Good morning and welcome to the Morning Buzz for Friday, December 2. Be prepared for a scorcher out in the west with tops of up to 37 on the way. It’ll be a bit milder in the east with highs around 31. There’s a chance of a thunderstorm this afternoon.
Traffic Buzz
BEECROFT: A truck has broken down westbound on the M2 west of Pennant Hills Rd. Traffic is heavy in the area.
Metro trains are reportedly running close to or on time.
News Buzz
MINE WORKERS PROTEST: “A fair day’s work for a fair day’s pay” and “we all refuse to risk our lives underground for a mere $24/hr”. They were the statements, written on separate placards, which summed up why more than 300 people gathered at Appin Park on Thursday morning.
DRUGS DESTROYED: Ice. Ecstasy. Precursor. Heroin. Cannabis. Steroids. The array of drugs – easily worth $500,000 – was spread out on a table before Blacktown Police Chief Inspector Bob Fitzgerald and Constable Tim Hannon on Tuesday morning.
BICYCLE BACKFLIP: NSW residents will not be required to carry identification while riding a bike, after another about-turn by the Baird government.
HEATWAVE DANGER: Sydney and much of northern NSW will have a very high fire danger today, as the Bureau of Meteorology warns a heatwave will linger in north-eastern Australia for the next few days.
‘PHARMA BRO’ RESPONDS: The man who has been called the "poster boy for greedy drug company executives" and "the most hated man in the world", Martin Shkreli, has responded to reports that a group of Sydney schoolboys made a drug that his company charges at $US750 ($A1011) a tablet.
BACK TO WORK: Leave out your bins – striking Blacktown Council workers have been ordered to get back to the job.
GAOL SHORTLIST: The state government has confirmed that a mega gaol housing 5000 prisoners is on the cards for Wollondilly Shire.
TRAIN SERVICES: Parramatta is on track for more services with up to 20 more express city-bound trains per hour during peak periods.
HOSPITAL OVERHAUL: Mount Druitt Hospital is set for a major overhaul as stage two its long-awaited redevelopment was launched on Thursday.
Sports Buzz
MENTAL HEALTH: Rugby league and toughness go hand-in-hand. Or that’s the theory. For Canterbury Bulldogs prop Sam Kasiano, toughness is almost a given.
Y-LEAGUE: The Western Sydney Wanderers are on top of the Y-League ladder following a 3-0 thrashing of defending champions Sydney FC at Marconi Stadium.