9am: Well that's it for me this morning, hope you all enjoyed another daily dose of the Grill.
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Have a great weekend and tune in again on Monday from 7am as we do it all again.
Until then, keep an eye on your local news websites and Facebook pages for any breaking news.
8.55am: Are you celebrating a birthday today? Happy birthday if you are!
If today is your special day then you're sharing it with a few famous names.
Cruz Beckham, famous son of soccer star David, is nine today while Hollywood's Miles Teller is 27.
Cindy Crawford is 48 while well known actor and director Sidney Poitier is 87.
Kurt Cobain would have been 48 today while arguably the most famous birthday today is that of pop star Rihanna, with the R&B princess today 26.
Here's some of her best work. It gets good around the 13 second mark. Happy birthday Ri-Ri.
8.45am: So despite Cyclone Marcia bearing down on Queensland and authorities calling for calm, some people can't help themselves but have a joke about the name of the cyclone.
Cyclone Marcia is expected to bring widespread damage but a whole stack of people seem to be focused on the opportunity to make some Brady Bunch jokes. Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!!
8.35am: Queensland is preparing for a terrifying few days with category five storm Cyclone Marica bearing down on the coast this morning. With those of you with friends or family in the region, here's the latest update.
Cyclone Marcia is beginning to hit the coast right now and the Yeppoon and Rockhampton areas are expected to bear the brunt of the wild weather, potentially bringing widespread disaster with it.
The storm was upgraded to the most powerful of all the storm levels, category five, at 4am and is now expected to unleash very destructive winds of up to 285km/h on the Capricornia Coast.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said safety was paramount for residents of the Capricornia Coast town and surrounding areas.
"Over the next few hours many thousands of Queenslanders are going to go through a harrowing and terrifying experience and I want those people to know we are with you every step of the way, we will be standing by your side," she said.
"This is a severe cyclone. I want everyone to take all the precautions they possibly can take."
8.30am: The issue of live-baiting in the greyhound industry has dominated headlines across the country this week. The Four Corners report on Monday night brought the cruel practice to the nation's attention and the fallout has been massive.
In recent days the entire Greyhound Racing NSW board has been stood down while a number of trainers have been suspended and a stack more are expected to be charged.
There have been a number of opinions on the sport with many saying this is the beginning of the end for greyhound racing while others have taken the "don't let a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch" view.
In this Fairfax media opinion piece the journalist has called for the harshest possible outcome for the sport.
8.20am: It's been another big week in western NSW with plenty of big stories.
We've put together a gallery of the best images from the past seven days and there's some great pics on show.
Check out the full "The Week That Was" gallery here.
8.10am: As always there's plenty happening in local sport and here's today's headlines.
GREYHOUNDS: NSW Deputy Premier and racing minister Troy Grant hasn't entirely ruled out a temporary shutdown of the greyhound industry as he attempts to get to the bottom of the live baiting saga that has rocked the sport this week.
CRICKET: There will be plenty to play for in tonight's McDonald's Megahit double-header at No. 1 Oval with two of the three finals spots still up for grabs.
RUGBY LEAGUE: New Dubbo Macquarie coach Guy Meredith has only been back in town for a few days but he has already made his first major decision by anointing hard-working prop Anthony Egan as captain.
HARNESS RACING: Koloura Gold made it two wins in the space of seven days at Parkes when he showed blistering speed to take out the Nodtrain Pace (1660m) on Wednesday night.
8am: Time for a look at today's front page story.
Two developments in Keswick Estate will inject "tens of millions of dollars" into the city and drive the economy for years to come, according to Dubbo City councillor John Walkom.
Cr Walkom chaired Monday night's Planning and Development Committee meeting in the absence of regular chairwoman Lyn Griffiths, in which a development application (DA) for a 217-lot subdivision off Volta Avenue was referred to the Western Joint Regional Planning Panel.
A DA for a 70-bed senior care facility and 12 self-contained dwellings by the Royal Freemasons Benevolent Institution on the north-east corner of Keswick Estate has already been passed by the WJRPP and was given the tick of approval by council as well on Monday.
"If you look across Dubbo there has been significant land development in the last eight months and when you add this onto it, it is setting Dubbo up for a very positive future."
- Dubbo City councillor John Walkom.
Mr Walkom said both submissions showed the level of confidence there was across the city.
"If you look across Dubbo there has been significant land development in the last eight months and when you add this onto it, it is setting Dubbo up for a very positive future," he said.
"Housing is a proven economic driver and the demand in Dubbo has outweighed supply so to have these developments to help meet that demand is fantastic.
"The retirement home is a very welcome addition to housing options and it is a good location within Keswick Estate."
7.50am: Calling all hockey players!
A registration Day for the Dubbo Hockey Association will be held from 5pm to 7pm tomorrow, Saturday, February 21, for everyone ages four and up at the Dubbo Hockey Centre.
Come along for a fun afternoon of activities, watch an exhibition match with special guests and sign up with a team. There will also be a barbecue and the chance to catch up with new and old friends.
Competition starts during the week starting Monday, March 9.
For more information contact hockey@dubohockey.com.au
7.45am: Here's the biggest stories today from across the country.
BALI NINE: Some of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's senior colleagues are concerned that his tough talk with Indonesia may have undermined a carefully crafted strategy to save the lives of two Australians on death row.
TERRORISM: Australia's top counter-terrorism police officer has expressed concern that a rising number of "cleanskin" jihadis who have radicalised rapidly below the radar of police are slipping overseas to fight with extremists.
BUDGET: Australians will "fall off their chairs" when the inter-generational report is released, Treasurer Joe Hockey says, because for all the government's efforts "we still don't get anywhere near being able to reduce spending over the medium-term to the same level that exists today".
TRAVEL: Aussies are once again flocking to London to find work, according to the UK's latest employment figures.
7.35am: With today being Friday that can only mean one thing - yesterday was Throwback Thursday! Take a walk back through history and have a look at the best photos from February 1988. Check out all the great pics right here.
7.30am: Time to cast our eyes a little further and check out the biggest stories from around our region today.
ORANGE: On the day traditionally celebrated as Chinese New Year, Rodney Soo decided to take the family’s long-cherished Chinese dragon for a ‘walk’ in Summer Street and decorate his business.
CUDAL: Greyhound owner and trainer Amanda Ginn of Cudal said she was disgusted at the images of live animal baiting in the greyhound industry.
TAMWORTH: The Guyra community has bid an emotional farewell to Father Anthony “Holy Smoke” Koppman, the pyrotechnic priest who has touched thousands of lives in the region.
FORBES: The NSW minister for primary industries Katrina Hodgkinson was at the Forbes Central West Livestock Exchange yesterday to officially open the new extension of the sheep yards.
BATHURST: Bathurst has been named one of Australia’s best-value holiday destinations for 2015.
7.20am: To get things started here's a look at what's making news locally today.
DUBBO: A group of women using the click of knitting needles to fight against coal seam gas (CSG) mining have been barred from protesting in Dubbo's main street because they don't have the right paperwork.
NARROMINE: Soul Food Design Depot and Gallery is hosting a new six-week exhibition with three artists, locals Maria Oates, Jacinta Haycock and the Central Coast's Aleida Pullar.
NARROMINE: Narromine celebrated International Women's Day with a visit from NSW Senator Fiona Nash and Toni Grant, wife of NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant.
DUBBO: Brennans Mitre 10 Dubbo has been crowned the Australian Mitre 10 Store of the Year and owner Michael Brennan said he was blown away with the award.
7am: Good morning and happy Friday everyone! Welcome to the end of the working week. You're with Nick in Dubbo for this morning's Grill.
I'll be here for the next couple of hours to tell everything you need to know but first thing's first, here's the weather.
DUBBO/ WELLINGTON/ NARROMINE: Right now it's just a tick under 20 degrees and heading for a high of 32 today. There's a chance of some rain and thunderstorms later in the afternoon and evening.
COBAR/ BOURKE: 23 degrees further west already but also heading for a high in the low 30s. Again, chance of thunderstorms later in the day.
