Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Auditor candidates discuss election integrity, public confidence
EPHRATA — Three Republican candidates are running for the position of Grant County Auditor: incumbent Shannon Fals…
US to block cotton from China region targeted in crackdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. government announced Wednesday that it will halt imports of cotton and tomatoes from the Uighur region of China in its most sweeping action yet to pressure the Communist Party over its ca…
Years of white supremacy threats culminated in Capitol riots
CHICAGO (AP) — Amid the American flags and Trump 2020 posters at the U.S. Capitol during last week's insurrection were far more sinister symbols: A man walking the halls of Congress carrying a Confederate flag. Ban…
Led by Cheney, 10 House Republicans back Trump impeachment
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ten Republicans — including Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, the No. 3 House GOP leader — voted to impeach President Donald Trump Wednesday over the deadly insurrection at the Capitol. The GOP votes were …
The Latest: Pelosi wants fines for bypassing House security
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the fallout from the attack of the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump loyalists (all times local):
'At 6 p.m., life stops': Europe uses curfews to fight virus
PARIS (AP) — As the wan winter sun sets over France's Champagne region, the countdown clock kicks in.
Capitol investigators try to sort real tips from noise
WASHINGTON (AP) — Potential threats and leads are pouring in to law enforcement agencies nationwide after the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The challenge is now figuring out what's real and what's just noise.
Census decision deals blow to Trump efforts on House seats
President Donald Trump's effort to exclude people in the U.S. illegally from being counted in the process for divvying up congressional seats was dealt another blow Wednesday when the Census Bureau's director indef…
4 detained from Belgium demonstration over Black man's death
BRUSSELS (AP) — Four people, including two minors, remained in custody Thursday after a Brussels demonstration over the weekend death of a young Black man detained by police turned violent, the prosecutor’s office …
Biden unveils $1.9T plan to stem COVID-19 and steady economy
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden unveiled a $1.9 trillion coronavirus plan Thursday to end “a crisis of deep human suffering” by speeding up vaccines and pumping out financial help to those struggl…
Watchdog: DOJ bungled 'zero tolerance' immigration policy
WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Department leaders under President Donald Trump knew their 2018 “zero tolerance” border policy would result in family separations but pressed on with prosecutions even as other agencies be…
FBI tracking 'extensive' online chatter about armed protests
WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is tracking an “extensive amount of concerning online chatter,” including calls for armed protests leading up to next week's presidential inauguration, Director Chris Wray said Thursday.
Amid cacophony since Capitol siege, key officer stays silent
In the week since
California expands eligibility for coronavirus vaccine
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California made another 4 million people eligible for the coronavirus vaccine on Wednesday, intensifying a competition among the state’s biggest counties as they race to acquire enough dos…
Biden forgoing Amtrak trip to Washington over security fears
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden will no longer be taking an Amtrak train to Washington for his inauguration because of security concerns, a person briefed on the decision told The Associated Press on We…
Trump administration slashes imperiled spotted owls' habitat
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The Trump administration said Wednesday that it would slash millions of acres of protected habitat designated for the imperiled northern spotted owl in Oregon, Washington state and Northern Ca…