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…
Defiant Ratko Mladic dismisses UN court as child of the West
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — A defiant Ratko Mladic dismissed the U.N. court hearing his appeal against convictions for crimes including genocide as a “child of the Western powers,” as a two-day hearing wrapped up…
Limited indoor dining to resume for New Mexico restaurants
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Wednesday she will relax some public health mandates imposed because of the coronavirus, citing recent progress in slowing the outbreak in New Mexico.
New Mexico lifts ban on indoor restaurant dining
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico will allow restaurants to reopen indoor dining after a six-week suspension that was aimed reining in coronavirus infections.
Florida seeks to boost unemployment benefits $300 a week
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is applying to participate in a federal unemployment assistance program so people currently receiving at least $100 in benefits can be eligible for anot…
Judge orders Tennessee to mention virus on mail voting form
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A judge has ordered Tennessee election officials to clearly communicate on absentee ballot applications that people can vote by mail if they believe they or someone in their care face a high…
New Mexico slips on time needed for COVID-19 contact tracing
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico is falling short of a target set for how long it takes to notify and quarantine people who may have been exposed to the coronavirus.
Despite improvements, Edwards not lifting virus restrictions
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — As Louisiana has made significant strides in combating its second coronavirus surge, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Wednesday that he's keeping the state's mask mandate, bar closures and other r…
Vehicle collision with Russians injures 4 US troops in Syria
WASHINGTON (AP) — In the most violent skirmish in months between U.S. and Russian forces in Syria, a vehicle collision in the eastern part of the war-torn country left American troops with concussions, U.S. officia…
Plea agreement of ex-NC state Rep. David Lewis accepted
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday accepted the guilty plea of a longtime North Carolina state lawmaker who acknowledged conducting a scheme to funnel campaign dollars to his ailing farm.
Dutch foreign minister meets Chinese counterpart
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch Foreign Minister Stef Blok met Wednesday with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, saying he would discuss topics ranging from trade ties to concerns about human rights violations in…
ASU has 161 virus cases, but president says it was expected
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona State University has reported 161 current coronavirus cases among students and staff across the university’s four campuses. But President Michael Crow said the cases were expected because of …
Scant mention of brewing crises at Republican convention
WASHINGTON (AP) — As Republicans make the case for a second Trump term at their convention, trouble is brewing outside.
Moscow announces advanced trials for new COVID-19 vaccine
MOSCOW (AP) — The mayor of Moscow invited residents Wednesday to join trials of a coronavirus vaccine that Russia approved for use earlier this month, in what officials described as a breakthrough on par with the S…
Bulgaria: Justice minister favoring new constitution resigns
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria’s justice minister resigned Wednesday amid strong public criticism of a controversial proposal for a new constitution he co-authored.
Don't panic, French prime minister says, as infections mount
PARIS (AP) — France's prime minister said Wednesday that reopening schools is “one of the essential conditions” for a restart of the country's economy, which is hobbled like elsewhere by the coronavirus pandemic.