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…
Native Americans protesting Trump trip to Mount Rushmore
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s plans to kick off Independence Day with a showy display at Mount Rushmore have angered Native Americans, who view the monument as a desecration of land violently st…
Watchdogs: Trump's Independence Day gala in 2019 cost $13M
President Donald Trump’s
DeVos issues rule steering more virus aid to private schools
The Trump administration on Thursday moved forward with a policy ordering public schools across the U.S. to share coronavirus relief funding with private schools at a higher rate than federal law typically requires.
Ex-UN human rights chief calls for Hong Kong special envoy
LONDON (AP) — The United Nations’ former human rights chief and eight former U.N. special envoys urged the body’s secretary-general Thursday to appoint a special envoy on Hong Kong, saying they are deeply concerned…
Political speeches canceled at Kentucky's Fancy Farm picnic
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky's premiere political event — the campaign speeches before raucous partisans at the Fancy Farm picnic — will be silenced this year amid the coronavirus pandemic.
California declares emergency to draw down budget reserves
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a budget emergency Thursday that will allow California to take nearly $8 billion from a state reserve account to help plug a large budget deficit brought on by t…
Government watchdogs: Trump's 2019 Fourth of July gala in DC cost $13 million-plus, twice as much as in recent years
WASHINGTON (AP) — Government watchdogs: Trump's 2019 Fourth of July gala in DC cost $13 million-plus, twice as much as in recent years.
Tribe, environmentalists fight rollback of US water rule
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The nation’s largest Native American tribe and several environmental groups are waging a legal challenge to a revised federal rule that lifts protections for many streams, creeks and wetlan…
Montana has 37 new cases of COVID, unemployment claims down
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana reported 37 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday, the highest daily number of new cases since the pandemic began, pushing the state's case total to more than 800, state officials said.
Pompeo says US, EU working to resume trans-Atlantic travel
BRUSSELS (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo played down concerns Thursday that the European Union might refuse to allow Americans into the 27-nation bloc as it considers lifting restrictions on overseas tra…
Grand jury finds regulatory failures in natural gas drilling
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A grand jury investigation into Pennsylvania's large natural gas drilling industry released Thursday by state Attorney General Josh Shapiro found systematic failures in state departments regu…
Justices boost Trump administration's power in asylum cases
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday strengthened the Trump administration's ability to deport people seeking asylum without allowing them to make their case to a federal judge.
Former Mississippi gov: Remove rebel emblem from state flag
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi legislators were under increasing pressure Thursday to remove the Confederate battle emblem from the state flag, amid national protests over racial injustice and urging from sports…
UK Labour leader fires lawmaker over 'anti-Semitic' tweet
LONDON (AP) — The leader of Britain's main opposition Labour Party, Keir Starmer, on Thursday fired a lawmaker from a top party job for sharing an article on social media containing what Starmer called “an anti-Sem…
Pence heads to Ohio for unveiling of electric truck
LORDSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence is headed to Ohio on Thursday for the unveiling of a new electric pickup truck being built by a start-up company in the massive factory that once housed GM’s Lordsto…