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Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing
Morning must reads for Friday, January 27, 2017
Good Friday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 27th day of the year. There are 338 days remaining in 2017.
Lawmakers may not kill the "Zion Curtain" this session. Bramble proposes a runoff election to decide the winner of certain primary contests. Hughes offers an alibi.
The clock:
- 32 days until President Trump addresses a joint session of Congress (2/28/2017)
- 41 days until the final day of the 2017 Utah Legislature (3/9/2017)
- 284 days until the 2017 municipal elections (11/7/2017)
- 649 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
- 1376 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)
Ten talking points for Friday:
- Week in review. Week one of the Utah legislature. Gov. Gary Herbert announces plans to boost job creation. Hughes gets dragged into the John Swallow muck. Watch Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott run down the week that was in Utah politics [Utah Policy].
- Boosting teachers. Rep. Mike Winder has an intriguing idea to help some teachers earn more money while keeping them in schools that are struggling to retain teachers [Utah Policy].
- Not so fast. Utah Senate leaders put the brakes on speculation that lawmakers could scrap the "Zion Curtain" this session, saying they don't believe the political will exists this session to get rid of the barrier [Utah Policy, Deseret News].
- Election changes. Sen. Curt Bramble proposes a runoff election in some primary elections where no candidate gets at least 35% of the vote. His bill also moves the filing period to run for office to early January instead of mid-March [Utah Policy].
- Monumental rollback. Rep. Mike Noel wants President Donald Trump to reduce the size of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument [Utah Policy].
- EpiPen controversy. Sen. Brian Shiozawa wants to allow the use of other emergency epinephrine injectors in the state following the controversy this summer surrounding the astronomical price hike for the EpiPen [Utah Policy].
- Establishing an alibi. House Speaker Greg Hughes offers up proof that he was nowhere near a meeting he was accused of attending at the posh Pelican Bay golf resort. Hughes name came up unexpectedly during a hearing in the John Swallow public corruption trial this week [Deseret News].
- Hatch vs. Huntsman. A new poll suggests former Gov. Jon Huntsman would beat Sen. Orrin Hatch in a GOP primary matchup. The same survey shows most Utahns would like to see Hatch retire at the end of his seventh term in office [Tribune].
- Defying Trump on immigration. Salt Lake City officials say they will continue their policy of not using local police officers to enforce federal immigration policy, in defiance of an executive order from President Donald Trump [Tribune, Deseret News]. Trump's executive order prompted Miami-Dade to drop their status as a "sanctuary city" for fear they would lose federal dollars [CBS News].
- Mystery money. The Utah League of Cities and Towns are trying to figure out the origin and purpose of a mysterious trust fund that came to light in a scathing audit released earlier this month [Deseret News].
On this day in history:
- 1785 - The first public university in the United States was founded as the University of Georgia.
- 1880 - Thomas Edison was granted a patent for an electric incandescent lamp.
- 1945 - Soviet troops liberated the Nazi concentration camps Auschwitz and Birkenau in Poland.
- 1951 - The era of atomic testing in the Nevada desert began.
- 1973 - The United States and North Vietnam signed a cease-fire agreement following lengthy Paris talks between U.S. national security adviser Henry Kissinger and Vietnamese negotiator Le Duc Tho. The same day, the United States announced an end to the military draft. Although the U.S.combat mission officially ended in 1973, the Vietnam War would not be over until April of 1975.
Today At Utah Policy
 | Bob Bernick's notebook: A novel approach to boosting teacher pay How would you like to earn $10,000 a year more?... |
 | We can't get used to saying 'President Trump' - Bernick and Schott on politics #314 We're back in the House Gallery at the Utah State Capitol for the annual Utah legislative session.... |
 | Bill proposes run-off contests in some primary elections Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, may have found an elegant solution to a thorny problem with Utah election law.... |
 | The 'Zion Curtain' may not be headed for the scrap heap Not so fast on tearing down the Zion Curtain, Utah Senate Republican leaders said Thursday.... |
 | Shiozawa targets skyrocketing EpiPen prices Sen. Brian Shiozawa, R-Salt Lake City, is taking steps to combat the skyrocketing price of EpiPens, which are used in emergencies to save the lives of people who have severe allergic reactions.... |
 | Rep. Noel wants President Trump to reduce size of Grand Staircase-Escalante Monument Rep. Mike Noel has introduced his own resolution that would ask Congress to cut down the size of the current Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.... |
| Podcast: Bernick and Schott on politics #314 Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott discuss the week in Utah politics.... |
 | Weekly survey: Will President Trump reduce or eliminate Bears Ears? Utah Republicans have asked President Trump to reduce or eliminate completely the new Bears Ears National Monument? Do you think he'll take action? Vote now in our weekly survey.... |
Policy News
| Casual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors Report Outdoor Notes-- Tribune: Amid heavy snow, Utah's emergency deer feedings expand -- Tribune: Snowbasin's family-focused Winter Carnival is Saturday -- Tribune: Bears Ears: History shows gains from new national monuments eventually outweigh local concerns Weekend EventsConcert... |
| Press release: Public school students and Equality Utah ask federal court to halt enforcement of school laws that target gay students Equality Utah and two public school students, represented by the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the law firm of Ropes & Gray LLP, asked a federal court to enter a preliminary injunction preventing enforcement of state laws that restrict classroom discussions and ... |
| Press release: Utahns demand immediate legislative action for opiate treatment funding Seanna Williams, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at True North Treatment Center in Utah County, is leading the fight against opiate deaths in Utah. ... |
 | Derek B. Miller statement on Trump's withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership World Trade Center Utah President and CEO Derek B. Miller released the following statement on President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership:... |
Local Headlines
Salt Lake Tribune
Op-ed: Justice reform is making real progress in Utah and elsewhere
Editorial: State and local leaders put aside rivalries to face homeless problem
Huntsman would beat Hatch in a Senate showdown, new poll finds
Study: Utah No. 2 for putting its money into programs that work
Utah would adopt a system of runoff elections under new proposal
Survey finds apparent increase in unsheltered homeless in Salt Lake City
Equality Utah seeks injunction blocking state's 'anti-gay' school curriculum laws
Rolly: Thanks, Mrs. Jacobs, a journalism teacher who deserves her own headline
Salt Lake City to be reimbursed less than half of $7 million Simpson Avenue purchase
Utah House endorses leasing federal land to create state park at Hole in the Rock
Affordable housing bill advances, despite concern it will cut school funds
Audit: Utah courts missing chance to save money, ensure defendants appear
Utahns oppose Trump's plan to curtail refugee immigration
Seat belts could be required in new Utah school buses
Gehrke: It may not make sense, but the 'Zion Curtain' still has some powerful supporters
Child abuse registry bill hits snag for now
SLC shirks Trump, refuses to enforce his immigration edict
Deseret News
Jay Evensen: Is SLC's homeless plan the most messed up in the nation?
Editorial: Public should get full accounting of UFA audit allegations
Utah lawmaker introduces 'modified' sex ed bill, hopes for more support
Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes offers proof he didn't attend secret meeting
Catholic choir, other school groups rally at Utah Capitol for clean air
Bill requiring seat belts in new school buses advances
BYU alum, Harvard expert on presidency says there were plenty of signs Trump would win
Equality Utah asks for injunction on 'anti-gay' school laws as lawsuit proceeds
GOP Senate leaders not ready to back bill to change liquor laws
Mysterious fund tied to League of Cities and Towns raises questions
Salt Lake mayor, police chief pledge safety for immigrants despite executive order
Will Department of Defense relocate BYU's ROTCs because of honor code?
Fierce BLM critic Mike Noel wants to lead federal agency
Other
Editorial: Your fight to limit growth in Utah Valley is a losing battle (Daily Herald)
Trump presidency creates economic uncertainty, Northern Utah experts say (Standard-Examiner)
National Headlines
Dems to David Brock: Stop Helping, You Are Killing Us (Daily Beast)
Trade tops agenda as British PM in US to meet Trump (AFP)
How Donald Trump, Theresa May are the 2017 version of '80s power couple Reagan-Thatcher (USA Today)
White House says Mexico border wall might be funded by tax on imports (Washington Post)
Trump administration asks top State Department officials to leave (CNN)
Official: Border Patrol chief tells agents he was forced out (Washington Post)
Ryan tiptoes around deficit concerns for 2017 legislation (The Hill)
Republicans Have Plans To Replace Obamacare - Now They Need To Agree On One (NPR)
An Education Leader with One Big Idea (National Review)
Ford Plunks Down $200 Million Bet on Trump and Awaits Reward (Bloomberg)
Musk's Surprise Rapport With Trump Means 40% Rally for Tesla (Bloomberg)
Wise Words
Anything Positive
"Positive anything is better than negative nothing." Elbert Hubbard
Lighter Side
Greatest Show on Earth
"Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus have announced they're shutting down in May after 146 years. I get why their business is failing. It's hard for Ringling Bros. to claim to be "the greatest show on Earth" when we all know the greatest show on Earth is "The Bachelor." James Corden
