Veto override, Utah Transit Authority, Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un. Thursday morning's news roundup from Utah Policy

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Situational awareness - April 19, 2018

Good Thursday morning from Salt Lake City. 

Lawmakers override Herbert's vetoes. UTA overhaul begins with a high-profile firing. Trump may meet with North Korea's Kim in Sweden or Switzerland.

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  Tick Tock  

2 days until the Utah GOP State Convention (4/21/2018) 9 days until the Utah Democratic State Convention (4/28/2018) 18 days until the final day a veto override session may begin (5/7/2018) 68 days until the 2018 Primary Election (6/26/2018) 202 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018) 285 days until the first day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (1/28/2019) 932 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

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  Here are the news stories driving Thursday  

Turf battle

Lawmakers override two of Gov. Gary Herbert's vetos, expanding their authority when it comes to the Attorney General's office and intervening in lawsuits [Utah Policy]. 

UTA overhaul claims a scalp

The Utah Transit Authority fires President and CEO Jerry Benson because of the overhaul bill passed by lawmakers during the 2018 session [Utah Policy].

Lawmakers add to their summer workload

Legislators complain they have too many boards and commissions they are part of, but they voted to add 10 more task forces that they are a part of [Utah Policy].

Trade war toll

The World Trade Center Utah says the burgeoning trade war with China could hit Utah's economy hard [Utah Policy].

Rollin away

Rollin Cook steps down as Executive Director of the Utah Department of Corrections [Utah Policy].

  Other Utah headlines  

The Utah GOP is asking the full 10th Circuit Court of Appeals to review the recent ruling against their appeal over SB54 [Deseret News].
Republican U.S. Senate candidates Mike Kennedy and Larry Meyers have failed to file required financial disclosure forms ahead of the GOP state convention [Tribune].
The Salt Lake City Council may shift new revenue from a proposed sales tax hike away from hiring new police officers in favor of public transit improvements [Tribune].
A state audit finds that officials in Plymouth have inadequate controls in place for spending using public funds [Deseret News, Tribune].
Sandy City passes the states strictest anti-idling ordinance [Deseret News, Tribune].
A new study finds nearly one-third of homes in Salt Lake County could be destroyed in the event of a major earthquake [Deseret News].

  National headlines  

President Donald Trump may hold a face-to-face meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Sweden or Switzerland according to sources [Bloomberg].
Dozens of Democratic challengers have raised more money than Republican incumbents, which is fueling speculation the GOP is on track to lose control of the House in November [Politico].
House Republicans want to push another massive tax cut bill this summer to shore up their chances in November, but Republicans in the Senate are not interested in more cuts [Washington Post].
President Trump's allies are worried his personal lawyer Michael Cohen will flip following the FBI raid on his offices [Politico].
Farmers across America are so worried President Trump's trade war with China will lead to economic hardship for them that they may shift their votes away from Republicans in November [New York Times].
U.S. Trade officials say they should have a preliminary agreement with Canada and Mexico on NAFTA sometime in the next three weeks [CNBC].
An ex-Playboy model who allegedly had an affair with Donald Trump has been freed from a contract that prevented her from discussing the tryst [New York Times].

  On this day in history  

1775 - The American Revolutionary War begins with an American victory in Concord during the battles of Lexington and Concord.
1927 - Mae West is sentenced to ten days in jail for obscenity for her play Sex.
1971 - Charles Manson is sentenced to death (later commuted to life imprisonment) for conspiracy in the Tate-LaBianca murders.
1987 - The Simpsons first appeared as a series of shorts on the Tracey Ullman Show.
1993 - A 51-day standoff with the Branch Davidian cult near Waco, Texas ended when fire destroyed the group's compound after it was tear-gassed by authorities. Cult leader David Koresh and about 75 of his followers were killed.
1995 - The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City is bombed, killing 168 people.
2000 - A federal appeals court ruled in a high-profile case that 6-year-old Cuban refugee Elian Gonzalez could stay in the U.S. until judges heard a full appeal from his relatives who sought to retain custody of the boy. He was eventually returned to his father in Cuba.
2011 - Fidel Castro resigns as First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba after holding the title since July 1961.
2013 - Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev is killed in a shootout with police. His brother Dzhokar is later captured hiding in a boat in a backyard in the suburb of Watertown.

Today At Utah Policy

Utah Transit Authority fires CEO Jerry Benson because of legislative overhaul By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor The Utah Transit Authority board voted Wednesday to terminate President and CEO Jerry Benson effective May 7....

Lawmakers override two of Gov. Herbert's vetoes By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor It took holding a vote open for longer than usual, and some close margins in the Senate, but the Utah Legislature overrode two of Gov. Gary Herbert's vetoes on Wednesday....

'We study stuff to death.' Lawmakers tackle interim study schedule By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor Utah's part-time 104 legislators are overworked....

U.S. trade war with China threatens Utah's economy By World Trade Center Utah An analysis by World Trade Center Utah shows if Chinese retaliatory tariffs on U.S. products are implemented, they will have diverse and harmful effects on Utah's economy....

Rollin Cook steps down as Executive Director of Utah Department of Corrections By Press Release The Utah Department of Corrections announced the upcoming departure of Executive Director Rollin Cook who has served five years in his current position and dedicated 29 years of overall service to the State of Utah."I am grateful for Rollin's years of dedicated service to th...

Weekly survey: LDS Church and medical marijuana By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Last week the LDS Church signaled their apparent opposition to the proposal to legalize medical cannabis that appears to be headed to November's ballot. Do you think the Church's stance on the issue will have an effect on the initiative at the ballot box? Vote now in our wee...

Policy News

Department of Commerce announces new Deputy Director and new Director to Division of Securities Francine A. Giani, Executive Director of the Utah Department of Commerce, announced that Thomas A. Brady has been selected as the new Director of the Division of Securities to replace outgoing Director Keith Woodwell.  Woodwell previously served over 9 years with t...

Utah companies establish meaningful connections in Mexico While participating in the governor led trade mission to Mexico City and Baja last week, 27 Utah companies made connections and learned how they can successfully expand their business to Latin America....

Utah Clean Energy launches new initiative in Utah to pave the way for cost-effectively integrating more solar energy Utah Clean Energy announced it was selected by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory to participate in a collaborative research effort to explore new ways solar energy can improve the affordability, reliability and resiliency of the nation's el...

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Editorial: At least Mike Lee remembers the Constitution

Tourists spent $3.7 billion in Salt Lake County in 2016, supporting 54,000 jobs

From aerospace to hog farms, study finds trade war with China would cost Utah businesses $60 million in exports

Utah's San Juan County files its own claim against U.S. government over access to Recapture Canyon

'Inappropriate' Utah Jazz ticket purchase for Plymouth officials has 'tax consequences' for town's few residents

Two U.S. Senate candidates from Utah have failed to file personal finance reports as required by federal law

Utah Legislature overrides vetoes in balance-of-powers battle with Gov. Gary Herbert

UTA says new law requires it to fire President and CEO Jerry Benson

Salt Lake City might add fewer police than planned and put more money toward better transit

Deseret News

Op-ed: Will Utahns show up at the ballot box for 2018's big issues?

Op-ed: Utah teachers deserve something better

Jay Evensen: America's 'social capital' divide

Editorial: Salt Lake City is wise to pause a tax increase in favor of nailing down the details

Utah governor orders flags lowered to half-staff in honor of Barbara Bush

New report dings Utah for its ozone levels

Audit says Box Elder town lacks fiscal policies, fails to post public notices

Utah GOP asks for full appellate court review of SB54 ruling

Salt Lake County hub of Utah's tourist economy, report says

Utah lawmakers override Herbert's vetoes of bills expanding legislative power

1 in 3 Salt Lake County homes at greater risk of crumbling in earthquake

Other

Weber Co. leaders unveil long-awaited plan, aiming to energize the economy (Standard-Examiner)

National Headlines

Government vs. God? People are less religious when government is bigger, research says (McClatchy)

Dershowitz: Comey firing was legal even if Trump was trying to end the Russia investigation (Washington Examiner)

There's 'unusual surveillance activity' around D.C. and senators want answers (Fast Company)

Israel marks 70 years as a nation as new and old challenges lurk (AFP)

Diaz-Canel tapped to steer Cuba through post-Castro uncertainty (AFP)

Starbucks' Howard Schultz 'ashamed' after controversial arrest of 2 black men (CBS News)

After calling Barbara Bush an 'amazing racist,' a professor taunts critics: 'I will never be fired' (Washington Post)

Pompeo confirmation winnowing down to a handful of undecided Democrats (CNN)

Trump allies press Rosenstein in private meeting in latest sign of tensions (Washington Post)

Bernie Sanders: Cardi B is right on Social Security (CNN)

Bump Stock Manufacturer Is Shutting Down Production (NPR)

Wise Words

Success

"Success is where preparation and opportunity meet." Bobby Unser

Lighter Side

Facebook Trust

"Most Americans said they still like Facebook, but they don't trust it. So basically, people feel the same way about Facebook as they do about the McRib." Jimmy Fallon

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