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…
Utah passes bill banning use of knee-to-neck chokeholds
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah lawmakers voted to ban knee-to-neck chokeholds similar to the one used in the death of George Floyd during a special session Thursday, though the measure stops short of criminalizing the …
N.C. House revises, OKs education, road bond referendum
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — The North Carolina House agreed overwhelmingly on Thursday to let voters decide whether the state should borrow $3.1 billion for public school, higher education and road construction.
Louisiana governor warns of concerning spike in virus cases
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Gov. John Bel Edwards urged Louisiana residents to “do a real gut check” about whether they are taking enough personal precautions to lessen their coronavirus risk, as the state is showing a…
California police chiefs call for weeding out bad officers
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s police chiefs on Thursday endorsed a plan to more aggressively weed out bad officers who break the law or have a history of complaints.
US drops planned limit for toxin that damages infant brains
The Trump administration on Thursday rejected imposing
California Legislature OKs bill to mail ballot to all voters
Los Angeles (AP) — The California Assembly on Thursday sent Gov. Gavin Newsom a bill to require county officials to mail a ballot to every registered voter for the November election, which would cement into law the…
UN: Venezuelans, other refugees face huge pandemic hardships
GENEVA (AP) — The head of the U.N. refugee agency expressed concerns Thursday about impact of the coronavirus pandemic from Africa’s Sahel region to Latin America and beyond, warning that millions fled upheaval at …
Northam says next phase of reopening at least a week away
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam says he's holding off on further relaxing restrictions on businesses and public gatherings, citing concerns about the rising number of coronavirus cases in other sta…
Tennessee unemployment rate falls in May after record April
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's jobless rate in May fell in comparison with a record increase the month before, as more than 300,000 people continued to receive unemployment payouts during the new coronavirus out…
Reporters barred from listening to end of Biden fundraiser
WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden's presidential campaign wouldn't let reporters listen to the end of an online fundraiser on Thursday during which he held a “virtual photo line” with investment managers, climate activis…
Who they are: Six DACA recipients rejoice over court ruling
PHOENIX (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court has kept alive, for now, the Obama-era program that allows immigrants brought here as children to work and protects them from deportation. The high court on Thursday ruled that…
Judge won't stop absentee voter application mailings
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A judge on Thursday refused to stop the secretary of state from sending unsolicited absentee ballot applications to millions of voters.
A model for 2020? Candidates once let voters come to them
MENTOR, Ohio (AP) — Both Donald Trump and Joe Biden are wrestling with how to campaign safely during the coronavirus pandemic. Historians offer up precedent that might come with some lessons: James Garfield let the…
Rulings help moderate image of conservative Supreme Court
WASHINGTON (AP) — In two major decisions this week on LGBT rights and immigration, the conservative-leaning Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump somewhat surprising defeats.
Utah unemployment down from peak, but still historic rates
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Unemployment claims in Utah are settling into levels that are much lower than the pandemic peak in early April but remain historically high, new figures released Thursday show.