Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Grant County primary turnout slips from 2022 levels as officials look ahead to November election
EPHRATA — Grant County's voter turnout in the 2026 primary election finished at nearly 34%, a figure county electi…
US wildlife agency seeks to carve out areas from protections
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A Trump administration proposal released Friday would allow the government to deny habitat protections for endangered animals and plants in areas that would see greater economic benefits from…
Oklahoma treasury collections fall 5% in August amid oil dip
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Overall collections to the state treasury last month were nearly 5% below collections from August 2019, driven mostly by a slump in oil and gas prices, Oklahoma Treasurer Randy McDaniel said Fr…
Hawaii epidemiologist takes leave after other key departures
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii's embattled epidemiologist is taking a leave of absence after the new head of the state's COVID-19 contact tracing program requested time off, citing issues with the chain of command among he…
Judge sides with Alaska on ballot application mailings
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A federal judge has denied a request seeking to have Alaska election officials send absentee ballot applications to all registered voters in the state ahead of the November general election.
IAEA: Iran continues to expand stockpile of enriched uranium
VIENNA (AP) — Iran continues to increase its stockpile of enriched uranium in violation of limitations set in a landmark deal with world powers, but has begun providing access to sites where it was suspected of hav…
Groups ask for restraining order to stop census wind-down
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Days after the U.S. Census Bureau said that it had already taken steps to wind down operations for the 2020 census, a coalition of cities, counties and civil rights groups on Friday tried to st…
Lawmakers extend Lamont's executive powers for 5 more months
A Democratic-controlled special committee of Connecticut legislative leaders voted Friday to extend Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont's emergency powers until Feb. 9, following a pointed partisan debate where Republicans …
Medicaid enrollment strains public finances in New Mexico
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Enrollment in Medicaid has increased by nearly 7% in New Mexico since the outset of the coronavirus pandemic as employers shed jobs and more families descend into poverty, state health regulat…
Gov's office: Blocking all-mail voting would 'inject chaos'
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Granting the Trump campaign's request to block a plan to allow Montana counties to conduct all-mail elections in November would “inject chaos into the election," the governor's office said Frid…
Congresswoman denied access to Florida postal facilities
MIAMI (AP) — U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz said she was denied access to two U.S. Postal Service facilities in South Florida on Friday morning following evidence of delivery delays and other problems.
California allows more exemptions from landmark labor law
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California is exempting about two-dozen more professions from a landmark labor law designed to treat more people like employees instead of contractors, under a bill that Gov. Gavin Newsom …
Kanye West appeals ruling that bars him from Arizona ballot
PHOENIX (AP) — Kanye West asked the Arizona Supreme Court on Friday to reverse a ruling that bars him from appearing on the state’s Nov. 3 ballot as an independent presidential candidate.
Alabama Supreme Court rules PSC hearing not a public meeting
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A two-hour public hearing where members of Alabama's utility-regulating agency heard testimony about solar energy fees wasn't a public meeting under state law, the Alabama Supreme Court rule…
Serbia, Kosovo normalize economic ties, gesture to Israel
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump announced Friday that Serbia and Kosovo have agreed to normalize economic ties as part of U.S.-brokered talks that include Belgrade moving its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem, …
Virginia lawmakers approve absentee voting measures
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia lawmakers gave final approval Friday to legislation aimed at making absentee voting easier in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, including having the state prepay postage and provi…