local officials

Japanese authorities have urged nearly two million people to evacuate as a powerful typhoon sweeps across the country, bringing destructive winds, heavy rain and the risk of flooding and landslides. Local officials have opened shelters and warned residents in low-lying and coastal areas to move to safety, with transport disrupted across affected regions.

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.

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.

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.

A powerful nor'easter is hammering the New York and New Jersey region with heavy winds and severe coastal flooding. Local news teams are providing extended coverage of the storm, with reports of waterlogged streets, disrupted travel and residents dealing with rising water. Officials are urging people to avoid flooded roads and stay indoors as conditions deteriorate.

California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency for Kern County as a powerful El Niño-driven storm approaches the region. The move allows state resources to be mobilized quickly to protect communities in and around Bakersfield. Residents and local officials are being urged to prepare for heavy rain, flooding and potential disruptions as the storm system arrives.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Ocean City, Maryland has closed the ocean to swimmers as rough weather moves through the resort town. Officials shut down water activities ahead of hazardous surf conditions, a precaution beach towns commonly take when waves and currents become dangerous. The closure affects visitors along the popular summer destination's shoreline.

Wausau's Public Health and Safety Committee is set to review an update to the city's homelessness strategy along with several business extension requests. The agenda items suggest city officials are continuing efforts to address homelessness locally while weighing approvals for businesses seeking to extend permits or operations. Residents and local watchers are following the meeting for details on how the strategy is progressing.

Birmingham has recorded 81 measles cases, according to a map of the outbreak published by the Birmingham Mail. The city is at the centre of a growing measles resurgence, with health officials urging parents to check children's MMR vaccination status as cases continue to spread across local communities.

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.

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.

A storm swept through Delaware County, causing damage to property and leaving many residents without electricity. Utility crews are working to restore power, and local officials are assessing the extent of the damage. Coverage from 6abc Philadelphia indicates the storm's impact was felt widely across the county, with cleanup efforts expected to continue.

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.

The Montana Supreme Court has changed its position on a ballot initiative in Butte concerning a proposed data center, reversing an earlier stance on whether the measure can move forward. The ruling affects local efforts to put the data center question before voters, and the turnaround has drawn attention in the region as residents and officials assess what the decision means for the project and the community.

Representative Tom Barrett joined EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin in Mid-Michigan to highlight efforts to secure reliable energy while advancing environmental protection. The pair discussed federal initiatives aimed at balancing affordable power with pollution safeguards in the region. The visit underscores a broader push by the Trump administration's EPA to promote energy reliability alongside environmental enforcement.

Burlington County, New Jersey, has been selected to take part in a new climate change study. County officials announced the selection on the county's official website, and local outlet The Trentonian also reported the news. Details about the study's scope, funding and partners were not provided in the coverage available.

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.