Tuesday, June 1, 2021: Top stories from the Newcastle Herald, your trusted voice in the Hunter

The defamation case that ended the higher ambitions of a politician who was considered a potential Australian prime minister has been settled.
Stabilising the collapsed section of the South Newcastle sea wall will be no quick fix and may cost up to a $1million, according to an experienced civil engineer who viewed the damage yesterday.
University of Newcastle collected the keys to its just-completed mass timber frame building on Honeysuckle Drive yesterday afternoon.
Queensland star Kalyn Ponga believes the Maroons camp is the perfect environment to shake off a groin complaint as injury concerns again surround the side ahead of next week's State of Origin opener.
Firefighters, with the assistance of NSW Rural Fire Service crews, were called to the rescue of a horse on Sunday morning, after it was found almost completely submerged in a drain at Bobs Farm.