This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Romney says he won't back Donald Trump. Also, he'll skip the GOP convention. Memorial services for Bennett scheduled.
Happy Friday. Mitt Romney is not jumping on the Donald Trump train. The 2012 GOP presidential nominee said last night that he will not back Trump, nor Clinton, but still refuses to put his name in the ring as a possible independent candidate. "No, I'm certainly going to be hoping that we find someone who I have my confidence in who becomes nominee. I don't intend on supporting either of the major party candidates at this point." Romney said he sees too much "demagoguery and populism" with both likely party nominees. [<a href="http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/dismayed-romney-says-he-doesnt-intend-to-back-trump-worried-about-demagoguery-and-populism/article/2590558#.VywTb_HNz6k.twitter">Examiner</a>]
<strong>Topping the news: </strong>Romney, meanwhile, says he will not be attending the GOP convention in Cleveland. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865653624/With-Trump-on-top-Romney-will-not-attend-Republican-convention.html">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/05/05/mitt-romney-wont-attend-gop-convention-and-hes-not-alone/">Fox13</a>]
Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson is aiming to turn the disdain for Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton into votes for his presidential run on the Libertarian ticket. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3860581-155/libertarian-candidate-says-disaffected-voters-offer">Trib</a>]
-> Memorial Services for Bob Bennett have been scheduled in Virginia and Utah. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3859514-155/services-scheduled-for-former-sen-bennett">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865653680/Former-Sen-Bob-Bennetts-funeral-set-for-May-14-in-Salt-Lake-City.html">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3860608-155/president-obama-offers-condolences-over-former">ABC4</a>] President Barack Obama offered his condolences on the passing of the former senator. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3860608-155/president-obama-offers-condolences-over-former">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/obama-lee-leavitt-speak-on-passing-of-sen-bob-bennett">KUTV</a>]
-> Heather Gardner, who was defeated by Todd Weiler for a Senate seat at the state GOP convention, says she has proof that at least two ballots were cast illegally. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3860506-155/candidate-says-convention-shenanigans-may-have">Trib</a>]
<strong>Tweets of the day: </strong>From <a href="https://twitter.com/Bencjacobs">@bencjacobs</a>: "I always assumed in the general election that one party's nominee would go after Paul Ryan & Ryan's budget. Never thought it would be the GOP nominee. "
<strong>Happy Birthday</strong>: Today to state Majority Whip Sen. Stuart Adams, tomorrow to Gov. Gary Herbert and on Sunday to former state Reps. Phil Riesen and Kenneth Sumsion, Spencer Jenkins with the Utah System of Higher Education, former Hinckley Institute Director Kirk Jowers, state Sen. Mark Madsen and state Rep. Sophia DiCaro.
<strong>Tune in: </strong>Tribune religion writer Peggy Fletcher Stack; government and politics editor Dan Harrie; health, education and environment editor Rachel Piper and editorial writer George Pyle join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the week's top news stories including how Utah Republicans are processing Donald Trump, why Terry Tempest Williams resigned from the University of Utah and how Sen. Bob Bennett will be remembered. Listen to Behind the Headlines live at <span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">9 a.m.</span></span> on KCPW and Utah Public Radio<strong>.</strong>
<strong>In other news: </strong>Utahns will see more "red air" days this summer. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3856273-155/utahns-will-see-more-red-air">Trib</a>]
-> Strange weather has led to a roller coaster year for water. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3859271-155/strange-weather-yields-roller-coaster-water-year">Trib</a>]
-> Environmental groups have petitioned the EPA to revoke authority to administer portions of the federal Clean Water Act. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3860749-155/environmental-groups-petition-epa-to-revoke">Trib</a>]
-> Amid a primary election, Gov. Gary Herbert is backing off from his previous support of common core and SAGE testing. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3856840-155/utah-guv-candidates-herbert-and-johnson">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865653685/Gov-Gary-Herberts-big-change-over-Common-Core-puzzling.html">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/in-election-fight-utah-governor-retreats-from-common-core">APviaKUTV</a>] [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/top-stories/gop-challenger-accuses-governor-herbert-of-flip-flopping-on-common-core">ABC4</a>] [<a href="http://kuer.org/post/herbert-says-common-core-controversy-not-helping-students-students-calls-alternatives">KUER</a>]
-> Utah will receive $180,000 for its efforts to monitor the aftereffects of the 2015 Gold King Mine disaster. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3860834-155/utah-to-receive-additional-funds-to">Trib</a>]
-> Local E-cigarettes dealers are dealing with new federal regulations. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865653695/Sweeping-FDA-regulations-take-aim-at-e-cigarettes.html">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/05/05/fda-imposes-regulations-on-e-cigarette-industry/">Fox13</a>]
-> Funding for the UPSTART early education online program is causing some to question whether the company receives preferential treatment from lawmakers. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3831853-155/educational-software-and-questions-of?page=2">Trib</a>]
-> Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott discuss this week in politics, including Trump as the GOP nominee, Gov. Gary Herbert vs. Jonathan Johnson and the passing of Sen. Bennett. [<a href="http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/9416-Bryan%20Schott%20and%20Bob%20Bernick">UtahPolicy</a>]
-> Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill said the state's Medicaid funding is inadequate. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3860638-155/salt-lake-county-da-blasts-medicaid">Trib</a>] The public will have its chance to comment on the plan. [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/public-comment-hearings-on-medicaid-expansion-this-month">APviaKUTV</a>]
-> Provo School District clarified its intentions with its "gender neutral" bathrooms at the new Provo High School. [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/school-district-clarifies-intentions-for-gender-neutral-family-use-restrooms">ABC4</a>]
-> The number of reported rapes in Washington County went down by 50% last year. [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/50-fewer-sexual-assault-exams-taken-in-washington-co">ABC4</a>]
-> Some University of Utah students turned their backs during the commencement ceremony in protest of a honorary degree given to a woman formerly associated with an anti-LGBT group. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley offers his take on Donald's Trump ascent to the front of the GOP. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3860848-155/bagley-cartoon-trump-transmogrification">Trib</a>]
-> Paul Rolly remembers the late Sen. Bob Bennett. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3858903-155/remembering-gentleman-bob-bennett-boy">Trib</a>]
<strong>Nationally: </strong>House Spekaer Paul Ryan says he's not ready to back Donald Trump for president. [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ryan-says-he-is-not-ready-to-back-trump-deepening-gop-divide/2016/05/05/fab4c590-12ff-11e6-81b4-581a5c4c42df_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_trumpryan-810pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory">WaPost</a>] [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/06/us/politics/paul-ryan-donald-trump.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0">NYTimes</a>] [<a href="http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/paul-ryan-not-ready-support-endorse-donald-trump-presumptive-gop-nominee">TheHill</a>] Here's a list of prominent Republicans who have vowed to never back Trump. [<a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/278141-republicans-who-vow-to-never-back-trump">TheHill</a>]
-> World leaders expressed concern about the rise of Trump in America and what it may mean for international diplomacy. [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/06/world/europe/donald-trump-foreign-policy.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news">NYTimes</a>]
-> House Republicans are beginning to fear the Trump impact. [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/house-republicans-donald-trump-222875">Politico</a>]
-> North Carolina leaders said they will not back down from the state's controversial "bathroom law" after the Justice Department said the statute violated civil rights laws. [<a href="http://time.com/4320104/north-carolina-bathroom-law-justice-department/?xid=homepage">Time</a>]
-> Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton is targeting Republicans who once donated to George Bush. [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/hilary-clinton-bush-donors-222872">Politico</a>]
<strong>Where are they?</strong>
<ul>
<li>Rep. Chris <a href="https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart"; target="_blank"><strong>Stewart</strong></a> tours the George Washington Academy in St. George and meets with constituents in his St. George Office.</li>
<li>Gov. Gary <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/GovHerbert"; target="_blank">Herbert</a></strong> participates in a ceremonial bill signing, then heads to the University of Utah College of Engineering Commencement and the Carbon County Lincoln Day Dinner.</li>
<li>Lt. Gov. Spencer <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox"; target="_blank">Cox</a></strong> attends the Northern Wasatch Realtors Luncheon</li>
<li>State Auditor John <strong><a href="http://twitter.com/FrugalDougall"; target="_blank">Dougall</a></strong> meets with Carbon County officials and then eats at the Carbon County Lincoln Day Dinner.</li>
<li>President Barack <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama"; target="_blank">Obama</a></strong> sits down with Secretary of Defense Ash Carter.</li>
</ul>
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— Thomas Burr and Michael Anderson
<a title="Thomas Burr" href="https://twitter.com/thomaswburr"; target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/mkrusenews</a>