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…
Governor takes up virus bills, delegation seeks SUD funding
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Gov. Chris Sununu signed a bill Friday to streamline absentee voting during the coronavirus pandemic but vetoed other measures aimed at helping workers, children and nursing home residents.
Reality shows shortfalls of Trump's claim to 'best testing'
WASHINGTON (AP) — Here are some snapshots from what President Donald Trump describes as the nation with the “best testing in the world" for the coronavirus:
Records: Montana governor feared backlash over mask mandate
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Gov. Steve Bullock's statewide mask mandate came after hundreds of Montana residents, business owners and health care leaders demanded the move as virus cases mounted in the state, records obta…
Challengers sue over absentee ballots tossed from NY primary
NEW YORK (AP) — A challenger seeking to unseat veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Carolyn Maloney is among the plaintiffs in a federal lawsuit filed Friday over the invalidation of thousands of New York state primary bal…
Medicaid expansion advocates prepare for 2022 ballot push
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota attorney general on Friday filed explanations for a pair of 2022 ballot measures that would expand federal Medicaid eligibility in the state.
U.S. government executes drug kingpin convicted of killing 5; 3rd federal execution this week
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — U.S. government executes drug kingpin convicted of killing 5; 3rd federal execution this week.
Tuberville says maybe to debate; Jones: Voters deserve one
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Republican Tommy Tuberville on Friday declined to commit to debating incumbent Sen. Doug Jones in Alabama’s U.S. Senate race, while Jones suggested that Tuberville is scared to do so.
Republicans eye sweeping shield from coronavirus liability
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new plan from Senate Republicans to award businesses, schools, and universities sweeping exemptions from lawsuits arising from inadequate coronavirus safeguards is putting Republicans and Democr…
Unemployment falls in Montana but infections keep rising
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Montana's unemployment rate dropped sharply in June as many businesses reopened, but the state's economic rebound from the coronavirus pandemic remained on shaky ground as confirmed infection…
2 more Indiana counties join others in mandating face masks
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — At least two more Indiana counties on Friday joined the growing list of local governments in the state mandating the wearing of face masks while in public as the state has seen
State and local officials tussle over virus restrictions
Across the U.S., state and local officials are trying to balance the competing priorities of protecting their citizens from the coronavirus while keeping the economy running. Add into the mix strong feelings about …
Police warn proposed reforms may harm recruitment, retention
Connecticut lawmakers were warned Friday that a wide-ranging police accountability bill, which would allow officers to be personally sued in certain circumstances for violating someone's civil rights, will have ser…
Kansas has new record COVID-19 spike, 1,000+ cases in 2 days
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas reported Friday that it saw more than 1,000 new novel coronavirus cases over the previous two days, again giving the state its worst seven-day spike since the pandemic began.
How does COVID-19 affect kids? Science has answers and gaps
What role children play in the coronavirus pandemic is the hot-button question of the summer as kids relish their free time while schools labor over how to resume classes.
Democrat Luján has money edge in New Mexico's US Senate race
RIO RANCHO, N.M, (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Ben Ray Luján has a nearly 6-to-1 fundraising advantage over his GOP opponent in a race for an open U.S. Senate seat in New Mexico.