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 Council reviews $189M budget proposal, weighs public safety and infrastructure spending
Kalispell City Council took its first look at the municipality’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget last week.
Juul Labs sought to court AGs as teen vaping surged
WASHINGTON (AP) — It was a blunt warning about the dangers of youth vaping: Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced late last month that his state had jo…
Despite virus risk, 2020 hopefuls keep up campaigns for now
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — As the coronavirus hits more states, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders said Sunday his campaign is gauging when it ma…
Albuquerque Route 66 section sees fatal pedestrian crashes
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Nearly one in five fatal pedestrian crashes in New Mexico's largest city last year occurred in a dimly lighted and highly congested section of historic Route 66 — an area plagued by poverty.
Italy quarantines north in drastic bid to slow virus spread
ROME (AP) — Italy took a page from China’s playbook Sunday, attempting to lock down 16 million people — more than a quarter of its population — for nearly a mo…
Lawmakers pass bill allowing Confederate monument removals
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Some of Virginia's scores of Confederate monuments could soon be removed under legislation state lawmakers approved Sunday.
U.S. Rep. Gosar says he, staff have quarantined themselves
A U.S. congressman from Arizona announced Sunday that he is quarantining himself at home after he came in contact with a person infected with the new coronavirus at a national conservative politics conference in th…
2 members of Congress say they met man with coronavirus
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two members of Congress, Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Paul Gosar, said Sunday they are isolating themselves after determining they had contact at a…
Pelosi, Schumer: Trump needs to support help for outbreak
WASHINGTON (AP) — The two top Democratic leaders in Congress are calling on President Donald Trump to support a series of steps to help Americans deal with the…
CORRECTS: GOP Sen. Ted Cruz staying at home after shaking hands with man who tested positive for coronavirus.
WASHINGTON (AP) — CORRECTS: GOP Sen. Ted Cruz staying at home after shaking hands with man who tested positive for coronavirus.
Florida lawmakers work late into the weekend on state budget
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida lawmakers were working late Sunday trying to hammer out agreements on the state's budget, coming closer to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' budget priorities but still leaving many iss…
Virginia reshaped as Democrats put historic stamp on laws
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democratic legislators in Virginia have dramatically reshaped the state in two months, sweeping aside many of the state’s old business-fri…
Trump to skip St. Patrick's Day Hill luncheon, blames Pelosi
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Irish eyes at the U.S. Capitol will not smile on President Donald Trump on St. Patrick's Day.
MH17 relatives protest against Russia with 298 empty chairs
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The families of people killed when a missile shot down Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over eastern Ukraine in 2014 set out 298 white…
Wyoming lawmakers agree to budget, send it to governor
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming lawmakers have agreed to a state budget that Gov. Mark Gordon will consider starting Monday.
Portugal's president self-isolates amid virus outbreak
The office of Portugal's 71-year-old president said Sunday that he has canceled all public activities and will stay at home amid the coronavirus outbreak.