Good morning and welcome to the Morning Buzz for Wednesday, March 29. It’s set to be a mostly sunny day with tops of 35 degrees across the city.
Traffic Buzz
BRIGHTON-LE-SANDS: There are heavy traffic conditions following a truck breakdown on General Holmes Drive at Rowley Street. Motorists in the area should expect delays.
MOSMAN: There has been a car rollover on Military Road at Harbour Street. There are heavy traffic conditions in the area and motorists should expect delays.
News Buzz
CAR FIRE: A car burst into flames in the middle of the road at the corner of Third Avenue and Richmond Road in Blacktown last night.
GREYHOUND DEBATE CONTINUES: The cost to taxpayers of reforming the NSW greyhound racing industry instead of closing it will be at least $41 million after the government agreed to fund reforms including the establishment of a new independent integrity agency.
ON THE RISE: Popular charcoal chicken store Frangos could open as early as three or four weeks, despite a fire causing significant damage to the Bella Vista store.
BAN CONDEMNED: Australia's decision to ban the use of nicotine in electronic cigarettes has been condemned as "flawed and unethical" by a group of doctors and health experts.
M2 COST: Motorists will have to pay more to use the M2 motorway from April 1.
PRIVATISATION CHANGE: The Berejiklian government has been accused of being "reckless in the extreme" by making a "last-minute" decision in relation to its land titles registry privatisation that Labor claims could potentially cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
CYCLONE DOWNGRADED: Cyclone Debbie has been downgraded to a category three storm, with sustained of 155km/h but wind gusts up to 220km/h.
SCHOOL INCIDENTS: Two students at Gymea Technology High School were admitted to hospital within a couple of weeks of each other, following drug-related incidents at the school.
SUPERANNUATION REVIEW: Union-dominated super funds would lose their special status under a draft Productivity Commission recommendation that would delink superannuation from awards and allocate new workers to default funds only once.
SHARK RESCUED: A juvenile shark has been rescued and returned to the sea after it was found in ocean baths in Sydney's northern beaches.
BRIDGE PROJECT: Hawkesbury residents still have a chance to comment about the design of the Windsor Bridge replacement.
PRESSURE MOUNTS: A Turnbull government plan to quietly ratify the China-Australia extradition treaty has collapsed, with mounting opposition from the Coalition backbench and Labor's decision to oppose the treaty causing the government to withdraw it from Parliament.
Sports Buzz
CLEARY DEAL CLOSER: The Wests Tigers are set to offer Ivan Cleary a 3½-year deal after the club hierarchy met with the coach on Monday to discuss plans for him to lead the joint venture until the end of 2020.
SOCCEROOS WIN: After four straight draws had stalled the World Cup qualifying campaign, and at least partly deflated the Ange Postecoglou aura, the Socceroos beating United Arab Emirates has restored belief, and boosted optimism.
SERIES OVER: One of the most spiteful series in recent memory has ended in acrimony with Indian captain Virat Kohli declaring friendships have been lost, while Steve Smith took aim at the Indian board for breaching an unwritten rule of the game.
ORIGIN PLANNING: State of Origin is two months away but NSW coach Laurie Daley and his adviser Peter Sterling have already had two selection meetings since round one to compile a list of names under consideration.
DRAGONS ON FIRE: Jack de Belin believes St George Illawarra’s recruitment off the field is one of the big reasons for the club’s explosive start to the season.
