Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Grant County voters urged to return ballots early as election approaches
EPHRATA — More than 52,000 ballots are now in the hands of Grant County voters, and election officials are encoura…
Private sales emerge as obstacle to Senate action on guns
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats in Congress are trying to pass the first major gun control legislation in more than two decades with the support of President Joe Biden, who said Thursday that it is “long past time” to …
Grim view of global future offered in intelligence report
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. intelligence officials are painting a dark picture of the world's future, writing in a report released Thursday that the coronavirus pandemic has deepened economic inequality, strained govern…
Inslee to announce possible new COVID restrictions Monday
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Gov. Jay Inslee will announce Monday whether some counties in Washington state will have to roll back to Phase 2 of the state’s COVID-19 reopening plan because of rising cases.
Biden orders gun control actions — but they show his limits
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden put on a modest White House ceremony Thursday to announce a half-dozen executive actions to combat what he called an “epidemic and an international embarrassment” of gun violen…
West Virginia transgender athlete bill wins Senate approval
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Transgender females in West Virginia would be banned from competing in female sports in middle and high schools and colleges under a bill that narrowly won state Senate approval Thursday.
Northern Ireland leaders seek calm after violence escalates
BELFAST, Northern Ireland (AP) — Authorities in Northern Ireland sought to restore calm Thursday after Protestant and Catholic youths in Belfast hurled bricks, fireworks and gasoline bombs at police and each other.…
Gaetz associate working toward plea deal with prosecutors
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — An associate of Rep. Matt Gaetz's is working toward a plea deal with federal prosecutors investigating a sex trafficking operation, potentially escalating the
Washington Legislature revises 3-strikes sentencing law
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington Legislature has passed a bill to resentence as many as 114 people serving life without parole under the state’s three-strikes law.
Kansas lawmakers likely to pass bill on transgender athletes
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — LGBTQ-rights advocates in Kansas are relying on the state's Democratic governor or the courts to block a ban on transgender athletes in girls' or women's school sports after conservatives on Thu…
7th man arrested in sex abuse case at youth detention center
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A former youth detention center worker accused of responding to a bruised and crying teenager’s rape allegations by saying, “Look little fella, that just doesn’t happen," was arrested Thursday …
EXPLAINER: Is the US border with Mexico in crisis?
Biden tightens some gun controls, says much more needed
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden, in his first
Governments give varying advice on AstraZeneca vaccine
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — In Spain, residents now have to be over 60 to get an AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine. In Belgium, over 55. In the United Kingdom, authorities recommend the shot not be given to adults …
Swiss banker to Venezuelan kleptocrats becomes star witness
MIAMI (AP) — Matthias Krull pulls up his pant leg and slides a gardening shear on the ankle monitor that for two years has been a constant reminder of his crimes.
A year after pandemic hit, Haiti awaits vaccines amid apathy
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti does not have a single vaccine to offer its more than 11 million people over a year after the pandemic began, raising concerns among health experts that the well-being of Haitians…