential impact on local fish populations.
 

Menindee water rules under review: The Murray Darling Basin Authority is reviewing its water management rules in and around Menindee. The New South Wales, South Australian, Victorian and Commonwealth governments have tasked the Authority to look at the rules, with a response expected by mid-next year. Currently, the MDBA manages the river until the Menindee Lakes reach 480 gigalitres, after which the New South Wales government takes over. Executive director of river management Jacqui Hickey says the rules were put in place in the 1960s, so they may be outdated.
 

Snags on the Darling: After weeks of work by Western Local Land Services, DPIRD Fisheries, and local Indigenous groups, 100 new habitats for native fish have been created along the Darling River between Louth and Tilpa. The re-snagging works involved installing snags in areas to achieve positive outcomes for the local environment, landholders and community members. 
 

South BH fire station to close: Broken Hill's two fire stations are set to merge. More than a year after the state government allocated $8 million for the purchase of land for a new building, Fire and Rescue New South Wales has confirmed both of the city's stations, in the centre and in the south, will become one at a new site. The project will provide upgraded modern facilities for staff including training areas catering to a gender-diverse workforce. 
 

Council to improve tree management policy: The Broken Hill City Council says it plans on improving the current tree management plan in the new year. In the lead-up to council elections, candidates made the plan a priority and will work with residents around the number and types of trees and promoting the planting of trees across nature strips. General manager Jay Nankivell says there are some provisions in the current plan, adopted in 2020, which are not ideal.
 

Fruit fly traps a hit: Broken Hill's deputy mayor says the council has had a good response to its fruit fly traps. Known as the male annihilation technique, the trap attracts and kills male fruit flies to interrupt the breeding cycle. The council has ordered a further 200 traps after the first 200 were picked up, with around 100 having already gone to residents having issues with the pest.
 

Local high-schoolers receive HSC results: Three students from Willyama High School have attained a band six or equivalent, the highest score achievable for the HSC results. Ava Devoy achieved a 90 out of 100 for PDHPE, 94 for Community and Family Studies, and a 95 for Hospitality. Grace Payne achieved a band six in Community and Family Studies and Grace Molloy achieved an E4 in Extension English. Meanwhile, a number of Broken Hill High students achieved band fours and fives.
 

Cricket mid-season wrap: Heading into the holiday break, North is in the box seat in both the men's and women's grades of the local cricket competition. With four more rounds remaining in the regular season, North's women's side has already locked away the minor premiership after a dominant eight-wicket win over second-placed South. Meanwhile in the men's A grade it was their male counterparts who solidified the top spot with a nine-wicket win over South. Across town at the Alma, West cleaned up Central's batters to win by 102 runs. It leaves West in second place.