Hannah has sent in this touching effort on the part of the local wildlife to heal the drunken damage to public art.
It’s good to see On The Staircase make it to three!
Got an image of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email it in to images@the-riotact.com .

ACT Policing has seized and impounded a purple Ford Falcon utility after footage of the vehicle doing burnouts in Amaroo was posted on Facebook.
Last Friday evening (26 April) the registered owner of the vehicle, a 19-year-old man from Chisholm, posted the video to their Facebook account.
The video, recorded earlier that same day, depicts [...]

Why It’s Time to Stop Calling Everything a ‘Hipster’ — powered by Cracked.com
The word hipster gets overused on this site as much as anywhere.
Often by angry people who think their own ignorance is a justification of their opinions.
In any event Cracked have done an excellent job explaining the term’s misuse which I thought worthy of [...]

Between news that Canberra is getting badly ripped off and Barcham getting bailed up for daring to take a picture of a price board this morning we think it’s time to do something.
So get snapping with your phones people and send in pictures of your local petrol station.
If they arc up remind them you’re on [...]

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare have released Youth justice in Australia 2011–12: an overview and for better or worse kids in Canberra seem to be spending more time in care than elsewhere, with our indigenous numbers particularly striking.
In general Tasmania seems to lock up children the most, but why are we next?

The Chief Minister has announced the lucky supplicants for health grant largesse:
Twenty Canberra community groups have received their share in $950,000 of ACT Government health grants, designed to promote health and wellbeing in our city, Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher, announced today.
“Some of the best ideas for projects that will improve the [...]

The ABC brings word of an Anglicare report showing there is no housing in Canberra that could be called affordable:
The report found among the people it surveyed there were no affordable houses for single parents, people on Newstart or Youth Allowance.
Anglicare ACT’s Jenny Kitchin says the situation is not much better across the border.
“A [...]

The Canberra Times has a story on just how badly we’re being ripped off on petrol:
The price of petrol in Canberra was more than 25 cents higher than in Melbourne, and close to 25 cents higher than in Sydney over the past week, according to the latest fuel price update.
While price falls of 10 cents [...]

ACT Policing is investigating a two vehicle collision yesterday afternoon (Monday, April 29) in Mawson.
Around 1.50pm ACT Policing Criminal Investigations were travelling north along Athllon Drive when they attempted a traffic stop on a blue Ford Telstar.
The driver failed to stop and police initiated a pursuit.
The offending vehicle fled police and drove through a [...]

Rob, Tim, and I mix up the rugby ideas in Duxton, expound on matters rugby.
The beer for review is the Pigs Fly Pale Ale (by The Bowral Brewing Company).
The music is by Old Ace.
You can download it now.
Our tips for this weekend are:
Rob – Blues, Chiefs, Highlanders, Reds, Tahs, Bulls, Brumbies
Tim – Blues, Chiefs, Sharks, [...]

[ 3 May, 2013; 7:30 pm; ]

This just in:

May Poetry Slam Part 1
This month sees the social calendar bookended by two editions of the Canberra Poetry Slam

Part 1 starts Friday the 3rd at the Front Gallery. As with all our slams, we start with the open mic at 7:30 before moving onto the Slam.

The slam rules:
– 3 minute limit
– 1 [...]

ACT Fire & Rescue are currently on scene at Hansel & Gretel cafe, Townshend Street and Altree Court, Phillip.
Crews are working to extinguish a fire in a coffee roasting machine.
Smoke issuing from the flu of the machine.
Approximately 15 people have been evacuated as a precaution.
Update to follow.
12:53 PM
—
Fire has been extinguished.
Crews currently conducting ventilation [...]

ACT Policing arrested one man for drug-related offences and five more people will be summonsed following the music festival ‘Groovin the Moo’ yesterday (Sunday, 28 April) at the University of Canberra.
One man was taken into protective custody for intoxication and three juveniles apprehended for underage drinking. A small quantity of drugs suspected to be lysergic [...]

TAMS are letting the world know about a teeny tiny eastern pygmy possum found at the Blue Range Hut campground off Brindabella Road:
The eastern pygmy possum is listed as vulnerable under the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995.
“Our staff were undertaking maintenance work on a dead tree at the Blue Range campground which was posing a [...]

TAMS are warning us that new European Wasp queens are breeding right now:
“The tell-tale sign of a nest is a steady stream of wasps flying in and out of a hole leading to where the nest is hidden away. Wasp nests are usually located underground or are built into the structure of the house such [...]

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to an aggravated robbery that occurred in Belconnen yesterday (Saturday, 27 April).
At around 8.30pm a 24-year-old man and a 22-year-old woman were walking along College Street returning to their residence in Belconnen.
They were approached by three males, one of the males produced a knife and demanded the pair hand over [...]

In alarming news the Bangkok Post seems to think the Waratahs represent Canberra.
Full-back Israel Folau, substitute prop Paddy Ryan and fly-half Bernard Foley scored a try each for the Canberra outfit and scrum-half Brendan McKibbin kicked two conversions, while missing another and two penalty attempts
One can only pray there’s been some sort of [...]

Foxsports has the dispiriting news of the Raiders getting thumped in Townsville.
Two late tries to Michael Morgan and Ashley Graham have given North Queensland their third victory of a slow-starting NRL campaign, a 30-12 win over Canberra.
Halfback Morgan was denied a try by the video referees in the 57th minute on Saturday night but had [...]

Keo has an early report of the brutal demolition of the Perth franchise this evening at the Stadium in Bruce:
The Brumbies forwards dominated the visitors and the back three of Jesse Mogg, Henry Speight and Joseph Tomane would have had greater trouble ordering a drink at a pub than they did in breaking down [...]

A motorcyclist has been rushed to hospital in a critical condition following a collision with a car at Florey.
The ACT Ambulance Service and ACT Fire & Rescue rushed to the scene of the accident this afternoon at the corner of Southern Cross Drive and Ratcliffe Crescent.
The woman in her forties sustained multiple injuries in the [...]

As seen in Dickson this lunchtime.
Anyone care to explain why a shed would be in there?
Got an image of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email it in to images@the-riotact.com .

Thanks to the eagle eyed Mothy for spotting this one:
Blink and you’d have missed it, but see attached.
Wow. That’s one interesting spelling error, even by @ACTPol_Traffic standards.
Got an image of Canberra you want to share with the world? Email it in to images@the-riotact.com .

ACT Policing has arrested and charged a 50 year-old man following the execution of a number of Drugs of Dependence Act search warrants yesterday afternoon (Friday, April 26).
At approximately 2.15pm police intercepted a vehicle on Coppins Crossing bridge in the ACT. A search was undertaken and police located and seized a small amount of heroin [...]

This just in from our friends at the ABC:
1. “IT’S JUST LOVE” … Equality in marriage is an important issue for real people; Canberra families just like the ones next door. No matter what the ACT may legislate, the Federal Parliament can overrule.
2. [...]

ACT Fire & Rescue and the ACT Ambulance Service are currently on scene at a semi-trailer accident on Northcott Drive and Fairbairn Ave, Campbell.
Vehicle was carrying sheep with livestock loose in the area.
Fire crews are currently cleaning up a fuel spill.
Update to follow.
3:59 PM
—
ACT Ambulance Service intensive care paramedics are currently treating one male patient [...]

ACT Policing is advising motorists that 40km/h speed limits will be enforced in school zones for the start of the new school term on Monday (April 29).
Traffic Operations Station Sergeant Rod Anderson said the restrictions are in place between 8am and 4pm and warns that motorists who choose to ignore them will face tough [...]

Simon Corbell has announced that the Chief Police Officer Roman Quaedvlieg is leaving us for a gig at Customs:
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Simon Corbell, has today congratulated Chief Police Officer for the ACT Roman Quaedvlieg on his appointment as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Department of Customs and Border Protection.
“I would like [...]

The Economic Development Directorate has announced they’ve shut down the Narrabundah Velodrome:
The Territory has received engineering advice that the Narrabundah Velodrome is ‘unsafe for both competition and training purposes,’ this assessment included consultation advice from user groups.
Sport and Recreation Services (SRS) has a duty of care to all cycling stakeholders that currently use the [...]

The Auditor-General has released her report on “Executive Remuneration Disclosed in ACTEW Corporation Limited’s (ACTEW) 2010-11 Financial Statements and Annual Report 2011″.
While it seems everything else is in order it took a long time to clear up the matter of the Managing Director’s pay:
The issuing of a corrigendum for ACTEW’s Annual Report 2011 was not [...]

ACT Fire & Rescue is currently working to extinguish a grass fire in the Tuggeranong Pine Plantation, Monaro Highway, Tuggeranong.
Three ACT Fire & Rescue units are currently on scene.
Estimated size of grass fire, one hectare.
No property currently under threat.
Update to follow.
1:06 PM
—
Two units from the ACT Rural Fire Service are also assisting ACT [...]

When not coming to us for news and amusement we realise many of you are scouring allhomes playing fantasy real estate (or real real estate for the better healed).
Today they’ve announced they’re putting up a revamped website over the weekend.
For those of you who don’t deal well with changed they’ve produced a handy guide.

Mayor Rattenbury has announced the start of the The Youth Emergency Accommodation Network:
The Youth Emergency Accommodation Network is operated by The Salvation Army, in partnership with Canberra Youth Residential Service.
“The Youth Emergency Accommodation Network provides support and accommodation to young people experiencing crisis where all other accommodation options have been exhausted,” said Mr Rattenbury.
“The Salvation [...]