Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Thompson leads 13th District race, plans focus on costs, access
EPHRATA — Joshua Thompson led Deanna Martinez by 3,278 votes for the 13th Legislative District’s state representat…
FBI director says antifa is an ideology, not an organization
WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Chris Wray told lawmakers Thursday that antifa is an ideology, not an organization, delivering testimony that puts him at odds with President Donald Trump, who has said he would desig…
US accuses Hezbollah of storing explosive chemical in Europe
WASHINGTON (AP) — Militant group Hezbollah has stored chemicals that can be used to make explosives in several European countries, a senior State Department official said Thursday as he appealed to countries in Eur…
House condemns racism against Asian Americans amid pandemic
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House voted Thursday to condemn racism against Asian Americans tied to the coronavirus outbreak, approving a Democratic resolution on a mostly party-line vote. Republicans called the legislati…
Georgia tops 300,000 cases; decline in new cases flattens
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia has surpassed 300,000 confirmed coronavirus infections amid hints that a decline in new cases may be leveling out.
Belarus president closes some borders, puts army on alert
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Belarus’ president, beleaguered by six weeks of mass protests demanding his resignation, on Thursday announced he was putting troops on high alert and closing the country’s borders with Poland …
Ducey, US Census head push for complete Arizona count
PHOENIX (AP) — Gov. Doug Ducey and the head of the U.S. Census Bureau encouraged Arizonans on Thursday to complete their census forms as statistics showed more than 10% of the state's residents haven't yet particip…
Trump heats up culture war in appeal to Wisconsin voters
MOSINEE, Wis. (AP) — President Donald Trump stepped up his rhetoric on cultural issues, aiming to boost enthusiasm among rural Wisconsin voters as he tries to repeat his path to victory four years ago.
The Latest: Biden says Russia will pay for election meddling
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the 2020 presidential campaign (all times local):
Trump downplays legacy of slavery in appeal to white voters
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump intensified efforts to appeal to his core base of white voters on Thursday by downplaying the historical legacy of slavery in the United States and blasting efforts to addre…
California governor signs laws to protect workers from virus
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California companies must warn their workers of any potential exposure to the coronavirus and must pay their employees workers compensation benefits if they get sick with the disease under…
New Mexico racinos ask governor to reconsider closure
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's racetrack and casino operators are asking Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to consider allowing them to reopen, saying hundreds of gaming operations across the U.S. already have sho…
Federal judge upholds Oklahoma election law as 'reasonable'
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday rejected the Oklahoma Democratic Party's lawsuit challenging the state’s absentee voting rules.
At town hall, Biden blasts Trump's 'criminal' virus response
MOOSIC, Pa. (AP) — Joe Biden went after President Donald Trump again and again over his handling of COVID-19, calling Trump's downplaying of the pandemic “criminal” and his administration “totally irresponsible."
Mississippi absentee ballot rules challenged amid pandemic
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Voting rights groups filed papers Thursday asking a federal judge to temporarily lift some limitations in Mississippi’s absentee voting process. They said doing so would ease some safety conce…
First lady promotes Trump's approach to opioid crisis in NH
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — First lady Melania Trump used her first solo trip outside Washington since before the start of the coronavirus pandemic to showcase a piece of her “Be Best” youth well-being initiative on Thurs…