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Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing Morning Must Reads for Monday, October 3, 2016

Monday, October 3, 2016 - 6:15pm
Utah Policy

Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

Morning Must Reads for Monday, October 3, 2016

Good Monday morning from Salt Lake City. Happy New Year to those of you who are celebrating Rosh Hashanah. Today is the 277th day of the year. There are 89 days left in 2016.

Utahns support legalizing medical marijuana. Donald Trump's tax returns show he claimed a $916 million loss in 1995. Leaked videos show LDS Church leaders discussing controversial issues.

The clock:

  • The 2nd Congressional District debate at the University of Utah is tomorrow (10/4/2016)
  • The vice presidential debate at Longwood University is tomorrow (10/4/2016)
  • Six days to the second presidential debate at Washington University (10/9/2016)
  • Seven days to the 4th Congressional District debate at Salt Lake Community College (10/10/2016)
  • Nine days to the U.S. Senate debate at Brigham Young University (10/12/2016)
  • 14 days to the 1st Congressional District debate at Weber State University (10/17/2016)
  • 16 days to the 3rd Congressional District debate at Utah Valley University (10/19/2016)
  • 16 days to the third presidential debate at UNLV (10/19/2016)
  • 36 days until the 2016 presidential election - (11/8/2016)
  • 112 days until the first day of the 2017 Utah Legislature - (1/23/2017)
  • 157 days until the final day of the 2017 Utah Legislature - (3/9/2017)

Ten talking points for Monday:

  1. Utahns overwhelmingly support legalizing medical marijuana, but remain opposed to recreational use [Utah Policy].
     
  2. Bombshell! Over the weekend the New York Times published three pages of Donald Trump's 1995 tax returns which showed he claimed a $916 million business loss that year. The yuge write-off means he could have avoided paying taxes for the next 18 years [New York Times]. Times' reporter Susanne Craig details how she came to be in possession of the documents and how she verified their authenticity [New York Times]. The question on everyone's mind is who leaked Trump's tax records to the media? [Washington Post]. Craig, the reporter behind the leaked tax returns, remained mum when she was asked if there are more leaked Trump documents forthcoming [The Hill].
     
  3. Speaking of leaks, on Sunday leaked videos of LDS Church leaders discussing controversial issues made their way online [Tribune, Deseret News].
     
  4. Hillary Clinton has jumped to a 6-point lead in a new national survey. The same poll gave Donald Trump a one-point lead over Clinton before the first presidential debate [Politico]. Meanwhile, polling guru Nate Silver gives Clinton a 66.7% chance to win the White House in November [Five Thirty Eight].
     
  5. Donald Trump has opened a new line of attack against Hillary Clinton, bringing more attention to her husband's infidelity [New York Times].
     
  6. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani seemingly suggests Donald Trump would be a better president than Hillary Clinton because she's a woman. He later tried to back away from that comment [Politico].
     
  7. Here are five reasons why this coming week will likely decide who wins the presidential election in November [Politico].
     
  8. Gov. Gary Herbert is backpedaling from his pledge to seek up to $400 million in new funding for education in next year's budget. His office says that figure is a target for new spending over the next few years [Tribune].
     
  9. A new survey says 60% of Utahns think Utah GOP leaders should vote for Donald Trump in November, but many Republicans don't want to discuss their party's nominee [Tribune].
     
  10. Former Lt. Gov. Greg Bell, who was just appointed to the Utah Transit Authority Board, says he will push for more transparency for the embattled agency [Tribune].

On this day in history:

  • 1922 - Rebecca Felton, a Georgia Democrat, was chosen to become the first woman to serve in the U.S. Senate following the death of Sen. Thomas E. Watson.
     
  • 1990 - Formerly communist East Germany merged with West Germany, ending 45 years of post-war division.
     
  • 1995 - A jury found ex-football player O.J. Simpson innocent of murder in the 1994 slayings of his former wife, Nichole Brown Simpson, and Ronald Goldman.

 

Today At Utah Policy

Utahns Overwhelmingly Support Legalizing Medical Marijuana, Oppose Recreational Use
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
Two-thirds of Utahns want to legalize medical marijuana prescribed by doctors, a new UtahPolicy poll finds....

Genius Panel: How Do We Get the Best and Brightest to Lead?
By LaVarr Webb, Publisher
This week’s question: Does our political system always/usually/sometimes/never produce the very best, brightest, most talented leaders to run our government institutions? Why or why not, and what is the solution?...

3rd District Democratic Candidate Promises 'Chaffetz is Going Down' (with video)
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Check out this web video from 3rd Congressional District Democratic candidate Stephen Tryon hitting a punching bag to promote his debate with Rep. Jason Chaffetz....

 

Western Values Project: Time for Western AGs to Publicly Oppose Land Transfer
By Press Release
Chris Saeger, Director of Western Values Project, today released the following statement about the recently released Conference of Western Attorneys General report concluding that lawsuits by states attempting to force the transfer of federal public land to states stands lit...

 

Utah Receives High Ranking in Business Tax Climate Index
By Press Release
The state of Utah has one of the top tax structures for businesses in the country according to a new report from the national Tax Foundation based in Washington, D.C....

Thoughts About the Candidacy of Donald Trump
By Kim Burningham
I emphatically oppose the election of Donald Trump, believing it would be a tragedy for our country should he be elected....

Policy News

 

Capitol Preservation Board Announces Capitol Centennial Celebration
The Utah State Capitol is turning 100-years-old! To celebrate, the Capitol Preservation Board will host a weeklong celebration at the Capitol building. All events are free and open to the public....

 

Senators Request Answers from DOJ, HHS on Potential Multimillion Dollar Insurance Company Bailout
Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), John Barrasso (R-WY), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Ben Sasse (R-NE) expressed concern over the participation of the Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in a potential multi...

Utah Child Population is Growing and Diversifying, says New Report
For the first time, the newest edition of Measures of Child Well-Being in Utah by Voices for Utah Children includes data by race and ethnicity. The data show that the Utah child population is growing and diversifying. ...

 

New Center at U College of Social Work to Focus on Migration, Refugee Integration
A newly launched research center at the University of Utah’s College of Social Work aims to advance the understanding and practice of effective integration of new Americans....

 

ABU Education Fund Finalizes 2016 Debate Series Details
The ABU Education Fund, an affiliate of the Alliance for a Better Utah, has finalized the details for its upcoming debate series, a collaboration with the University of Utah’s John R. Park Debate Society....

Local Headlines

Salt Lake Tribune

Op-ed: Utah and Sen. Hatch play a vital role in the nation's security

Paul Rolly: Utah Democrats seem to squander opportunities provided by Trump

Op-ed: We have the tools to support Utah County agriculture

Op-ed: Other states show that Utah did right to skip Medicaid expansion

Editorial: Bend the learning curve toward action on poverty

Editorial: City, county and state create a hopeful joint plan for facing homelessness

Utah guv would likely veto bill to OK concealed gun without a permit

UTA spent $37K on consultants to help defeat union

Young Utah voter registration booming with Facebook prompts, campus events

Salt Lake City Council, mayor cut deal on homeless shelters to break stalemate

Pro-Weinholtz ads try to tie Herbert to Trump and Putin, make appeal to Mormons

Swallow's request for appellate review of email issue is now before the Utah Supreme Court

Herbert backs away from $400 million promise for education boost

Party or principle: Trump at top of ticket has some Utah Republican leaders squirming

Governor, new board member urge era of transparency at UTA

Deseret News

Frank Pignanelli & LaVarr Webb: Dubious deep thinking about our political plight

Op-ed: Education is the foundation of our future

Op-ed: Government should not steal property

Op-ed: Donald Trump's policies will protect American citizens abroad

Mel S. Lavitt: Facebook deal a lost opportunity for the state and local communities

Editorial: Senator Hatch proposes visa-processing legislation

Editorial: LDS general conference, civil religion and the importance of moral voices

Utah Supreme Court could weigh in on case against ex-A.G. John Swallow

Revised plan calls for four small homeless resource centers in Salt Lake City

Stan Lee renaming convention may be good news for S.L. Comic Con

Apple CEO tells Utah tech leaders to dream big

Utah schools slowly begin hiring teachers without experience

Winter fast approaching, leaders accelerate efforts to relieve Rio Grande's homeless

Other

Utah County Trump supporters: LDS faith and Donald Trump are not at odds (Daily Herald)

Editorial: Utah lawmakers are lousy at running the state's alcohol business (Standard-Examiner)

Independent presidential candidate McMullin surging in Utah polls (Logan Herald Journal)

National Headlines

White House wants to add new racial category for Middle Eastern people (USA Today)

Trump moves to poach Sanders supporters with Clinton remarks (The Hill)

Sanders brushes off leaked Clinton criticism (CNN)

Trump's DC hotel vandalized with 'Black Lives Matter' graffiti (CNN)

Jeh Johnson weighs in on hacks into states, local election systems (CBS News)

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott officially pulls state out of federal refugee programs (Mic)

The Clean Power Plan's Courtroom Battle -- How Much Does It Matter? (Forbes)

As pipeline projects grow, so do protests (PBS)

Minnesota Hiking Obamacare Premiums At Least 50% To Avoid 'Collapse' (Daily Caller)

The need to replace EpiPens regularly adds to concerns about cost (PBS)