Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Kriete, Gregg weigh continuity vs. change in final Q&A
EPHRATA — After four rounds of questions on leadership, public safety, accountability and the future of the Grant …
Dems thwart Senate Republicans on 2 abortion-related bills
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked a pair of Republican bills that would ban most late-term abortions and threaten prison for doctors who don't try saving the life of infants born alive during ab…
Kansas moves to junk local tax lid in favor of transparency
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers are moving toward eliminating limits on local property taxes they say are ineffective in favor of a proposal aimed at requiring officials to be more transparent about upcoming l…
Attorney general's probation rollback passes Senate
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — The South Dakota Senate on Tuesday narrowly passed Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg's proposal to give judges the ability to send low-level felons to prison rather than probation if they don't c…
Indiana Senate endorses ban on drivers using handheld phones
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A proposal that would ban motorists from using handheld cellphones on Indiana roads appears on its way to becoming law.
Ohio Elections chief: nearly 150K absentee ballots requested
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Nearly 150,000 absentee ballots have been requested with about three weeks to go before the state's March 17 presidential primary, Ohio's elections chief said Tuesday.
Whitmer admin seeks quick ruling on Medicaid work rules
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration on Tuesday asked for a quick court ruling on the legality of Michigan's Medicaid work requirements, hoping to avoid sending notices to more th…
Barr meets with Senate GOP to push surveillance renewals
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr met with lawmakers Tuesday to encourage them to extend expiring surveillance authorities, making his first visit to Capitol Hill since news broke a week ago that he h…
Industrial hemp bill ready for Senate vote
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota Senate committee on Tuesday unanimously approved a proposal to legalize industrial hemp.
US Supreme Court upholds death sentences of Arizona man
WASHINGTON (AP) — A sharply divided U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday upheld the death sentences for an Arizona inmate who was convicted of killing two people in home burglaries nearly 30 years ago and now wants a jury…
Nebraska sets candidates for May 12 primary ballot
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has set its May presidential primary ballots to include eight Democratic candidates, two Republicans and six Libertarians, Secretary of State Bob Evnen announced Tuesday.
California lottery didn't give $36M to schools, auditor says
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The California lottery skimped on giving $36 million in revenue to fund public education and spent $720,000 on food and travel expenses without considering cheaper options, the state audit…
Attorney General Barr names new fed prison system director
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General William Barr has named a new director of the beleaguered federal Bureau of Prisons, months after shaking up the agency’s top leadership following the death of wealthy financier Je…
Thousands join in North Macedonia opposition protest
SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — Thousands of opposition supporters marched peacefully through North Macedonia's capital Skopje late Tuesday to protest what they claim was interference in the judiciary by the country…
Church shooter Dylann Roof staged death row hunger strike
WASHINGTON (AP) — White supremacist mass murderer Dylann Roof staged a hunger strike this month while on federal death row, alleging in letters to The Associated Press that he’s been “targeted by staff,” “verbally …
Migrant detention center to open after conditions stir anger
EL PASO, Texas (AP) — A year after asylum-seekers and other migrants overwhelmed U.S. immigration authorities at the southern border, the Border Patrol is opening a processing facility in Texas that officials say c…