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…
Scotch whisky makers welcome suspension of costly US tariffs
LONDON (AP) — Scotch single malt whisky makers breathed a sigh of relief Thursday after the United States agreed to suspend tariffs on one of Scotland's main exports in the wake of the resolution of a long-standing…
Mistrial halts case on minimum wage for immigrant detainees
SEATTLE (AP) — A trial over whether the GEO Group must pay minimum wage — instead of $1 a day — to immigration detainees who perform tasks like cooking and cleaning at its for-profit detention center in Washington …
Black Americans laud Juneteenth holiday, say more work ahead
WASHINGTON (AP) — Black Americans rejoiced Thursday after President Joe Biden made
Case to make GEO pay detainees minimum wage ends in mistrial
SEATTLE (AP) — A trial over whether the GEO Group must pay minimum wage — instead of $1 a day — to immigration detainees who perform tasks like cooking and cleaning at its jail in Washington state has ended with a …
Top general 'shocked' by AP report on AWOL guns, mulls fix
Shocked by an Associated Press investigation into the loss and theft of military guns, the Pentagon's top general signaled Thursday that he will consider a “systematic fix” to how the armed services keep account of…
Biden signs bill making Juneteenth a federal holiday
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed legislation Thursday establishing a new federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery, saying he believes it will go down as one of the greatest honors he has as pres…
General 'shocked' by AP report on AWOL guns, considers fix
Shocked by an Associated Press investigation into the loss and theft of military guns, the Pentagon's top general signaled Thursday that he will consider a “systematic fix” to how the armed services keep account of…
Another victory at the Supreme Court for religious groups
WASHINGTON (AP) — In another victory for religious groups at the Supreme Court, the justices on Thursday
US to spend $3.2B on treatments for COVID-19, other viruses
WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is devoting $3.2 billion to speed development of antiviral pills to treat COVID-19 and other dangerous viruses that could turn into pandemics.
Dems eye $6T plan on infrastructure, Medicare, immigration
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats are eyeing a $6 trillion infrastructure investment plan that goes far beyond roads and bridges to include core party priorities, from lowering the Medicare eligibility age to 60 and addi…
Austin: Al-Qaida could regroup in Afghanistan in 2 years
WASHINGTON (AP) — An extremist group like al-Qaida may be able to regenerate in Afghanistan and pose a threat to the U.S. homeland within two years of the American military's withdrawal from the country, the Pentag…
As COVID-19 crisis ebbs, some seeking 9/11-style commission
With more than 600,000 Americans dead of COVID-19 and questions still raging about the origin of the virus and the government's response, a push is underway on Capitol Hill and beyond for a full-blown investigation…
House votes to repeal 2002 Iraq War authorization
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-led House, with President Joe Biden's backing, passed legislation Thursday to repeal the 2002 authorization for use of military force in Iraq, a step that supporters said was necess…
Reports detail tense moments with Georgia election monitors
ATLANTA (AP) — As a pair of election workers sat at a table counting ballots during an audit of Georgia's presidential election in November, no fewer than eight Republican monitors swarmed around them, hurling accu…
Officers resign from Portland, Oregon, protest response unit
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A team of 50 police officers who serve on a specialized crowd-control unit in Oregon and respond to Portland's ongoing, often violent protests have resigned en masse after a team member was in…