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…
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…
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 …
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.
Health order sets requirements for New Mexico voting sites
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Enrollment in Medicaid has increased by nearly 7% in New Mexico since the outset of the coronavirus pandemic in March as employers shed jobs and more families descend into poverty, state healt…
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…
Biden slams Trump over alleged comments mocking US war dead
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden declared President Donald Trump “unfit” for the presidency on Friday, delivering an impassioned reaction to a report that Trump — who never served in unif…
Kamala Harris, Mike Pence to both be in Wisconsin on Monday
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris is scheduled to make her first campaign appearance in battleground Wisconsin on Labor Day in Milwaukee, while Vice President Mike Pence was …
California aims to phase out state-operated youth prisons
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — After years of fruitless debate, California now is on the verge of phasing out its state-operated juvenile prison system, a move hailed by reform advocates and criticized by counties that …
Indiana officials add 18 coronavirus deaths to state's toll
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana health officials on Friday added 18 more coronavirus-related deaths to the state’s toll as the pandemic continues nearly six months after the first confirmed COVID-19 infection in the st…
Alaska Supreme Court rules bonding plan is unconstitutional
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The Alaska Supreme Court on Friday rejected as unconstitutional former Gov. Bill Walker’s proposal to use bonding to pay Alaska’s oil and gas tax credit obligations.
Biden confirms virus test, says he'll be tested regularly
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Joe Biden said Friday that he's been tested at least once for the COVID-19 virus and promised he will be tested regularly during his
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…
Ducey appoints 4 as Maricopa County Superior Court judges
PHOENIX (AP) — Gov. Doug Ducey has appointed four lawyers as Maricopa County Superior Court judges to fill vacancies.
Judge OKs extradition for men accused of aiding Ghosn escape
BOSTON (AP) — Two American men accused of smuggling Nissan Motor Co. Chairman Carlos Ghosn out of Japan while he was awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges can be extradited, a federal judge ruled Friday.
Belarus' opposition challenger urges UN action amid protests
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Hundreds of students, information technology workers and others rallied again in Belarus' capital Friday to protest the disputed reelection of the nation's authoritarian president, while the ma…