Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
4th District candidates talk affordability, ag and healthcare
RICHLAND — Rising costs, agricultural challenges and concerns about the future of rural healthcare dominated discu…
Garland vows crackdown on gun trafficking as violence surges
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland vowed Thursday that the Justice Department would crack down on gun trafficking corridors as part of a comprehensive approach to combat surging gun violence that al…
Biden says getting vaccinated 'gigantically important'
CINCINNATI, Ohio (AP) — President Joe Biden expressed pointed frustration Wednesday over the slowing COVID-19 vaccination rate in the U.S. and pleaded that it's "gigantically important” for Americans to step up and…
Dems renew questions about FBI background check of Kavanaugh
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats are raising new concerns about the thoroughness of the FBI's background investigation of
Kaseya gets master decryption key after July 4 global attack
BOSTON (AP) — The Florida company whose software was exploited in the devastating Fourth of July weekend ransomware attack, Kaseya, has received a universal key that will decrypt all of the more than 1,000 business…
Free money for all? Mayors hope local tests bring big change
By triggering $1,400 stimulus checks for millions of people and expanding the child tax credit for many families, the pandemic offered a clear takeaway for some officials: That putting tax dollars in people’s pocke…
Biden stumps for McAuliffe in early test of political clout
ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) — President Joe Biden led the kind of campaign rally that was impossible last year because of the pandemic, speaking before nearly 3,000 people in support of a fellow moderate Democrat whose rac…
The Latest: Indian government dismisses excess deaths study
DELHI, India — India's government has dismissed a recent study which estimated that the country's excess deaths during the pandemic could be 10 times the official COVID-19 toll, calling it “misleading” and “fallaci…
AP-NORC poll: Parties split on some infrastructure proposals
WASHINGTON (AP) — The overwhelming majority of Americans -- about 8 in 10 -- favor plans to increase funding for roads, bridges and ports and for pipes that supply drinking water. But that's about as far as Democra…
Louisiana veto session ends with no bill rejections reversed
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana lawmakers ended their historic veto session Wednesday after two days in which Republicans failed to overturn any of Gov. John Bel Edwards' bill rejections, a significant blow to GO…
Teen with US ties again on the run from China with fiancee
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A teenager who says he’s a U.S. permanent resident and his fiancée are once again on the run from the threat of extradition to their homeland, China, in a sign of Beijing’s lengthening reach ov…
AP FACT CHECK: Biden goes too far in assurances on vaccines
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden offered an absolute guarantee Wednesday that people who get their COVID-19 vaccines are completely protected from infection, sickness and death from the coronavirus. The realit…
Biden says getting COVID-19 vaccine 'gigantically important'
CINCINNATI (AP) — President Joe Biden expressed pointed frustration over the slowing COVID-19 vaccination rate in the U.S. and pleaded that it's "gigantically important” for Americans to step up and get inoculated …
Ruling leaves immigrants who newly applied for DACA in limbo
NEW YORK (AP) — When the text message popped up on his phone, Samuel Alfaro didn't want to believe it.
Rare 'breakthrough' COVID cases are causing alarm, confusion
Reports of athletes, lawmakers and others getting the coronavirus despite vaccination may sound alarming but top health experts point to overwhelming evidence that the shots are doing exactly what they are supposed…
Unvaccinated staff eyed in rising nursing home cases, deaths
WASHINGTON (AP) — Lagging vaccination rates among nursing home staff are being linked to a national increase in COVID-19 infections and deaths at senior facilities, and are at the center of a federal investigation …