Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Ballot processing continues as certification approaches
EPHRATA — Election officials in Grant and Adams counties are nearing the finish line of the 2026 general election,…
DC Mayor: Rising numbers show 'COVID fatigue' relaxation
WASHINGTON (AP) — Officials in the nation's capital are warning residents not to relax their COVID-19 vigilance as the local infection numbers rise and the winter flu season approaches. More than 20% of new cases a…
New Mexico shatters its record for confirmed COVID-19 cases
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has shattered its previous record for confirmed COVID-19 cases amid fears the state is experiencing a second wave of the deadly virus, health officials said Wednesday.
California utility begins turning off power to more than 50,000 customers to prevent wildfires sparked by equipment
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California utility begins turning off power to more than 50,000 customers to prevent wildfires sparked by equipment.
Barrett deflects senators' questions on climate change
Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett refused to say whether she accepts the science of climate change, saying she lacks the expertise to know for sure and calling it a topic too controversial to get into.
Vandals damage 8 cactuses at Tucson's Saguaro National Park
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Eight cactuses at Saguaro National Park’s west district in Tucson have been slashed or cut down in an act of vandalism, according to park rangers.
Bars in state's most populous, western counties stay shut
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — While bars in much of Texas were allowed to reopen Wednesday, county judges in most of the state’s most populous counties are keeping taps closed.
Battleground North Carolina begins in-person early voting
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Early in-person voting begins Thursday in North Carolina, where the historically popular form of casting ballots has been upstaged so far this fall by people seeking to vote by mail due to the …
Top Russian diplomat skeptical about nuclear pact extension
MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's top diplomat voiced doubt Wednesday that Moscow and Washington could negotiate an extension of their last arms control pact still standing, even as the United States offered a more optimistic…
Judge won't force New Mexico to send kids back to school
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health and school officials can continue to restrict in-person learning for the vast majority of young children based on county-wide coronavirus outbreaks after a federal judge deni…
Nude photos and death threats: Scandal topples Alaska mayor
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A stunning tale of inappropriate behavior between a politician and a television anchor, death threats and nude photos culminated in a joint police and FBI investigation, the arrest of the j…
Espy: Hyde-Smith 'disrespecting' Mississippi by not debating
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Democratic challenger Mike Espy on Wednesday criticized Republican U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith for not accepting invitations to debate him.
Cooper, Forest spar over COVID, economy at governor's debate
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Forest traded jabs over reopening the economy and dealing with the threat of the coronavirus pandemic during North Carolina's lone guberna…
Takeaways: Pardon power, silent mics on Barrett's final day
WASHINGTON (AP) — Health care again played a starring role in Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee as Democrats sought to highlight an issue they want…
Kansas sets records for increases in COVID-19 cases, deaths
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas on Wednesday reported its largest seven-day increases in both COVID-19-related deaths and new coronavirus cases.
Census whiplashed by changing deadlines, accuracy concerns
Shortly after the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration can end the 2020 census, a text message went out to field supervisors in Northern California telling them to start collecting the iPhones their ce…