Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
5th Congressional District candidates discuss motivation for running
SPOKANE — Twelve candidates, including incumbent Michael Baumgartner, are running for the seat in the Fifth Congre…
Georgia lawmakers pass GOP election reform bill amid outcry
ATLANTA (AP) — Lawmakers in Georgia gave final passage Thursday to GOP-sponsored legislation that seeks a sweeping overhaul of state election law, including provisions adding new restrictions on voting by mail and …
West Virginia House passes transgender athlete bill
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Transgender athletes in West Virginia middle and high schools would be banned from competing on teams that align with their gender identity under a bill passed Thursday by the House of Dele…
California to expand vaccine eligibility to anyone over 16
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — California will start vaccinating anyone 16 and over against the coronavirus starting in three weeks, expanding eligibility to the shots along with a host of other states as a long-awaited …
Biden not ruling out chance US stays longer in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday did not rule out the possibility of U.S. troops staying in Afghanistan through the end of the year, and one of his top generals told Congress that Afghanistan's mil…
California to vaccinate anyone 16 and older in 3 weeks
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — California will start vaccinating anyone 16 and over against the coronavirus starting in three weeks, expanding eligibility to the shots along with a host of other states as a long-awaited …
Hundreds arrested in Belarus 'Freedom Day' protest
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Protesters calling for the resignation of Belarus’ authoritarian president marched in small groups Thursday throughout the capital of Minsk, the first sizable turnout of demonstrators since wee…
Biden leaves door open for US to stay longer in Afghanistan
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday left the door open for U.S. troops to stay in Afghanistan through the end of the year, and one of his top generals told Congress that Afghanistan's military forces …
Biden leaves door open for Senate changes to advance agenda
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden at his first news conference left the door open to backing fundamental changes in Senate procedure to muscle key parts of his agenda like immigration and voting rights past Rep…
EU leaders grapple with surge of infections, vaccine issues
BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders failed to settle a fight about the distribution of COVID-19 shots among member states Thursday but pledged to strengthen vaccine export controls and production on EU soil amid…
California to open vaccinations to everyone 16 and older
SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — California is expanding its coronavirus vaccine eligibility to anyone 50 and over starting in April and anyone 16 and over on April 15.
Buttigieg pitches 'once in a generation' infrastructure fix
WASHINGTON (AP) — Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg called for a once in a generation infrastructure investment Thursday that would address a massive backlog in needed improvements for the nation's roads, bri…
WA Senate Democrats' budget includes state capital gains tax
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Senate Democrats on Thursday released a $59.2 billion two-year budget plan that includes $357 million in new revenue from a tax on capital gains, and laid out how they would separately spend m…
More than 50 arrested in Belarus 'Freedom Day' protest
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Protesters calling for the resignation of Belarus’ authoritarian president marched in small groups Thursday throughout the capital of Minsk, the first sizable turnout of demonstrators since wee…
AP FACT CHECK: Biden skews figures on border, taxes, more
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday misstated the reality at the U.S.-Mexico border when he asserted that “nothing has changed” when it comes to the number of children coming to the United States sinc…
In shift, oil industry group backs federal price on carbon
WASHINGTON (AP) — The oil and gas industry's top lobbying group on Thursday endorsed a federal price on carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming, a reversal of longstanding policy that comes as th…