Around the region

Giant Snacks Inc. started the exchange last month by filing a lawsuit against Wild Dutchman Products Inc. and one of its partners, alleging that Wild Dutchman is misleading consumers about the amount of salt in its products. Wild Dutchman came back with a countersuit earlier this week for what it calls bogus claims Giant Snacks is making about its relationship with sunflower farmers.

The Great Dood Drain of ’17

"How can we expect the federal government to continue to function at its usual peak efficiency without the awesome 52 years of experience and institutional knowledge supplied by Michigan Congressman John Conyers? American government faces a congressional brain drain, Conyers's resignation in the wake of accusations of sexual harassment not being anything like unique. Yesterday, Senator Al Franken announced his impending resignation, as did Rep. Trent Franks - before allegations against him had even hit the news.

Charlie Sheen sues tabloid over assault allegation

A New York Times article uncovered multiple incidents of Weinstein's sexually harassment or abuse. Thousands of women embracing the "Me Too" movement to own their histories of sexual harassment and abuse, and those issues swirling at high volume in the culture overall, parents are reaching for teachable moments in the post-Weinstein world.

Rep. Trent Franks of Arizona abruptly resigns after former aide says…

A day after Republican Rep. Trent Franks announced he would resign early next year, he abruptly stepped down Friday after a former aide told the Associated Press that he had offered her $5 million to act as a surrogate mother. In making his departure effective immediately, the eight-term Arizona lawmaker bowed to an ultimatum from House Speaker Paul D. Ryan .

While lawyers argue, it’s past time to physically protect Utah’s public lands

The Salt Lake Tribune) U.S. President Donald Trump, surrounded by Utah representatives looks at Sen. Orrin Hatch to give him the pen used to signs a presidential proclamation to shrink Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments at the Utah Capitol on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. Depends on whom you ask.

Aftershocks likely from September test detected from North Korea…

Inside Trump's Hour-by-Hour Battle for Self-Preservation WASHINGTON - Around 5:30 each morning, President Trump wakes and tunes into the television in the White House's master bedroom. He flips to CNN for news, moves to "Fox & Friends" for comfort and messaging ideas, and sometimes watches MSNBC's Trump watches up to eight hours of TV per day: report - spends at least four hours a day watching television, according to a new report.

Larry Pressler: Mitt Romney for president

Mitt Romney said last week that Roy Moore is "unfit" as the GOP Senate nominee for Alabama's special election on Dec. 12. Probably the biggest news out of Washington this week has been President Donald Trump's visit to Utah. People are speculating about what the spillover of his proclamation might be to public lands in the other 49 states.

Trump Trying To Help Push Moore Across Alabama Finish Line

President Donald Trump is trying to push embattled GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore across the finish line in Tuesday's election in Alabama by contending the Democratic nominee would oppose "what we must do" for the nation. Trump, in a tweet early Saturday, hours after boosting Moore's campaign during a Florida rally, framed the race as a referendum on his efforts to reshape the country and said Democrat Doug Jones would work in lockstep with his party's leaders on Capitol Hill to oppose the Trump agenda.

Tillerson Criticizes Saudi Arabia, Citing Its Policies in Yemen and…

Prominent appeals court Judge Alex Kozinski accused of sexual misconduct - Judge Alex Kozinski of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, pictured in 2003. Six women - all former clerks or externs in the 9th Circuit - alleged to The Washington Post in recent weeks that Kozinski Female aides fretted Franks wanted to have sex to impregnate them - Arizona Rep. Trent Franks allegedly made unwanted advances toward female staffers in his office and retaliated against one who rebuffed him, according to House GOP sources with knowledge of a complaint against him.

Doubts Rise About Sen. Collins’ Strategy To Shore Up Insurance Market

Sen. Susan Collins, the Maine Republican whose vote was pivotal in pushing the GOP tax bill forward last week, thought she had a deal to bolster health care protections in exchange for her support. But it's now unclear wether her strategy to shore up part of the Affordable Care Act will prevail or that it would produce the results she anticipates.

Trauner announces Senate bid

The last time Gary Trauner ran for national office he was accused of having robbed a bank when he was 16. Though not true, it taught the 58-year-old Wilson resident an important lesson. "People will do anything to win, and though lots of people say they don't like negative campaigning, it's effective," Trauner said Friday, soon after announcing that he would run as a Democrat in the 2018 race for U.S. Senate.

Former aide to Arizona Republican Trent Franks says he offered her $5 million to carry his child

A former aide to Republican Rep. Trent Franks has told AP the congressman repeatedly pressed her to carry his child, at one point offering her $5 million to act as a surrogate mother. The eight-term lawmaker abruptly resigned Friday, bowing to an ultimatum from House Speaker Paul Ryan.