On the last day of 2024, the Lismore App looks back on the year's top news stories.

The weather alerts for severe thunderstorms and the potential of hail and flash flooding were extremely well-read and always among the leading news stories. That aside, we look at the Top 5 News Stories of the year.

TOP 5 NEWS STORIES 2024

• Number 5: An attempted robbery and alleged axe attack in Elizabeth Street, East Lismore, back in February. Initially, two men approached a 25-year-old man demanding his car keys. They were unsuccessful, and the man fled to a home where he was assaulted by one of the men with an axe.

• Number 4: The head-on Bruxner Highway crash on September 15 closed traffic in both directions. Three people were trapped in the wreckage of both vehicles in critical condition.

• Number 3: The large power outage that unexpectedly hit Lismore in July leaving 11,440 households without electricity.

• Number 2: The September Flood Watch for the Wilsons and Richmond Rivers. 202mm was dumped at the Lismore Airport in three days, which resulted in a Minor Flood of 5.97 metres.

• Number 1: Tragedy was involved in the number one news story for 2024. A 15-year-old girl was hit by a trailer on the Bruxner Highway, East Lismore, on September 11. She later died at Lismore Base Hospital.

The local council elections in September were also popular proving that there is an interest in local politics. Not only did the story about Steve Krieg, likely to be returned as Lismore's mayor, come in at number six, but the Meet Your Candidates button had nearly 9,500 views.

September was the most-read month of 2024. As you can see above, there were three major local incidents, plus the local council elections. Over 60,800 people read the Lismore App in September, recording an incredible 1.39 million views (Google Analytics).

When the Lismore City News stopped printing physical newspapers and closed its doors at the end of June, the Lismore App's readership has steadily increased.

From an average of 32,000 readers a month in June, to 37,000 in July, 40,000 in August, and 60,811 in September, it is clear that the residents of not only Lismore but our neighbours in Ballina, Casino and Kyogle, who work in Lismore, are now reading their news on a convenient digital platform. The days of reading a physical newspaper look to be unnecessary and over.

As we head into 2025, you may have noticed a Northern Rivers news tab to the left of Local news. This is to cover more news from the Northern Rivers from Grafton to Tweed, especially those readers who may live outside of the Lismore LGA but work in Lismore and who have not got access to news.

On behalf of the small team here at the Lismore App, thank you for making us your number one news source. We began this journey in November 2017, when we wanted to be truly part of the Lismore community. We hope we have achieved this and will continue to pursue local news in 2025.

If you see or hear a news story you believe will interest our community, please email simon@lismoreapp.com.au.

Have a happy and safe New Year and a brilliant 2025.