WEATHER
Cairns: 23-30C max, 90% rain
Port Douglas: 25-31C max, 90% rain
Mareeba: 21-27C max, 90% rain
Innisfail:23-28C max, 90% rain

TODAY'S TOP STORIES

CAIRNS UNIVERSITIES TAKE GLOBAL HONOURS
Two Cairns universities have been included in this year’s prestigious rankings of the world’s best 100 young universities.
James Cook University and Central Queensland University were listed in 38th and 90th places respectively.
The Times Higher Education Young University Rankings compile an annual list of the world’s best universities that are aged 50 years or under.
This is JCU’s second time in the number 38 slot, while the announcement marks the first time CQU has made it into the top 100.
Only two other Queensland universities – Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University – were included within the top 100, which was topped by Switzerland’s École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
Full story to come on TropicNow later today.

POLICE SEEK PUBLIC HELP IN DEATH MYSTERY
Cairns police have launched a major investigation into the death of 32-year-old Cairns woman China Crawford.
Her colleagues discovered her body in a Herald St duplex at Bentley Park yesterday afternoon after she failed to show for work for two days.
Ms Crawford lived alone in the duplex, and police are appealing for any information to assist in their investigation.

CAIRNS DIVERSITY PROJECT LAUNCHED
A new project celebrating the unique number of cultures and identities of the Cairns community has launched today, and organisers are looking for locals to get on board.
The #wearecairns project will explore community identity and social connections by engaging a range of Cairns-based community groups, sporting clubs, cultural organisations and individual residents.
Developed by local artist Rick Beresford (aka Regular Rick) and Centacare Cairns, #wearecairns will culminate in an exhibition and opening event featuring visual arts, film and music at Tanks in August.
To get involved, follow #wearecairns here.

PYNE GOES POTTY
Cairns MP Rob Pyne has thrown his support behind the push to give medicinal cannabis patients easier access to the drug.
Mr Pyne will support a Private Member's Bill being drafted by One Nation MP Steve Dickson, due to be tabled in Parliament in June.
In Queensland, some patients can access medical cannabis through referral from their GP, but Mr Pyne and One Nation say the process is too complex and cumbersome for most people to access the drug.

$2 MILLION LOTTO PRIZE UNCLAIMED IN CAIRNS
Check your old Gold Lotto tickets: a ticket sold at NewsExtra DFO Cairns about three years ago remains unclaimed despite winning a $2 million prize.
The Wednesday Gold Lotto draw 3315 ticket was purchased on January 22, 2014, but a Golden Casket spokesperson the prize remains unclaimed.
Winners in Queensland have seven years to claim their prize. The winning numbers on the 2014 ticket are: 44, 3, 11, 42, 22 and 26 and supplementary numbers 19 and 21.
It comes as a Cairns couple has just won a $1 million lotto prize after buying a ticket from Trinity Beach Newsagency. 

HOT-BLOODED ART
Clear your diaries for tonight’s hottest ticket: the launch of the Artists of the North exhibition at Tanks.The exhibition will feature works by local artists exploring the theme ‘Hot, wet and steamy in the tropics’.Paintings, illustrations, sculptures and more delve into regional artists’ love-hate relationships with the extremes of summer in the tropics.Much like the steamy season itself, a sensory explosion is guaranteed. The event kicks off at Tank Four at 6pm.