Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Soap Lake looking to seat salary commission
SOAP LAKE — The City of Soap Lake is seeking residents to serve on its newly reactivated Salary Commission, a citi…
WA Legislature considering face mask bans for law enforcement
OLYMPIA — Washington lawmakers have introduced a bill that aims to ban local and federal law enforcement officers from wearing facial coverings while interacti…
Ybarra introduces bill to roll back special fuels tax
OLYMPIA — A bill to repeal a “special fuels tax” imposed in 2025 on diesel and other fuels was introduced for the 2026 Washington legislative session by 13th D…
WA Legislature kicks off session
OLYMPIA — Washington legislators convened in Olympia last week for the 2026 Legislation Preview, highlighting priorities ahead of the short 60-day session that…
Kriete, Wagner express opposition to bills on sheriff eligibility
MOSES LAKE — Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete and Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner have both expressed concerns regarding Senate Bill 5974, companion bill to H…
Protesters express frustrations regarding ICE, Venezuela Saturday
MOSES LAKE — Area residents gathered on Stratford Road in Moses Lake to protest the recent deaths of Renee Nicole Good, 37, of Minneapolis and Kieth Porter, 43…
Williams named interim city administrator in Othello
OTHELLO — Finance Director Spencer Williams will be appointed as interim city administrator while Othello city officials look for a permanent replacement. Mayo…
Seven Basin school districts to run EP&O levies in February
EPHRATA — Voters in seven Columbia Basin school districts will be asked to accept or reject educational programs and operations levy proposals in a special ele…
As barbs fly and Trump wades in, a central WA congressional race heats up
Two years ago, Amanda McKinney, a Republican Yakima County commissioner, made a commercial endorsing Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse for re-election and assa…
Grant Co. legislators pre-file legislation
OLYMPIA — Grant County Rep. Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake and Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, have pre-filed bills for the upcoming 2026 legislative session. Rep. Al…
Gas prices drop again, but remain high in WA
MOSES LAKE — Lower fuel prices continued this week, with Grant and Adams counties, Washington and national average fuel prices dropping from last week’s prices.
Energy critical in 2026 WA Legislative Session, Ybarra says
QUINCY — While there will be a lot going on during the 2026 Washington Legislative session, 13th District Representative Alex Ybarra, R-Quincy, said energy is …
The Latest: US strikes Venezuela, captures Maduro and his wife
WASHINGTON D.C. — The United States hit Venezuela with a “large-scale strike” early Saturday and said President Nicolás Maduro and his wife were captured and f…
Decades of consistency
EPHRATA — On a cold winter morning, the executive team gathers as they always do, Tuesday at City Hall. And as they always did, Mayor Bruce Reim listens first …
Oliver sworn in as new Ephrata mayor
EPHRATA — Steve Oliver was formally sworn in as the new Mayor of Ephrata during a city council workshop Monday, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the …
Mathis sworn into Ephrata council seat
EPHRATA — On Monday night, the Ephrata City Council and Mayor-Elect Steve Oliver attended a workshop to discuss roles and swear in Oliver and the council’s new…