Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Auditor candidates discuss election integrity, public confidence
EPHRATA — Three Republican candidates are running for the position of Grant County Auditor: incumbent Shannon Fals…
Northern Idaho's anti-government streak hampers COVID fight
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — Northern Idaho has a long and deep streak of anti-government activism that has confounded attempts to battle a COVID-19 outbreak overwhelming hospitals in the deeply conservative region.
UK ditches plans for vaccine passports at crowded venues
LONDON (AP) — Authorities in Britain have decided not to require vaccine passports for entry into nightclubs and other crowded events in England, Britain's health secretary said Sunday, reversing course amid opposi…
Vulnerable Democrats push for local priorities in budget
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — U.S. Rep. Cindy Axne of Iowa was slow to get behind a $1 trillion infrastructure bill after the Senate passed it last month. It wasn't the price tag that tripped up the Democrat from a swing…
Newsom, GOP rivals seek votes in recall's final weekend
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Democratic allies of California Gov. Gavin Newsom continued to express confidence Saturday in his chances of beating back a
Biden: Results of California recall will be felt nationally
LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — President Joe Biden put Democrats’ approach to the coronavirus pandemic on the line Monday, casting the
Internet funding rule could favor rural areas over cities
Cities and urban counties across the U.S. are raising concerns that a recent rule from President Joe Biden's administration could preclude them from tapping into $350 billion of coronavirus relief aid to expand hig…
Iran to allow new memory cards in UN's nuclear site cameras
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran agreed Sunday to allow international inspectors to install new memory cards into surveillance cameras at its sensitive nuclear sites and to continue filming there, potentially averting a di…
In the GOP, voter ID is a slam dunk ... except in Nebraska
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — State Sen. Mike Groene was frustrated but not terribly surprised last year when Nebraska’s Legislature rejected, for the seventh time, a measure that would have forced voters to show a government…
Chinese students hit by US visa rejections amid tension
After a semester online, Wang Ziwei looked forward to meeting classmates who are returning to campus at Washington University in St. Louis. But the 23-year-old finance student said the U.S. revoked his student visa…
Democrats seek corporate, wealthy tax hikes for $3.5T plan
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats unveiled a sweeping proposal Monday for tax hikes on big corporations and the wealthy to fund President Joe Biden's $3.5 trillion rebuilding plan, as Congress speeds ahead to shape…
Pope to Orban's Hungary: Open your arms to everyone
BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Pope Francis urged Hungary on Sunday to “extend its arms towards everyone,” in a veiled critique of Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s anti-migrant policies, as the pontiff opened a four-day vis…
California voters: Less Republican and white than in 2003
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — It's a familiar refrain among California's recall watchers: 2021 is not 2003.
Family of man killed during Portland protests sues city
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The estate of a man fatally shot in downtown Portland after a pro-Trump car rally last year is suing the city, the mayor and the county district attorney, saying their negligence contributed t…
Blinken pushes back on GOP criticism of Afghan withdrawal
WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed back Monday against harsh Republican criticism of the handling of the military withdrawal from Afghanistan, saying the Biden administration inherited a dea…
Unions split on vaccine mandates, complicating Biden push
The National Nurses Union applauded President Joe Biden's proposal to require that companies with more than 100 employees vaccinate their work force. The American Federation of Teachers once said vaccine mandates w…