Monday
Deadly bug risk The lives of almost half the Bay's youngest children are at risk from meningococcal disease because they have not yet been vaccinated.
Ten weeks into the region's immunisation programme, the number of children aged under five being vaccinated has flattened out to 57 per cent - leaving more than 40 per cent of youngsters at risk of catching the potentially fatal disease. Racism row over clothes
A Bay woman is accusing one of the city's largest retail stores of racial discrimination after she was denied the right to return purchases because they "smell like curry".
Merivale's Julie Ali and her family say they were were "traumatised and humiliated" on Thursday evening when staff at The Warehouse in Fraser Cove refused to exchange items of clothing.
The Fijian-born Indian, who moved to Tauranga with her family three years ago, said she felt violated.
Tuesday
Bay boat firm goes bust
Tauranga's biggest boat building company, Pachoud Motor Yachts, has gone into liquidation owing nearly $7 million.
The company, which at one time employed up to 120 people to build luxury yachts, has become the latest victim of the rising New Zealand dollar.
The business was hailed as a major new force in Tauranga's boat building industry when it shifted from Rotorua to Sulphur Point five years ago.
Jules sews up US deal Bay wedding gown designer Jules Bly has just clinched the deal of a lifetime that could be worth up to $5 million.
Her dreams became reality in the space of a few days this month when the Papamoa woman made her mark at the New York Bridal Trade Show.
Kleinfeld Bridal - the world's largest bridal department store - signed an exclusive deal securing Jules' gowns for its stores around the US by year's end.
Wednesday
Pope will serve well
A Te Puna priest who attended a Mass led by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is confident the new Pope will serve the Vatican well.
Father Patrick Dooley spent four months at a renewal course at the Fratelli Christiani (Christian Brothers) Parish near Rome in the late 1980s, during which time he made several trips to the Vatican. "Cardinal Ratzinger made a very impressive showing," Fr Dooley said.
House fire scare
The reek of smoke made Joanne Galloway turn around to see flames licking the outside walls of her Papamoa home. Dashing around her lounge in a panic, she thought: "What will I do, what will I do?"
The uninsured beneficiary was about to lose everything except a broken-down car, the receiver of her cordless phone, the clothes she was wearing - and, thankfully, the lives of her five children.
Thursday
$150m roading package
A Special grant of up to $150 million could be coming to the Bay as a powerful government group seeks ways to pay for the region's big transport projects.
The extra cash would spur the completion of the Western Bay's major roading projects within 10 years. These include Harbour Link and the northern and eastern expressways, which would also be tolled.
Transport Minister Pete Hodgson said the Bay was a case for special consideration.
Russian medals for heroes
More than 60 years ago Robert Kidd and his mates braved icy waters in the name of freedom. Yesterday they were recognised. At a ceremony at Tauranga's RSA, medals were presented by the Russian ambassador to 24 Bay of Plenty and Waikato men who served in Arctic convoys- from Scapa Flow in northern England to Murmansk, Russia. The convoys were vital in getting supplies through to Russia during the war.
Friday
Cameras all the way A killer stretch of state highway in the Bay has now become one continuous unmarked speed camera zone in a move that will see the number of camera sites in the region double. Speeding motorists face a greater chance of being snapped as the number of speed camera sites in the Bay of Plenty have increased from 47 to 100.
Bay cops in scandal
Western Bay police officers are among seven across this region who are under investigation for having sexually explicit images on their work computers.
Bay of Plenty police district commander, Superintendent Gary Smith, said the staff concerned were evenly spread among Tauranga, Whakatane and Taupo. All were male.
