Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
3 council members renew oaths of office in Ephrata
EPHRATA — Three Ephrata City Council Members were sworn in Wednesday evening after winning their respective races.…
Biden pushing federal workers — hard — to get vaccinated
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is announcing strict new testing, masking and distancing requirements for federal employees who can't — or won't — show they've been vaccinated against the coronavirus, aiming …
The Latest: Mask sales start to rebound amid surge, guidance
NEW YORK — A spot check of U.S. stores and other data sources shows mask sales are rising again amid concerns about surging coronavirus cases from the delta variant.
Biden to allow eviction moratorium to expire Saturday
BOSTON (AP) — The Biden administration announced Thursday it will allow a nationwide ban on evictions to expire Saturday, arguing that its hands are tied after the Supreme Court signaled the moratorium would only b…
Key details of the Senate's bipartisan infrastructure plan
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has voted to take up a nearly $1 trillion national infrastructure plan after President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators reached agreement on major provisions of the package.
'Trying to survive': Wells dry up amid Oregon water woes
MALIN, Ore. (AP) — Judy and Jim Shanks know the exact date their home’s well went dry — June 24.
The Latest: Emergent: FDA lets its vaccine factory restart
BALTIMORE, Md. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is allowing the troubled factory of contract manufacturer Emergent BioSolutions to resume production of COVID-19 vaccine bulk substance, the company said Thurs…
The Latest: Africa outlook 'encouraging' amid dose shortage
NAIROBI, Kenya — The World Health Organization’s Africa director says the continent of 1.3 billion people is entering an “encouraging phase after a bleak June” as supplies of COVID-19 vaccines increase.
Harris releases strategy to tackle migration’s root causes
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris said Thursday that
The Latest: New division to manage Tunisia's virus crisis
TUNIS, Tunisia — Tunisia’s president has ordered the creation of a special body to manage the country’s coronavirus crisis amid raging infections and public anger over the government’s handling of the pandemic.
Infrastructure talks leave Biden's entire agenda at risk
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's latest leap into the Senate's up-and-down efforts to clinch a bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure deal comes with even more at stake than his coveted plans for boosting roa…
Bhutan fully vaccinates 90% of eligible adults within a week
GAUHATI, India (AP) — The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has fully vaccinated 90% of its eligible adult population within just seven days, its health ministry said Tuesday.
GOP’s Jake Ellzey wins US House seat over Trump-backed rival
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republican Jake Ellzey of Texas won a U.S. House seat on Tuesday night over a rival backed by Donald Trump, dealing the former president a defeat in a test of his endorsement power since leavin…
AP Interview: Japan minister urges young adults to get shots
TOKYO (AP) — As Olympics host Tokyo saw another record number of coronavirus cases Wednesday, Japan’s vaccination minister said the speed of the country’s inoculation campaign is less urgent than getting shots to y…
Correction: Virus Outbreak-Biden story
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a story published July 26, 2021, about the coronavirus, The Associated Press erroneously reported that guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released in May said those wh…
Biden to launch vaccine push for millions of federal workers
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hoping to set a model for employers nationwide, President Joe Biden will announce Thursday that millions of federal workers must show proof they’ve received a coronavirus vaccine or submit to regu…