Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Preliminary primary results set stage for November races across Columbia Basin
EPHRATA — Initial results from Washington's Aug. 5 primary election show several closely watched races beginning t…
Court: Ex-inmate can continue lawsuit over late release
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A former Louisiana inmate who was held about two months after his rightful release date can continue his lawsuit against the prison system employee who stretched out the sentence, a federal appea…
The Latest: Trump plans to vote early in Florida on Saturday
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on
Nigerian president leaves protest shootings out of speech
LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari spoke to the nation about the unrest that has gripped the country in recent days, but without making any mention of the shootings of peaceful protesters at …
Ex-NASCAR driver McClure gets probation in long-delayed case
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Former NASCAR driver Eric McClure pleaded no contest this week to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge and was sentenced to probation, according to a Virginia prosecutor, in a court hearing t…
Kyrgyz MPs put off re-run of election that sparked protests
MOSCOW (AP) — Kyrgyzstan's parliament voted Thursday to put off a re-run of contested parliamentary elections for after a constitutional reform that commentators say could allow the acting president — a politician …
UK expert: Racism not to blame for minorities' COVID risk
LONDON (AP) — A scientist newly appointed as an advisor to the British government has expressed skepticism about focusing on the role of structural racism in the disproportionate effect that the coronavirus has on …
Whitmer, Dems launching 4-day bus tour with Biden's campaign
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is launching a four-day bus tour across Michigan with Democrat Joe Biden's presidential campaign before the Nov. 3 election.
GOP to high court: Shorten North Carolina absentee deadline
President Donald Trump's campaign and North Carolina's Republican legislative leaders asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday to shorten the state's recently extended deadline for accepting late-arriving absentee …
Sri Lanka Parliament votes to strengthen presidential power
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — With a large majority, Sri Lanka's Parliament on Thursday approved a constitutional amendment that will concentrate powers in the president and allow duel citizens to hold political office…
French PM says 2nd virus wave is here, vastly extends curfew
PARIS (AP) — French Prime Minister Jean Castex announced on Thursday a vast extension of the nightly curfew that is intended to curb the spiraling spread of the coronavirus, saying “the second wave is here.”
Europe faces more curfews, restrictions as virus cases swell
ROME (AP) — Curfews were largely expanded Thursday across France, which registered some 41.600 new confirmed virus cases to approach a total of 1 million, while similar overnight restrictions were slapped on Italy'…
Iowa's use of pandemic aid for 2nd IT project draws scrutiny
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa is planning to use millions of dollars in federal pandemic relief funds on a long-term plan to improve data management across state agencies, a second information technology project that…
Minnesota tops 2,300 COVID-19 deaths as coronavirus surges
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Department of Health reported 1,574 new cases of the coronavirus and 20 deaths on Thursday after the state matched its single-day record of 35 deaths the day before.
New lawsuit targets Pennsylvania's mail-in ballot deadline
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A lawsuit filed Thursday is challenging Pennsylvania's court-ordered deadline to count mail-in ballots that are received as many as three days after the Nov. 3 election in the presidential ba…
GOP-led Senate panel advances Barrett as Democrats boycott
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans powered past a Democratic boycott Thursday to advance