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…
EU leaders attend summit in person for 1st time this year
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — On the list of things not to do during a pandemic, holding big international gatherings is close to the top.
Arizona Senate assures feds election recount is secure
PHOENIX (AP) — The Republican president of the Arizona Senate said in a letter Friday to the U.S. Justice Department that ballots being recounted from November's presidential election are secure and the department'…
The Latest: India must submit plan for oxygen at hospitals
NEW DELHI — India’s government, facing calls for a strict coronavirus lockdown to slow the devastating surge in infections, has been ordered by the top court to submit a plan on meeting New Delhi hospitals’ oxygen …
GOP seeks unity, even if that means embracing election lie
WASHINGTON (AP) — There's a new buzzword among Republicans in Washington: unity.
The Latest: German official warns against quick reopening
BERLIN — Germany’s health minister has welcomed a decline in new COVID-19 cases, but says Germans need to endure “weeks or a few months” of restrictions.
New stage in Rome's Colosseum will restore majestic view
ROME (AP) — A project to build a high-tech, lightweight stage inside the Roman Colosseum will allow visitors a central viewpoint from within the ancient structure “to see the majesty of the monument," Italy’s cultu…
Watchdog says Capitol Police deficient at monitoring threats
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Capitol Police force was hobbled by inadequate intelligence gathering ahead of the Jan. 6 siege, the department's watchdog told Congress on Monday, alarming lawmakers who are concerned for the…
The Latest: WHO official: Few restrictions accelerates virus
GENEVA — A top official at the World Health Organization says the explosive number of coronavirus cases is only partly driven by the variants, warning countries that loosening control measures may worsen the pandem…
The Latest: Pakistan receives 1st vaccines through COVAX
ISLAMABAD— Pakistan on Saturday received its first supply of COVID-19 vaccines through the U.N.-backed COVAX initiative, over 1.2 million doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.
Madrid's champion of soft virus restrictions wins election
MADRID (AP) — Madrid’s conservative leader, a champion of relaxed measures against the coronavirus and a scourge of the left-wing central government’s handling of the pandemic, scored a solid win in a regional elec…
Air raid sirens, explosions heard in Jerusalem amid tensions
JERUSALEM (AP) — Explosions have been heard in Jerusalem after air raid sirens sounded.
Inslee OKs bill curbing debt-based license suspensions
SEATTLE (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Monday approved a measure aimed at preventing tens of thousands of people a year from having their driver’s licenses suspended for failure to pay fines.
The Latest: Lowest Mexico City hospitalizations of pandemic
MEXICO CITY -- More than three months after COVID-19 infections peaked in Mexico City, the local government announced Friday that the public hospital network dedicated to fighting the disease is experiencing its lo…
UK OKs holiday travel to Portugal, Israel; not France, Spain
LONDON (AP) — The British government on Friday announced a “first tentative step” toward resuming international travel, saying U.K. citizens will be able to travel to countries including Portugal, Iceland and Israe…
EPA rule to phase out gases used in refrigerators, coolants
WASHINGTON (AP) — In the first Biden administration rule aimed at combating climate change, the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing to phase down production and use of hydrofluorocarbons, highly potent gre…