Utah will accept Medicaid expansion. Herbert says he's open to civil unions for same-sex couples. Becker slams state leaders over air quality.
Countdown:
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3 days until the start of the 2014 Legislature
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48 days until the final day of the 2014 Legislature
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151 days until Utah's 2014 primary elections
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284 days to the 2014 midterm elections
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647 days to the 2015 elections
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712 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
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1018 days to the 2016 presidential election
Today's Utah news highlights:
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Gov. Gary Herbert says the state will accept some form of Medicaid expansion from the federal government [Tribune].
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Gov. Herbert says he while he will continue to defend Amendment 3 in the courts, he would be open to exploring the idea of civil unions for same-sex couples [Tribune].
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Traditional marriage advocates announce legislation designed to protect religious freedom [Deseret News].
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Fact-checking the LDS Church's video claiming Utah's existing liquor laws don't need any further changes [City Weekly].
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The LDS Church wields big influence on Utah's Capitol Hill, especially when it comes to liquor policy [Standard-Examiner].
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Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker comes out swinging on air quality, saying the state is an "obstacle" to efforts toward reducing pollution [Tribune].
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It sure looks like House Speaker Becky Lockhart is readying a challenge to Gov. Herbert in 2016 [Tribune].
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Rep. Paul Ray wants to crack down on electronic cigarettes [Deseret News].
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New Census numbers show more people are moving into Utah than are moving away [Tribune].
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New West Valley City Police Chief Lee Russo holds a public meeting with residents [Tribune].
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Russo and Provo Police Chief John King are working to end the use of racial profiling in their departments [KSL].
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Utah ranks last in providing breakfast to low-income students in public schools [Tribune].
On this day in history:
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Gold was discovered at Sutter's mill in California in 1848.
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The first Boy Scout group was organized in England in 1908.
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The Russian city of St. Petersberg was renamed Leningrad in 1924.
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Winston Churchill died in London at the age of 90 in 1965.
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Confessed serial killer Ted Bundy was executed in Florida's electric chair in 1989.
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Retired Supreme Court justice Thurgood Marshall passed away in 1993.
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The prosecution in the O.J. Simpson murder trial gave their opening statement in 1995.
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The Department of Homeland Security became a cabinet department in 2003.
