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…
Feds say US colleges 'massively' underreport foreign funding
A scathing report from the Trump administration on Tuesday concluded that top U.S. universities have “massively underreported” funding they accept from China, Russia and other nations described as “foreign adversar…
Vendor says Ohio, Pennsylvania ballot backlogs caught up
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The printing and mailing of 2.4 million delayed ballots across Ohio and Pennsylvania is all caught up, the vendor responsible for the backlog announced Tuesday.
N.C. insurance magnate begins serving federal prison term
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina insurance magnate and prolific political donor has started serving a federal prison sentence for corruption-related convictions.
Ex-Mexican defense secretary is denied bail on drug charges
SAN DIEGO (AP) — A judge denied bail to Mexico's former defense secretary on Tuesday on charges of helping a Mexican cartel smuggle drugs to the United States in exchange for bribes, casting aside an argument that …
Profane messages briefly mar congressional debate
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Candidates in Connecticut's 1st Congressional District race on Tuesday condemned profane and threatening messages that appeared on screen during a virtual debate.
Business mandates mount as New Mexico deals with virus surge
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday unveiled more requirements for businesses after a string of record-breaking daily case counts prompted renewed restrictions just last week.
Colorado announces its COVID-19 vaccine distribution plan
DENVER (AP) — Colorado on Friday released its distribution plan an approved coronavirus vaccine when it becomes publicly available as the state faced a deadline to submit it to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control …
Panel votes to keep ICE agents in Oklahoma County Jail
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A panel decided for a second time to keep federal immigration enforcement officers in the Oklahoma County Jail, bringing heated clashes between people for and against the ban.
Trump camp: Stop using his name in medical marijuana effort
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — President Donald Trump's campaign is telling a Mississippi group to stop saying that Trump supports a ballot measure that would legalize medical marijuana in the state.
Feds approve Nebraska's two-tiered Medicaid expansion setup
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Low-income residents who qualify for expanded Medicaid coverage in Nebraska will have to work, volunteer or take classes or get job training if they want access to certain health-care services st…
Officer could be suspended for wearing Trump mask in uniform
MIAMI (AP) — A Miami police officer could face suspension after he was photographed wearing a mask promoting President Donald Trump inside an early voting site while wearing his uniform.
Nebraska Dept. of Transportation head leaving for new job
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — An official who oversaw Nebraska's road and bridge repairs after last year's historic floods and helped create the state Department of Transportation is leaving his post for a private-sector jo…
'Kamala' becomes a rally call against GOP senator in Georgia
ATLANTA (AP) — Democrats are seizing on Republican Sen. David Perdue’s comments at a recent rally in which he made a spectacle of struggling to pronounce the name of Sen. Kamala Harris, the Democratic vice presiden…
Nevada's average COVID-19 infection rate climbing steadily
RENO, Nev. (AP) — Nevada’s rate of coronavirus infections is steadily rising again. But state officials are reluctant to blame relaxed guidelines and say there is no reason yet to consider stricter measures as they…
No tax hikes, benefit drops for Louisiana unemployment fund
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The steep drop in Louisiana's unemployment trust fund balance during the