Wellington - 2820

Insectivorous bats are tiny, quiet and worth about $63 million to the cotton industry. A study of the creatures, some of which are under threat, has been expanded in NSW.

Living in western NSW leaves Sam Thompson with few opportunities to train for open water swimming, but she's not letting that get in the way of her goals.

Newly released figures highlight a record-number of people in New South Wales prisons are being held on remand as they wait for their cases to be heard in court.

Adelaide United goalkeeper Joe Gauci becomes the sixth player to leave the A-League club this season, making a blockbuster move to English Premier League bolters Aston Villa.

Three innocent people shot while sitting in two parked cars in Sydney were targeted by a crime gang who mistakenly believed they were there to attack them, NSW Police say.

The daughters of shooting victim Frank Smith say a "monster" took from them a kind, helpful man who was always willing to help.

An officer told the court she initially believed there were no working body cameras at Wellington Police Station on the day officers attended the home of Brandon Rich, who died while being taken into custody.

Residents say the Central-West Orana renewable energy zone being developed by the NSW government is causing division in rural communities due to confidentiality agreements and what they believe are unfair payments.

The ABC spoke to a number of First Nations people in Sydney and the regions to hear what the Voice means to them.

Police say a man in his 30s has died after being trapped inside a truck that crashed south of Wellington in central west NSW.

All five Renewable Energy Zones are still in the planning phase and no additional transmission infrastructure to support the new projects has been built.

Correctional Services NSW has agreed to increase the number of inmate-built modular homes for the Aboriginal Housing Office, with a real need for five-bedroom homes and a workforce eager to build skills.

When Elizabeth arrives at hospital she is screaming and writhing in pain, as the fully animated mannequin plays her part in training bush nurses for real life emergencies. 

A once-in-a-generation transition is happening in rural Australia, but the big switch to renewables is worrying some farmers.

Its official name is Tiliqua frangens, but its bulky bod and serious spiky armour mean it already has a range of colourful nicknames including "Mega Chonk" and "Chonkasaurus".

Researchers delving into Wellington Caves in western NSW say bone fracture patterns indicate that many of them had fallen through a hole in the cave ceiling and remained buried there, waiting to be discovered.

Aaron Hegedus, 33, pleads guilty to the manslaughter of 48-year-old grandfather Frank Smith in Central Western New South Wales three years ago.

Police have charged a woman following an investigation into an alleged aggravated home invasion in Muswellbrook last month in which four people and two dogs were injured.

Walking down the aisles between these vintage costumes is like taking a stroll through Oklahoma! or a skip down the yellow brick road in The Wizard of Oz.

Homes damaged and farm infrastructure lost as people are told to seek shelter from a massive blaze in the NSW Central West, which has been upgraded to emergency level.

Hot and windy conditions add to firefighters' struggles as fire spreads in rugged terrain near Bathurst, with more than 3,100 hectares burnt since Sunday.

While one fire has been downgraded from emergency level, the heightened risk is expected to remain this evening for a fire that has burnt through 635ha near Bathurst.

The state government has announced how much each council will receive as part of funding promised in January. The much-need funds will help patch regional road networks damaged by record rain and flooding last year.

An exhibition of artworks by inmates from Macquarie Correctional Centre is causing such a buzz at a regional art gallery that its opening hours have had to be extended.

A proposal is in the pipeline for a massive hydro-electric plant in regional NSW capable of powering 400,000 homes with renewable energy.