Situational awareness - April 11, 2018

Situational awareness - April 11, 2018

Good Wednesday morning from Salt Lake City.

Hughes believes there's enough support for a veto override session. Mitt Romney qualifies for the primary ballot. The LDS Church issues a statement opposing the medical marijuana ballot initiative. Trump wanted to fire Mueller in December.

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Tick Tock

• 5 days until the signature-gathering deadline for statewide ballot initiatives (4/16/2018)
• 10 days until the Utah GOP State Convention (4/21/2018)
• 17 days until the Utah Democratic State Convention (4/28/2018)
• 26 days until the final day a veto override session may begin (5/7/2018)
• 76 days until the 2018 Primary Election (6/26/2018)
• 210 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
• 293 days until the first day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (1/28/2019)
• 940 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

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Here are the news stories driving Wednesday

Veto override coming?

House Speaker Greg Hughes says there's enough support in the House for a veto override session, but the Senate "could go either way." Legislators have until 5 pm Wednesday to make their decisions [Utah Policy].  

Romney qualifies for the ballot

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mitt Romney officially has enough signatures to qualify for the GOP primary ballot. He accomplished the feat without the use of paid signature gatherers [Utah Policy].

Cybersecurity for Utah's elections

Utah is part of a pilot program from the Department of Homeland Security to make election officials aware of potential cyber threats that could disrupt the 2018 midterms [Utah Policy].

Other Utah headlines

• The LDS Church issued a statement on Tuesday opposing the ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana [Deseret News, Fox 13].
   
• Democrat Ben McAdams narrows the fundraising gap with Republican Mia Love [Deseret News].
   
• Salt Lake County sues big pharma over the opioid crisis [Deseret News, Tribune].
   
• Mayor Jackie Biskupski warns of a potential water shortage this summer and issues an advisory to residents to conserve [Utah Policy, Deseret News, Tribune].
   
• Utah's Senators in Congress get an opportunity to question Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg over the recent controversies surrounding the use of users data [Deseret News, Tribune].
   
• A new study says Utah has the largest gender wage gap in the country, with women earning just 70% of their male counterparts [Tribune].

National headlines

• President Trump taunted Russia and Syria on Twitter early Wednesday morning, telling Russia to "get ready" because "nice and new and 'smart'" missiles will be coming [Axios].
   
• President Trump is reportedly considering firing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to rein in or even fire special counsel Robert Mueller [CNN].
   
• President Donald Trump wanted to fire special counsel Robert Mueller in December following inaccurate media reports that he had issued subpoenas about Trump's business dealings with Deutsche Bank [New York Times].
   
• Senators question Facebook head Mark Zuckerberg over privacy issues and suggest the social media platform's days of self-regulation may be coming to an end [New York Times].
   
• The FBI raid on Michael Cohen's office sought information related to hush money paid to two women who had affairs with Donald Trump before he became president [New York Times].
   
• President Trump canceled a trip to Latin America to deal with the growing crisis in Syria [New York Times].
   
• The EPA is examining posts on social media to justify the costly security measures being taken by Scott Pruitt, the agency's administrator [New York Times].
   
• A new poll shows half of Americans support sending troops to the border with Mexico [Politico].
   
• Gas prices are expected to rise 14% this summer [CNN Money].

On this day in history

• 1945 - Allied troops liberated Buchenwald concentration camp in Germany.
   
• 1947 - Jackie Robinson became the first African-American player to take the field for a Major League Baseball team during an exhibition game. Four days later he made his MLB debut.
   
• 1951 - President Harry Truman relieves General Douglas MacArthur of overall command in Korea.
   
• 1968 - President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Civil Rights Act of 1968.

Today At Utah Policy

Hughes says he thinks there are enough votes for a veto override session
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
Get ready for a rare veto override session by the Utah Legislature....

Romney qualifies for primary ballot
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Republican Mitt Romney has qualified for the GOP primary ballot. That means, no matter what happens at the Utah Republican convention next week, he cannot be eliminated by Republican delegates....

Securing Utah's midterm election from cyberattacks
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
As we head into election season, the securing U.S. election systems from Russian hackers is a primary concern for U.S. elections officials....

Mayor Biskupski will initiate first stage of addressing potential water shortage: A call for Salt Lake City agencies, residents, and businesses to conserve
By Press Release
 With snow levels and early spring run-off well below average this year, Mayor Jackie Biskupski will declare a Stage 1 Advisory for water conservation, in keeping with Salt Lake City's 5-stage Water Shortage Contingency Plan....

Weekly survey: Will Romney get a primary challenger?
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Mitt Romney will likely qualify for the primary ballot through the signature gathering route. Do you think Republican delegates will force him into a primary at this month's GOP convention? Vote now in our weekly survey....

Mexico and Utah to establish a working group to advance energy cooperation
By Press Release
Marking the first day of Utah's trade mission to Mexico City, Governor Gary R. Herbert met with Mexico's Secretary of Energy, Pedro Joaqun Coldwell, to advance energy cooperation through the establishment of a working group.  ...

Policy News

Treasurer Damschen announces $38.4 million new lost property now online for claim
Utah State Treasurer David Damschen announced that the Utah Unclaimed Property Division received more than $38.4 million in lost property at the end of 2017....

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Editorial: We owe our emergency personnel a debt of gratitude

Utah's national report card shows minority and low-income students lagging, despite state's higher test scores

The Mormon church signals opposition to a Utah medical marijuana ballot initiative, an item most voters have supported

Utah now has America's biggest gender wage gap - women earn 70 cents on the dollar compared to men

Gehrke: Imagine Utah's Mormon majority being denied fair representation. That's how San Juan's Navajos have been treated.

Mitt Romney transfers $1 million left over from his presidential run to his Senate race in Utah

Utah's Hatch wants privacy 'transparency' on social media, but defends Facebook's targeted ads

With Utah debating its options for suing the world's biggest pharmaceutical companies, Salt Lake County files an opioids suit of its own

Salt Lake City would stop some Airbnb-style renting in mother-in-law apartments, but the dwellings would be OK citywide

With less snow and spring runoff, Salt Lake City will cut back on water use and urge residents to do the same

Deseret News

Ralph Hancock: The tension between morality and security in the immigration debate

Editorial: Opportunity Zones can spur growth and development in Utah

Herbert, Mexico establish working group on energy

Nation's report card: Utahns above average but 'not well enough,' superintendent says

Love, McAdams not that far apart in cash on hand for congressional campaign

LDS Church issues statement on proposed Utah marijuana initiative

'Enough is enough': Salt Lake County sues pharmaceutical firms, doctors over opioid crisis

Utah's senators get a chance to probe Zuckerberg on data debacle

Salt Lake City mayor issues water advisory, warns of possible shortage

Other

Utah Rep. Mike Kennedy says debt is his biggest issue, as he campaigns for U.S. Senate (Daily Herald)

Weber County roads employees' charges led to GIbson probe, ex-official says (Standard-Examiner)

County could pass quarter-percent sales tax next month for transportation (Logan Herald Journal)

National Headlines

Alan Dershowitz: Justice Department violated Michael Cohen's constitutional rights just by seizing his records (Daily Mail)

British and French forces could launch an imminent missile strike on Syria (Express)

Obama aide reveals how the groupie president fawned over celebs (Daily Mail)

Weinstein sexual assault prosecution would be 'the case of the century' - so stakes high for DA (Los Angeles Times)

Along the border, emotions are high over Trump's order to send in the National Guard (Desert Sun)

Facebook Bans German Historian For Saying 'Islam Is Not Part of German History' (PJ Media)

Zuckerberg apologizes, promises reform as senators grill him over Facebook's failings (Washington Post)

Oklahoma Republicans refuse to bow to teachers' demands (Chicago Tribune)

Sinclair attacks CNN with video alleging 'hypocrisy' in 'fake news' debate (Washington Post)

Mulvaney Faces Elizabeth Warren Grilling Over New Tone at CFPB (Bloomberg)

Markets are soaring thanks to China's Xi: Read the highlights of his big speech on trade (CNBC)

Wise Words

Justice

"Justice in the life and conduct of the State is possible only as first it resides in the hearts and souls of the citizens." Plato

Lighter Side

Wall

"Trump said that two of the most incredible days of his life were spent in China mainly because it was the closest he'll ever get to seeing a great wall." Jimmy Fallon