Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Dent leads Garcia in 13th District race
MOSES LAKE — Incumbent Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, maintained a commanding lead in the race for Position 1 in Was…
Correction: Electric Vehicles-New Mexico story
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — In a story November 17, 2020, about state purchases of electric vehicles, The Associated Press erroneously reported the electricity sector produces more greenhouses gases than other sectors of…
Georgia high school tests won't count toward student grades
ATLANTA (AP) — State standardized tests won't count toward public high school students' grades in Georgia this year, after members of the state Board of Education reversed themselves and agreed Thursday with state …
Wolf gets bills to protect selling guns during disasters
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Legislation heading to the desk of Gov. Tom Wolf repeals long-standing laws in Pennsylvania intended to control gun-carrying and prevent public officials from shutting down firearms dealers d…
White House suggests tougher coronavirus rules in Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The White House's coronavirus advisers are urging Louisiana to step up its restrictions to combat the spread of
Gardner seeks 23rd term as New Hampshire secretary of state
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire Secretary of State Bill Gardner is seeking a 23rd term in office, now that the dust has settled after an unprecedented election cycle.
Massachusetts Senate passes $46B proposed state budget plan
BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts Senate has approved its version of a $46 billion proposed state budget, about a 5.5% increase over the prior fiscal year.
Top Nebraska pandemic expert 'frightened' about rising cases
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — A prominent Nebraska infectious disease expert sounded the alarm Thursday about the state's surging coronavirus cases and called for a statewide mask mandate, a step Gov. Pete Ricketts has repeat…
Nashville limits gatherings to 8 people amid virus surge
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Nashville is tightening restrictions to fight the surging coronavirus by limiting gatherings to eight people, Mayor John Cooper announced Thursday.
Indiana's average COVID-19 daily deaths pass April peak
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Almost one in six of Indiana’s COVID-19 infections during the pandemic have been confirmed in the past week as the state’s daily average of coronavirus deaths has reached its highest level follo…
Undated envelopes could decide tight state Senate election
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A neck-and-neck western Pennsylvania state Senate race may hinge on whether the Republican challenger can convince appeals courts that ballots in signed, mail-in envelopes should not count if…
Ohio Senate OKs revamp of eligibility for school vouchers
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A proposal to revamp who can qualify for Ohio's biggest school voucher program has cleared the Republican-led state Senate over Democrats' dissent and is scheduled to go to a vote in the House…
Mayo Clinic: 905 staff diagnosed with COVID in past 2 weeks
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — More than 900 staff members in the Mayo Clinic Health System in the Midwest have been diagnosed with COVID-19 over the last two weeks as the virus continues to surge across the region, officials …
Pennsylvania lawmakers prepare to vote $10B budget package
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s state Legislature was set to begin voting Thursday on a nearly $10 billion no-new-taxes spending package to carry state government through the rest of the fiscal year and fill,…
Nebraska hospitals straining to cope with coronavirus surge
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska hospitals are straining to cope with the spike in coronavirus patients, and officials are urging the public to wear masks and take other precautionary steps to slow the spread of the dis…
Feds charge 3rd Cincinnati councilman with corruption
CINCINNATI (AP) — A Cincinnati city councilman who has been planning to run for mayor has been indicted on federal corruption charges.