Political
Need information regarding current political news? Here we'll keep you updated on the latest political news, locally and nationally.
Several contested races on the primary ballot in Grant County
EPHRATA — Filing week for the August primary election closed Friday, leaving several contested races on the ballot…
'Very angry': Democrats face tough choices on immigration
WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats who long blistered the Trump administration's hard-line immigration policies are suddenly in a tough political bind.
Idaho Legislature shuts down due to COVID-19 outbreak
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Legislature voted Friday to shut down for several weeks due to an outbreak of COVID-19.
Republic of Congo polls open; candidate sick with COVID-19
BRAZZAVILLE, Republic of Congo (AP) — Republic of Congo pressed ahead Sunday with an election in which President Denis Sassou N'Guesso is widely expected to extend his 36 years in power, while the leading oppositio…
Biden picks former senator who flew in space to lead NASA
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — President Joe Biden has chosen a former senator from Florida who flew on the space shuttle right before the Challenger accident to lead NASA.
US, China wrap up testy 1st face-to-face talks under Biden
ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Top U.S. and Chinese officials wrapped up two days of contentious talks in Alaska on Friday after trading sharp and unusually public barbs over vastly different views of each other and the …
US businesses near border struggle with boundaries' closure
NOGALES, Ariz. (AP) — Evan Kory started calling brides in Mexico’s northern Sonora state last March, asking if they wanted to get their wedding gowns from his Arizona store just before the U.S. closed its borders …
Spa shootings could be first test of Georgia hate crimes law
ATLANTA (AP) — The murder case against a white man charged with shooting and killing six women of Asian descent and two other people at Atlanta-area massage businesses this week could become the first big test for …
Kansas lawmakers at odds over how to legalize sports betting
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — With the first round of college basketball's March Madness underway, Kansas legislators moved closer Friday toward legalizing sports betting, though big disagreements remained over where fans sh…
In Oregon, Democrats seek to end GOP boycotts of Legislature
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Walkouts by Republicans in Oregon's Legislature have become so frequent, with GOP lawmakers torpedoing progressive legislation, that Democrats want to sanction boycotters with $500 daily fines an…
Trump's Mar-a-Lago partially closed due to COVID outbreak
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, has been partially closed after staff members tested positive for the coronavirus.
Biden eyes new goal after US clears 100M shots since Jan. 20
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. on Friday cleared President Joe Biden's goal of injecting 100 million coronavirus shots, more than a month before his target date of his 100th day in office, as the president prepared to …
Gun waiting periods rare in US states but more may be coming
Not long before the deadly Atlanta-area shootings spread fear and anger through
Striking Myanmar rail workers move out as protests continue
MANDALAY, Myanmar (AP) — Residents of Myanmar’s second-biggest city helped striking railway workers move out of their state-supplied housing Saturday after the authorities said they would have to leave if they kept…
Fallout from riot, virus leaves toxic mood on Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON (AP) — The mood is so bad at the U.S. Capitol that a Democratic congressman recently let an elevator pass him by rather than ride with Republican colleagues who
House passes immigration bills for farm workers, 'Dreamers'
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has voted to unlatch a gateway to citizenship for young “Dreamers,” migrant farm workers and immigrants who have fled war or natural disasters, giving Democrats wins in the year’s first …