Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Washington’s gas tax is going up, but state transportation revenue is falling short
Washington state’s gas tax, already among the highest in the nation, is going up next week. The state’s per-gal…
UNESCO: Italy's ban on cruise ships in Venice is 'good news'
ROME (AP) — The United Nations culture agency, which was considering declaring Venice an imperiled world heritage site, on Wednesday hailed Italy’s ban on big cruise ships in the heart of the lagoon city.
Texas Democrats dig in after exodus; GOP threatens arrest
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Democrats who hurriedly took off to Washington to block sweeping new election laws urged Congress on Tuesday to quickly pass legislation protecting voting rights, while Republican Gov. Gr…
'I came here to fight': Rare footage of Ethiopia's Tigray
MEKELE, Ethiopia (AP) — The 16-year-old girl hoped to go to war. Inspired by the sight of resurgent local forces marching in to retake the capital of Ethiopia’s Tigray region six months after being forced to flee, …
Man arrested in 2020 Seattle protest zone killing
SEATTLE (AP) — A man has been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a young man last year in Seattle’s temporary Capitol Hill Organized Protest zone, police said.
French rush to get vaccinated after president's warning
PARIS (AP) — More than 1 million people in France made vaccine appointments in less than a day, according to figures released Tuesday, after the president cranked up pressure on everyone to get vaccinated to save t…
Afghanistan's neighbors wary as US seeks nearby staging area
American diplomats are escalating a charm offensive with Central Asian leaders this week as they work to secure a close-by spot to respond to any resurgence of outside militants in Afghanistan after the U.S. milita…
Lithuania struggles with migrant influx opened by Belarus
VEREBIEJAI, Lithuania (AP) — Mustafa Hussein Hamad kicked a dirty ball between two old tires in the schoolyard where he spends most of his time. He and dozens of other migrants are fenced in at an old school after …
Afghan vet: 'What have we ended up with at the end of it?'
Images of the World Trade Center towers collapsing in New York were still fresh in the minds of the first American troops arriving in Afghanistan, as the U.S. launched an invasion targeting the Afghanistan-based al…
France celebrates Bastille Day amid virus fears, tensions
PARIS (AP) — Bastille Day is back, sort of.
WHO: Rich countries should donate vaccines, not use boosters
LONDON (AP) — Top officials at the World Health Organization say there's not enough evidence to show that third doses of coronavirus vaccines are needed and appealed Monday for the scarce shots to be shared with po…
US to begin evacuating Afghans who aided American military
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration said Wednesday that it is prepared to begin evacuation flights for Afghan interpreters and translators who aided the U.S. military effort in the nearly 20-year war — but t…
Cuba, Haiti stir fresh political pressures for US president
WASHINGTON (AP) — They are two tiny Caribbean states whose intractable problems have vexed U.S. presidents for decades. Now, Haiti and Cuba are suddenly posing a growing challenge for President Joe Biden that could…
Powell says inflation, though elevated, will likely moderate
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday that inflation, which has been surging as the recovery strengthens, “will likely remain elevated in coming months" before “moderating."
Feds charge 4 in Iran plot to kidnap activist in US, others
NEW YORK (AP) — An Iranian intelligence officer and three alleged members of an Iranian intelligence network have been charged in Manhattan with plotting to kidnap a prominent Iranian opposition activist and writer…
Sanders, Biden meet as infrastructure bill swells past $3.5T
WASHINGTON (AP) — Emerging from a private meeting at the White House, Sen. Bernie Sanders said Monday that he and President Joe Biden are on the same page as Democrats draft a “transformative” infrastructure packag…