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.
Counting machines add vote of confidence to elections security
The conference room of the Flathead County Elections Department whirred with noise. Volunteers rattled off strings…
Noem signs hemp and other bills, but says budget in doubt
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Kristi Noem on Friday signed 15 bills that allocate millions of dollars to South Dakota programs, including industrial hemp, but offered no guarantee on whether the funding would remai…
GOP's Massie outrages House, Trump by seeking to stall vote
WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Thomas Massie has always gone his own way in Congress, ever since he first ran for office inspired by a fellow libertarian-leaning Kentu…
New Mexico governor: More social distancing must be done
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Public school students in New Mexico will not return to classrooms or athletic fields during the current academic year because of the cor…
South Carolina: Visitors from virus hot spots to quarantine
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Gov. Henry McMaster on Friday ordered visitors traveling to South Carolina from several “hot spot” areas to immediately self-quarantine f…
Tennessee gov expects 'significant' unemployment pay boost
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Gov. Bill Lee said Friday he expects a big jump in unemployment payouts to Tennessee residents under legislation passed by Congress for t…
Missouri governor mobilizes National Guard for virus fight
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Missouri braced for a surge of coronavirus patients as the number of deaths grew to nine, with the governor mobilizing the state's National Gu…
More records broken in virus-related Colorado jobless claims
Emilio Fernandez has worked for a restaurant chain for eight years and signed up with Rover, an online dog walking service, to pad his income. Then the coronav…
Gun groups sue Los Angeles sheriff over shutdown order
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Four gun-owners rights organizations on Friday sued Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva over his repeated attempts this week to shut down firearms dealers, contending that his actio…
Utah governor tells people to stay home to combat COVID-19
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah Gov. Gary Hebert issued a stay-home directive Friday as the state works to curb the spread of the new coronavirus that's now infected hundreds of people and killed two in the state.
Judge mulls request to release migrant children over virus
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal judge on Friday said she doesn't want a sudden, large-scale release of immigrant children from U.S. government custody but wants to know why they're still being held as the coronavirus …
Kansas coronavirus death toll rises to 4, with 202 cases
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kansas health officials reported more than 200 confirmed coronavirus cases and a fourth death Friday, and the state's health director s…
6 feet, at least: Distance no problem in House virus debate
WASHINGTON (AP) — They sprayed. They wiped. At least two donned gloves.
Lawsuit challenges state limits on Little Rock School Board
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A lawsuit was filed Friday challenging the limits Arkansas placed on the Little Rock School District when it returns to local control, including a prohibition on restoring teachers’ collect…
Hospital system furloughs 500 workers amid financial strain
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — One of largest hospital system in eastern Kentucky will furlough about 500 staff members because of sharp revenue decreases amid the new coronavirus outbreak, officials said.
Arkansas lawmakers approve COVID-19 fund as virus cases rise
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas lawmakers voted Friday to create a $173 million rainy day fund to combat coronavirus and to prevent some agencies’ budgets fr…