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…
North Carolina legislative work nearing an end, for now
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina legislators worked Thursday toward completing the bulk of their work this year during a session dominated by COVID-19-related funding and policy measures, including Republican ch…
Hawaii pays $15.8M for potentially fraudulent jobless claims
HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii said Thursday it paid $15.8 million in benefits for potentially fraudulent jobless claims under a U.S. government program providing funds to independent contractors and self-employed individu…
High court won't hear federal agent's Hawaii shooting case
HONOLULU (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear a case over whether a federal agent should face a third trial over a fatal 2011 shooting in a Waikiki McDonald's restaurant.
Mexico passes 25,000 dead; treasury secretary gets virus
MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico pushed past 25,000 reported coronavirus deaths and 200,000 confirmed cases Thursday, as the treasury secretary said he tested positive and would self-isolate while working from home.
Report slams drilling oversight, tells of fracking's impact
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — State regulators have failed to prevent Pennsylvania's natural gas drilling industry from sickening people and poisoning air and water, a grand jury concluded in a report issued Thursday afte…
Virus whistleblower alleges retribution has only intensified
WASHINGTON (AP) — A government whistleblower ousted from a leading role in battling COVID-19 alleged Thursday that the Trump administration has intensified its campaign to punish him for revealing shortcomings in t…
House approves sweeping police overhaul from Democrats, responding to national outcry over George Floyd's death
WASHINGTON (AP) — House approves sweeping police overhaul from Democrats, responding to national outcry over George Floyd's death.
Virus spike halts some elective surgeries, bar faces charge
PHOENIX (AP) — Some Arizona hospitals halted elective surgeries Thursday and a Scottsdale nightclub faces what appears to be the first misdemeanor charge of failure to enforce social distancing polices as the numbe…
Georgia House seeks vaping tax, doesn't move on tobacco tax
ATLANTA (AP) — Lawmakers in Georgia's House voted Thursday to regulate and tax vaping products, but aren't taking the chance to raise taxes on cigarettes and other tobacco products.
New Mexico Governor: 'We're on hold' as virus cases climb
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Efforts to open more of New Mexico’s economy are on hold because of an uptick in cases in recent days, a trend that Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday called troubling and blamed on la…
Court: Alabama can't prohibit curbside voting
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An appellate court on Thursday refused to stay a judge’s order that allows local officials to offer curbside voting in the July runoff and loosens absentee ballot requirements in three of th…
New Mexico official called on to resign over police shooting
RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) — Pat Davis, one of Albuquerque’s most liberal city councilors who has made police reform part of his agenda, is facing calls to resign over his 2004 shooting of a Black man as a Metropolitan …
Budget bills get Senate nod, lawmakers ban police chokeholds
DOVER, Del. (AP) — The Delaware state Senate on Thursday unanimously approved two key spending bills that failed to win passage earlier this week amid concerns by Republican lawmakers.
Judge returns Ken Paxton fraud case to his home county
HOUSTON (AP) — A judge on Thursday ordered that the felony securities fraud case against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton be returned to his home county in North Texas.
Georgia may limit film tax break as lawmakers eye new ones
ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia lawmakers came closer Thursday to tighter oversight of tax breaks for television and film production, even as they proposed other new incentives for businesses.