Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Grant County Republican Party to stage debate in Ephrata
EPHRATA — Grant County voters will have an opportunity this evening to hear directly from candidates seeking two o…
Nevada's 28.2% jobless rate worst in US; worst state history
RENO, Nev. (AP) — More than one-fourth of Nevada’s workforce is out of a job, with an April unemployment rate of 28.2% that's the worst in nation and the worst any state has seen since the national jobless rate was…
2020 Minnesota State Fair canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Officials canceled the Minnesota State Fair on Friday after its leader said the COVID-19 pandemic made it impossible for the show to go on.
California's April jobless rate higher than Great Recession
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California's unemployment rate nearly tripled to 15.5% in April as the nation's most populous state lost more jobs in one month than it did during the Great Recession a decade ago — all be…
Michigan suit: Count absentee ballots if mailed by election
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan law that requires absentee ballots to be received by the time polls close on Election Day is unconstitutional and will disenfranchise tens of thousands of voters in 2020 if it is no…
Minnesota State Fair canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The 2020 Minnesota State Fair was canceled Friday due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Court: Injunction blocking Michigan e-cigarette ban stands
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The state appeals court let stand a temporary injunction blocking Michigan's ban on flavored e-cigarettes, saying a judge did not overstep in ruling for two businesses that sued.
US awards $89.9M to Nevada for virus tests, contact tracing
CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) — A federal agency has awarded $89.9 million to Nevada to enhance COVID-19 testing and contact tracing.
Indiana governor seeks spending cuts with tax revenue drop
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana’s state government agencies have been told to cut spending by 15% for the coming year in reaction to plummeting tax revenues during the coronavirus outbreak, the governor’s office said F…
Louisiana GOP lawmakers want virus tracking to be voluntary
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Republican state lawmakers, citing concerns about privacy rights, are trying to ensure that Louisiana won't penalize residents who refuse to cooperate with the state's work to track the
Tennessee rep: Loud protests near chamber may warrant arrest
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Rep. Bruce Griffey's hearing is iffy and getting worse with age.
Kansas lawmakers OK barring COVID-19 suits, curbing governor
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans pushed
Pennsylvania jobless rate hits 15.1% as payrolls collapse
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania’s unemployment rate skyrocketed in April, at the height of the pandemic-driven shutdown, to its highest rate in over four decades of record-keeping, the state said Friday.
More of Pennsylvania emerges from coronavirus shutdowns
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Residents of 12 more Pennsylvania counties were allowed to freely leave their homes on Friday, and other parts of the shutdown were lifted, as Gov. Tom Wolf prepared to announce which countie…
Kansas moves to block COVID-19 lawsuits, restrain governor
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Republicans on Friday were advancing a big package in the GOP-controlled Kansas Legislature that would shield businesses and health care providers from coronavirus-related lawsuits while also ta…
Lawsuit targets fines as New Mexico virus cases near 6,500
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico health officials on Thursday reported 163 new coronavirus cases and 11 additional deaths as a legal fight simmers over Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's authority to enforce public heal…