Kevin Rudd's alcopop tax is still causing a stir amongst business owners.

Three months after Kevin Rudd imposed the alcopop tax on business owners, publicans Debbie Clarke and Margaret Wynn hold differing opinions about the impact that the tax has had on their establishments.

Rockhampton has always been a hub for pub bands and local talent and it seems that when the weather is cold outside, inside Rockhampton's pubs and clubs the line up of local talent will be sure to heat things up.

In the upcoming weeks Rockhampton venues will be alive with the sound of music.

Customer: "Pump number 2 thanks..

It's old news to the competition, but Telstra shops in Mackay are eager to show off their version of the new Apple iPhone.

The gadget was released nationwide on July 11, but only 15 Telstra shops were shortlisted for the initial launch.

Stray animals in Mackay have no place to call home.  About 40,000 dogs in Queensland rely on the RSPCA each year.

Fully qualified teachers are seeking employment elsewhere as the teacher supply and demand situation in Mackay continues to worsen.

At the same time, there has been a significant slump in student numbers and graduates in the education faculty at the local CQUniversity Mackay campus, with half the enrolments of two years ago.

CQUniversity Australia is handling the international cricket on 16 and 17 August in which Rockhampton is host of the tournament.

CQU Australia is handling the Chancellor's Challenge Cup Cricket on 16 and 17 of August.

Over 95,000 people celebrated local and international artists during the first weekend of festivities, making Brisbane Festival 2008 one of the biggest cultural events in Queensland.

The Black Arm Band: murundak welcomed the whole city at the festival's launch on Friday 18 July featuring Australian artists including Lou Vennett, Kutcha Edwards, Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach who performed works from an inspirational songbook of contemporary Aboriginal life.

Northern Territory police are calling on young people for ideas to reduce a rising road toll.

So far 37 people have died on Territory roads this year - more than the entire annual road toll of 2004 - while at this time last year just 23 people had died in vehicle accidents.

A study of successfully-recovered mental health consumers conducted by the International Program of Psycho-Social Health Research (IPP-SHR) at CQUniversity has found that although psychiatric medication is important for managing acute and psychotic episodes, it is often prescribed without counselling, and drug side effects can prevent patients being able to deal with the trauma underlying their condition.

"The current system pushes people to embrace a drug-based response to their illness, but there are many significant factors other than drugs that contribute to the recovery process," said NHMRC Senior Research Fellow and IPP-SHR Director, Dr Pam McGrath.