8.54am MUSIC NEWS: If you missed this late yesterday, the ABC revealed legendary Australian rocker Doc Neeson only has months to live. He has been battling a brain tumour.

8.52am Today is World Wish Day, as organised by the Make a Wish foundation. One lucky little boy is getting a Finding Nemo related wish - keep your eyes out today, sounds like a great story!

8.50am WORLD NEWS: Remains of about 50 mummies, including newborn babies, thought to belong to the 18th Pharaonic dynasty were found in a huge tomb in Egypt's Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Antiquities Minister Mohamed Ibrahim said on Monday.

8.48am Have you been papped out and about in the Gong? Make sure you check out our gallery of social pics - you never know who you might spot.

8.46am MUSIC NEWS: So, I still can't believe this is happening but TLC are touring! And they've just added another Sydney show. Tickets on sale May 1 at 10am.

8.44am A little journalist funny for you this morning - I know all my fellow journos will appreciate it. 

8.42am BREAKING: The body of a man has been retrieved from a river southwest of Melbourne. A passer-by called police after finding the body of a 59-year-old local man in the Werribee river on Monday night. Police say the death is not being treated as suspicious. (AAP)

8.40am Star Wars fans, don't forget - Sunday is May the 4th. NB Non-fans - have a think, you'll get it.

8.38am STRANGE BUT TRUE: This is a hornets' nest with a face. Beyond creepy.

8.37am BREAKING POLITICS: People earning more than $80,000 will be in the firing line if the federal government pushes ahead with a national debt tax, according to reports. News Corp publications today reported that the temporary tax, in a strategic leak from the government, would operate like the Medicare levy and cost earners on $80,000 at least $800 a year rising to an extra $8000 a year for those earning $400,000 a year.

8.35am I'm back!

8.22am Sorry Rushers, we're going to have a quick break while I move my car down the street #newofficeparking - back in 10!

8.20am WORLD NEWS: High-profile sponsors have started abandoning the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team following racist remarks allegedly made by the team's billionaire owner, Donald Sterling.

8.18am MUSIC NEWS: Could Katy Perry have a new boyfriend? Rumours are abounding that Ms Perry has been spending time with another musician, Diplo. Watch this space...

8.16am Do you remember the '90s cartoon Duck Tales? Well, you might remember its theme song slightly differently to this version - this slow, sexy cover is amaze.

8.14am The musical, Legally Blonde, is coming to Wollongong. MoonGlow Productions is set to stage the musical for the first time in the region on July 4-5 @ the WIN Entertainment Centre. Tickets are on sale now, get in quick!

8.12am BREAKING: A Canberra teenager will face court accused of exposing himself to a girl walking her dog. He was arrested in the city’s north on Monday and charged with committing an act of indecency. He will face the ACT Children’s Court today. (AAP)

8.10am MOVIE NEWS: Filmmaker Steven Spielberg is set adapt Roald Dahl’s classic children’s book The BFG for the big screen.

8.08am BREAKING: Mamamia is reporting that the Australian government will today release a report showing that the use of "ice" nationwide is reaching pandemic levels.

8.06am LOCAL NEWS: A Sydney woman will remain behind bars as she prepares to fight allegations she threatened to stab her ex-partner in the head and squirted a blood-filled syringe in his eyes.

8.04am CELEB GOSS ALERT: A girl could really start to dislike Miranda Kerr. She posted this selfie on Instagram, showing her looking fab and driving a flashy car. Sigh.

8.02am It just occurred to me that we have not yet had our cute animal pic for the morning - what a disaster! Well, good news, I found one! And it's V cute.

8am Looking for some inspiration in the kitchen this week? We've got a great meal planner to help shake up your dinner time routine. 

7.57am TV NEWS: Fans of Patrick from Offspring, I have good news! He may not be returning to the hit series BUT he will reappear on Aussie screens in the second series of Love Child. Yep, Matt Le Nevez, is set to join the drama next year.

7.52am Good morning Illawarra! For those just tuning in, hello and welcome! Here's the latest weather & traffic news for you.

WEATHER We're in for a partly cloudy day with a top of 24 degrees. We could have some patchy fog this morning with the chance of some light rain tonight. Right now, it's 13 degrees in Albion Park and 19 in Bellambi.

TRAFFIC All looks clear on the region's roads - don't forget those ongoing road works @ Gerringong & the Picton Rd on-ramp. There is a car broken down at Mascot (just past the airport tunnel) causing a few headaches.

TRAINS There is a good service on the South Coast line.

7.50am WORLD NEWS: The captain of the South Korean ferry that sank off the coast of a tourist island can be seen slipping away while hundreds of passengers remain on the doomed ship, a video clip released on Monday by Korea's coast guard reveals.

7.48am MUSIC NEWS: The Splendour in the Grass line-up has welcomed three new acts - Childish Gambino, Hilltop Hoods and Sam Smith.

7.46am LOCAL SPORT: Long-time Illawarra teammates Sean Cranney and Angus Glover are on the cusp of selection in the Australian under-17 basketball side for a tour of China.

7.44am A little Tuesday funny for you - any parents out there who agree?

7.42am MUSIC NEWS: Miley Cyrus was hospitalised last week, forcing her to postpone her Bangerz tour. Well, she's finally revealed why she was in hospital.

7.40am LOCAL NEWS: Wollongong is one of the nation's top 10 flu hot spots, a new survey shows. More than 27 per cent of Wollongong residents aged over 14 reported having had the flu in 2013 according to the Roy Morgan survey, which compared to the national average of 23.3 per cent.

7.38am POLITICS: Education Minister Christopher Pyne has given his strongest sign yet the Abbott government will extend taxpayer funds to for-profit universities in a bid to cultivate a US-style college system in Australia.

7.36am STRANGE BUT TRUE: When a "fan" threw a banana onto a soccer field over the weekend, Barcelona player Dani Alves simply picked it up and ate it. Nice. Watch it below.

7.34am Don't forget Mother's Day is on May 11. If you haven't already organised a gift or breakkie in bed, get cracking!

7.32am LOCAL NEWS: A slightly tongue-in-cheek story this morning - our own "wildman" Andrew Ucles has found the Jane to his Tarzan in a match made in survivalist TV heaven. Read the full story here.

7.30am MUSIC NEWS: Jason Derulo is in town! We've got a cheeky sneak peak of his concert - looks like it will be a goodie. Derulo fans, enjoy. NB Does he still sing his own name at the start of every song? I always found that really odd...

7.28am NATIONAL NEWS: A Sydney truck driver who collided head-on with a car driven by a man and his elderly parents, killing them instantly, was heavily affected by methadone and had been involved in a string of drug-related driving incidents, a court has heard.

7.26am TRAFFIC ALERT - Kembla Grange: two-car accident.

7.24am We mentioned that partial eclipse earlier (anyone else humming Total Eclipse of the Heart?) - we'll be able to see it around 4.14pm today apparently. Eyes on the skies!

7.22am Melbourne's Attica restaurant has once again been recognised as the best restaurant in the country – and 32nd in the world. No Sydney restaurants made the top 50. Quay, headed by chef Peter Gilmore, dropped from 48th to the No. 60 position. Check out the full list of top eateries here.

7.20am TIARA ALERT: The royals may have left our shores but everyone is STILL talking about Kate's wardrobe. What she wore, how much it cost and most importantly, where we can get it!

7.18am Tomorrow is international Jazz day. Grab your sax and your fave Duke Ellington track and party!

7.14am LOCAL NEWS: Breastfed preschoolers and kindergarten kids are more common than the general populace may think, says a UOW honorary fellow.

7.13am BREAKING: Legendary singer Paul Simon and his wife, singer Edie Brickell, have been arrested on disorderly conduct charges. Read more here.

7.12am TV NEWS: Video streaming websites in China have been ordered to stop showing four popular American TV shows, including The Big Bang Theory and The Good Wife. The State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television didn't give a reason for its order, she said.

7.10am CELEB GOSS ALERT: Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher have been spotted out & about - and Ms Kunis is spotting one BIG baby bump. Oh bless.

7.06am I'm not a Game of Thrones fan but I know a hell of a lot of people who are so - watchers, I give you a recap of the latest episode. Enjoy.

7.04am MUSIC NEWS: Stop Right Now! Four of the five Spice Girls got together to celebrate Victoria Beckham's 40th. Only Mel B was missing....

7.02am WORLD NEWS: An Egyptian court has handed down another mass death sentence, condemning 683 Muslim Brotherhood supporters, including the movement's general leader Mohammed Badie, to die for inciting violence after the army overthrew former president Mohamed Mursi.

7am MOVIE NEWS: It seems Fox in the US has announced plans to air Grease live - with all new players. Budding Sandy & Dannys, come out of hiding!

6.58am LOCAL NEWS: Member for Throsby Stephen Jones is looking at whether a $6.1 million Commonwealth grant awarded to Focus Press can be recouped after the company sold its Wollongong plant, which has since been closed.

6.56am MOVIE NEWS: I may have just found a movie worse than Sharknado. Yep, you read it right, WORSE. It's called Zombeavers. Nuff said. Here's the trailer. Enjoy.

6.54am SPORT: In case you missed this last night, former NRL player & Illawarra born Ryan Tandy was found dead at his family’s Saratoga home on the Central Coast on Monday. It is understood the 32-year-old died of a drug overdose. Tandy was a known drug user.

6.52am Good morning Illawarra! For those just tuning in, hello and welcome! Here's the latest weather & traffic news for you.

WEATHER We're in for a partly cloudy day with a top of 24 degrees. We could have some patchy fog this morning with the chance of some light rain tonight. Right now, it's 11 degrees in Albion Park and 18 in Bellambi.

TRAFFIC All looks clear on the region's roads - don't forget those ongoing road works @ Gerringong & the Picton Rd on-ramp. There is an accident @ Sutherland (Grand Pde @ Linden St) causing a few headaches.

TRAINS There is a good service on the South Coast line.

6.50am So, I know it's a little early to play "anywhere but here" but...I'd rather be in Greece. Or Fiji. Or bed. What, I've just come back from leave, give me a break?!

6.48am TV NEWS: Cooking show fans, breathe - MKR might be finishing tonight but don't fret, Masterchef starts next Monday. And not a moment too soon - there was a real chance of a cooking show void there for a sec!

6.46am Pretty sure this is the motto most men live by, including my fiancee. In fact, I know a few women who are guilty of this too!

6.44am BREAKING: A woman has been threatened with a box cutter during a hold-up at a vitamin shop in Sydney’s inner west. Two thieves - one armed with the box cutter - entered the shop on Burwood Road about 7.45pm Monday, police said. The robbers threatened a female staff member before taking off with cash. Police want anyone with information to come forward.

6.43am And just in case you missed the Logies red carpet, here is a delicious gallery of the best & worst dressed. 

6.42am MUSIC NEWS: Dancers who performed with Kylie Minogue at the world premiere of her new single during the Logie Awards were offered less than the legal minimum for their fee, the entertainment union says. Ouch.

6.40am STRANGE BUT TRUE: A couple have painted their house to look like the house from the Pixar film Up! They said they did it for their young daughters. Wow, that's dedication to parenting.

6.38am As if selfies weren't bad enough, now we have "shelfies". Yep, shelfies - images of objects gathered together to represent you. Vom.

6.36am LOCAL NEWS: Wollongong City Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery labelled the most vocal critics of the council as "a pack of bastards" at Monday night's council meeting.

6.34am CELEB GOSS ALERT: If you missed this HUGE news over the weekend, George Clooney is ENGAGED. Yep, everyone's favourite bachelor is set to tie the knot - but what of his MANY ex-girlfriends?!

6.32am As many of you know, I'm planning a wedding and inevitably the question of cake has arisen. Last night, my fiancee showed me this cake and asked if we could have it for the wedding. Oh so tempting...

6.30am NATIONAL NEWS: Former Australian swimmer Geoff Huegill and his publicist wife Sara Hill will face court next month after being allegedly caught with cocaine at Sydney's Randwick racecourse.

6.28am A solar eclipse today is set to transform the sun into a Ring of Fire - keep your eyes peeled!

6.26am It appears dancers from Illawarra studio NRG are absolutely killing it over in the world competition in the US. We'll have the full story for you later in the week.

6.24am WORLD NEWS: Powerful tornadoes have killed at least 17 people as they flipped cars, ripped up homes and uprooted trees across the south-central United States, emergency officials have reported.

6.22am BREAKING: A huge shed has gone up in flames at Taronga Zoo, creating some hysteria among the animals.

6.21am Don't forget we're crossing every hour to Pulse 94.1FM with all the latest news from the Rush.

6.20am CELEB COUPLE NEWS: Could Selena Gomez and Orlando Bloom be dating? Um, that's what we're hearing over here on the Rush. Hmmm....

6.16am Did you watch MKR last night? Holy good night, it's all happening! Can't believe the grand final is tonight. SPOILER ALERT: the irritating mums beat out the Greek twins to take on the equally irritating girls in the final. Here's a recap if you missed it. 

6.14am LOCAL NEWS: Wollongong's new state-of-the-art blood donor centre has collected a massive 1110 litres of blood in its first month of operation, beating the challenge of 1000 litres in one month.

6.12am CELEB GOSS ALERT: Chris Martin has taken the blame for his separation from wife Gwyneth Paltrow - he says their impending divorce was all his fault. Poor pet.

6.10am WORLD NEWS: British police have arrested a 15-year-old male pupil after a female teacher was stabbed to death at a Catholic school in London in a rare attack on educational staff.

6.08am MUSIC NEWS: Beyonce & Jay Z have announced some BIG news - they are set to tour together! Their On the Run tour will visit cities across the US over the American summer. Fingers crossed they come down under!

6.06am And in the national news (courtesy of the SMH):

*International drug cartels are increasingly targeting the Australian market due to a rise in demand and the price consumers are prepared to pay here.

*Women would have their first screening for cervical cancer at 25 and tested only every five years under dramatic changes recommended by an expert body, the Medical Services Advisory Committee.

*Prime Minister Tony Abbott is being urged by Liberals to follow his own advice by scaling down his signature $5.5bn paid parental leave scheme.

6.04am Here's what's making news in your Mercury today:

*It's long been touted as the answer to Wollongong Hospital's parking woes but staff, patients and visitors are set to pay a high price for the multimillion-dollar car park expansion.

*Wollongong councillors have rejected a motion calling for a cost-benefit analysis of Skydive The Beach's plans for a new headquarters in Stuart Park.

*"String them up" - that was the sentiment one angry Kiama Bowling Club patron directed towards two men responsible for firing a gun during an armed robbery on Saturday night.

*They are havens for learning, research and adventure but public libraries face an uncertain future if cash-strapped councils continue to bear the brunt of their operating costs.

6.02am Rise and shine - let's have a look at how the weather is shaping up & what's doing on the roads & rail.

WEATHER We're in for a partly cloudy day with a top of 24 degrees. We could have some patchy fog this morning with the chance of some light rain tonight. Right now, it's 11 degrees in Albion Park and 18 in Bellambi.

TRAFFIC All looks clear on the region's roads - don't forget those ongoing road works @ Gerringong & the Picton Rd on-ramp. It should be a smooth run to Sydney too.

TRAINS There is a good service on the South Coast line.

6am Good morning! Happy Tuesday readers! Your regular Rush host, Emma Spillett, is back after a lengthy hiatus - and I'm thrilled! I've missed the Rush and its newsy goodness. Stay with me this morning for all the latest info.