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…
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 …
Ohio governor sets dates to fill vacant congressional seat
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Elections will be held in August and November to fill a vacant Ohio congressional seat following the appointment of U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge to head the Department of Housing and Urban Developme…
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
Emergency sites for migrant children raising safety concerns
McALLEN, Texas (AP) — The U.S. government has stopped taking immigrant teenagers to a converted camp for oil field workers in West Texas as it faces questions about the safety of emergency sites it is quickly setti…
Who deserves credit? Biden leans into pandemic politics
WASHINGTON (AP) — In President Joe Biden's war against
Judge OKs $4-an-hour pay boost for Seattle grocery workers
SEATTLE (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday dismissed an industry lawsuit that sought to block a $4-an-hour pay boost for Seattle grocery workers amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 …
Medicaid incentive so far not enough to sway holdout states
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Democrats' nearly $2 trillion coronavirus relief package includes a big financial incentive for the states that have opted against expanding Medicaid to provide health coverage for more low-in…
Montana Senate advances bills targeting transgender youth
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The Montana Senate Judiciary Committee voted Thursday to advance two bills targeting transgender youth despite overwhelming testimony opposing the measures.
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 …
'An all-hands moment': GOP rallies behind voting limits
On an invitation-only call last week, Sen. Ted Cruz huddled with Republican state lawmakers to call them to battle on the issue of voting rights.
4 men linked to Proud Boys charged in plot to attack Capitol
Four men described as leaders of the far-right Proud Boys have been charged in the U.S. Capitol riots, as an indictment ordered unsealed on Friday presents fresh evidence of how federal officials believe group memb…