PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — False claims and misleading rhetoric are often seen as problems in national politics, but it’s also happening in local communities and spreading at a time when local news outlets are struggling financially and cutting staff.

Combating misinformation as a major election year gets underway is emerging as a key challenge for local media. Still, they are finding innovative ways to call out half-truths, bogus claims and hoaxes.

That includes partnerships with a new wave of journalism outlets dedicated to fact-checking and debunking deliberately misleading information related to state and local elections.