Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
3 council members renew oaths of office in Ephrata
EPHRATA — Three Ephrata City Council Members were sworn in Wednesday evening after winning their respective races.…
Idaho hospitals begin rationing health care amid COVID surge
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho public health leaders announced Tuesday that they activated “crisis standards of care” allowing health care rationing for the state's northern hospitals because there are more coronavirus …
The Latest: Idaho activates crisis standards of care
BOISE, Idaho — Idaho public health leaders have activated “crisis standards of care” for the state’s northern hospitals because there are more coronavirus patients than the institutions can handle.
COVID-19 boosters are coming but who will get them and when?
COVID-19 booster shots may be coming for at least some Americans but already the Biden administration is being forced to scale back expectations — illustrating just how much important science still has to be worked…
UK leader Johnson gambles on tax hike to pay for elder care
LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Tuesday how he plans to keep a key election promise to grapple with the rocketing cost of long-term care for Britain’s growing older population. To do it, h…
Biden surveys NY and NJ storm damage after deadly flooding
HILLSBOROUGH TOWNSHIP, N.J. (AP) — Pointing accusingly at climate change, President Joe Biden toured deadly Northeast flood damage Tuesday and said he was thinking about the all families who suffered “profound” los…
Idaho enacts crisis hospital care standards amid COVID surge
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho public health leaders activated “crisis standards of care” for the state's northern hospitals because there are more coronavirus patients than the institutions can handle.
The Latest: Taliban block hundreds from leaving Afghanistan
MAZAR-E-SHARIF, Afghanistan — An Afghan employee of an American organization in Afghanistan says the Taliban are blocking her and hundreds of other people from boarding charter evacuation flights out of Afghanistan.
The Latest: Students return to classes in Spain fully masked
MADRID — Over 8 million schoolchildren and teenagers in Spain are returning to classes this week with masks and efforts to keep social distancing, while authorities try to boost the vaccination rates among students.
UK leader gambles on tax hike to pay for elder care
LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced Tuesday he plans to keep an election promise to grapple with the rocketing cost of the long-term care needed by Britain’s growing older population. To do it…
Americans warier of US government surveillance: AP-NORC poll
WASHINGTON (AP) — As the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks approaches, Americans increasingly balk at intrusive government surveillance in the name of national security, and only about a thi…
The Latest: Taliban disperse Kabul rally, arrest journalists
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban have fired gunshots to disperse a rally on Tuesday in Kabul and arrested several Afghan journalists who were covering the demonstration, witnesses and Afghan media outlets said.
The Latest: Seoul: Taliban gov't must respect basic rights
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea’s Foreign Ministry says Seoul is willing to work with a new Afghanistan government led by the Taliban if it follows “international convention, respects basic human rights and refuse…
The Latest: Blinken says US working with Taliban on flights
DOHA, Qatar — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says the State Department is working with the Taliban to facilitate additional charter flights from Kabul for people seeking to leave Afghanistan after the Ameri…
The Latest: Merkel says vaccinated aren't 'guinea pigs'
BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel has publicly rebuked a top rival politician’s comments describing people who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 as “guinea pigs.”
US: Afghan evacuees who fail initial screening Kosovo-bound
An ardent U.S. ally, Kosovo, has agreed to take in Afghanistan evacuees who fail to clear initial rounds of screening and host them for up to a year, a U.S. official said Saturday, in an intended fix to one of the …