Aretha Franklin’s voice put her on the stage, but she used that platform for so much more. The woman, crowned the Queen of Soul, has died in the US aged 76. She’s being remembered for her songs, but also for her battle for female equality and civil rights.

The Coffs Harbour Suns Women’s basketball team are on the verge of something special. This weekend in Sydney, the Suns will compete in the State League Finals.

Authorities hope a $300,000 reward will help unlock the truth over the death of a man near Coffs Harbour, five years ago. Matthew Mitchell was just 30 when he died from severe head injuries, in mysterious circumstances.

The firefighting community is reeling following the death of a pilot, whose waterbombing helicopter crashed near Ulladulla on the south coast. Investigators are tonight looking at whether the aircraft got caught in trees.

A bitter, internal fight over the Coalition’s energy plan is threatening to blow up into a leadership crisis for Malcolm Turnbull. Senior Minister Peter Dutton is considering all his options – including quitting cabinet and leading a group of MPs in a vote against the plan, while the Prime Minister is hoping some tough talk will be enough to quell the rebels.

A doctor has been suspended, and four children are without a mother, following the death of a Taree woman. Police are now investigating – the 38-year-old never woke up after having an injection at a local medical centre.

A mother of four has died after being treated at a private medical clinic in Taree on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. It’s understood she lost consciousness, after being given an injection during her treatment.

Bianca Harrington was a suspended learner driver who took drugs the night before she crashed into a car on the Central Coast, killing an aged care nurse on her way to work. But the pregnant 22-year-old was today found not guilty of a serious drug driving charge, leaving the victim’s family shocked, angry and confused.

UPDATING NBN NEWS Former Adelaide Archbishop Philip Wilson avoids jail – after being found guilty of covering up child sex abuse. He’ll spend 6 months in home detention at his sister’s house on the Central Coast. There was a shocking slur outside the court as a Catholic church official called abuse survivor Peter Gogarty rubbish, during a heated exchange. Also tonight, a suspended learner driver found not guilty of driving under the influence of drugs when she killed an aged care nurse at North Gosford. The Prime Minister slugs it out with Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce, declaring he has the full support of his party for his hotly debated energy plan. A man in the US crashes a light plane into his own house after a domestic dispute with his partner. And Melbourne knocked off its perch as the …

Former Adelaide Catholic Archbishop Philip Wilson will learn tomorrow, whether he’ll spend time behind bars for covering up sex abuse in the Hunter. Reporter Jarrad Brevi has the latest.