Politics & Government
The Daily Inter Lake’s Politics & Government section delivers updated local and national political coverage, featuring legislative developments, elections, policy debates, and government actions shaping Montana.
Kalispell City Council to consider ways to notify residents of future development
Kalispell City Council is expected to update the municipality’s public participation process for future developmen…
Omar marries political consultant, months after affair claim
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota has married a political consultant who worked for her, months after the two were accused of having an affa…
Disneyland closes as California rushes to battle coronavirus
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Disneyland will close its doors for the rest of the month, an extraordinary decision mirrored throughout California by companies big …
Governor closes schools in Philly suburb hit by virus
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Wolf on Thursday ordered schools and other facilities closed in Montgomery County, a Philadelphia suburb of more than 800,000 p…
First virus death in Georgia; Atlanta-area schools closing
ATLANTA (AP) — A 67-year-old man who was hospitalized is Georgia's first death from coronavirus, Gov. Brian Kemp said Thursday as some of the state's largest s…
US surveillance powers set to temporarily expire
WASHINGTON (AP) — Three surveillance powers available to the U.S. government are set to temporarily expire Sunday after a trio of senators opposed a bipartisan…
Wyoming woman with 'mild to moderate' COVID-19 improving
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — A woman infected with Wyoming's first known case of the coronavirus has been improving while staying in voluntary isolation at home, heal…
Florida Legislature sends governor e-Verify bill
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Public employers and companies that contract with them will have to use the federal e-Verify database to determine employees' eligibility to work in the U.S. under a bill sent to Gov. Ron D…
Florida lawmakers send shark fin ban to governor
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Selling and possessing shark fins could soon be outlawed in Florida, joining about a dozen other states in attempting to protect sharks and remove the delicacy from restaurant menus.
Idaho Senate approves affirmative action ban
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Senate on Thursday approved a measure banning affirmative action for state agencies, state contracting and public education.
Virus testing is a 'failing,' leaving cases uncounted
NEW YORK (AP) — Seven weeks have passed since the first U.S. case of coronavirus was announced, and the government is failing to account for what could be thou…
Brazilian who met Trump has virus; no plans to test Trump
WASHINGTON (AP) — A senior Brazilian official who attended weekend events with President Donald Trump in Florida has tested positive for the coronavirus, marki…
Legislative leaders plan on business as usual at Capitol
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa Republican legislative leaders said Thursday they are not planning to curtail the legislative session as concerns over the spread of the coronavirus intensify.
SC senator wants to charge $140 million to take TVA coal ash
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Less than a week after the Tennessee Valley Authority said it was looking at out-of-state sites to move millions of tons of coal ash, a S…
Nebraska advances new budget with virus fears in mind
LINCOLN, NEB. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers gave initial approval Thursday to a $9.4 billion, two-year state budget that shovels millions of extra dollars into the state’s rainy-day fund amid fears about the global pan…
Idaho lawmakers eye fast exit if coronavirus hits Statehouse
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gov. Brad Little and leaders in the Idaho House and Senate said Thursday they've made contingency plans for a hasty end to the legislative session should someone in the Statehouse get the new co…