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…
Lawyer: Assange was offered US pardon if he cleared Russia
LONDON (AP) — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange plans to claim during an extradition hearing that the Trump administration offered him a pardon if he agreed to say Russia was not involved in leaking Democratic Natio…
Lee changes course on offering 12 weeks of paid family leave
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee is backpedaling on a promise to offer up to 12 weeks of annual paid family leave for state workers through an executive order.
Wisconsin Senate approves procedures for police body cams
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The public would have access to most police body camera video under a bipartisan bill passed Wednesday by the state Senate.
Governor unveils broader state ethics, transparency bill
TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey's Legislature will be subject to the state's open records law, lobbying registration requirements will be tightened, and bills won't get a vote before lawmakers unless they were post…
Laws require warning labels on Michigan marijuana products
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Marijuana sold in Michigan shops will have to have labels warning pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers about the health risks for their fetuses and infants under newly enacted laws.
Debate night brawl: Bloomberg, Sanders attacked by rivals
LAS VEGAS (AP) — From the opening bell, Democrats savaged New York billionaire Mike Bloomberg and raised pointed questions about Bernie Sanders' take-no-prisoners politics during a
GOP leader nixes bill to process surge of absentee ballots
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A top Republican lawmaker on Wednesday came out in opposition to legislation that would ease Michigan election clerks' ability to process an expected surge of absentee ballots and avoid a dela…
'Medicare for All' is driving a wedge through labor movement
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Democratic presidential candidates' plans to provide “Medicare for All” are driving a wedge through the labor movement, pitting union against union and fracturing a powerful constituency as the pri…
Analysis: Dems' civility gives way to combustible conflict
WASHINGTON (AP) — Through a year of campaigning, the Democratic presidential candidates played nice, talking up party unity, disagreeing mostly politely on policy.
Takeaways from the Democratic debate
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Six Democratic presidential hopefuls met on the debate stage in Las Vegas, but it was the newcomer, former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who received the most attention, and none of it positive. H…
Wisconsin Assembly to OK tax cuts, farm aid, later bar hours
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A $250 million income tax cut, tax breaks for farmers and a 4 a.m. bar time during the Democratic National Convention are among the final bills the Wisconsin Assembly plans to pass Thursday dur…
California governor seeks to expand involuntary treatment
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to make it easier for the government to force psychiatric treatment for people with mental illness and expand statewide a still-developing test program that allows …
Hundreds urge lawmakers to keep religious vaccine exemption
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Hundreds of parents who are skeptical about the safety of vaccines turned out in force Wednesday, hoping to squash the latest proposal to end Connecticut's religious exemption from certain ch…
As Trump ups attacks on Justice Dept, Barr remains in post
WASHINGTON (AP) — Even as President Donald Trump renewed his public attacks on the Justice Department on Wednesday, there was little outward worry from either end of Pennsylvania Avenue that Attorney General Willia…
AP FACT CHECK: Dems' debate flubs; Trump untruths at rally
WASHINGTON (AP) — The latest Democratic presidential debate was a raucous one, ripe for exaggerations and distortions as Mike Bloomberg made his debut on the debate stage and rivals went after him and each other. P…