The Latest: Portman calls Trump groping video final straw

Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman says a video showing Donald Trump boasting about groping women was the last straw for him and why he pulled his endorsement. Portman said in a debate with Democratic challenger Ted Strickland on Friday in Youngstown that those comments by the GOP nominee for president were offensive and demeaning to women.

Clinton loyalists tried to find out in 2008 whether Americans would …

One gauged responses among people told Obama's 'father was a Muslim and Obama grew up among Muslims in the world's most populous Islamic country' Longtime Clinton loyalist Paul Begala was included on the survey, and says it was meant to prepare for looming GOP attacks, not to muddy Obama A new email revealed as part of the Wikileaks dump appears to show Hillary Clinton allies testing a series of incendiary issues regarding President Obama - including his father's Muslim faith. The poll, titled 'McCain survey,' apparently was gleaned from a hack of Hillary Clinton's campaign chair John Podesta, who is copied on the email chain.

Trump says he never met some accusers; Pence claims evidence

Donald Trump contends he doesn't know and never even met some of the women accusing him of sexual assault, and his running mate said Friday the campaign is working on producing evidence that the claims are false. Trump himself has called his accusers "horrible liars" and said he will prove the allegations aren't true, but Hillary Clinton and ally Michelle Obama say Americans are learning more about Trump's unacceptable behavior every day.

Diaper-changing stations coming to more men’s restrooms

This month, President Barack Obama signed the Bathrooms Accessible in Every Situation Act, or the BABIES Act, which requires diaper-changing facilities in male and female restrooms in public federal buildings, such as Social Security offices, courthouses and post offices. If these restrooms do not have changing tables, hallway signs must direct parents to the nearest facilities, the act states.

The Latest: Pence says evidence forthcoming to back Trump

Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence speaks at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Va., Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016. Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence speaks at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Va., Wednesday, Oct. 12, 2016.

Hoboken train crash: N.J. lawmakers seek $10M for NJ Transit to install speed control

WASHINGTON - New Jersey's congressional delegation on Friday urged the U.S. Transportation Department to provide NJ Transit with the $10 million it requested to help install an automatic speed control system . All 14 members signed the letter at the behest of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez , the top Democrat on the Senate subcommittee that oversees public transportation.

Melania Trump Threatens People Magazine With Lawsuit

Melania Trump threatened People Magazine and a former staff reporter with legal action over "false and completely fictionalized" statements in the writer's account of Donald Trump forcing himself on her during a 2005 interview. The Republican presidential candidate's wife denied that she encountered or conversed with writer Natasha Stoynoff in New York, tweeting a letter from her lawyer demanding a "prominent retraction and apology" of certain statements in the article, and threatening that Melania would otherwise "consider her legal options."

‘Trump a threat to press freedom’

New York, Oct 14 : The Committee to Protect Journalists has declared Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump a threat to press freedoms. "Donald Trump, through his words and actions as a candidate for president of the US, has consistently betrayed First Amendment values," CPJ's board chairwoman Sandra Mims Rowe said.

Police groupa s endorsement of Trump stirs debate among ranks

A national police organization's endorsement of Donald Trump has exposed a divide within the ranks of law enforcement: Can they support someone who calls himself the law-and-order candidate but was caught on tape bragging about sexually predatory behavior toward women? And what about Trump antagonizing the very minority communities that police agencies need to win over amid turmoil over police shootings of unarmed black men? Last month, the national Fraternal Order of Police endorsed the New York businessman, saying he's the one candidate who takes time to understand the issues facing law enforcement. Now, some officers - particularly African-Americans - are questioning whether Trump is worthy of the endorsement.

Trump belittles accusers as more turn up with sordid stories

Donald Trump acted out onstage an accuser's allegations and suggested another wasn't worthy of his attention the same day two more women came forward with years-old stories of unwanted sexual encounters with the Republican presidential nominee. With eight women accusing Trump of unwanted kissing, groping or more, the New York businessman maintained his innocence and his denunciation of opponent Hillary Clinton and an international media conspiracy aimed at denying him the White House.

Ryan Ignores Trump Entirely as He Makes Case Against Clinton

House Speaker Paul Ryan on Friday outlined his case against the candidacy of Hillary Clinton -- without mentioning Donald Trump a single time. Ryan's first extensive public remarks since effectively abandoning Trump's candidacy earlier this week provided a glimpse into the challenge the speaker will face in the closing weeks of the campaign in trying to push for Republican candidates up and down the ballot without becoming tainted by the controversies swirling around Trump.

A look at hacked emails from Clinton’s campaign chairman

Hacked emails released in daily dispatches this past week by the WikiLeaks group exposed the inner workings of Hillary Clinton's campaign leading up to her 2015 announcement that she would seek the presidency, and through this year's primary. U.S. intelligence officials have blamed the Russian government for a series of breaches intended to influence the presidential election.

Clinton says she cana t recall key details about email server

Hillary Clinton said under oath in a court filing Thursday that she can't recall key details about her use of a private email server or she refused to answer questions about it posed by a conservative legal group. Clinton lawyer David Kendall provided the Democratic presidential nominee's sworn responses to 25 written questions submitted by Judicial Watch.

Obama: Republicans deserve no credit for disavowing Trump

President Barack Obama insisted Thursday that Republicans who are disavowing Donald Trump deserve no credit for their sudden change of heart after having "stood by silently" for so long. He accused Republicans of filling a "swamp of crazy" by allowing unfounded and hate-filled rhetoric to go unchallenged within the party for years.

Come watch the debate and play with kittens at our party next week

The good news is that it's almost over, and there is only one debate left between the two major candidates. As we did for the first showdown between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, BDN Portland is hosting a debate-watching party at Think Tank Coworking on Congress Street on Wednesday, Oct. 19. We'll stream it live on the projector and offer some free food.

The Latest: Tester seeks to block mining near Yellowstone

Montana U.S. Sen. Jon Tester has asked the Obama administration to take steps to block a pair of mining proposals outside Yellowstone National Park. The Democratic lawmaker says the Yellowstone area and Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness deserve special protections because of their beauty and ecological value.