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…
More call for pause as US weighs New Mexico drilling plan
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Environmentalists want federal land managers to suspend efforts to amend a plan that would guide oil and gas development and other activities near Chaco Culture National Historical Park.
New Mexico's high court GOP justice reschedules retirement
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The lone Republican justice on the state Supreme Court is retiring on Dec. 1, triggering the nomination process for one of five seats on the high court.
Vice President Pence heads to Arizona on campaign swing
PHOENIX (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence is set to appear at two events in Arizona Friday as the reelection campaign of Republican President Donald Trump works to solidify its support in the battleground state.
Fraud arrests made over California’s unemployment benefits
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Investigators unraveling an identity fraud scheme targeting California’s unemployment system have arrested 44 people in Beverly Hills this month alone, officials said Thursday.
Police arrest suspect in shooting death of campaign worker
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Authorities on Thursday said they have arrested a suspect in the killing of a 17-year-old boy and wounding of a man who had done work for a Minnesota congressional candidate.
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.
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.
Nevada COVID-19 panel OKs reopening bars in Las Vegas, Elko
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Bars in and around Las Vegas will be allowed to reopen after this weekend with limited capacity, distance between customers and facial coverings all around, following action Thursday by a Nevada co…
Dems allege GOP lawmaker not eligible for November ballot
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A former Democratic North Dakota House minority leader who lost his legislative seat to a Republican newcomer four years ago is asking the state Supreme Court to remove the lawmaker from the N…
Oklahoma police chiefs express concerns about recruiting
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Growing anti-police sentiment around the country could have a profoundly negative impact on the ability to recruit quality officers, police chiefs from two Oklahoma cities told state lawmakers …
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 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…
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…
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…