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…
Report: Federal execution numbers top states' for 1st time
CHICAGO (AP) — For the first time in history, the U.S. government has carried out more executions in a year than all states that still conduct executions, according to an annual report on the death penalty released…
California virus surge brings body bags, makeshift morgues
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is distributing 5,000 body bags mostly to the hard-hit Los Angeles and San Diego areas and has 60 refrigerated trailers standing by as makeshift morgues in anticipation of a sur…
LA police won't face charges in 2018 Trader Joe's shooting
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two Los Angeles police officers acted lawfully in 2018 when they opened fire outside a Trader Joe's supermarket during a gunfight with a suspect and fatally shot the assistant store manager, pros…
Hawaii teachers face furloughs as pandemic hits tax revenue
HONOLULU (AP) — The Hawaii state Department of Education plans to furlough public school teachers a total of six days through June as part of Gov. David Ige's effort to cut spending to cope with a pandemic-induced …
The Latest: Biden announces Buttigieg as transportation pick
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on
US reaches pact to send asylum-seekers to El Salvador
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration said Tuesday that it signed an agreement with El Salvador's government to send asylum-seekers who reach U.S. borders to the Central American nation with an opportunity to …
Arkansas lawmakers won't meet this year on virus declaration
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas lawmakers will not meet this month to vote on whether to support the state's coronavirus emergency declaration, House and Senate leaders said Tuesday, rejecting a request from Repu…
Senate confirms Barrett replacement on federal appeals court
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed an Indiana prosecutor to replace Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on a federal appeals court based in Chicago.
Coronavirus vaccines begin in Georgia; infections rise more
ATLANTA (AP) — The first coronavirus vaccines were administered Tuesday in Georgia as new infections continued to soar and many schools closed in-person classes for the remainder of the last week before Christmas.
Illinois governor makes $700M in cuts with $3.9B budget hole
CHICAGO (AP) — Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered roughly $700 million in budget cuts Tuesday, saying Illinois faces a $3.9 billion shortfall fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic.
All Maryland hospitals set to get vaccine within 2 weeks
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — All Maryland hospitals are expected to receive some COVID-19 vaccines in the next two weeks to begin vaccinating critical frontline staff, a state health official said Tuesday.
EXPLAINER: How Congress will count Electoral College votes
WASHINGTON (AP) — The congressional joint session to count electoral votes is generally a routine, ceremonious affair. But President Donald Trump’s repeated, baseless efforts to challenge Democrat Joe Biden’s presi…
Senator seeks VA facility probe amid whistleblower claims
Connecticut U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Tuesday he's seeking an investigation by the Veterans' Administration Office of the Inspector General into alleged unsafe working conditions at the West Haven VA hospit…
Massachusetts House seeks to overturn Baker's abortion steps
BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts House lawmakers are planning to meet Wednesday to overturn Gov. Charlie Baker’s efforts to roll back some of their actions aimed at expanding access to abortion in the state.
Appeals court rules againt Nevada cap on church attendance
RENO, Nev. (AP) — A U.S. appeals court agreed Tuesday with two Nevada churches that have argued for months that the state’s COVID-19 restrictions are unconstitutional because they place harsher attendance limits on…