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We're in for a mostly sunny day. Expect a top of 16 degrees in Ballarat.
Samantha McIntosh elected as Ballarat mayor
Veteran Ballarat councillor Samantha McIntosh has been elected as the city’s new mayor. Cr McIntosh was unanimously elected by her eight fellow councillors at a mayoral vote at the Town Hall on Monday night. Read more here.
Man jailed for shoplifting spree in Ballarat
A man who went on a shoplifting spree through Ballarat's supermarkets and discount stores has been sentenced to 15 days’ jail. Read more here.
Road safety education should go beyond schools
Road safety education is needed for businesses not just schools, advocate John Maher says. While VicRoads road safety education is aimed at early childhood, primary and secondary schools, as is Victoria’s Road Safety Education Action Plan, Mr Maher says not enough is being done in regards to educating adults. Read more here.
Mosquitoes swarming Ballarat
Swarms of pesky mosquitoes are really starting to make their presence felt across Ballarat. Mozzies have been plaguing the rest of the state for a couple of weeks but have only really been stepping up their sting across this region the past week. Read more here.
Taiyoo heading to Ballarat Cup
Taiyoo looks as though he will spearhead Darren Weir’s hopes of a hometown cup success later this month. Read more here.
State of the nation
Need a national news snapshot first thing - well, we have you covered.
► HUNTER: Bushfires continue to burn in a number of locations across the Hunter region in New South Wales. More here.
► NEWCASTLE: After struggling through years of bullying, the suicides of two colleagues and haunting memories of murders, car crashes, assaults, dead babies and a near stabbing, police officer Rebecca* said she made the decision to end her nearly 20-year career, by asking for help. More here.
► LAVINGTON: A 43-year-old man has been arrested in relation to a fatal stabbing in Lavington on Sunday night. Albury police Inspector David Cottee said the man was in custody, but the interview process had just begun and no charges had been laid as yet. More here.
► BATHURST: Donated goods left ransacked and strewn across the roadway have left Vinnies volunteers pleading with the community to only leave items during opening hours. More here.
► KIAMA: When Mia Wingrove discovered surgery for cancer may leave her sister unable to carry a child, she didn’t hesitate to offer to be her surrogate. More here.
► WARRNAMBOOL: Three people have been committed to stand trial for the murder of Hamilton man Joshua Kane at Mount Eccles National Park in January. More here.
► BENDIGO: Homeless people could be denied lifesaving supports if the state and federal governments cannot overcome a funding impasse, the city's social service providers have said. More here.
► MOUNT ISA: Robbie Katter is furious at Australia’s largest communications provider after Gulf of Carpentaria residents were cut off from phone services for over a week. More here.
► MANDURAH: Although many had hoped Pauline Hanson would remain a note in the margins of Australian political history, a group of true believers in Mandurah have been keeping a candle burning for their controversial leader since the 1990s. More here.
► PORT MACQUARIE: Jordy Beeckmans and Kathleen Luyckx took a unique approach when announcing to son Seppe that he would be a big brother. The 10-year-old found out by way of a sand drawing at Lighthouse Beach – and it was all captured on camera for their family back home. More here.
National news
► The Turnbull government's proposed plebiscite on same-sex marriage has formally been killed off by the Senate, where it was defeated 29-33 in a late-night vote on Monday, amid a warning the decision would delay marriage equality "for years". More here.
► Federal police are hunting a lone-wolf radio hoaxer who made 15 illegal transmissions to air-traffic controllers and domestic passenger pilots last month – including one telling a Virgin pilot to abort a landing. More here.
► Australian couples wishing to adopt children from overseas still face a lengthy wait despite a federal government push to make the process easier. More here.
► Record hot years such as last year's global scorcher will become the norm before 2030 unless greenhouse gas emissions are curbed, a new study by Australian researchers has found. More here.
National weather radar
International news
► BEIJING: China's top legislative body has ruled that Hong Kong politicians advocating independence are ineligible to hold public office, effectively barring two young rebel lawmakers. More here.
► JAKARTA: This city's embattled governor was interrogated by police over alleged blasphemy on Monday, amid fears that opponents of the government are deliberately fomenting unrest to destabilise Indonesian President Joko Widodo. More here.
► BALI: In 2014 a mentally ill Irishman known only as Sean was found wandering the streets of Bali, dazed and confused, with horrific leg wounds from a motorcycle accident. More here.
On this day
The faces of Australia: Khyleah Magnus
Transplant recipient Khyleah Magnus is embracing her second chance at life. The Port Macquarie mother had a kidney and pancreas transplant in early 2014 at Westmead Hospital.
She will never forget the phone call that delivered the news about the organ match. “This is what I imagine winning the lotto is like,” she said. “It was an amazing feeling.” Read more here.