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 sanctions 24 China and Hong Kong officials ahead of talks
HONG KONG (AP) — The U.S. sanctioned an additional 24 Chinese and Hong Kong officials over Beijing’s ongoing crackdown on political freedoms in the semi-autonomous city, just ahead of the Biden administration's fir…
China protests over Japan, US statement on human rights
BEIJING (AP) — China has protested to the United States and Japan over a joint statement it said “maliciously attacked” its foreign policy and seriously interfered in China’s internal affairs, the Foreign Ministry …
France’s Sarkozy faces new trial over 2012 campaign finance
PARIS (AP) — The trial of French former President Nicolas Sarkozy on charges that his unsuccessful reelection bid in 2012 was illegally financed has been postponed for two months.
Biden to mark St. Patrick's Day, praise Good Friday accord
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is marking St. Patrick’s Day as he recommits the U.S. to
Worker protection bill heads to Senate
House Bill 1076 would allow a person to bring a qui tam action against an employer if employee protection laws were violated.
South Carolina lawmakers reject transgender sports ban bill
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A committee in the South Carolina House rejected a bill Tuesday that would have prevented transgender students from playing on girls’ sports teams in middle and high school.
EXPLAINER: Why countries are halting the AstraZeneca shot
LONDON (AP) — At least a dozen countries including Germany, France, Italy and Spain have now temporarily suspended their use of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine after reports last week that some people in Denmark …
Utah campaign against porn marches on with phone filter plan
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Conservative lawmakers in Utah have fired another salvo in their longtime campaign against online porn with a new requirement that all cellphones and tablets sold in the state automatically bl…
Advocates seek Biden push on gun bills, but prospects iffy
WASHINGTON (AP) — After President Joe Biden’s
The Latest: Mexico's president knocks US over vaccines
MEXICO CITY — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador took a dig at the U.S. government Sunday, saying the United States has not helped Mexico with coronavirus vaccines.
2 charged in assault of Capitol officer who died after riot
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials have arrested and charged two men with assaulting U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick with bear spray during the Jan. 6 riot, but they do not know yet whether it caused the o…
Georgia prosecutor investigating Trump call urges patience
ATLANTA (AP) — The Georgia prosecutor investigating potential efforts by Donald Trump and others to influence last year’s general election has a message for people who are eager to see whether the former president …
Haaland OK'd at Interior, 1st Native American Cabinet head
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Monday confirmed New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland as interior secretary, making her the first Native American to lead a Cabinet department and the first to lead the federal agency that ha…
Trump pressed Georgia investigator to look at Fulton County
ATLANTA (AP) — While election officials in Georgia were verifying signatures on absentee ballot envelopes in one metro-Atlanta county, President Donald Trump pressed a lead investigator to look at a different count…
Voter outreach led to big drop in rejected mail ballots
ATLANTA (AP) — The coronavirus pandemic triggered an unprecedented surge in mailed ballots last year, raising concerns that a flood of first-time absentee voters would lead to another record: more ballots tossed ou…