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…
Transgender sports ban bill headed to Louisiana governor
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The Louisiana House overwhelmingly gave final passage Thursday to legislation prohibiting transgender athletes from competing on girls’ sports teams in schools, sending the measure to Gov. J…
Lamont signs sports betting bill that now awaits federal OK
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont on Thursday signed legislation that finally legalizes sports wagering and online gambling, the last step before the U.S. Department of Interior is asked to sign of…
Idaho lieutenant governor bans masks while governor away
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — With the governor out of the state, Idaho’s lieutenant governor issued an executive order Thursday banning masks in schools and public buildings, saying the face-covering directives threatened p…
The Latest: Summer travel begins with excitement, delays
TOLEDO, Ohio — After a year of coronavirus lockdowns, the start of summer beckons with vacation plans made possible by relaxed COVID-19 restrictions.
EXPLAINER: What's the Senate filibuster and why change it?
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans are poised to use a filibuster to derail
AP Interview: NATO chief says Afghan forces can cope alone
ABOARD HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH (AP) — NATO has helped provide security in Afghanistan for almost two decades but the government and armed forces in the conflict-torn country are strong enough to stand on their own feet…
EU weighs Belarus sanctions at sectors close to leader
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — European Union nations sketched out plans Thursday for new sanctions against Belarus, targeting economic sectors close to its authoritarian leader, as they sought to strike back at him for t…
AP sources: Staffing hampered response to prison suicide
WASHINGTON (AP) — The radios crackled with a frantic call for backup at a federal prison in California: An inmate was found hanging in his cell. Help was needed immediately.
'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…
The Latest: Facebook changes policy on COVID-19 information
MENLO PARK, California — Facebook says it will no longer remove claims that Covid-19 is man-made or manufactured from its apps.
'Nothing looks good' preparing for summer wildfire season
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Wearing soot-smudged, fire-resistant clothing and helmets, several wildland firefighters armed with hoes moved through a stand of ponderosa pines as flames tore through the underbrush.
EPA restoring state and tribal power to protect waterways
WASHINGTON (AP) — In the latest reversal of a Trump-era policy, the Biden administration's Environmental Protection Agency is restoring a rule that grants states and Native American tribes authority to block pipeli…
Cops who kill often catch a break at sentencing time
CHICAGO (AP) — Throughout the murder trial, prosecutors showed jurors the video seen countless times around the world of the white police officer killing a Black male. And when it was over, the jurors found the off…
Boris Johnson defends virus record after ex-aide's attack
LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday rejected claims by his former chief aide that he botched Britain's coronavirus response and is unfit for office, denying an allegation his government oversaw t…
'A whirlwind': 1st Ohio vaccine lottery winners speak out
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The