Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Soap Lake looking to seat salary commission
SOAP LAKE — The City of Soap Lake is seeking residents to serve on its newly reactivated Salary Commission, a citi…
Michigan debates lifting ban on high school contact sports
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The fight over whether to allow youth contact sports took center court Thursday in Lansing as Michigan lawmakers heard testimony from educators, parents and students wanting to get back to com…
Senate committee approves open carry ban at Capitol, rallies
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — A Senate committee on Thursday approved a measure that would ban the open carry of guns and other weapons on the Capitol campus and at or near any permitted public demonstration across Washing…
Pelosi wants security money to face 'enemy' within House
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers face threats of violence from an “enemy” within Congress, and more money is needed to protect them, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says, a startling acknowledgment of escalating internal ten…
Biden opens sign-up window for uninsured in time of COVID-19
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered government health insurance markets to reopen for a special sign-up window, offering uninsured Americans a haven as the spread of COVID-19 remains
EU explores legal avenues amid AstraZeneca vaccine dispute
BRUSSELS (AP) — Amid a dispute over expected shortfalls, the European Union is looking at legal ways to guarantee the delivery of all the COVID-19 vaccine doses it bought from AstraZeneca and other drugmakers as re…
South Carolina Senate passes bill outlawing most abortions
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Senate on Thursday passed a bill that would outlaw almost all abortions in the state, overcoming years of hurdles thanks to Republican winning new seats in last year’s elect…
Democratic lawmakers push for race data in vaccinations
Democratic lawmakers are urging federal health officials to address racial disparity in vaccine access nationwide, as data from some states show hard-hit nonwhite Americans who are eligible to receive it are not ge…
Senator: Bill coming to preserve historical racing games
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Legislation is being prepared to preserve historical racing operations that serve as a crucial revenue source for Kentucky's horse tracks, a key Senate committee chairman said Thursday.
Pelosi denounces GOP leaders over Georgia lawmaker's posts
WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Nancy Pelosi intensified pressure Thursday on House Republican leaders for their handling of a controversial GOP freshman, denouncing them for placing a lawmaker who Pelosi says has “mocke…
Navalny defiant as Russian court rejects his bid for freedom
MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian court on Thursday rejected an appeal by opposition leader Alexei Navalny for his release from jail, while authorities detained several of his allies and warned social media companies about p…
King Co. executive pushes $811 million child care levy
SEATTLE (AP) — King County Executive Dow Constantine wants to ask voters to approve an $811 million child care levy.
German draft adds to spotlight on AstraZeneca vaccine in EU
BRUSSELS (AP) — As the European Union's medicines regulator prepared to consider clearing AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine for use, a draft recommendation Thursday from a German expert committee called for offering i…
As Biden seeks a turn on environment, Trump rules to linger
Longtime safeguards for U.S. bird populations took a hit under former President Donald Trump, whose administration made it harder to prosecute industry-caused deaths — such as the 2019 destruction of a sprawling Vi…
Blair House guest quarters a temporary home for VP Harris
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris can’t beat the work commute.
State lawmakers are pushing to curb governors' virus powers
Irritated by the sweeping use of executive orders during the COVID-19 crisis, state lawmakers around the U.S. are moving to curb the authority of governors and top health officials to impose emergency restrictions …