The cage at the centre of the ACT's education department crisis. Photo: Supplied
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A disability rights advocate has commended the publication of an image of a cage used to confine an autistic child in a Canberra school.
Craig Wallace, president of People with Disability Australia, said the stark portrayal of the two metre square, purpose-built cage intended as a "sanctuary" for a 10-year-old special needs student was a powerful tool in promoting inclusion and awareness of people with disabilities.
- The childcare centre where three pre-schoolers ingested sleeping tablets has been found at fault – having breached national regulations around record keeping and staff failing policies set around children taking medication.
- Hundreds of women have signed an online petition in support of exclusion zones that would deter protesters from holding regular prayer vigils outside a Civic abortion clinic.
- An incoming Liberal ACT government would halt lease variation charges for development in Canberra's city and town centres, in a move designed to spark construction and urban renewal.
- A 30-bed special care unit designed to better separate detainees is the latest measure to help relieve intense overcrowding pressures at Canberra's jail.
- Contract negotiations between the government and the ACT Visiting Medical Officers Association are on the brink of arbitration, with the parties unable to reach agreement.
- The Abbott government believes it can fill all of a special 12,000-place Syrian refugee resettlement allocation this financial year, and is also moving swiftly on the military front, with RAAF bombing of Islamic State forces in Syria set to begin within a week.
- A surprise Senate defeat will allow young Australians to continue to claim unemployment within days of losing work, after the Greens, Labor and most crossbenchers united to block a bill that would have lifted the waiting period to five weeks.
- Queen Elizabeth II has become the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
Sia Soliola, with wife, Gemmah, won Wednesday night's Mal Meninga Medal at the AIS Arena. Photo: Melissa Adams
Canberra Raiders back rower Sia Soliola has capped a superb return to the NRL by winning a Mal Meninga Medal count which enhanced the club's reputation as the most savvy recruiters this year.
A stunned Soliola said he rated the honour "only below the birth of my son".
Despite missing the final five games through injury, Soliola held off a late charge from fullback Jack Wighton to be crowned the Raiders player of the season on Wednesday night.
- Matildas and Canberra United forward Ashleigh Sykes says some players may be forced to choose between full time employment and representing their country if their wage demands aren't met.
- The Matildas withdrew from a training camp and will boycott two games in the US after they felt they were "disrespected" by Football Federation Australia during negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement on Tuesday.
- Brad Haddin has revealed why he willingly stepped down from the Lord's Test, a move that effectively finished his international career.
- Meanwhile, Haddin would be welcomed to Canberra with open arms if selected for the Prime Minister's XI, Cricket ACT's newly appointed director of coaching and education Aiden Blizzard said.
- A group of ACT Brumbies members feel like they have been "betrayed" and "slapped in the face" by the Super Rugby club's new membership categories.
Canberra drivers will face a staged closure of Fairbairn Avenue, between Northcott Drive and Majura Road, until Thursday, between 9am and 4pm.
Westbound traffic travelling from Majura Road and the airport will be diverted onto Pialligo Avenue, Morshead Drive, Parkes Way and Anzac Parade, reconnecting at Fairbairn Avenue.
Eastbound traffic coming from Limestone Avenue will be diverted onto Anzac Parade, Parkes Way, Morshead Drive and Pialligo Avenue.
Traffic heading north onto the Majura Parkway will have access from Tambreet Street via Majura Road.
If you are stuck in traffic or have any info on the morning commute, let us know whenever it is safe to do so: morningblog@canberratimes.com.au or tweet us @canberratimes
Gayby Baby will screen at Palace Electric Cinema tonight from 7pm to 9pm. See the nominated documentary and stay on following the film for a special Q&A with filmmakers Maya Newell and Charlotte Mars. Tickets $17.50.
Blues band 'Sound of Koko' returns to the National Press Club tonight due to popular demand. From 7pm until 10pm. Free.
The Distant Warriors: Ka Maumahara (We Will Remember) Let Us Not Be Forgotten is a special ANZAC Centenary exhibition inspired by the stories of Indigenous Australian and Maori soldiers who fought in the First World War. From September 9 to 19 at Canberra Glassworks. 10am to 4pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Entry by gold coin donation.
Interrestrial, an exhibition of interactive ceramics, bucks the trend of look-but-don't-touch art. This week is your last chance to check it out . At the Nishi Gallery until Sunday, September 13.
Check out more of what's happening around the city this weekend with the Canberra Weekender.
Artist Martin Janecky with the finished product. Photo: Rohan Thomson
Watching someone thrust a skull on a stick into a hole glowing at more than 1200 degrees in the name of art seems strangely ancient.
But rather than carrying a complex message about mortality or memento mori, it's just the example Martin Janecky chose to showcase his glass-sculpting technique to an appreciative group of artists at the Canberra Glassworks.
Touch or click through for more David Pope
Film crews prepare to shoot scenes in Canberra on part of Commonwealth Avenue Bridge for the Foxtel mini series Secret City. Photo: Melissa Adams
If you saw someone jumping from the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge on Wednesday night – no need to be alarmed.
The lighting and film crew may have given it away, but the jump was part of filming for Foxtel's political mini-series Secret City.
Today: Partly cloudy. Light winds. Min 2, max 16.
Friday: Patches of light frost and fog in the early morning before a mostly sunny day. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the early afternoon, then becoming light in the late afternoon. Min 1, max 19.
Saturday: Partly cloudy. Patchy morning fog. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning, then becoming light in the afternoon. Min 4, max 21.
Sunday: Patchy morning fog. Mostly sunny day. Light winds. Min 3, max 22.
Monday: Partly cloudy. Medium chance of showers, most likely later in the day. Light winds becoming northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h in the day. Min 6, max 22.
Tuesday: Partly cloudy. Slight chance of a shower. Winds north to northwesterly 15 to 20 km/h increasing to 25 km/h before turning westerly 15 to 20 km/h during the day. Min 5, max 18.
Wednesday: Possible shower. Partly cloudy. Light winds. Min 2, max 16.
