Local stories, community first — Melbourne and beyond.
Friends and colleagues have paid tribute to Michael Zheng and Angela Wang, two Chinese nationals who died in a crash in Victoria's west that claimed three lives. The couple, who had been living in Horsham, were remembered as "wonderful people" with "so much hope for their future in Australia".
Victoria is bracing for a wet weekend as soaking rain continues to fall across parts of the state, causing widespread disruptions and damage. The rain is expected to bring relief to farmers in some areas, but also poses a risk of flash flooding and power outages.
Two miniature goats, Blackberry and Thorn, have gone missing from St Francis of Assisi Primary School in Baranduda, Victoria. The school community is devastated and is appealing for help to find the beloved pets.
Almost 60 birds have been found dead at Lake Weeroona in Bendigo, sparking fears of H5N1 bird flu. Wildlife rescuers are working to determine the cause of the deaths, with preliminary testing returning negative results for the virus.
City of Yarra councillor Stephen Jolly has been cleared of assaulting a protester at a 2024 election afterparty. Magistrate Jill Prior dismissed the charge, ruling that while Cr Jolly made contact with the protester's face, the prosecution could not prove intent.
Labor MP Josh Burns has criticised new Greens leader David Shoebridge for comments he made about the Jewish community. Mr Burns accused Senator Shoebridge of "prejudice" for singling out Jewish Australians who share his party's views on Gaza.
Labor's upper house candidates will not be confirmed until a month before the state election, leaving several senior ministers uncertain about their positions as the party faces the possibility of significant losses. The party presently holds 15 seats in the 40-member upper house, but poor polling has the party preparing for substantial losses.
Toby Greene has joined Geelong as a free agent after 15 seasons with the GWS Giants. The move marks a significant development in the AFL free agency period, which is set to continue until next Friday.
Carlton has defeated Hawthorn by 12 points in wet conditions to move into the AFLW top four. The Blues' win was sparked by a strong first quarter, with three goals in the rain.
The AFLW competition has become faster and more attacking, with teams scoring at a higher rate than ever before. The numbers show a clear trend towards more strategic control and a greater emphasis on moving the ball to attack.
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