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…
Idaho health officials report 1st coronavirus case in state
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho health officials said Friday that the state's first case of the new coronavirus is a woman in her 50s in southwestern Idaho in highly…
Q&A: New travel ban shakes up airlines, passengers
Airlines and travelers are still sorting out the new travel ban that President Donald Trump announced late Wednesday that bars most foreign visitors coming to …
Connecticut bans utility shutoffs amid coronavirus concerns
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut officials banned utilities Friday from shutting off services to customers and warned of heavy demand for absentee ballots in…
Trump says top cruise ship companies stopping trips from US
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump tweeted on Friday that four major cruise ship companies have agreed to suspend trips from the U.S. for 30 days, effect…
Despite coronavirus, Trump keeps shaking hands
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump, a self-described germaphobe, can’t seem to stop shaking hands -- even in the midst of this coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 response became legislative priority in Washington
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington lawmakers started this year's legislative session focused on the state's homelessness crisis and ended it 60 days later amid a…
California's January jobs report reflects rosy past
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Facing major disruptions across nearly all economic sectors because of the coronavirus, California officials on Friday sent the publi…
Speaker Nancy Pelosi says deal reached with Trump administration on emergency aid package for coronavirus
WASHINGTON (AP) — Speaker Nancy Pelosi says deal reached with Trump administration on emergency aid package for coronavirus.
Census faces challenges as it aims to hire up to 500,000
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — The U.S. Census Bureau said it has reached its goal of recruiting more than 2.6 million applicants for the once-a-decade head count that l…
Emergency declaration triggers Oklahoma's price-gouging law
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — President Donald Trump's declaration Friday of a national emergency over the new coronavirus triggered an Oklahoma law that prohibits pric…
Trump seeks to broaden virus testing; confusion persists
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration scrambled Friday to broaden testing for the coronavirus with a flurry of new measures, and public confusion persiste…
Minnesota governor declares state of emergency over COVID-19
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz declared a peacetime state of emergency Friday and issued a series of strong recommendations for steps Minnesotans should …
Slovenia's new government sworn in, pledges to fight virus
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia’s new, right-leaning government was sworn in on Friday, pledging stronger efforts to contain the spread of the new coronavirus.
US govt OKs letting S Carolina tribe build N Carolina casino
KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. (AP) — The South Carolina-based Catawba Indian Nation has received permission from the federal government to build a casino and resort on land over the border in North Carolina.
Critics raise concerns over renewable energy bill
MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont utilities and regulators have raised concerns about a bill to require utilities to have 100% renewable energy generation by 2032 with 20% from local sources.