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…
Treasury: $242 billion in new relief payments already sent
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department says it has sent out 90 million economic impact payments totaling $242 billion since President Joe Biden signed a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan last week.
Fed expects to keep its key rate near zero through 2023
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve foresees the economy accelerating quickly this year yet still expects to keep its benchmark interest rate pinned near zero through 2023, despite concerns in financial markets a…
EXPLAINER: Is the US border with Mexico in crisis?
SAN DIEGO (AP) — House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Monday during a visit to El Paso, Texas, that, “It's more than a crisis. This is human heartbreak.” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesd…
Washington lawmakers get good news on state revenues
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington's economy continues to improve, with the latest state revenue forecast showing that lawmakers will have more than $3 billion more to work with as they prepare to unveil budget plans…
Homeland Security head rejects GOP claims of border 'crisis'
WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the Department of Homeland Security pushed back Wednesday against Republican criticism of the Biden administration's border policies, refusing to say that the surge of migrant children…
Movement for Black Lives opposes George Floyd Justice Act
DETROIT (AP) — The Movement for Black Lives is opposing the
Biden backs changes to filibuster; GOP vows 'scorched earth'
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is calling for changes to the filibuster to require lawmakers to speak on the floor of the Senate to hold up a bill, while the chamber's Republican leader warns of “scorched-ea…
Biden marks St. Patrick's Day, to praise Good Friday accord
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is marking St. Patrick’s Day as he recommits the U.S. to
Top US diplomat slams North Korea's rights condition
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — America’s top diplomat on Wednesday criticized North Korea’s human rights record and reiterated a vow to strip the country of its nuclear program, a day after Pyongyang warned Washington t…
EU sets out virus pass plan to allow free travel by summer
BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union's executive body proposed Wednesday issuing certificates that would allow EU residents to travel freely across the 27-nation bloc by the summer as long as they have been vaccinate…
Collaboration with police divides social workers across US
CHICAGO (AP) —
Child border crossings are surging, straining US facilities
WASHINGTON (AP) — A surge of migrants on the Southwest border has the Biden administration on the defensive, with the head of Homeland Security acknowledging the depth of the problem but insisting it’s under contro…
Multilingual team helps Berlin immigrants fight coronavirus
BERLIN (AP) — Three times a week, Aliye Tuerkyilmaz hits the markets and busy shopping streets of Neukoelln to hand out informational flyers on the coronavirus pandemic to residents of the German capital's crowded …
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 …