We're in for another balmy one today - but luckily not quite as hot as yesterday's furnace. Here's a quick pop quiz for you: name five songs about the heat. Annnnd go.

I've got, in no particular order: 1. Hot in Herre - Nelly; 2. Hot in the City - BIlly Idol; 3. Feeling Hot Hot Hot - The Merryman; 4. The Heat is On - Glenn Frey; 5. Burn - Tina Arena.

That's your Tuesday playlist sorted. You're welcome. If you can come up with a better one - flick us an email at online@canberratimes.com.au.

Anyway, let's get to the news.

It could have been oh so much worse if not for some hard-working firefighters after they managed to extinguish a grass fire in Latham on Monday evening.

The fire burned to within 50 metres of homes, but 11 units and two helicopters helped to ensure no homes were lost, and no one was injured.

"They've just knocked this on the head in monumental speed," resident Nick Hart said. "It's good because had it jumped the creek we would have all been down here trying to stop it before it burnt all the way to Kippax." Georgina Connery has the full story.

Greens parliamentarian Caroline Le Couteur has slammed a new building in the city, saying it's "completely unacceptable" and fails the sustainability and liveability test.

The building proposal, set for construction on the corner of Ainslie Avenue and Cooyong Street, includes 366 apartments, commercial space, childcare and basement parking.

Le Couteur, who chairs the ACT parliament's planning committee, said the design didn't cater for cyclists or pedestrians properly. Kirsten Lawson has all the details.

Member for Fenner Andrew Leigh says his office has been inundated with letters of angst, fear and frustration from more than 50 Canberrans who have been caught up in Centrelink's robo-debt woes.

One such man was Shane Moore, who had been on NewStart for about 12 months while he recovered from an injury that forced him out of his job as a commercial painter.

In October, he received a letter stating he needed to repay Centrelink more than $2000.

"It's on my mind all the time," he said. Georgina Connery has more stories from Canberrans here.

It doesn't matter whether you call them potato scallops (incorrect), or potato cakes (correct), one thing is certain - you're going to be hard up finding one to sink your teeth into.

A wet spring has resulted in crop damage and harvesting delays, which in turn has resulted in a shortage of crispy, greasy, potatoey goodness here in the capital.

It's proving to be quite an annoyance for takeaway shop owners in Canberra and Queanbeyan, as Emily Baker reports here.

These kids have got way too much swagger for me. Hart brothers Donnie, 8, and Ethan, 12, have started up their own fashion label called Yo Funky.

Both are avid hip-hop and break dancers, and launches the label in 2015. It's still being processed from the family home, with clothes stored in cupboards, suitcases and on racks in the lounge room - but that will change if the boys have their way.

"I want to have huge dance festivals - internationally - and have really big dance competitions as well," Ethan said.

Dream big Ethan, dream big. Bree Winchester has this story here.