American freed from Venezuelan jail returns home to Utah

Seam... A teacher who was shot while tackling and disarming a student at an Indiana school said Monday that his swift decisions "were the only acceptable actions" to save his seventh-grade classroom. . This May 29, 2016 photo provided by Christian Kahahawai shows Lyndsey Haraguchi-Nakayama planting huli, or taro seedlings at her farm in Hanalei, Kauai island, Hawaii.

The Latest: Utah man freed from Venezuelan jail returns home

In this image provided by the Holt family, Joshua Holt, his wife Thamara and her daughter Marian Leal, board a plane at the airport in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 26, 2018. Jailed in Venezuela on weapons charges nearly two years ago, Holt was released Saturday after a U.S. senator pressed for his freedom in a surprise meeting with President Nicolas Maduro.

Leading Off: Rizzo catches Pirates’ ire, Stanton returns

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Elias Diaz, right, throws to first after getting the force-out at home plate on Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo on a fielder's choice to shortstop by Cub's Chris Gimenez in the eighth inning of a b... . RETRANSMISSION TO CORRECT NAME TO JASON SEAMAN - In this undated photo, provided by Southern Illinois University, Jason Seaman, a defensive end for the SIU football team, poses for a photo in Carbondale, Ill.

Man held in Venezuela for 2 years returning to Utah Monday

In this image provided by the Holt family, Joshua Holt poses for a photo with his wife Thamara and her daughter Marian Leal, at the airport in Caracas, Venezuela, Saturday, May 26, 2018. Jailed in Venezuela on weapons charges nearly two years ago, Holt was released Saturday after a U.S. senator pressed for his freedom in a surprise meeting with President Nicolas Maduro.

Sen. Orrin Hatch eyes legacy with archive, think tank plans

In this Feb. 21, 2018, file photo, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, gestures to the Utah House during a visit at the Utah State Capitol, in Salt Lake City. Retiring Hatch is looking to cement his legacy after more than 40 years in Washington as he unveils plans for a think tank and library bearing his name in Salt Lake City.

Utah Democrats gather to select congressional nominees Source: AP

Thousands of Utah Democrats will gather in downtown Salt Lake City on Saturday to select nominees for the state's congressional races, including a U.S. House contest that is predicted to be Utah's sole competitive race for federal office. Two-term Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams is expected to receive the nomination to face off against GOP Rep. Mia Love in what may be Utah Democrats' best chance to send one of their own to Congress.

Utah Democrats gather to select congressional nominees

In this April 10, 2017, file photo, Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams, right, listens during a committee hearing in Salt Lake City. Democrats in deep-red Utah are looking to McAdams to flip one of the state's four Republican-controlled congressional districts and help take control of the U.S. House.

Romney faces clearer path to GOP Senate nomination despite…

Mitt Romney seemed to be on a smooth path to Utah's U.S. Senate seat, with the backing of President Donald Trump, the blessing of retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch, R, and a popularity unique to the 2012 Republican presidential nomination. Delegates at the GOP's state convention denied Romney their nomination as Mike Kennedy, a three-term state representative who entered the race just weeks earlier, edged out the establishment favorite with 50.88 percent of the vote to 49.12 percent.

Mitt Romney faces Republican primary in Utah Senate campaign

Mitt Romney was forced into a Republican primary in his bid for U.S. Senate in Utah after losing a nomination battle Saturday at the state's far-right-leaning GOP convention. Romney remains the heavy favorite overall to replace long-serving Sen. Orrin Hatch in November and said he was ready to keep campaigning hard.

Romney must compete in primary for Senate seat

Mitt Romney was forced into a Republican primary in his bid for U.S. Senate in Utah after losing a nomination battle Saturday at the state's far-right-leaning GOP convention. Romney remains the heavy favorite overall to replace long-serving Sen. Orrin Hatch in November and said he was ready to keep campaigning hard.

Escaping her past, kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart moves forward

Activist Elizabeth Smart, 30 poses for a portrait, on March 27, 2018, following an interview with USA TODAY, in New York. After being kidnapped from her home at age 14 and rescued nine months later, Smart has used her ordeal to become a champion for child safety.

President Trump endorses Mitt Romney, one of his most vocal critics, in Utah Senate race

President Donald Trump on Monday night threw his full support behind Mitt Romney's bid to be the next U.S. senator from Utah , writing on Twitter that he would be a "worthy successor" to retiring Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah. The endorsement is significant because Trump had previously encouraged Hatch to seek another term, and Romney had been among the most vocal Republican critics of Trump's presidential aspirations, once calling him "a phony" and "a fraud."

Romney makes it official: He’s running for Utah Senate seat

Former presidential hopeful Mitt Romney is running for a Utah Senate seat, officially launching his political comeback attempt Friday by praising his adopted home state as a model for an acrimonious national government in Washington. Having been one of the Republican Party's fiercest internal critics of President Donald Trump, Romney didn't mention the administration or Trump himself in a campaign announcement posted online.

Mitt Romney makes it official: He’sa

Former Massachusetts Governor and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is interviewed at the Silicon Slopes Tech Conference on January 19, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The former presidential nominee made his campaign official Friday in an online video after a delaying his launch following a deadly shooting at a Florida high school.

Mitt Romney announces U.S. Senate bid

Romney, 70, was the Republican Party's presidential standard-bearer in 2012, eventually losing the general election to then-President Obama. With Romney's potential arrival in Washington comes notably real tension between him and the man now occupying the Oval Office: President Donald Trump.

Romney postpones announcement on Senate race after shooting new

Mitt Romney is preparing to announce a bid for Utah's Senate seat held by retiring Orrin Hatch, a position some hope the 2012 GOP presidential nominee will use to continue his biting criticism of President Donald Trump. Romney, who once called Trump "a phony" who was unfit for office, is not expected to address the president in an announcement video he has prepared for release online, according to people with direct knowledge of his plans.

Romney’s Senate bid to mark latest campaign over 2 decades

In this Jan. 19, 2018,, file photo, former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney waves after speaking about the tech sector during an industry conference, in Salt Lake City. Romney plans to announce Utah Senate campaign Thursday, Feb. 15, 2018.