Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Homesley, Falstad share plans for growing county, auditors office
EPHRATA — As Grant County continues to grow, the county auditor's office is tasked with keeping pace with increasi…
100,000 more COVID deaths seen unless US changes its ways
The U.S. is projected to see nearly 100,000 more COVID-19 deaths between now and Dec. 1, according to the nation's most closely watched forecasting model. But health experts say that toll could be cut in half if ne…
Gaps in US wildfire smoke warning network leave many exposed
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Huge gaps between air quality sensors in the western U.S. have created blind spots in the warning system for wildfire smoke plumes sweeping North America this summer, amid growing concern ove…
South Dakota AG gets fines, no jail time in pedestrian death
FORT PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg pleaded no contest Thursday to a pair of misdemeanor traffic charges over a crash last year that killed a pedestrian, avoiding jail time despit…
Biden to meet with governors willing to help Afghan refugees
WASHINGTON (AP) — A world away from the evacuation violence in Afghanistan, President Joe Biden was meeting Thursday with a bipartisan group of governors from across the U.S. who have said they want to help resettl…
South Dakota AG pleads no contest to 2 counts in fatal crash
FORT PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg on Thursday pleaded no contest plea to two misdemeanor traffic charges for a crash last year in which he hit and killed a man who was walking a…
Pandemic windfall for US schools has few strings attached
As the federal government releases historic sums of pandemic aid to the nation’s schools, it’s urging them to dream big, to invest in seismic changes that will benefit students for generations to come. But many dis…
With Merkel going, candidates fail to inspire German voters
BERLIN (AP) — It's not that politics bore him; quite the opposite. But Christoph Gillitzer is stumped by whom to vote for in Germany's federal election next month.
US diplomat: Security threat at Kabul airport 'imminent'
WASHINGTON (AP) — The security threat that prompted the State Department to urge Americans to move away from the perimeter of the Kabul airport was credible and urgent, the acting U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan sai…
Half of US workers favor employee shot mandate: AP-NORC poll
NEW YORK (AP) — Half of American workers are in favor of vaccine requirements at their workplaces, according to a
US says up to 1,500 Americans await airlift as threats grow
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States says as many as 1,500 Americans may be awaiting evacuation from Afghanistan amid growing warnings Thursday of terrorist threats targeting the Kabul airport as President Joe Biden…
Harris says she urged Vietnam to free political dissidents
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said Thursday she raised issues of human rights abuses and restrictions on political activism in her conversations with Vietnamese leaders this week, but offe…
Pentagon: US troops must get their COVID-19 vaccines ASAP
WASHINGTON (AP) — Military troops must immediately begin to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a memo Wednesday, ordering service leaders to “impose ambitious timelines for implementat…
Cruise lines require vaccinations, tests, amid virus surge
MIAMI (AP) — Joel Steckler was eager for his first cruise in more than a year and a half, and he chose the ship that just two months ago became the first to accept passengers again after a long pandemic shutdown.
Experts on WHO team say search for COVID origins has stalled
LONDON (AP) — The international scientists dispatched to China by the World Health Organization to find out where the coronavirus came from said Wednesday the search has stalled and warned that the window of opport…
House passes $3.5T Biden blueprint after deal with moderates
WASHINGTON (AP) — Striking a deal with moderates, House Democratic leaders have muscled President Joe Biden’s multitrillion-dollar budget blueprint over a key hurdle, ending a risky standoff and putting the party’s…