Email cornflakes@sltrib.com to subscribe.
The return of Craig Frank. Scandal, silence surround visit by Attorney General. Colbert may be on the ballot.
Happy Friday, if you thought Mitt Romney's $24 million fundraising quarter was impressive, check out what President Barack Obama pulled off. He raised $42 million for his own account and $24 million for the Democratic National Committee. It pays to be an incumbent. [APviaTrib] [LATimes]
Topping the news: Former Rep. Craig Frank, who was ousted last year after it came to light he lived outside his state House District 57, is seeking his old seat back and, he said Thursday, will then run for the Senate seat currently held by Sen. John Valentine. [Trib] [UtahPolicy]
-> The Utah Department of Transportation fires a civil rights manager, who claims the termination was racially motivated and triggered by her involvement in coordination a luncheon featuring U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. UDOT denies the allegations. [Trib]
-> Rolly reports that Holder's visit has drawn almost nothing but silence for Utah law firms. [Trib]
-> It looks like the GOP will have another presidential candidate after all. Stephen Colbert has formed an exploratory committee in South Carolina, where he polls better than Jon Huntsman. [CNN] [AP]
Tweets of the day: From @tomfitzgerald: "Colbert candidacy so meta: Now a presidential run as a literal joke!"
From @JayceHall: "To the pollsters calling about UT senate and caucus, please don't use 'Unknown' numbers, and learn to say @DanForUtah's name #utpol"
Happy Birthday: to former state Rep. Steven Mascaro who celebrates on Sunday and to state Rep. Jim Bird, whose birthday is Monday.
Programming note: There'll be no Cornflakes on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We'll be back at it on Tuesday. Enjoy the weekend.
In other news: A daylong boot camp urging women to enter politics will be held Saturday at Salt Lake Community College. [Trib]
-> A former Bush administration official tells the U.S. Conference of Bishops the conservative movement is in danger of being hijacked by anti-family, anti-business nationalists who are hurting the Republican Party. [Trib]
-> The EPA releases its first-ever inventory of greenhouse gas emissions and Utah has two coal-fired power plants on the top 100 list of big emitters. [Trib]
-> Economists and others say challenges are ahead for Utah's recovering economy. [Trib]
-> State Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck is the lone Utah signer of a document defending President Barack Obama's health care reform law. [Trib]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert says the state must boost the number of college graduates to remain competitive economically. [DNews]
-> Bagley's take on the outrage over videos of U.S. soldiers apparently desecrating dead Taliban fighters. [Trib]
-> Utah highway fatalities are the lowest since 1974, but troopers and transportation officials say 233 is still way too many deaths. [Trib] [DNews]
-> There's heated debate about the possibility of instituting pre-kindergarten standards to make sure youngsters are ready for school. [Trib]
-> Rep. Rob Bishop cuts the ribbon on a $45 million fighter-jet repair facility and says it's crucial to Hill Air Force Base's future in light of proposed defense spending cutbacks. [Trib] [StandEx]
-> Bernick and Schott set up the upcoming legislative session and talk about Romney's path to the nomination. [UtahPolicy]
-> The Navajo Nation is suing San Juan County over voter districts, saying the county is violating the Voting Rights Act by retaining districts that prevent Navajos from capturing a second seat on the county commission. [Trib]
-> BYU's Daily Universe is converting to an all-digital publication, with a print edition just once a week. [Trib] [Universe] [DNews] [Herald]
-> After a nationwide poll, many Mormons are uncomfortable in the spotlight, but believe acceptance of their faith is on the rise. [NYTimes]
-> Warren Buffet said he would match any voluntary tax payments made by congressional Republicans, a vow a group known as the Patriotic Millionaires has previously given to Sen. Orrin Hatch. [ABCNews]
2012 watch: Facebook "primary" shows Romney, Paul leading the pack. [Politico]
-> Mormons in America survey: U.S. residents would vote for an LDS president. [FoxNews]
-> Super PACs are keeping Romney's challengers afloat. In past election cycles, most of them would have left the race by now. [NYTimes]
-> Rick Santorum and his team are loving the rush of support in South Carolina. [WaPost]
-> As the GOP primaries heat up, Newt Gingrich warns the next one will be "Armageddon." [WaPost]
-> Romney has been involved in his share of tax breaks and subsidies. [LATimes]
-> The criticism of Romney's time at Bain Capital appears to have subsided, but there's debate over what impact the attacks have had. [WaPost]
-> A documentary slamming Romney says he owns 15 homes. But he only has three. [Politifact]
Where are they?
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.
-- Matt Canham
with Dan Harrie and Laura Schmitz
