POLICE
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There was a high-speed police chase that lasted more than an hour, just west of Ballarat last night.
The pursuit started on the Western Highway, near Beaufort, just after 9pm.
It is understood speeds in excess of 160km/h were reached, as police deployed spot sticks to try and capture the car.
The car turned off the Western Freeway a number of times, as it drove erratically between Beaufort and Ararat.
After about 90 mins and a chase that covered close to 150km, the offender was eventually captured on foot and was processed at the Ararat police station.
Check thecourier.com.au throughout the day for more updates.
Meanwhile, Grant Smith, the man held in custody since a police raid in January that netted more than $400,000 in stolen vehicles, will re-appear in the Ballarat Magistrates Court today.
FIRE
A few call outs for our night shift firefighters overnight, most notably a grassfire on the side of the Western Freeway just after midnight.
It is not yet known what started the blaze, but firefighters quickly controlled the small fire, near the Learmonth Road exit of the highway.
It was only the beginning of a busy nightshift for crews however.
They were then called out to an alarm at the Ranger Barracks in Alfredton at 12.21am, but it proved to be a false alarm.
Then this morning, firefighters rushed to the PRD Jens Gaunt building at 6.45am, but it ended up being another false alarm.
Crews were again called to the same building around 7.30am, but it ended up being another false alarm.
WEATHER
A 60 per cent chance of rain today, according to Weatherzone - not that a big downpour is expected.
Between one and five millimetres is forecast, with a chance of isolated showers throughout the day.
We can expect a comfortable top temperature of 26 degrees, in what will most likely be the warmest day for the rest of the week.
It will remain mild tonight however, with temperatures only falling as low as 17 degrees.
SES
Just the one call out for our SES crews, who removed a tree over the Midland Highway at Elaine about 1am.
TRAINS
Ballarat trains are delayed by about 15 minutes this morning, due a track fault at Sunshine, according to the V/Line website.
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ON THE AGENDA
The Dandenong man arrested over the high-speed chase near Beaufort last night is expected to face Ballarat Magistrates Court this morning.