Mark Bennett Journalist Profile

Articles

WA government offers firearms owners reprieve on eve of strict new gun laws

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Andrew Chounding |Mark Bennett |Anna Cox

WA Police has announced a soft launch of strict gun laws. New laws will start on Monday but police will issue temporary licences of up to 90 days to allow gun owners to transition. Tough restrictions on rapid release guns will come into effect with owners urged to hand in firearms. The Western Australian government has softened the launch of its strict new gun laws on the eve of their rollout after receiving backlash from firearm owners across the state.
ISU women's roster dwindles in portal exodus; Alderink among 6 departing men

4 weeks ago | tribstar.com | Mark Bennett |Derek Harper

A rocky Indiana State women’s basketball season has been followed by the departure of several players as the NCAA transfer portal opened Tuesday. Several players entered the transfer portal or announced plans to do so on their X social-media accounts, including Keslyn Secrist, Saige Stahl, Bella Finnegan, Deja Jones, Lily Niebuhr, Savannah White and Queen Ruffin. Additionally, On3.com, a college and high school sports website, reported that several others also had entered the portal.
ISU women's roster dwindles in portal exodus; Alderink among 6 departing men

4 weeks ago | sports.yahoo.com | Mark Bennett |Derek Harper |Terre Haute

A rocky Indiana State women’s basketball season has been followed by the departure of several players as the NCAA transfer portal opened Tuesday. Several players entered the transfer portal or announced plans to do so on their X social-media accounts, including Keslyn Secrist, Saige Stahl, Bella Finnegan, Deja Jones, Lily Niebuhr, Savannah White, Asia Donald and Queen Ruffin. Additionally, On3.com, a college and high school sports website, reported that several others also had entered the portal.
WA's prescribed burning policy in spotlight, protest held in Nornalup

Jan 19, 2025 | abc.net.au | Mark Bennett |Samantha Goerling

Debate over the use of prescribed burning in Western Australia has ramped up in the wake of the Los Angeles fires, amid hundreds of people rallying on the state's south coast calling on the state government to end the practice. The rally in Nornalup on Saturday comes in the lead-up to the state election with differing views about the best way to protect lives and homes close to forests.
Working dogs help sick children as Kelpies for Kids fundraiser enters second year

Jan 11, 2025 | abc.net.au | Kate Forrester |Mark Bennett

A program that trains working dogs and auctions them off to raise much-needed money for children's health is set to expand after a record-breaking first year. Kelpies for Kids pairs working dogs with a trainer before the animals are auctioned, with money raised going towards landmark WA fundraiser Telethon. Starting last year, the program brings together each pup with one of the "Telethon kids", who are the face of fundraising efforts. The inaugural program raised more than $50,000.
Country towns feeling steamrolled by rapid growth of wind energy in regional WA

Jan 4, 2025 | abc.net.au | Mark Bennett

Hundreds of wind turbines are set to dot the landscape across southern WA as part of the state government's push for more renewable energy. Residents of multiple country towns have expressed concerns about the uneven playing field they face negotiating with energy companies. The WA government's green power agency says the ongoing rollout is a collaborative process between locals and energy developers.
Dry-seeding gamble pays off as WA grain growers reap $10 billion bumper harvest

Dec 23, 2024 | abc.net.au | Andrew Chounding |Mark Bennett

Western Australia's grain growers are on track to deliver one of their best harvests, exceeding expectations after a drier-than-average winter. Almost 20 million tonnes of grain has been harvested across the state. Analysts believe the total tonnage will easily end up being the third-largest harvest on record, delivering almost $10 billion to the state's economy.
Christmas comes early for small WA town as it harvests first community crop

Dec 21, 2024 | abc.net.au | Kate Forrester |Mark Bennett

People power has succeeded in the WA farming town of Boyup Brook with the harvest of its first community crop. Farmers Simon Purse and Charles Caldwell donated land to the project, with funds from the canola and barley crops going to rebuilding and upgrading decades-old sport facilities. Mr Caldwell, who helped plant the crop earlier in the year, said the quality of the barley harvested earlier this month was exceeding expectations.
South state title coach Alan Maroska elected to Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame

Dec 10, 2024 | sports.yahoo.com | Mark Bennett |Terre Haute

Only one Vigo County high school basketball team has won a state championship and now its coach — Alan Maroska — will be enshrined in the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame. Maroska was one of 17 inductees announced Tuesday morning by the Indiana Basketball Hall in New Castle. Maroska and the Class of 2025 will be honored in ceremonies April 26, 2025, at New Castle. Maroska’s girls team won the 2002 Indiana High School Athletic Association Class 4A state championship.
Terre Haute's Tommy John misses Hall of Fame induction once again

Dec 9, 2024 | tribstar.com | Mark Bennett

Terre Haute pitching great Tommy John has been a candidate for induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown 20 times, and much to his hometown's chagrin, hasn’t yet gotten the call. On Sunday night, John was passed over again for induction into the Hall at Cooperstown, New York.