Morning must reads for Thursday, April 13, 2017

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

Morning must reads for Thursday, April 13, 2017

Good Thursday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 103rd day of the year. There are 262 days remaining in 2017.

Most Utahns want Congress to repeal Obamacare. Misty Snow launches another bid for Congress. Trump flip flops on some big campaign promises.

The clock:

• 37 days until the Utah Republican State Convention (5/20/2017)
• 65 days until the Utah Democratic State Convention at Weber State University (6/17/2017)
• 208 days until the 2017 municipal elections (11/7/2017)
• 284 days until the opening day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (1/22/2018)
• 329 days until the final day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (3/8/2018)
• 572 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
• 1,300 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

Today's political TL; DR - 

• NEW POLL: Most Utahns still want Congress to repeal Obamacare [Utah Policy].
   
• Misty Snow, the transgender woman who lost to Sen. Mike Lee in 2016, plans to challenge Rep. Chris Stewart in Utah's 2nd Congressional District in 2018 [Utah Policy].
   
• Lawmakers make some big changes to their interim meetings schedule [Utah Policy].
   
• Analysis: It's going to take a lot more than a few gaffes for Rep. Jason Chaffetz to lose his seat in 2018 [Utah Policy].
   
• Rep. Paul Ray plans to push legislation next year to allow the state to take over failing county jails [KSL].
   
• Supporters of Provo Mayor John Curtis have launched a fundraising page to encourage him to challenge Rep. Jason Chaffetz in 2018 [Deseret News].
   
• President Donald Trump flip flops on two big issues from his campaign:
  • After suggesting NATO was obsolete, Trump pledged his full support for the organization [Washington Post].
     
  • Trump will not label China a currency manipulator after pledging to do so during the 2016 campaign [Bloomberg].
     

• Warning sign! Conservative voters in some of the most reliably Republican districts are becoming disillusioned with the GOP after a number of stumbles in Congress [New York Times].
   
• White House chief strategist Steve Bannon's days in the Trump administration appear to be numbered. Bannon's supporters appear to be preparing for his inevitable ouster from the White House [Washington Post, New York Times].
   
• U.S. intelligence intercepted Syrian military officials preparing to conduct the chemical weapons attack that led to last week's airstrike by American military forces [CNN].
   
• Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says relations between the U.S. and Russia are at a "low point" following his meeting with President Vladimir Putin [Wall Street Journal].
   
• Uh oh! North Korea is reportedly "primed and ready" to conduct another nuclear test [CNN]. 
  • Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says North Korea may already have the ability to arm missles with sarin nerve agent [CNN].
     

• President Trump threatens to withhold payments to health insurers in order to force Democrats to the negotiating table in order to repeal and replace Obamacare [Wall Street Journal].
   
• The Trump administration is moving quickly to form the nationwide deportation force he promised on the campaign trail [Washington Post].
   
• This seems weird...After he left Trump's presidential campaign, Paul Manafort created a shell company that borrowed $13 million from companies with ties to Donald Trump [New York Times].
   
• Utah taxpayers will be on the hook to fix the septic system in a subdivision in Roosevelt [Tribune].
   
• North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor, a member of the UTA board, wants the organization to "seize the opportunity" to increase their oversight following a federal investigation [Deseret News].

On this day in history:

• 1861 - At the start of the Civil War, Fort Sumter in South Carolina fell to Confederate forces as the Union commander, Maj. Robert Anderson, agreed to surrender in the face of relentless bombardment.
   
• 1964 - Sidney Poitier became the first black performer in a leading role to win an Academy Award, for "Lilies of the Field."
   
• 1970 - Apollo 13, four-fifths of the way to the moon, was crippled when a tank containing liquid oxygen burst.

Today At Utah Policy

New poll: Majority of Utahns want Congress to repeal Obamacare
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
Nearly two-thirds of Utahns still want Congress to repeal Obamacare, a new UtahPolicy.com poll finds....

Misty Snow plans to challenge Rep. Chris Stewart in 2018
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Democrat Misty Snow is launching another run at Congress next year. This time she's planning on challenging Rep. Chris Stewart in Utah's 2nd Congressional District....

It's gonna take a lot more to oust Chaffetz in 2018
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Memo to Utah Democrats: Waiting for Jason Chaffetz to self-immolate isn't gonna work....

Legislative leaders make significant changes to interim schedule
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
Big changes are coming in how the Utah Legislature will meet this interim – from now until the end of the year....

Facebook fueling anti-Trump sentiment online
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Facebook is becoming a vital tool for the left in their fight against the Trump administration....

Weekly survey: Will Hatch run again in 2018?
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
How likely do you think it is that Sen. Orrin Hatch runs for an 8th term in 2018? Vote now in our weekly survey....

Policy News

Clean air champions: Envision Utah and Provo City create 'Provo Clean Air Toolkit'
Air quality is certainly not just a Salt Lake City issue; it affects quality of life and economic development throughout the state of Utah....

Real Women Run spring training registrations climbing
Following the record turnout at the Real Women Run Winter Training and a successful first-ever Southern Utah Training, registrations for the Spring Training are up 40%....

Seven Utah economists say immigration strengthens American economy in letter signed by nearly 1500 top economists to White House, Congress
As Congress and the Administration debate our immigration laws, 1,470 economists signed a letter to President Trump and Congressional Leadership affirming that immigration is good for the American economy....

Hatch and Stewart introduce southern Utah OPEN OHV Areas Act
Senator Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Congressman Chris Stewart, R-Utah, issued the following statements after introducing the Southern Utah Open OHV Areas Act:...

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Editorial: Putting juveniles in adult prisons does not serve justice

Utah taxpayers to rescue Duchesne subdivision from septic nightmare

Utah failed to meet current ozone standard, but EPA may raise allowable levels

Salt Lake City library budget calls for property tax hike, no more late fees

District approves $2.5 million demolition of Granite High School

Salt Lake County prepares to step away from center of homeless reform effort

Granite School District readies tax hike to fund raises in teacher-retention race

Deseret News

Richard Davis: Sen. Hatch's re-election bid proves the need for term limits

Ralph Hancock: Two cheers for nationalism

Editorial: It's time for Utah, U.S. to address teacher shortages

UTA board should 'seize the opportunity' and toughen up, member says

Campaign-funding web page urges Provo mayor to run against Chaffetz in Republican primary

Misty Snow, who lost to Lee, to challenge Rep. Stewart in 2018

Grazing tension erupts in criminal charges in San Juan County

Early analysis: County still missing $13 million for new homeless system

Other

Lt. Gov. Cox urges high school students to get involved (Logan Herald Journal)

National Headlines

Foreign journalists visiting North Korea have been told to prepare for a 'big and important event' (The Sun)

Trump and Xi: Tensions Turn to Friendship (Wall Street Journal)

RNC, White House Try to Avoid Obama's Missteps (Roll Call)

Trump downplays 5-year Bannon relationship (CNN)

Rattled Republicans turn their eyes to Georgia (Politico)

White House tells agencies to come up with a plan to shrink their workforces (Washington Post)

Why did Trump flip flop on Yellen? She may be the dove he needs, analysts say (MarketWatch)

How the Trump stock market ranks as he approaches his 100th day in office (MarketWatch)

Trump's EPA is seeking a 24/7 security detail for its new leader (Washington Post)

Trump doesn't hit Mexico hard but stirs up old resentments (Associated Press)

Trump takes a centrist tack on economic policy, abandoning campaign pledges (Washington Post)

Wise Words

Effort
"The person who is waiting for something to turn up might start with their shirt sleeves." Garth Henrichs

Lighter Side

Shocked
"A new study found that plastic surgeons make an average of $354,000 per year. "I am shocked," said one woman's face but not her mouth." Seth Meyers