Government

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture directed states to roll back any steps taken to issue full food aid benefits to low-income Americans or risk financial penalties.

While one Spokane City Council race remains a nail-biter, it’s safe to say local progressives have had one of their best showings in years, despite hundreds of thousands of dollars in opposition spending and polling that found residents were dissatisfied with how local government was handling homelessness and public safety.

After three decades presiding over a Miami-Dade County courtroom, a meteoric rise as a criminal justice advocate and international recognition from the late Pope Francis, Judge Steven Leifman has turned his focus on Spokane County.

Robed in two sweaters and a rain coat, Blain Blaire clutched two crumpled cigarettes for sale next to Shalom Ministries on Friday afternoon.

Incumbent mayors in all but two small Spokane County towns will serve another term in office, according to the latest tally from the Spokane County Elections Office.

On Election Day, a long line of cars full of people waiting to slip their ballots into the library’s white ballot box stretched from the South Hill Library through the parking lot and onto the street, blocking the library entrance.

The U.S. government on Thursday unveiled a new program to cut prescription drug costs for Medicaid patients by tying prices to those paid in other countries.

WASHINGTON – As the government shutdown reached its record-breaking 36th day on Wednesday, most employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs have kept working. But VA policy limits their communication with Congress, making it harder for House and Senate offices to solve problems for former servicemembers.

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Congressional Budget Office said on Thursday it had identified a security incident and acted to contain the breach at the non-partisan agency that provides key financial research data to lawmakers.

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Republicans blocked a resolution on Thursday that would have prevented President Donald Trump from attacking Venezuela without congressional authorization, a day after administration officials told lawmakers that Washington is not currently planning strikes on Venezuelan territory.

As county elections officials tabulated thousands more ballots Wednesday, the margins in a handful of close races have budged by a hair, but in only one case did the results flip.

Residents voted the mayors of Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls out of office in Tuesday’s election, though many other North Idaho officials retained their seats.

In Tuesday’s election, Medical Lake voters expressed their desire to keep the right to shoot fireworks.

Bruce Harrell leads Katie Wilson in a tight race to be Seattle’s next mayor, a contest that’s not likely to be decided for at least a few more days.

Spokane Valley residents gave all three incumbents new terms on the city council on Tuesday.

The political status quo in Spokane appears unchanged after election night, with progressives keeping their supermajority for another two years while conservatives were holding their ground.

Voters approved Spokane’s $240 million parks levy, and Spokane Public Schools’ closely linked $200 million bond had a slim lead in initial election results Tuesday.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney died on Tuesday at the age of 84. A proponent of aggressive U.S. foreign policy, the former Wyoming congressman and defense secretary emphasized military power in three visits to Spokane and Coeur d’Alene.

WASHINGTON – The 2025 off-year elections in Virginia, New Jersey, New York City and California provided an early barometer of how some U.S. voters view President Donald Trump’s second term and the Democratic Party’s efforts to revive its political fortunes.