Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Baumgartner, Conroy outline their top 5th Congressional District issues
RITZVILLE — Incumbent Republican Michael Baumgartner is being challenged for his position in the U.S. House of Rep…
Later bar hours for Democratic National Convention in doubt
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Extending bar hours in Wisconsin until 4 a.m. for the week of the Democratic National Convention appears to be in jeopardy, with a Republican leader saying Wednesday that concerns about negativ…
California governor makes homelessness top issue in 2020
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Tossing aside tradition, California's governor on Wednesday devoted his biggest platform to a single issue: solving a homelessness crisis that has overwhelmed the nation's most populous st…
Antelope worries prompt lawsuit over Wyoming gas field plan
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Environmental groups are suing over plans for a potentially huge Wyoming gas field they say would endanger antelope in Grand Teton National Park by hindering a migration route between the park…
Minnesota task force takes aim at prescription drug prices
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison unveiled a task force report Wednesday that makes 14 recommendations for lowering prescription drug prices, ranging from new legislation to stronger e…
Connecticut governor drops proposal for highway tolls
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont announced Wednesday he is dropping his plan for highway tolls for trucks, expressing frustration with legislative leaders who have delayed a vote on the issue.
Trump ousts top defense official who certified Ukraine aid
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has ousted the Pentagon's top policy official who
Wisconsin Senate Democrats block vote on tax cut bill
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Senate on Wednesday debated a Republican-authored $250 million
House passes tougher punishments for texting and driving
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Lawmakers in the South Dakota House on Wednesday passed a bill that would make texting and driving a criminal offense.
New Mexico state Senate approves 8% spending increase
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico's Democrat-led Legislature is haggling over annual spending priorities while racing to lock in significant policy initiatives on public safety, education funding, tobacco regulation…
Ex-NYC police commish Kerik says he cried at being pardoned
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City's police commissioner during the Sept. 11 attacks said Wednesday he started crying when President Donald Trump pardoned him for felony convictions that put him behind bars for three ye…
Alaska governor proposes supplemental oil-wealth fund check
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Alaska's governor proposed Wednesday giving Alaskans an additional $1,304 from the state’s oil wealth fund on top of the roughly $1,600 they received last fall.
At Arizona rally, Trump trolls Democrats debating in Nevada
PHOENIX (AP) — President Donald Trump trolled his political enemies Wednesday in the first of three rallies in three days in the West as Democrats vied in neighboring Nevada to be the one to challenge him in the No…
Toxic Superfund cleanups decline to more than 30-year low
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration completed the fewest cleanups of toxic Superfund sites last year than any administration since the program’s first years in the 1980s, figures released by the Environmenta…
Governor makes history by attending gay rights rally
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Gov. Andy Beshear spoke against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity and supported a ban on conversion therapy for LGBTQ youth during a historic appearance at a gay-r…
Complaints about privacy follow switch to paper ballots
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — As many Pennsylvania counties adopting new hand-marked ballot voting systems, a persistent criticism is a perceived loss of privacy in polling places when filling them out and scanning them.