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…
Oklahoma Senate votes to ban abortions after 6 weeks
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The Oklahoma Senate approved legislation Thursday to essentially prohibit abortions in Oklahoma after six weeks of pregnancy.
Debate moves from Phoenix to DC over coronavirus concerns
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic National Committee is moving Sunday's presidential debate from Arizona to Washington because of concerns about the coronavirus…
Biden names Clinton-Obama veteran as new campaign manager
Democratic presidential front-runner Joe Biden is shaking up his campaign leadership by naming a veteran of Barack Obama's and Hillary Clinton's White House bi…
Nebraska Legislature may suspend session due to virus threat
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska lawmakers are set to take a four-day recess after they adjourn on Thursday, but they may extend the break to reduce the risk of a coronavirus outbreak at the state Capitol, the legisla…
Crop-dusting bill heads to Idaho Senate for possible changes
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A proposal sought by pesticide-spraying crop dusters that opponents say will leave people susceptible to getting hit with poison from above received significant pushback with a Senate committee …
Awkward moment: Trump and Irish PM skip the handshake
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Ireland’s Prime Minister Leo Varadkar found themselves in an awkward moment: How do you a greet a fellow world lea…
Heartbreak hotel: No Elvis or Route 66 for barred Europeans
PARIS (AP) — A Las Vegas wedding with an Elvis impersonator: Canceled. A 3,500-kilometer (2,200-mile) trans-America road trip, a voyage of a lifetime that took…
California governor: Guidance on limiting large gatherings likely to extend beyond March, will affect pro baseball games
SACRAMENTO (AP) — California governor: Guidance on limiting large gatherings likely to extend beyond March, will affect pro baseball games.
Finland jails Sierra Leone man in Liberia war crimes case
HELSINKI (AP) — A Finnish court has jailed in a custody hearing a 50-year-old Sierra Leone man suspected of committing serious war crimes and crimes against hu…
US Supreme Court asked to eye case of police destroying home
DENVER (AP) — A Colorado family has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether they should be compensated by the city of Greenwood Village after a SWAT operation in 2015 left their home uninhabitable during a 1…
South Dakota lawmaker tested for virus; session continues
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — A South Dakota lawmaker was being tested for COVID-19 on Thursday as the Legislature completes one if its final days of the session.
Idaho bill outlaws abortion if Roe v. Wade is reversed
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Senate on Thursday approved legislation making abortion a crime should the U.S. Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade, the ruling establishing abortion rights nationwide.
Walz proposes banking most of surplus over COVID-19 fears
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Tim Walz proposed Thursday to bank $1.2 billion of Minnesota's projected $1.5 billion budget surplus because of the uncertainties o…
Tougher Indiana law on under-18 marriages wins approval
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Anyone younger than 18 will need a judge’s permission in order to get married in Indiana under a law change approved by state legislators.
ACLU files lawsuit over Montana's ballot collection law
HELENA, Mont. (AP) — The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Montana and the Native American Rights Fund are challenging a Montana law that they say severely restricts Native Americans' ability to vote.