local officials

As crime dominates Brazil's election campaign, residents of Rio de Janeiro are taking matters into their own hands, finding local ways to confront the gangs that control parts of the city. With security a top voter concern, the story highlights the gap between official policy and life in communities where armed groups operate, fuelling debate over the candidates' competing approaches to public safety.

Several Florida counties have declared a state of emergency in response to what health officials are calling a wildly unusual outbreak of dengue fever. The mosquito-borne illness, typically rare in the continental United States, has prompted local emergency measures as authorities work to control mosquito populations and curb further transmission. Coverage from national outlets is drawing attention to the outbreak's unusual scale and the implications for public health in the region.

France is holding its senatorial elections today, with 178 of the 348 Senate seats being renewed. Voting is indirect: the grand electors, drawn from local elected officials, are choosing the new senators. The Rassemblement National is in a strong position in several areas, while the left expects little from the vote, as the chamber has long favoured conservative majorities given its electoral college.

Officials in Palm Beach County, Florida, Donald Trump's home county, have voted to impose a temporary halt on new data center development. The pause reflects concerns about the environmental impact of the facilities and the strain they could place on local electricity supplies and residents' power bills. The decision highlights growing pushback across the United States against the rapid expansion of energy-hungry data centers.

Health officials in San Diego have issued a public warning after an E. coli outbreak linked to raw milk cheese spread to the region. Authorities are urging residents to avoid unpasteurized cheese products while investigators trace the source. Raw milk products can carry harmful bacteria, and officials are monitoring for further cases and advising anyone with symptoms to seek medical care.

Birmingham has recorded 81 measles cases as an outbreak continues to spread across the city, according to a map of confirmed infections published by the Birmingham Mail. Health officials are urging residents, particularly children and unvaccinated people, to check their MMR vaccination status as the highly contagious virus circulates in local communities.

A Florida district is using robotic rabbits to help tackle the growing population of Burmese pythons, an invasive species that has devastated local wildlife. The robots mimic prey to lure the snakes into areas where they can be captured. The unusual approach has drawn wide attention as officials look for new ways to protect the Everglades ecosystem.

A city council candidate in Texas is facing a 'riot participation' charge linked to her protest of an ICE shooting. The charge against the aspiring local official has drawn attention to ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement and the treatment of protesters. Observers are weighing what the prosecution means for both her candidacy and demonstrations against ICE activity in the region.

Health officials are investigating a flea-borne typhus outbreak in the Wilshire Center neighborhood of Los Angeles. The bacterial illness, spread to humans by fleas that have fed on infected rodents, cats or opossums, can cause fever, headache and rash. Local news coverage has raised concerns about rodent populations and sanitation conditions in the area, and residents are being advised to take precautions against fleas and keep pets treated.

Opponents of a planned Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility in Alexandria, Louisiana, organised their own public forum after an official public hearing on the project was cancelled. Local media report that residents critical of the facility used the gathering to voice opposition and discuss concerns. The cancelled hearing has fuelled frustration among critics, who say they lost a formal channel to raise objections about the detention centre.

International Olympic Committee president Kirsty Coventry is visiting Utah, a trip that US Olympic and Paralympic leaders view as significant given Salt Lake City's role as host of the 2034 Winter Games. The visit is being read as a signal of the IOC's engagement with local organizers as planning for the Games moves forward, and Utah officials are highlighting the state's Olympic legacy and readiness.

A nor'easter is sweeping across Long Island, knocking out power to thousands of homes, toppling trees and causing coastal flooding. News 12 Long Island is providing live updates as utility crews work to restore electricity and local officials respond to flooded roads and storm damage across the region. Residents are being urged to stay off the roads and avoid downed power lines.

A coastal storm has flooded streets in Ocean City, Maryland, prompting local authorities to issue travel warnings for residents and visitors. Standing water is reported across low-lying roads, and officials are urging drivers to avoid flooded areas and delay unnecessary trips. The storm has become a leading regional story as conditions continue to affect the popular shore resort community.

A nor'easter is expected to deliver its peak impacts to New York City and New Jersey over the weekend, with forecasters warning of coastal flooding, storm surge and wind damage. Local outlets are tracking the storm's timeline as communities along the Jersey Shore and Long Island brace for the worst conditions, with officials urging residents in flood-prone areas to prepare.

Health officials in Wisconsin have confirmed 21 additional measles cases, as an ongoing outbreak continues to expand across the state. The latest figures were reported by local news outlets, which noted the outbreak shows no signs of slowing. Measles, a highly contagious viral illness, has seen renewed spread in parts of the United States, prompting public health concern.

Fire crews in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, are responding to an active structure fire on Ocean Drive, according to local officials. Details about injuries, the extent of the damage, or the cause have not yet been released as firefighters work at the scene. Residents are being kept updated through local news coverage as the situation develops.

The Supreme Court has issued a ruling favouring the Trump administration's push for voter citizenship checks, a decision reported as having little practical effect for voters in Vermont. The state's existing registration procedures already align closely with what the ruling requires, so local election officials and voters are not expected to see significant changes in how they register or cast ballots.

Australian officials are pushing back against growing local opposition to datacentres, arguing the backlash is a borrowed American talking point rather than a genuinely Australian concern, saying 'We are not the United States'. The comments come as communities and councils across Australia debate proposals for new datacentres tied to the expansion of artificial intelligence, with disputes over energy use, water consumption and planning approvals fueling protests.

US state and local election officials are reportedly preparing for the possibility of federal intervention in the upcoming midterm elections. The report suggests officials are weighing how federal involvement could affect their operations. Details of what form such intervention might take, and which agencies would be involved, are not provided in the available coverage.

San Diego County health officials have issued a public warning about a recalled cheese product, urging residents to check whether they have it at home. Authorities are advising anyone who purchased the cheese not to eat it and to discard or return it. The warning follows a recall prompted by possible health risks.

Michigan election clerks are publicly reaffirming that the state's elections are 'safe, secure, fair' as absentee voting gets underway. The message comes as voters begin returning absentee ballots, with local officials working to counter persistent doubts about election integrity heading into the voting period.

Health officials in Lewis County, New York, are investigating a confirmed case of measles. Local news outlet WWNY reports that the county has launched an investigation into the case, though no further details about the patient, their condition, or possible public exposure sites have been released so far. Measles is a highly contagious viral illness, and confirmed cases typically prompt contact tracing and public health alerts.

Ocean City, Maryland has closed the ocean to swimmers as rough weather moves through the resort town. Officials restricted access to the water because of hazardous surf conditions along the coast. The closures affect visitors during a busy stretch for the popular beach destination, and local outlets are reporting on the disruption as conditions continue.

Local officials are taking action to address election misinformation in their communities. The effort focuses on countering false claims that could confuse voters ahead of elections, with authorities working to ensure residents have accurate information about voting procedures and results.