Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Affordability, healthcare among big issues for Fifth Congressional District candidates
SPOKANE — Six of the 12 candidates for Washington’s Fifth Congressional District detailed the issues facing the di…
Senate confirms Pete Buttigieg as transportation secretary
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Buttigieg won Senate approval Tuesday as transportation secretary, the first openly gay person to be confirmed to a Cabinet post. He’ll be tasked with advancing President Joe Biden’s ambitiou…
Idaho Senate approves constitutional ban on legal marijuana
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Expressing firm opposition to dozens of states that have legalized marijuana in recent years, the Idaho Senate on Wednesday approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would prohibit the l…
People in Myanmar honk horns, bang on pots to protest coup
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Scores of people in Myanmar's largest city honked car horns and banged on pots and pans Tuesday in the first known public resistance to the coup led a day earlier by the country's military.
GOP states weigh limits on how race and slavery are taught
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Complaining about what he called indoctrination in schools, former President Donald Trump created a commission that promoted “patriotic" education and played down America's role in slavery.…
Democrats urge investigation into removal of owl protections
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Eight Democratic lawmakers called Tuesday for an investigation into “potential scientific meddling” by the Trump administration in its rule to remove critical habitat protections for the imper…
Myanmar, Russia pose early tests for Biden's foreign policy
WASHINGTON (AP) — A
UK says new study vindicates delaying 2nd virus vaccine shot
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s health chief has hailed a new study suggesting that a single dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine provides a high level of protection for 12 weeks, saying it supports the governme…
Tarnished by its Gaza rule, Hamas may struggle in elections
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh famously pledged to live on “zeit wa zaatar”— olive oil and dried herbs — after he led the Islamic militant group to victory on a message of armed struggle a…
Study: Russia's Sputnik V vaccine appears safe, effective
MOSCOW (AP) — Russian scientists say the country's Sputnik V vaccine appears safe and effective against COVID-19, according to
Sitting on billions, Catholic dioceses amassed taxpayer aid
When the coronavirus forced churches to close their doors and give up Sunday collections, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Charlotte turned to the federal government’s signature small business relief program for more …
Biden flexible on who gets aid, tells lawmakers to 'go big'
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden encouraged Democratic lawmakers Wednesday to “act fast” on his
McCarthy meets with Rep. Greene; GOP faces Cheney decision
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy met late Tuesday with hard-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene as Republicans wrestled over how to handle a bipartisan outcry over her endorsement of outlandish …
Biden set to boost US refugee admissions after Trump cut
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is preparing to notify Congress and others that it will dramatically increase U.S. admissions of refugees.
EXPLAINER: How Nobel Peace Prize nominations come about
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Belarusian opposition figures, Hong Kong-pro-democracy activists, the global Black Lives Matter movement, a jailed Russian opposition leader and an American voting rights champion are amo…
States holding key vaccine discussions in closed meetings
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — As the nation's COVID-19 vaccination campaign accelerates, governors, public health directors and committees advising them are holding key discussions behind closed doors, including debates a…