Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
In Grant County Judge debate, Bevier, Chadwick place emphasis on experience and constitutional interpretation
EPHRATA — The two candidates seeking Grant County Superior Court Judge Position 3 highlighted their legal experien…
Wisconsin's longest-serving legislator says he will retire
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin state Sen. Fred Risser, the longest-serving legislator in the nation's history, said Thursday that he plans to retire.
Texas requires New York, New Orleans travelers to quarantine
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas joined other states Thursday in imposing quarantines on travelers from the New York area, the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the U.S., and put similar restrictions on people arr…
Attorneys try to block suit seeking to stop in-person voting
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The legal fight over how to conduct Wisconsin's spring election intensified Thursday as the League of Women Voters filed a lawsuit looking to ease absentee voting requirements and Republicans t…
Citing virus, EPA has stopped enforcing environmental laws
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday abruptly waived enforcement on a range of legally mandated public health and environmental protections, saying industries could have trouble complyi…
Montana governor orders 1 million residents to stay at home
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Montana Gov. Steve Bullock on Thursday announced that he's ordering the state’s 1 million residents to stay in their homes in a stepped-up effort to fight the spread of the coronavirus.
New unemployment claims post steep growth in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Nearly 20,000 new people applied for unemployment in Utah last week, an explosive increase that’s in line with national data released Thursday amid widespread business closures related to the …
Coronavirus surge in Kansas touches inmates, taxes, pastures
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas officials are looking for extra hospital beds, releasing jail inmates and bracing for a slump in state tax collections as they add farmers' and ranchers' springtime practice of burning pa…
Arkansas lawmakers meet at arena over coronavirus concerns
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A basketball arena was transformed into Arkansas’ House chamber due to coronavirus concerns as lawmakers met Thursday to address a budget shortfall the state faces because of the outbreak.
Trump says he will visit Norfolk, Va., Saturday to see off Navy hospital ship heading to New York to aid virus response
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump says he will visit Norfolk, Va., Saturday to see off Navy hospital ship heading to New York to aid virus response.
Noem pushes emergency bills, but doctors say it's not enough
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Kristi Noem on Thursday said she will pitch legislators on a series of 10 emergency bills to address what she believes will be a months-long fight against the coronavirus, but a leadin…
Trump's push to open economy could come at cost of lives
WASHINGTON (AP) — The contrast could hardly be more stark. Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York has said that if all of his sweeping, expensive measures to stem the coronavirus saved one life, it would be worth it. Presid…
Missouri swamped by unemployment claims as cases exceed 500
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — President Donald Trump has approved Missouri Gov. Mike Parson's request for federal disaster declaration, the governor's office announced Thursday.
FBI chief pledges to find answers on ex-agent Levinson
WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI won't give up on “finding out what happened" to former agent Robert Levinson, who the U.S. government believes died in the custody of the Iranians after vanishing more than a decade ago, a…
Georgia House speaker wants election delayed again
ATLANTA (AP) — A top Georgia Republican is pushing for more delays in state elections because of the
California swamped by jobless claims; LA virus cases rise
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California hired retired state workers and transferred other employees to help process an avalanche of over 1 million unemployment claims amid a surge of job losses from the coronavirus pandemic,…