Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Sheriff candidates debate at Ephrata forum
EPHRATA — Incumbent Grant County Sheriff Joey Kriete and challenger Darrick Gregg highlighted differences in leade…
The Latest: No crowds at Holy Week ceremonies amid pandemic
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is celebrating solemn Holy Week ceremonies for a second straight year without the usual throngs of pilgrims and tourists, kept away by pandemic safety concerns and travel restrictions.
Expelled from US at night, migrant families weigh next steps
REYNOSA, Mexico (AP) — In one of Mexico's most notorious cities for organized crime, migrants are expelled from the United States throughout the night, exhausted from the journey, disillusioned about not getting a …
UK variant hunters lead global race to stay ahead of COVID
LONDON (AP) — On March 4, 2020, when there were just 84 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.K., professor Sharon Peacock recognized that the country needed to expand its capacity to analyze the genetic makeup of t…
Spurred by lockdown, Spain gives 4-day week a try
MADRID (AP) — After years of waiting tables, Danae De Vries is one step closer to achieving her lifetime dream of becoming a theater coach.
GOP lawmakers seek greater control over local elections
Partisan takeovers of election boards. Threats to fine county election officials and overturn results. Even bans on giving water to voters while they stand in line.
Prosecutors struggle with consistent story in Jan. 6 cases
BOSTON (AP) — There’s little doubt the Oath Keepers were planning for something on Jan. 6. The question at the heart of the criminal case against its members and associates in the attack on the U.S. Capitol is: Wha…
Vice presidents' policy projects come with political risks
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Pence led the coronavirus task force only to be constantly overruled by the White House. Al Gore's efforts to “reinvent government" were largely forgotten during the Monica Lewinsky scandal. …
As daily deaths near 4,000, worst may lie ahead for Brazil
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil currently accounts for one-quarter of the entire world’s daily COVID-19 deaths, far more than any other single nation, and health experts are warning that the nation is on the verge of …
Big Tech's outsized influence draws state-level pushback
New York state Sen. Michael Gianaris was ecstatic when Amazon named Long Island City in 2018 as a front-runner for its new headquarters, a project that would bring 25,000 jobs and $2.5 billion in construction spend…
Myanmar forces kill scores in deadliest day since coup
YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — As Myanmar’s military celebrated the annual Armed Forces Day holiday with a parade Saturday in the country's capital, soldiers and police elsewhere killed scores of people while suppressing p…
LSU coach accused of ignoring sexual harassment allegation
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A 74-year-old woman told state lawmakers Friday that she spoke directly to Louisiana State University football coach Ed Orgeron about sexual harassment she said she endured in 2017 from one …
Like Senate plan, House budget focused on pandemic recovery
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — House Democrats on Friday released their two-year budget plan, that — like the Senate plan released a day earlier — includes a new tax on capital gains and uses a mix of state and federal mone…
The eviction moratorium is expiring. What will Biden do?
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's administration has less than a week to decide on extending the nationwide eviction moratorium, a measure that housing advocates say has helped keep most cash-strapped tenants…
Tennessee's governor signs transgender athlete bill
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed a law Friday banning transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports, making it the third state this year to approve a measure many critics warn would…
Former Trump adviser takes prominent role in voting battle
A GOP lawyer who advised former President Donald Trump on his campaign to overturn the 2020 election results is now playing a central role coordinating the Republican effort to tighten voting laws around the countr…