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…
The Latest: Scientists in Vietnam identify new virus variant
HANOI — Vietnam has discovered a new coronavirus variant that’s a hybrid of strains first found in India and the U.K., the Vietnamese health minister said.
Defense for some Capitol rioters: election misinformation
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Falsehoods about the election helped bring insurrectionists to the Capitol on Jan. 6, and now some who are facing criminal charges for their actions during the riot hope their gullibility mi…
The Latest: Duchess of Cambridge 'hugely grateful' for shot
LONDON — The Duchess of Cambridge has received her first dose of COVID-19 vaccine as Britain extends its inoculation program to younger residents.
Advocates in US push new efforts to bring back deportees
MIAMI (AP) — Jesus Lopez says he feels like a stranger in the place he was born.
State GOP lawmakers try to limit teaching about race, racism
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Teachers and professors in Idaho will be prevented from “indoctrinating” students on race. Oklahoma teachers will be prohibited from saying certain people are inherently racist or oppressive, w…
Rioters blame their actions on 2020 election misinformation
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Falsehoods about the election helped bring insurrectionists to the Capitol on Jan. 6, and now some who are facing criminal charges for their actions during the riot hope their gullibility mi…
The Latest: Europeans plan summer vacations as cases plummet
ROME — Coronavirus infections, hospitalizations and deaths are plummeting across the continent, after Europe led the world in new cases last fall and winter in waves that cost hundreds of thousands of lives, forced…
The Latest: Philippines ends ban on workers' travel to Saudi
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines has lifted a ban on the deployment of workers to Saudi Arabia, which it imposed after receiving reports that workers were being asked to shoulder COVID-19 test and quarantine c…
Spain criticized for unequally priced 'equality stamps'
MADRID (AP) — Spain’s postal service is feeling a backlash from its attempt to highlight racial inequality.
'Couldn't stay quiet': Capitol cop's mom wants Jan. 6 probe
WASHINGTON (AP) — Brian Sicknick's family wants to uncover every detail about the Jan. 6 insurrection by pro-Trump rioters, when the Capitol Police officer collapsed and later died. They can't understand why lawmak…
Senate R&D bill to counter China shelved by GOP opposition
WASHINGTON (AP) — A sweeping Senate bill aimed at making the United States more competitive with China and shoring up domestic
Yellen says economic recovery likely to be 'bumpy'
WASHINGTON (AP) — Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen says that the economic recovery is going to be “bumpy” with high inflation readings likely to last through the end of this year.
Biden marks vaccine progress, thanks troops ahead of holiday
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — President Joe Biden started the Memorial Day weekend by visiting a rock climbing gym in northern Virginia as the state lifted all COVID-19 distancing and capacity restrictions at private busi…
US, Britain seek new WHO look into COVID origins in China
GENEVA (AP) — The United States and Britain are stepping up calls for the World Health Organization to take a deeper look into the possible origins of COVID-19, including a new visit to China where the first human …
WHO chief concedes 'slow' response to Congo sex abuse claims
LONDON (AP) — The head of the World Health Organization acknowledged the U.N. health agency's response to sexual abuse allegations involving employees who worked in Congo during an Ebola outbreak was “slow,” follow…