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…
Florida governor suggests closing schools during elections
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis moved to give elections officials across the state some relief, by closing schools so they can be used as polling places, allowing state employees to staff precinc…
Lingering jobless claims cause headache for the governor
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The plight of Kentuckians still in limbo in seeking unemployment benefits has become a major political headache for the state's Democratic governor, opening him up to criticism Thursday from R…
Minnesota Democrats press GOP for sweeping policing changes
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz has challenged Republican lawmakers to approve a Democratic-backed package of police accountability bills crafted following George Floyd's death so he can have the “poetic justice” …
Paris protesters cloak colonial-era statue with black cloth
PARIS (AP) — French anti-racism activists draped a black cloth over the statue of a colonial commander in central Paris on Thursday, prompting three arrests and brief tension with police.
Lawmakers to probe security agencies over far-right killing
BERLIN (AP) — German lawmakers plan to investigate possible mistakes made by security agencies in their handling of two neo-Nazis suspected of killing a regional politician last year.
Whitmer extends coronavirus emergency through July 16
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday extended Michigan's coronavirus emergency declaration through July 16, enabling her to keep intact certain business closures, longer unemployment benefits and…
US has hit agreed troop-cut target of 8,600 in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States has reduced its troop presence in Afghanistan to 8,600, fulfilling its obligation as part of a February deal with the Taliban, the general who oversees American forces in that re…
Senate confirms McConnell ally to top federal appeals court
WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Senate approved the nomination of a 38-year-old judge and ally of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to serve on a top federal appeals court on Thursday, despite Democrats’ objection…
Minnesota promises late July decision on K-12 schools
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota health and education officials on Thursday asked school administrators to plan for three scenarios on reopening in the fall under the cloud of the coronavirus, and promised a decision b…
Armenia's ex-president freed from jail on $4.1-million bail
YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — A court in the Armenian capital ruled Thursday to free former Armenian President Robert Kocharian on $4.1-million bail — the highest in the ex-Soviet nation's history.
Utility regulators keep moratorium on service terminations
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania's Public Utility Commission on Thursday rejected an attempt by one of its members to end its three-month-old moratorium preventing utilities from terminating service to non-payin…
AP-NORC poll: Trump adds to divisions in an unhappy country
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are deeply unhappy about the state of their country — and a majority think President Donald Trump is exacerbating tensions in a moment of national crisis, according to a new poll from
Louisiana skips daily virus update, says reviewing its data
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana's health department didn't provide the daily update on the state's coronavirus data Thursday, saying it was “reviewing all data” on
Whitmer extends coronavirus emergency until July 16
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday extended Michigan's coronavirus emergency declaration until July 16, enabling her to keep intact restrictions and orders that remain after she lifted a stay-a…
NATO to probe France-Turkey Med naval incident
BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that the military alliance would investigate an incident between Turkish warships and a French naval vessel in the Mediterranean, as France accu…