8.48am That's it from us this morning - have a fab weekend - I know I will! Enjoy. See you next week!
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8.46am MOVIE NEWS: It's the animation world's take on David versus Goliath, with an independent filmmaker suing Disney for allegedly copying her work in its teaser trailer for the most financially successful animated movie ever made, Frozen.
8.44am BREAKING: An urgent application will be made to the High Court to stop an asylum-seeking couple’s baby, born in Australia, being transferred to a Darwin detention centre. (AAP)
8.43am TV NEWS: Game of Thrones & Mad Men fans, celebrate! Check out this AWESOME mash-up of the shows' stars.
8.40am CELEB GOSS ALERT: How cute is Fergie's little boy Axl? Adorable!
8.33am Sorry for that delay - slight technical hitch!
8.22am MUSIC NEWS: Gisele Bundchen, the singer? Perhaps! The model is set to record Blondie's Heart of Glass for an upcoming campaign for H&M. Can't wait to hear that one!
8.20am Have you been hunting for Easter Eggs, bunny style, in our competition? Click here for more details on how to win yourself a delish choccy hamper.
8.18am NATIONAL NEWS: Police have spent Thursday night and early Friday morning interviewing people in the area where French student Sophie Collombet was brutally murdered in South Brisbane. It is now one week since the 21-year-old's naked body was found in a rotunda at the Kurilpa Park at 6am on March 28. They still don't have a suspect. Read more here.
8.16am It's time for today's edition of "anywhere but here." This morning, I'd like to be in a bure in Bora Bora, tanning & drinking cocktails...
8.14am LOCAL SPORT: Wollongong middle distance runner Ryan Gregson admits his lead-up to the Australian Championship has been "terrible" and considers himself an underdog to claim the national 1500-metre crown this weekend.
8.12am Anyone else having an attack of the hungry this morning? I've literally just eaten a whole bag of grapes. Maybe it's the rain...
8.10am Don't forget Cloud Control is performing a free gig at Towradgi Beach Hotel on Sunday arvo. From 3pm.
8.08am CELEB GOSS ALERT: David Beckham has a new set of underwear ads. Nuff said.
8.06am It's Jennie Garth's (of Beverly Hills 90210 fame) birthday today! Happy b'day to all the April 4 babies - enjoy.
8.04am MUSIC NEWS: Singer Ed Sheeran has fulfilled the dying wish of a dedicated fan - singing to her just moments before her death.
8.02am LOCAL NEWS: Scientists and planning authorities do not have enough information about underground water bodies for coal seam gas production to be approved anywhere in NSW, a University of Wollongong researcher has said.
7.58am A family market fun day will be held at Bulli Showground tomorrow to raise money for volunteer firies. From 10am.
7.56am MOVIE NEWS: Remember that iconic scene in Titanic where Leonardo Dicaprio's Jack sketches Kate Winslet's Rose in the, urgh, nude?Yep, well, apparently she wasn't that into it.
7.54am TGIF Rushers! Welcome to the end of the working week. If you're just joining us, howdy! Here's the latest weather & traffic deets.
WEATHER It's set to be a cloudy day with showers increasing this morning. We could get some thunderstorms tonight too. We're in for a top of 21. The weekend will be much of the same with a top of 23 tomorrow & 22 on Sunday. Right now, it's 18 in Albion Park & Bellambi.
TRAFFIC All is clear on the region's roads & for the run to Sydney.
TRAINS The South Coast Line is partially closed between Port Kembla and Port Kembla North, in both directions following flooding. Buses are replacing trains.
7.52am BREAKING TV NEWS: David Letterman is set to retire after 32 years as late-night host.
7.50am GROSS BUT TRUE: This video is not for the faint hearted, I'm sorry in advance - some New Yorkers spotted a rat chowing down on donuts in a US Dunkin' Donuts store. Ewwwwwwwwwwww. I used to like donuts...
7.48am Don't forget daylight savings finishes this weekend!
7.46am LOCAL NEWS: Police have raided a Primbee property after receiving information a 26-year-old male resident was in possession of child pornography.
7.44am Keen for some live music this weekend? Check out Radar Illawarra, our weekly live music column.
7.40am BREAKING: A man who was targeted in a shooting in Sydney's west on Thursday night is a member of an anti-Islamic extremist group
7.38am A little science funny for you this morning. It's a goodie....
7.36am NATIONAL NEWS: China's People's Liberation Army has asked to operate under Australian command in the largest international exercises it has joined, smoothing the path for Tony Abbott's most challenging international excursion as leader.
7.32am CELEB GOSS ALERT: Ka-ching! Kim Kardashian & Kanye West may be spending more than $100,000 on each guest at their wedding. NB A note to guests at my wedding - this will NOT be happening!
7.30am LOCAL SPORT: Tough-tackling St George Illawarra hooker Mitch Rein is confident of the Dragons continuing their free scoring early season ways on Friday night.
7.28am The annual Aspect South Coast Gala Dinner is on at Novotel Northbeach tonight.
7.26am WORLD NEWS: The soldier who fatally shot three people at Fort Hood, Texas, before killing himself had been undergoing treatment for depression and anxiety but showed no “sign of any likely violence either to himself or others,” Army Secretary John McHugh said during a Senate hearing on Thursday.
7.24am OMG. As many of you know, I'm planning a wedding. I've thought about a few things but not dog tuxedos. Nope, haven't given any thought to what our pooch Greg might wear - but this could be an option..
7.22am LOCAL NEWS: Wollongong's Kathleen McCormack has been honoured with a Papal award for her pioneering work at welfare agency CatholicCare.
7.20am CELEB GOSS ALERT: Looks like Justin Bieber has nearly sorted his legal dramas - he's close to a plea deal for his DUI case. But his paparazzi lawsuit is still going on. Hope he's got a good lawyer!
7.18am Warilla North Public School is set to celebrate 50 years of education in the region tomorrow with a gala fun day including sausage sizzle, bush dance and loads of memorabilia. 11am to 2pm.
7.16am Queen Elizabeth & Pope Francis have met for the first time.
7.14am BREAKING: Immigration Minister Scott Morrison’s visit to Phnom Penh is fuelling speculation that Aus is trying to strike a refugee resettlement deal with Cambodia. Mr Morrison is the second Abbott government minister to travel for talks with the Cambodian government in the past two months. Mr Morrison met with Cambodia’s Interior Minister Sar Kheng yesterday. (AAP)
7.12am MOVIE NEWS: A Princess Grace biopic, starring Nicole Kidman, is in the making - and Monaco's royal family are not happy about it. It's set to premiere on May 14.
7.10am WORLD NEWS:The Russian foreign ministry has issued a complaint to the German ambassador after a German minister reportedly drew parallels between Moscow's annexation of Crimea and Hitler's actions in 1938. Ouch.
7.08am STRANGE BUT TRUE: Some animals have mad dance skills. Yep, there are a few - birds, dogs & this gorilla. He's a break dancer. Oh yes, you read right - break dancing. Watch the video below - wicky wicky wow (that was break dancer speak ... I think.)
7.06am LOCAL NEWS: Disability workers at the Dapto Respite Centre held a half-hour stop-work rally on Thursday afternoon amid concerns the centre is about to be closed by the NSW government.
7.04am NATIONAL NEWS: The ballot for the annual trip to Gallipoli for ANZAC Day was announced yesterday - nice to see some proud relatives heading o/s to honour their family.
7.02am Check out these fly joggers! Singer Katy Perry posted this pic on Facebook yesterday, stating she was the "coolest Auntie K." Agreed - these little Adidas joggers are sweet!
7am BREAKING: Troubled singer Chris Brown has been taken into custody.
6.58am SPORT: Angry Newcastle officials have hit out at Melbourne over the club's defence of Jordan McLean and questioned why his Storm teammates Jesse and Kenny Bromwich weren't also charged over the tackle that resulted in Alex McKinnon suffering a broken neck and spinal damage.
6.57am Have you been to one of Sandygoodwich's communal dinners? They sound DELISH - book now for June. Yum!
6.55am TGIF Rushers! Welcome to the end of the working week. If you're just joining us, howdy! Here's the latest weather & traffic deets.
WEATHER It's set to be a cloudy day with showers increasing this morning. We could get some thunderstorms tonight too. We're in for a top of 21. The weekend will be much of the same with a top of 23 tomorrow & 22 on Sunday. Right now, it's 18 in Albion Park & Bellambi.
TRAFFIC There is a car breakdown on the M1 (Mount Ousley Rd near New Mt Pleasant Rd), affecting northbound traffic. Otherwise all good on the region's roads & for the run to Sydney.
TRAINS The South Coast Line is partially closed between Port Kembla and Port Kembla North, in both directions following flooding. Buses are replacing trains.
6.52am CELEB GOSS ALERT: Long before announcing their split, friends say Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin had an "open marriage." Thoughts?
6.50am LOCAL NEWS: More than 1500 broadband customers were still without internet connections on Thursday, five days after flooding in the Wollongong exchange disrupted services.
6.48am MUSIC NEWS: Could a Kurt Corbain musical be in the works? Yep, according to his partner Courtney Love & daughter Frances Bean. Cool! They've also given the green light to a movie & documentary on Cobain's life & musical genius.
6.46am NATIONAL NEWS: Recently appointed Holden chairman and managing director Gerry Dorizas says the company is aiming to be the top selling brand in Australia by 2020.
6.44am Like tequila? (Ha, is that even a question!?) Well, head to Amigos every Thursday - the staff are hosting a new Tequila Club, all about showcasing the "family" of tequilas. NB I've been to one of these - great fun! Drink slowly & responsibly.
6.42am STRANGE BUT TRUE: So, if I had goats, I would get them a goat castle. Yes, a castle. Apparently it's a thing. NB Maybe I should get goats. Can you be a creepy goat lady?!
6.40am Looking for something to do this weekend? Don't forget the family airshow is on at Scarborough Hotel on Sunday.
6.39am BREAKING: The search for missing shark attack victim Christine Armstrong is set to resume at first light.
6.38am MOVIE NEWS: Captain America 2: the Winter Soldier hits our screens this week - check out a review here - apparently it has a "blandly spectacular" finale. Hmmm...
6.36am NATIONAL NEWS: The state government is promoting massively discounted wine to seniors in exchange for money, despite a crackdown on excessive alcohol consumption in other age groups.
6.34am CELEB NEWS: There are rumours floating around that James Franco tried to hook up with an underage girl over Instagram. Oh dear.
6.32am LOCAL SPORT: NBL'S Most Valuable Player Rotnei Clarke will begin negotiations about another season with the Wollongong Hawks on Friday, but will not be rushed into a decision, with a number of lucrative international offers expected to come.
6.30am TV NEWS: Moon landing 2.0 - an unmanned landing scheduled for 2015 - will have a documentary channel and a reality TV show.Two US networks, Discovery Channel and Science Channel, have signed onto the plan, part of the Google Lunar XPrize initiative, a $US30 million ($32.4 million) project that hopes to achieve a moon landing by December 31, 2015.
6.28am Are you planning on seeing the musical production of Strictly Ballroom? This still from the show might convince you to go if you haven't booked tix yet. Looks incredible!
6.26am Haha this is a GREAT funny animal pic to kick off your Friday morning. Too good.
6.24am Hungry? Well, head to the Wollongong Commonwealth Bank this morning (stay with me!) for a cake stall to raise money for Clown Doctors. It's on from 9am to 5pm.
6.22am NATIONAL NEWS: More than 700 people were banned from entering the Star casino last financial year, including 154 at the direction of NSW police commissioner Andrew Scipione. NB I didn't think casinos banned anyone!
6.21am Don't forget we're crossing to Pulse 94.1FM every hour with all the latest from the Rush.
6.18am LOCAL NEWS: Michelle Sharon Proud - callous, yes, but a murderer? No way, according to her lawyer, David Pullinger, who has told jurors in closing submissions in the Katie Foreman murder trial that Proud may have been many things, but she was not a killer.
6.16am Fashion fans, celebrate! H&M is set to open its doors in Melbourne this weekend. It's the first Aussie store for the global fashion retailer with six other stores to open nationwide.
6.14am WORLD NEWS: Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson has reportedly been barred from entering the US following her courtroom admission that she had taken cocaine, raising questions on Thursday over her successful TV career in the US.
6.13am CELEB GOSS ALERT: Check out this picture of Orlando Bloom with his gorgeous mini-me son Flynn. Oh so cute!
6.11am Did you see that storm last night? My goodness, what a show - lightning, thunder & a buttload of rain. Keiraville resident Kathy captured this video of the storm - wow! We've got a snap from Illawarra Stormchasers too.
6.09am Here's the national headlines, courtesy of the SMH:
*Arthur Sinodinos has come under fire at a corruption inquiry after he admitted he did nothing to investigate why AWH was charging exorbitant expenses to Sydney Water.
*Just two years after swimmers were warned sharks around Tathra wharf were a ‘‘tragedy waiting to happen’’, a woman was taken and killed by a shark on Thursday.
*Adrian Piccoli has challenged the right of private schools to expel students, saying they are shirking their social responsibility for the sake of their reputations.
*The racing community is in mourning following the death of 23-year-old jockey Nathan Berry.
6.07am Let's see what's making news in your Mercury today:
*Riding to work will be twice as common, crashes will be reduced by 25 per cent and cyclists will have access to a large network of new paths and roads under the Wollongong City Council's five-year bike plan.
*A girl who described being coached with a pornographic video during a sexual assault when she was a child was exposed to adult videos at the brothels where her mother worked, and not as a result of any assault, the man defending the allegations has told Wollongong District Court.
*A community garden on the grounds of the Illawarra's most disadvantaged housing estate is providing fresh hope and regeneration for the people who live there.
*Saying goodbye to his mother was hard enough for Dapto's Jamie Venters; now an administrative mix-up by Wollongong City Council has forced him to relive the pain.
6.04am If you're just waking up, go back to sleep - it's awful out there! Here, I'll show you....
WEATHER It's set to be a cloudy day with showers increasing this morning but becoming less likely tonight. We could get some thunderstorms though. We're in for a top of 21. The weekend will be much of the same with a top of 23 tomorrow & 22 on Sunday.
TRAFFIC All looks okay on the region's roads. There is a truck breakdown at Masot (Sir Reginald Ansett Dr @ Joyce Dr), which is affecting two northbound lanes. Otherwise all good for the run to Sydney.
TRAINS The South Coast Line is partially closed between Port Kembla and Port Kembla North, in both directions following flooding. Buses are replacing trains between Port Kembla and Port Kembla North.
6am Good morning & TGIF! We made it to the end of the week - phew!