Republican incumbent John McLaughlin and Democratic newcomers Mike Fagen and Len Torres racked up the most votes for three seats in the Long Beach City Council election on Tuesday. more

The balance of power in the Nassau County Legislature was at stake in Tuesday's election, and with it, legislative support for County Executive Tom Suozzi's agenda and budget, support he could generally count on as long as Democrats have controlled 10 of the Legislature's 19 seats. more

With 20 percent of the vote at 9:53 p.m., Suozzi has 13,485 votes to Mangano's 14,065. Find the results of your local elections tonight after the polls close at 9 p.m. right here at LIHerald.com. more

The following are profiles of candidates running for seats on the Nassau County and district court. more

After much debate, the Rockville Centre village board shot down a $750,000 bond resolution at its meeting Monday night. more

Gov. David Paterson gave the green light for the New York State Department of Transportation to install a guardrail along the Wantagh Parkway bike path at an Oct. 22 meeting with state Sen. Charles Fuschillo, Assemblyman David McDonough, and the family of Matthew Scarpati, who was killed on the path by an allegedly drunk motorcyclist this past summer. The new guardrail will be what DOT spokeswoman Jennifer Post described as a "cable design," which will consist of three metal cables suspended by posts reaching about 33 inches high, spaced roughly 10 feet apart. more

Kathleen Rice ascended to the district attorney’s post four years ago as a virtual unknown -- a former federal prosecutor and Brooklyn assistant district attorney who had never run for political office before. Back then, she appeared a tad unsure of herself, slightly nervous in her interviews with the Herald. And why not? She was opposing the legendary Denis Dillon, who had served as Nassau County district attorney for 31 years. Despite being a political neophyte, Rice ran a strong campaign, and was elected with 51 percent of the vote to Dillon’s 49 percent. Four years later, we’re happy that Rice was elected. She has proven herself to be a consummate professional who only improved an already well-run D.A.’s office. Cases are processed nearly twice as fast as they once were. Conviction rates are up. And Rice has garnered a national reputation for her aggressive stance against driving while intoxicated. Many now call her the toughest DWI prosecutor in the country. more

State Assemblyman David McDonough, a Republican from North Merrick, is reminding his constituents that the law banning texting while driving will take effect Nov. 1. The law was passed by the state to supplement the current law banning the use of a cell phone without a hands-free device while driving. more

It’s hard to argue with a track record like that of Nassau County Executive Thomas Suozzi, a Democrat from Glen Cove. Over the past eight years, he took a fiscally mismanaged, virtually insolvent county and turned it around, consistently balancing a budget that seemingly could not be balanced. Suozzi saved money by cutting the county work force by 1,000 employees and instituting tried-and-true management practices that were previously nonexistent. At the same time, he has put in place a host of programs to improve residents’ quality of life, from smoking-cessation regimens to energy-efficiency incentives. more

With Democrats Lenny Remo and Denise Tangney vacating their City Council seats, Republican John McLaughlin became the lone incumbent seeking re-election on Tuesday. more