In the newly crowded nexus of film and politics, instead of trying to compete with summer movies, politicians seem to be starring in them.

The advertising push behind Michael Moore's new documentary is angering some Republicans, who say it is little more than a commercial campaign devised to help Senator John Kerry.

A massive new firefighter training college will be built at Erskine Park on Mamre Road.

AN ASSOCIATE of the Rebels Outlaw Motorcycle Gang and his girlfriend have been charged with firearms offences.

“It’s about creating music as equals,” said David Cretney, of Autism Spectrum Australia — the organisation behind supported music studio program, ‘Club Weld and the Riff Society’.

Malcolm Turnbull’s government has today announced new funding of $600,000 towards a radical “ice bed” pilot program in Sydney’s west.

A SPORTS centre, bowling alley, and cafe will transform a bare 12,000sq m western Sydney corner block that fronts a problematic traffic spot.

A DOG has been evacuated from the backyard of a western Sydney home that went up in flames this morning.

TRISTAN Potts gave up two other sports after he gave hockey a go and loved it. He started just a few years ago and has already represented NSW in Japan.

A GROUP of teens braved the dark and cold on Friday for a 24-hour challenge as part of Panthers on the Prowl’s pilot program, Building Young Men.

A MULTI — STOREY development planned for western Sydney has been approved despite years of resistance from council and residents.

LINDSAY Liberal MP Fiona Scott has yet to concede defeat in the Federal Election, but her office has been closed all week and she has closed her MP Facebook account.

WHEN you meet Peter Chalouhy it is hard to imagine the bubbly little boy may not make it to his 14th birthday. A stem cell gene therapy trial is his only hope but funds are needed to bring it here.

Australia’s largest Islamic School has been saved for another term after Federal Government officials agreed to hand over more than $5 million in an 11th hour funding move.

Newly arrived refugees will get the chance to highlight the culinary cultures of their homeland at a MasterChef-inspired event to celebrate refugee week.

ONE year since dubbing Kingsgrove the “new Alexandria”, one business has had to move out of the largely industrial suburb to make way for the new M5 tunnels.

THE ICAC is investigating planning decisions taken by the former Canterbury Council after investigators raided Campsie council offices last week.

SARAH HAY is the deputy principal of a public school but she’s more at home as a jouster. In fact, she’s the world’s No. 1 and is relocating to the Middle East where she can enjoy more of her sport.

WHEN Sydney youth hip-hop pioneer Vyvienne Abla takes the stage at parliament house in France it won’t be to bust a rhyme.

WITH just days to go until election day, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten visited Banks and Barton to drum up support.

Graeme Webb was clinically dead for more than 40 minutes. A year on, the Hammondville man who has been dubbed the Miracle Man, relives his story and talks about how life has changed.

Find out where to vote on election day in the seats of Banks, Barton, Watson and Blaxland. There are also a couple of election day stalls, where you can buy a snag or two

IS this the ultimate meatlover challenge? A giant 1kg porterhouse tomahawk steak served on the bone — it’s the kind of meal that would make a vegan weep.

Cricketer Ethan Jamieson is only 12, but he is already spoiled for choice — with both St George and Sydney University Green Shield sides chasing him.

NOT only is Millie Moss a keen Aussie rules player, but at eight years of age she’s got design flair beyond her years.

A new menu created by The Balmain group’s Brad Sloane is the icing on the cake for the slick new resurrection of the landmark Town Hall Hotel.

POLICE have failed to stop any daring drivers taking their chances on Sydney’s best illegal rat run, cutting a 7km commute to the city to just 330m.

A DECISION to move Open High School to Petersham will alleviate capacity issues at an eastern suburbs primary school – but there will be no such relief for overcrowded inner west schools.

A 14-year-old boy is in hospital after being hit by a taxi at Greenacre on Monday.

WESTS Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe says he doesn’t want to rock the boat with the $27m plans for Concord Oval, and that Shute Shield side West Harbour won’t lose their home.

The bubblers were out of action at two inner west schools as water works related to WestConnex turned their water supply brown.

A 92-year-old war widow who devotes her days to serving others has received a generous gift from local business owners who arranged to have her house repainted and she gave them a hand.

A NEW primary school will be built in North Kellyville in the next four years, state Budget papers reveal.

This week our history writer explores a particularly unique visit by a former PM to Pennant Hills.

PLANS to build a commuter car park at the old bus depot in Carlingford could be scrapped in favour of developing seniors housing or residential flats.

TWO towers up to 20 storeys tall could be built in Castle Hill, next to the heritage listed Garthowen House.

NSW police began an investigation after reports emerged of an alleged axe attack and kidnapping in Hornsby last week.

The “extreme” need for a footpath on Manor Rd in Hornsby was finally heard by the council who will fast track a decision by 20 years.

A COMPOSER who produced music for films Mao’s Last Dancer and Russell Crowe’s Master and Commander is taking on the Coalition at the Federal Election over cuts to arts funding.

BENNELONG’S nation-leading house price increase showed people were suffering with high rents and the inability to on their own home, according to some election candidates.

Robert Xie Lianbin, 51, returned to the NSW Supreme Court for the start of his fourth trial in the killing of five members of the Lin family almost seven years ago.

We posed some big questions to the Liberal and Labor contenders for Bennelong, John Alexander and Lyndal Howison, ahead of the Federal Election.

IT would be funny if it weren’t so serious. Police have charged a man with high range drink driving after his car rolled back into another car after he allegedly fell asleep at the wheel at an intersection.

A HARDWARE supply company worker on the northern beaches has been charged with defrauding his employer out of $1.8 million over four years.

TEMPERATURES remain wintry this week — but not everybody’s shivering. From sunbathers to surfers — Manly Beach saw some hardy souls out.

PERHAPS the most pleasing thing about the differences between the older picture of Newport Beach and the one taken this week is how few there are.

WARRINGAH Greens candidate Clara Williams Roldan says as many as one-third of young voters will vote for the Greens because the major parties have ignored youth issues.

The installation of Stop signs at a pedestrian crossing where a woman was hit by a truck and killed has n’t altered driver behaviour.

POLICE seized nearly 1000 cannabis plants in two simultaneous raids at industrial premises at Brookvale and Cromer this morning with six men taken into custody over the $3m haul.

Meet the 22-year-old who has been named the top lifesaver on the northern beaches - and she is putting the call out for more women and young people to pursue leadership roles within the movement.