Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing Morning must reads for Monday, April 17, 2017

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

Morning must reads for Monday, April 17, 2017

Good Monday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 107th day of the year. There are 258 days remaining in 2017.

Hatch and Lee on opposite ends of favorable ratings. Allen outraises Jason Chaffetz during the first quarter of 2017. Trump ratchets up pressure on North Korea.

The clock:
 

• 33 days until the Utah Republican State Convention (5/20/2017)
• 61 days until the Utah Democratic State Convention at Weber State University (6/17/2017)
• 204 days until the 2017 municipal elections (11/7/2017)
• 280 days until the opening day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (1/22/2018)
• 325 days until the final day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (3/8/2018)
• 568 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
• 1,296 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

Today's political TL; DR - 

• NEW POLL: Overall, Utahns have a slightly negative view of Sen. Orrin Hatch while Sen. Mike Lee has a positive favorable rating [Utah Policy].
   
• Democrat Kathryn Allen raised more than 3-times as much money as Republican Jason Chaffetz in the first three months of 2017, giving her a slight cash advantage overall [Utah Policy].
   
• Rep. Mia Love says she would like more details from President Donald Trump on his strategy toward North Korea [Utah Policy].
   
• Our "Political Insiders" say Sen. Orrin Hatch will likely run for an 8th term next year despite previously promising his current term would be his last [Utah Policy].
   
• Gov. Gary Herbert touts Utah's economic growth but warns against complacency [Deseret News].
   
• Utah releases the previously confidential agreement with Amazon to collect sales taxes for online purchases [Tribune].
   
• A new report says Utah left almost $500 million on the table last year because of tax exemptions [Associated Press].
   
• Utah's rapid population growth is being fueled by its expanding economy [Deseret News].
   
• As UtahPolicy.com reported in February, The group pushing for a ballot initiative to raise taxes to better fund Utah's public schools is considering a sales tax hike rather than an income tax increase [Tribune]. 
   
• President Donald Trump is reportedly willing to consider a "sudden strike" against North Korea in the wake of that country's failed missile test over the weekend [Bloomberg].
   
• Vice President Mike Pence warns North Korea not to test the resolve of the United States, saying the "era of strategic patience is over" [Associated Press].
   
• A prominent scholar on relations between the U.S. and North Korea says tensions between the two countries are dangerously high, describing the current situation as "the Cuban missile crisis in slow motion" [New York Times].
   
• President Donald Trump's renewed enthusiasm toward tackling health care is putting a crimp in the GOP's plans to move forward on tax reform [Wall Street Journal].
   
• Trump voters in one Pennsylvania swing district are rapidly becoming disillusioned with Trump's administration [New York Times].
   
• Democrats are hopeful they can win a longtime Republican seat in the Atlanta suburbs on Tuesday. The seat was vacated by Tom Price who resigned to become the Secretary of Health and Human Services [Politico].
   
• The salary and benefits included in the employment contracts for two former Utah Transit Authority executives topped $1.1. million annually. Those contracts have been canceled [Deseret News].
   
• The new Utah state prison is expected to be finished by the end of 2020 and ready to take prisoners the following year [Associated Press].

On this day in history:

• 1961 - About 1,500 CIA-trained Cuban exiles launched an invasion at the Bay of Pigs on the southwestern coast of Cuba in a failed attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro.
   
• 1970 - The astronauts of Apollo 13 splashed down safely in the Pacific Ocean, four days after a ruptured oxygen tank crippled their spacecraft.
   
• 1975 - Phnom Penh fell to Communist insurgents, ending Cambodia's five-year civil war.

Today At Utah Policy

Poll: Hatch's approval ratings underwater, Lee in positive territory
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch, who now says he will run for re-election next year unless something happens to change his mind, is underwater in his favorability ratings, a new UtahPolicy.com poll shows....

'Political Insiders' say Hatch will likely run in 2018
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Sen. Orrin Hatch sure looks like he's gearing up for a run at an 8th term in 2018. Our "Political Insiders" think he'll be hitting the campaign trail soon....

Democrat Kathryn Allen raised 3 times as much as Chaffetz in latest filings
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Democrat Kathryn Allen outraised Rep. Jason Chaffetz by more than a 3-1 margin during the first quarter of this year....

Love says Trump needs to be more specific with his North Korea strategy (with video)
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Rep. Mia Love says President Donald Trump is not clear with his strategy toward North Korea....

New report highlights lackluster protection of IP rights by Obama administration
By Press Release
New data from a Government Accountability Office report issued today illustrates that, under the Obama administration, federal agencies charged with monitoring and enforcing international trade agreements prioritized resources on only two issue areas and neglected ...

Nominees announced for 3rd District Juvenile Court vacancies
By Press Release
The 3rd District Judicial Nominating Commission has selected nominees for two vacancies on the 3rd District Juvenile Court. ...

Policy News

Americans for Affordable Products releases new polling on Congress' border adjustment tax
Americans for Affordable Products (AAP) – a collection of more than 400 businesses and trade associations seeking to stop the Border Adjustment Tax (BAT) – released new polling showing strong public opposition for a trillion-dollar tax increase on middle-income f...

Press release: Park City celebrates science, not silence
March for Science Park City announces its participation in a national effort to raise awareness of the benefits science brings to society....

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Op-ed: Some proposals to improve the governance of UTA

Op-ed: Constitution provides protection from tyranny

Op-ed: Turn state prison site into our own Central Park

Op-ed: Extend the EITC to more taxpayers

Editorial: Utahns can handle the truth of taxation

Marc Woolley is Biskupski's pick for SLC's urban renewal agency despite murky past

Second stay sought in 'no promo homo' lawsuit pending school rule changes

South Salt Lake leaders shop for ideas to improve homeless shelter coming to their city

Utah discloses previously confidential contract with Amazon

Pleasant Grove group moves forward with 'roads first' push

With Trump-chicken as their mascot, hundreds rally for president to release tax returns

Changing China: A Trump-led trade war? It could hurt Utah and rapidly growing Beijing

Viral fundraising catapults Dem over Chaffetz

Deseret News

Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: Can McAdams revitalize Utah Democratic Party?

Boyd Matheson: No safety in geography for homeless

Op-ed: A realistic view of Bears Ears National Monument

Op-ed: Reforming the Antiquities Act into a law for the people

Editorial: Reducing particulate pollutants

Herbert: Not time for Disneyland, despite state economic successes

Controlling costs for new state prison could mean fewer beds

State's economy fueling population growth

Utahns join thousands across U.S. in call for Trump to release tax returns

'Shocking' contracts for 2 ex-UTA execs valued at $1.1M each

Report: Utah taxpayers donate more to homelessness than education

Other

New chair of Utah County Dems wants to get the party organized (Daily Herald)

Utah fiber-optic network UTOPIA may grow, giving Bountiful new internet options (Standard-Examiner)

Mayor says UTA board stonewalling attempts at reform, transit agency has different view (Standard-Examiner)

National Headlines

Speaking in Korea, Pence emphasizes U.S. resolve (Associated Press)

Break away from the USA? The effort to cleave California faces its own split (Los Angeles Times)

Protests sweeping South America show rising antigovernment anger (Washington Post)

Erdogan's Referendum Victory Puts Turkey on Collision Course With Europe (Wall Street Journal)

After Afghan Talks, US Hints at Harder Line on Pakistan (New York Times)

North Korea's embarrassing missile launch failure may have been caused by US cyber attack (The Sun)

Trump wants to know 'who paid for' rallies seeking release of tax returns (Associated Press)

Will Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch recuse himself on his first day on the job? (FOX News)

As tensions with North Korea flare, Trump spends quiet weekend at Mar-a-Lago (Washington Post)

Pro-Trump group launches a $3 million ad campaign to prop up House allies (Washington Post)

Trump nominates vocal critic to head Export-Import Bank, casting uncertainty on agency's future (Washington Post)

Wise Words

Actions
"I have always thought the actions of men the best interpreters of their thoughts." John Locke

Lighter Side

Reruns
"Because of the sexual allegations against him, it's rumored that Bill O'Reilly's show may be going off the air. For continuity's sake, Fox will replace it with reruns of "The Cosby Show." Conan O'Brien