WEATHER FORECAST
Cairns: 21-28C max, 70% chance of rain
Port Douglas: 23-28C max, 60% chance of rain
Mareeba: 23-27C max, 90% chance of rain
Innisfail: 22-25C max, 90% rain

TODAY'S TOP STORIES

CAIRNS ECONOMY IN WITH SPORTING CHANCE
A run of high-profile sporting events will create a cash bonanza for the TNQ economy over the next few weeks.
The Cairns Adventure Festival, which includes Ironman Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef Masters Games are predicted to tip more than $10 million in the local economy. Accommodation providers, restaurants and cafes, Cairns Airport and tour operators are expected to be among the big winners.

INFRINGEMENTS MAKE FOR EXPENSIVE CAR TRIPS
Two drivers pulled over by police in separate incidents face a whopping total of more than $1200 in fines for infringements.
Silkwood police intercepted a 62-year-old man on Tully Mission Beach Road, Birkalla around 10:40am on Tuesday morning for a traffic matter, with officers alleging the man’s vehicle was unregistered and uninsured, resulting in infringement notices totalling $877.
On Sunday 14 May, officers pulled over a 22-year-old Thuringowa Central man who was issued with a $365 infringement notice for allegedly failing to stop at a railway level crossing stop sign on Brasenose Street, Cardwell. 

STUMBLING BLOCK FOR CROC CULLING PLAN
Indigenous traditional owners in Cairns are reportedly up in arms about the Katter's Party call to arm rangers with rifles for a croc cull.
A representative of the Kunggandji Kimuy People said the crocodile was a totem animal for local traditional owners, and no shooting of crocs would be supported in the city's waterways.
Opinion on what to do about the Tropical North's crocodile populaton remains divided ahead of the tabling of KAP's proposed bill to allow culls, safaris and egg harvesting.

NEW HEALTH BOARD MEETS HEALTH MINISTER
The newly appointed board responsible for the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service has met with Health Minister Cameron Dick for the first time.
No details of the meeting have been made public, with new board chair Clive Skarrott telling News Corp he was hopeful of extra funding for the local health service in next month's State Budget.

NOT OVER YET FOR NATE'S ORIGIN CAREER
By league standards, he may have younger forwards snapping at his heels but there's no stopping local product Nate Myles when it comes to lacing up the boots for the mighty Maroons.
Set to mark his 32nd birthday next month, Myles is expected to join the Queensland line-up for game 1 of Origin despite being relegated to the bench at Manly.
Myles is tipped to step up to replace the injured Matt Scott when the Maroons take on the Blues for game 1 on 31 May.