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  1. Australian Idol Karratha musician Cody James makes top 30 on Australian Idol

  2. Council PremiumPort Hedland appoints new permanent chief executive

  3. LifelinePremiumSouth Hedland Bowls and Tennis Club receives $1.1m lifeline

  4. Community Hedland community flocks to new playground

  5. Council PremiumPort Hedland community survey returns damning results

Cane toads are a biosecurity threat to the Pilbara.

Toad invasion PremiumCane toads set to reach Pilbara by 2041

Cane toads could colonise up to three quarters of the Pilbara by 2041 if action isn’t taken to hold back the horde of amphibians, according to a new study from Curtin University. 

Cain Andrews

Active Citizenship Awards winners HARTZ Hedland Arts Council members Erin Nelson, Silke Becker and Richards Brooks, senior community citizen award winner George Pitt, community citizen award winner Shellene Remihana, and Amy Shinnick, collecting the young community citizen of the year award on behalf of her daughter Matilda Thompson.

Community Port Hedland honours community citizens of the year

Shellene Remihana, Matilda Thompson, George Pitt and HARTZ Hedland Arts Council took the top honours at Port Hedland’s Community Citizenship Awards as 34 new Australians were welcomed into the fold. 

Cain Andrews

The Hedland Little Athletics team at the 2026 Athletics West Country Championships in Albany.

AthleticsPremiumHedland Little Athletics Country Championships 34 medal haul

The Hedland Little Athletics team has come home with a record medal haul after competing at the Athletics West Country Championships in Albany.

Cain Andrews

New data from the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia’s 2026 forecast highlights a widening divide between Perth and key regional markets, with mixed outcomes across the Pilbara.

Property divide PremiumTale of two Pilbara housing markets

Karratha’s median house price has jumped 14.5 per cent to $630,000, while Port Hedland faces slower growth of up to 5 per cent, revealing a widening property divide across the Pilbara.

Phoebe Solon

West Pilbara Cricket Association country week B-grade team.

CricketPremiumWest Pilbara shines at Country Week

The West Pilbara Cricket Association’s B-grade side capped off an outstanding campaign at country week this month, surging all the way to the grand final.

Cain Andrews

Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House, Canberra. Dan Teehan Angus Taylor and Melissa Price during Question Time in the House of Representatives in Parliament House in Canberra.

Politics PremiumMelissa Price backs new Liberal Leader Angus Taylor

Durack MP Melissa Price has thrown her support behind new Liberal leader Angus Taylor after losing her bid to become the party’s deputy leader on February 13. 

Cain Andrews

Despite advice from the Local Government Department that he is ineligible to run for council, Camilo Blanco has had his nomination accepted by the WA Electoral Commission. 

WA newsPremiumPremiumBeazley moves to close Blanco loophole

Local Government Minister Hannah Beazley is considering urgent legislative amendments after Camilo Blanco was cleared to run in the Town of Port Hedland election despite being barred from holding office.

Hedland Senior High School hosted the first Cultural Responsiveness Professional Learning session for 2026, organised by the Pilbara Education Regional Office, welcoming around 150 education staff from schools across Hedland

Education PremiumPremiumCultural Responsiveness Professional Learning program

More than 150 educational staff from across the Pilbara gathered at Hedland Senior High School for the first of two sessions as part of the Cultural Responsiveness Professional Learning program

The Town of Port Hedland has found their preferred candidate to take on the permanent chief executive role at the local government authority. (Pictured: Town of Port Hedland administrative building.)

Council PremiumPremiumTown of Port Hedland finds preferred CEO candidate

The Town of Port Hedland has found its preferred candidate to take on the permanent chief executive role at the local government authority. 

Joardan van der Wal, RFDS Dr Simon Davies, Joao Pereira Silva Netto, Natasha Hill.

Health PremiumRural Clinical School arrive in Hedland

This year’s cohort of WA Rural Clinical School students have touched down in Port Hedland and have already got to work, helping out the Royal Flying Doctor Service and health clinics around town.  

Cain Andrews

Turtle Program Coordinators waiting for turtles on Cemetery Beach, Haylee Boyes, Rachel Purdy, Sasha Lees, Corinne Johnston

Environment End of turtle season

Care for Hedland Environmental Association’s Turtle Monitoring Program will conclude its 22nd consecutive season at Cemetery and Pretty Pool beaches in late February, marking 125 days of monitoring

Phoebe Solon

Subscriber Exclusive

Junbo Shim, 22, had only recently moved to WA to work in mining. 

Courts & JusticePremiumBig jail term for ‘callous’ drug-crazed fatal crash driver

A driver who was fleeing police for the second night straight and had been awake for three days when he killed a young South Korean man in a crash in Forrestfield has learned his fate.

Rebecca Le May

Police were called when Mr Wong missed appointments and didn’t answer calls.

CourtPremiumMysterious death in filthy Rockingham home exposes NDIS rort

The mysterious death of a man in his squalid Rockingham home after months of neglect by his NDIS-approved care provider has exposed a shocking six-figure rort.

Rebecca Le May

Police were alerted to Jason William Forbes’ purchase of the doll before a search warrant was conducted at his home.

updated
updated
Courts & JusticePremium
updated
Police foil chilling plan to kidnap, sexually abuse girl

A Perth predator was making intricate plans to kidnap, sexually abuse and hold captive a child in a modified roof dungeon before child exploitation detectives made a most relieving arrest.

Caleb Runciman

Chris Scott will lead Victoria’s Origin squad.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
AFLCommentsPremium
The West Australian exclusive
WA on high alert for ‘ruthless’ Victorian mentor

AFL Origin is just days away and one man who played under Victorian coach Chris Scott and will be part of the WA team has warned the Geelong boss will be at his ruthless best against Western Australia.

Craig O'Donoghue

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In Case You Missed It

The scene of a suspicious death in Spencer Park was still under investigation on Wednesday morning.

investigation continuesPremiumSmall street still full of police four days into death probe

The major investigation into the suspicious death of a 69-year-old woman in Spencer Park entered its fourth day on Wednesday.

Jacki Elezovich

Kalgoorlie Courthouse.

Courts & Justice PremiumMan jailed for raping, secretly recording young nieces

A WA man repeatedly raped and sexually abused his two young nieces, and secretly recorded them in the bathroom for his own sexual gratification. WARNING: CONFRONTING DETAILS

Tegan Guthrie

Ben Harvey outlines the confluence of screwups and poor decision-making by governments, which ultimately led to Perth Mum Lena giving birth in the back of Toyota Kluger on Kwinana Freeway.

Up LateVideoCommentsPremiumCommentsPremiumHaving baby on Kwinana Freeway not on anyone’s birth plan

Ben Harvey outlines the confluence of screwups and poor decision-making by governments, which ultimately led to Perth Mum Lena giving birth in the back of Toyota Kluger on Kwinana Freeway. 

Medical director and psychiatrist Vash Singh said she is ‘terribly concerned’ and has called for tighter rules around access to weight loss drugs.

WA NewsCommentsPremiumCommentsPremiumThe dark side of Ozempic experts want you to know about

Medical director and psychiatrist Vash Singh said she is ‘terribly concerned’ and has called for tighter rules around access to weight loss drugs.

Not Supplied

UPDATEDPremiumPremium‘To look for a fight’: Brutal protest call

Barnaby Joyce has made a huge call on who is responsible for the violent clashes between police and protesters on Monday night.

Regional News

CBH's Mingenew storage facilities.

Harvest haulBountiful season as Geraldton breaks harvest record

Geraldton grain farmers have seen their largest harvest on record, thanks to storage preparation and lucky weather conditions. 

Sally Q Davies

Wyalkatchem farming family Tameka Baker, Gavin Garner, and Thea Garner pictured with canola grain at CBH’s Cunderdin site.

It’s Raining Grain!CommentsPremiumWA sets new harvest record with colossal 27m tonne of grain

WA has marked its biggest harvest for the record books with the State’s growers producing a whopping 27.35 million tonne of grain — smashing the previous record of 26Mt set in 2022.

Georgia Campion

There is a quiet but important difference between being given something and earning it. 

Pom in OzEarning something carries more weight than being given it

There is a quiet but important difference between being given something and earning it. Anyone who has saved for months, skipped a few luxuries, worked overtime or tightened the belt knows it instinctively. 

Derek Goforth

Helen Guille-Harvey, owner of Geraldton Floral Studio and Jenny Bishop from Read A Lot Books.

Cupid’s dayPremiumPremiumLove is in the air in Geraldton this Valentine’s Day

Love is in the air this weekend in Geraldton, as couples get ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day on Saturday with local businesses primed to help make it happen. 

Celeste Van Der Merwe of Driving Miss Daisy Kalgoorlie.

Care servicePremiumPremiumCare-based transport for those who need it most

A new driving service will soon be available in the Goldfields with a focus on care-based transport and companionship.

Qantas intends to operate four additional passenger services between Geraldton and Perth using Fokker 100 aircraft.

Travel‘High demand’ flight definition still unclear

Capped prices on “high demand” flights will rise from July, but confusion remains over exactly when the travelling public will be faced with those higher fares.

News Flash

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Chinese coffee giant Luckin opened its first flagship with premium drinks as the company takes on Starbucks Reserve.

CNBC newsCommentsPremiumThere’s a coffee war brewing in China (and now in the US)

As Starbucks sells off most of its China business, local rival Luckin Coffee is expanding into higher-priced cold brews and other drinks. It’s also expanding its footprint in the US.

Evelyn Cheng

China’s property market, once accounting for more than a quarter of the economy, has seen its annual sales volume halve in just four years.

CNBC newsPremiumS&P bets China property slump will be worse than expected

S&P Global Ratings has lowered its forecast for China property sales this year, barely two months into 2026.

Evelyn Cheng

Elon Musk's mega-merger

CNBC newsCommentsPremiumSpaceX primed to make Elon Musk the first trillionaire

Elon Musk’s net worth soared past $US800b last week after he merged SpaceX with xAI in a deal that valued the combined entity at $US1.25 trillion.

Robert Frank and Lora Kolodny

The plans were discussed at a “Critical Minerals Ministerial” in Washington this week

CNBC newsPremiumUS proposes minerals trade bloc aimed at countering China

The US on Wednesday unveiled new initiatives to mobilise allies into a preferential trade bloc for critical minerals, including coordinated price floors.

Dylan Butts

WA News

Mum Joanne Appelbee and Austin Appelbee (13) who swimming 4km back to shore to get them help, resulting in their rescue. Andrew Ritchie

WA NewsAppelbee family navigates a return to ordinary life

A fortnight after Joanne Appelbee and her two youngest children were rescued thanks to son Austin’s heroic 4km swim, the family is now navigating a return to ordinary life. 

Brooke Rolfe

WA Police are refusing to reveal whether they tested a driver for drugs or alcohol after he allegedly ploughed into a Perth home killing Bishnu Kumari Gurung in her sleep.

CRIMEPremiumCops silent over driver accused of killing Perth grandma

WA Police are refusing to reveal whether they tested a driver for drugs or alcohol after he allegedly ploughed into a Perth home killing a grandmother in her sleep.

Charlton Hart

The Boddington Hotel 2004 Pty Ltd and an employee appeared in Narrogin Magistrates Court on February on several charges.

The West Australian exclusive
The West Australian exclusive
COURTPremium
The West Australian exclusive
PremiumBoddington Hotel employee and business face charges in court

A Wheatbelt pub and one of its employees have come under fire for allegedly contravening licence terms and permitting alcohol consumption outside of trading hours, appearing in court on a host of charges.

Student Cara Mooney described the new ECU campus as ‘unreal’.

State PoliticsCommentsPremiumCommentsPremiumStudents blown away by ECU’s new $853m city campus

More than 7000 students are expected to stream into Edith Cowan University’s city campus for the first week of classes this month, bringing benefits extending well beyond the classroom.

Premier Roger Cook spoke with Albemarle’s CEO before the closure was announced.

LithiumCommentsPremiumCommentsPremiumCook defends lithium support as US chief laments WA costs

Roger Cook urged Albemarle’s chief executive to at least keep the now-idled Kemerton lithium refinery open to a restart, days before the US giant axed 250 jobs blaming WA’s high business costs.

Claims of what happened outside a Northbridge nightclub between political powerbroker Tim Picton and the 20-year-old man charged with his manslaughter have emerged in court.

COURTPremiumFresh claims emerge in Tim Picton nightclub death case

Claims of what happened outside a Northbridge nightclub between political powerbroker Tim Picton and the 20-year-old man charged with his manslaughter have emerged in court.

Rebecca Le May