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 vote on federal grant for pedestrian safety upgrades
Kalispell City Council is expected to vote Monday on whether to pursue a federal grant to improve pedestrian safet…
Missouri sees 1st coronavirus death; local elections delayed
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson on Wednesday announced the first coronavirus death in the state happened in Boone County, without providing f…
Bill outlawing abortion if Roe is reversed goes to governor
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Legislation making abortion a crime in Idaho should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing the procedure is headed to the governor's desk on Wednesday.
New Mexico cracks down on hoarding of medical supplies
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico has confirmed a coronavirus infection that has no apparent link to travel as the governor takes new steps to limit the spread …
New Delaware opioid tax generates almost $1 million
DOVER, Del. (AP) — A new tax on opioid painkillers in Delaware has generated almost $1 million to help support abuse prevention and treatment programs, officials said Wednesday.
USDA fights to purge food stamps recipients despite pandemic
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Agriculture Department said Wednesday that it would appeal a judge’s ruling that it would be “arbitrary and capricious” to move forward d…
Ricketts: Omaha sees 2nd virus case of unknown origin
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Public health officials in Omaha have confirmed a second COVID-19 case whose origins can't be traced, Gov. Pete Ricketts said Wednesday, as …
Sanders faces tough decisions as path to nomination narrows
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bernie Sanders isn't leaving the presidential race. Instead, the Vermont senator and democratic socialist is back in a familiar place: on the…
Delaware legislative session postponed amid virus outbreak
DOVER, Del. (AP) — Delaware's legislature is shut down until further notice future because of the new coronavirus outbreak, but the state's restaurant industry is toasting the governor's modification to restriction…
Switching remaining primaries to vote-by-mail not so easy
Voting rights groups and the head of the Democratic National Committee want the states with remaining primary elections to offer voting by mail as a way to ens…
Colleges offering dorms as hospital overflow for virus cases
BOSTON (AP) — A growing number of U.S. colleges are preparing to turn empty dorms into temporary housing for patients with the coronavirus as the nation’s hosp…
Unemployment spikes as COVID-19 bites into Minnesota economy
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — New applications for unemployment insurance in Minnesota for the week topped 50,000 on Wednesday as closures on bars, restaurants and ot…
Progressive challenger seeks to unseat Ohio congresswoman
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Four-term U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, a Democrat in a reliably blue central Ohio district, is facing one of her stiffest challenges Tuesday, …
South Dakota halts COVID-19 testing due to lack of supplies
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota's public health lab has halted testing for the coronavirus due to a shortage of supplies, Gov. Kristi Noem said Wednesday.
Mississippi researchers working on another coronavirus test
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Leaders at the University of Mississippi Medical Center said Wednesday that physicians and researchers there are working to develop a tes…
Top Wisconsin official: Spring election faces many problems
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin could face a litany of problems if it holds its spring election as scheduled despite the coronavirus crisis, including a possible disruption in mail service interfering with absentee …