About Utah Politics - June 2, 2014

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

How to Sound Smart About Utah Politics - June 2, 2014

Utah leaders weigh in on Shinseki's resignation. Readers rally in support of the Salt Lake Tribune. Huntsman isn't planning another run in 2016.

Countdown:

• 22 days to Utah's 2014 primary election
• 155 days until the 2014 midterm elections
• 238 days to the opening day of the 2015 legislature
• 519 days until the 2015 elections
• 595 days to the 2016 Iowa Caucuses (tentative)
• 893 days until the 2016 presidential election

Monday's top Utah political news stories:

• Utah leaders discuss the resignation of VA Secretary Eric Shinseki [Deseret News, Tribune].
• 11 Utah cities have until the end of June to decide whether to opt in to an Australian company's plan to take over the UTOPIA fiber optic network [Tribune].
• Preservationists say they're worried that historical and archeological sites may be in danger with increased access to Nine Mile Canyon [Tribune].
• Latinos graduated at a higher rate than white students last year at Highland High School [Tribune].
• Salt Lake City Council members have to make a number of decisions before taking a final vote on Mayor Ralph Becker's 2015 budget [Tribune].
• A national voting rights group has turned their sights on Rep. Rob Bishop for not yet taking a stance on a bill to fix the Voting Rights Act [Tribune].
• Utahns rally downtown in support of the Salt Lake Tribune [Tribune, Deseret News].
• Is the Deseret News artificially inflating their circulation numbers? [Tribune].
• Jon Huntsman says he isn't planning another presidential run in 2016, but that's not set in stone [Deseret News].
• The Utah Division of Air Quality is considering a ban on wood-burning stoves at businesses [Deseret News].

On this day in history:

• 1851 - Maine became the first state to enact a law prohibiting alcohol.
• 1886 - President Grover Cleveland married Frances Folsom in a White House ceremony.
• 1897 - Mark Twain was quoted by the New York Journal as saying "the report of my death was an exaggeration."
• 1924 - Congress granted U.S. citizenship to all American Indians.
• 1953 - Queen Elizabeth II was crowned in Westminster Abbey.
• 1979 - Pope John Paul II arrived in his native Poland on the first visit by a pope to a Communist country.
• 1981 - The "Donkey Kong" video arcade game made its U.S. debut.
• 1997 - Timothy McVeigh was convicted of murder and conspiracy in the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing.
• 1998 - Voters in California passed Proposition 227, requiring that all schoolchildren be taught in English.
• 2011 - Mitt Romney announced his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.

Today At Utah Policy

Becker: Salt Lake City in 'Great Shape' (Video)
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker says, despite the Great Recession, these have been good times for Salt Lake City....

Campaign Tip: The Best Way to Design a Campaign Sign
Leave your website off your yard sign and pick a typeface that will be easy to read from a fast-moving car....

This Campaign Ad Was Created in Just 20 Minutes by a 12-Year Old Using a Smartphone
The daughter of a consultant for a New Jersey Congressional candidate put together a "movie trailer" style campaign ad using her iPhone. The whole process from start to finish took just 20 minutes....

Donate to the GOP, Get Some Multicolor Socks
If you make a $35 donation to the Republican National Committee ahead of the midterm elections, you will get a pair of multicolor socks from President George H.W. Bush....

Bob Bernick's Notebook: Sacred Cows
A lot of speculation this week that The Salt Lake Tribune could be sold, and the buyer could be billionaire/philanthropist Jon Huntsman Sr....

Featured Items

Weekly Survey: Will Becker Run Again in 2015?
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker says he will hold off on a decision about his political future until after the November elections. We asked our "Political Insiders" how likely it is that Becker tries for a third term as Mayor of Salt Lake City and who might run against him...

Partnership Provides Hands-On Experience for Tomorrow's Innovators
To ensure that Utah leads the life science and engineering business sectors, those who enter the workforce must be appropriately trained and educated well beyond the classroom....

Casual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors Report
Outdoor Notes--Tribune:Hike of the week: Northgate Peaks Trail--Tribune:The 'indescribable' fun of digging dinosaurs in Utah--Tribune:Utah's Goblin Valley 'a natural playground' for adventuring-- For the?latest wildlife news and information?and the?fishing report?visit theDW...

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Op-ed: Ivory a man of integrity, and that's why we chose him

Op-ed: Rocky Mountain Power is looking out for itself

Editorial: Rock-art vandals need hard time

Will 11 Utah cities agree to Australian firm's takeover of UTOPIA network?

Utah leaders say Shinseki exit first step in fixing VA

Paul Rolly: Deseret News circulation numbers - smoke and mirrors

Greater access puts Nine Mile Canyon treasures at risk

Will Congress act on gun control? Don't count on it

Pittsburgh's ex-mayor tells Utahns what communities need to thrive

Latino students boast Highland High's top graduation rate

Paul Rolly: Deseret News circulation numbers - smoke and mirrors

Deseret News

John Florez: With leadership, institutions can change

Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: Exploring the ramifications of designating another Utah monument

Editorial: In moving state fair, consider economic development with an educational anchor

Editorial: Overpopulation isn't the world's concern - the problem is too few births

Utah ranks No. 6 in the country on carbon dioxide pollution

BLM, USU to work together on Uinta Basin air quality issue

Utah veterans, politicians see Shinseki resignation through different eyes

Utah County GOP leader not liable for $1 in damages, judge rules

Horse backers seek dismissal of Nevada county suit

Huntsman in 2016: Will he or won't he?

Other

County Republicans to pick top tax collector (Daily Herald)

Editorial: UTOPIA or no water? (Standard-Examiner)

Cache County debates environmentally sensitive areas, habitat protection (Logan Herald Journal)

National Headlines

'We didn't negotiate with terrorists' (The Hill)

Bowe Bergdahl's release bumps VA scandal from political spotlight (The Hill)

NSA steps up digital image harvesting to feed its facial recognition program (FOX News)

E.P.A. to Seek 30 Percent Cut in Carbon Emissions (New York Times)

Hill leaders vow Shinseki's resignation won't dim spotlight on Veterans Affairs' woes (FOX News)

Can Hillary Clinton get beyond Benghazi? (Christian Science Monitor)

Al-Qaida decentralized, but not necessarily weaker (Associated Press)

Louisiana business leaders ask to talk about Common Core with Bobby Jindal (Times-Picayune)

States move to blunt Obama carbon plan (Associated Press)

Scientists say California medical pot farms are draining streams (The Week)

Wise Words

Complacency
"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."Will Rogers Quotations Page

Lighter Side

10,000 Jobs
"A new study found that legalizing marijuana in Colorado has created more than 10,000 jobs. And that's just selling lava lamps at Spencer's Gifts." Jimmy Fallon Political Humor

June 2, 2014
Bizarre, Crazy, Silly, Unknown Holidays & Observances

Stone= Pearl      Flower= Rose

National Bubba Day

National Leave the Office Early Day

National Thank God It's Monday Day

*Yell 'Fudge' at the Cobras in North America Day

Children's Awareness Memorial Day: 1 (First Sunday)
*Global Day of Parents: 1 Link
*Heimlich Maneuver Day: 1
National Cancer Survivors Day: 1 Link (First Sunday)
*National Go Barefoot Day: 1
*Oscar The Grouch Day: 1 Link
*Say Something Nice Day: 1 Link
*Stand For Children Day: 1 Link
*National Bubba Day: 2
National Leave the Office Early Day: 2 (First Monday)
National Thank God It's Monday Day: 2 (First Monday)
*Yell "Fudge" at the Cobras in North America Day: 2
*Chimborazo Day: 3
Shavuot: 3
*Audacity To Hope Day: 4
 *International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression: 4
National Tailors Day: 4 (First Wednesday)
*Old Maid's Day: 4  Link
Shavuot: 4-5
*Apple II Day: 5
*Festival of Popular Delusions Day: 5 Link
*Hot Air Balloon Day: 5
*National Moonshine Day: 5 Link
National Running Day: 5 Link  (First Wednesday)
*World Environment Day: 5
Atheists Pride Day: 6 Link (There is another one on March 20)
*D-Day: 6
Doughnut Day or Donut Day: 6-7 Link (First Fri.-Sat. in June)
*Drive-in Movie Day: 6
Horseradish Days: 6-8 Link
National Lemonade Days: 6-8 Link
Positive Power of Humor and Creativity Days: 6-8  Link
*Russian Language Day: 6 Link
*Yo-Yo Day: 6 Link
*National YoYo Day: 7 (Always on the Birthday of Donald Duncan)
Belmont Stakes: 7 Link
*(Daniel) Boone Day: 7
Do-Dah Parade Day: 7 (Kalamazo,Mi - First Saturday)
Drawing Day or Pencil Day: 7   (First Saturday)
National Trails Day: 7 (First Saturday)
Turtle Races Day: 7  (First Saturday)
Xterra Off-Road Triathalon: 7
*VCR Day: 7

June Monthly Observances

Adopt-A-Cat Month Link
Adopt A Shelter Cat Month
African-American Music Appreciation Month
 Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome Awareness Month (APS) Link
Audio Book Appreciation Month
Beautiful in Your Skin Month Link
Black Music Month Link
Cancer From The Sun Month
Caribbean-American Heritage Month
Cataract Awareness Month
Celibacy Awareness Month (validation link 4 members only)
Child Vision Awareness Month
Children's Awareness Month
Country Cooking Month Link
Dairy Alternatives Month
Effective Communications Month
Entrepreneurs "Do It Yourself" Marketing Month
Fireworks Safety Month
Georgia Blueberry Month
Great Outdoors Month
International Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
International Men's Month
International Surf Music Month Link
 Dairy Month Link
June is Lane Courtesy Month (Link)
June is Perennial Gardening Month
June is Turkey Lovers Month Link
Mens Health Education and Awareness Month
Migraine Awareness Month
National Accordion Awareness Month
National Aphasia Awareness Month
National Bathroom Reading Month Link
National Camping Month Link
National Caribbean-American Heritage Month
National Congenital Cytomegalovirus Awareness Month Link
National Candy Month Link
National Fruit and Veggies Month (Also September)
National Ice Tea Month
National Migraine Awareness Month
National Pet Preparedness Month Link
National Rivers Month
National Rose Month  Link
National Safety Month
National Scoliosis Awareness  Month Link
National Smile Month Link
National Soul Food Month
National Steakhouse Month
National Zoo and Aquarium Month Link
Pharmacists Declare War on Alcoholism Month
Potty Training Awareness Month Link
Professional Wellness Month
PTSD Awareness Month Link
Ramadan (6/28-7/27)
Rebuild Your Life Month
Scleroderma Awareness Month Link
Skyscraper Month
Sports America Kids Month
Student Safety Month
Vision Research Month Link
Women's Golf Month Link
World Infertility Month Link