This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Romney gives the new Mass. guv bunny ears. Utah lawmaker wants to legalize guns on buses. Poll: Utahns want natural gas buses.

Happy Friday. Mitt Romney may, or may not, be running for president, depending on whom you ask. But at least he's having a good time in deciding. Romney attending the swearing in ceremony in Boston yesterday for Republican Charlie Baker, now the Massachusetts governor. When folks at the ceremony began snapping photos with Baker, Romney stood behind the new chief executive with bunny ears, 'cause you know, why not? [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/01/08/mitt-romney-ruins-or-improves-photo-by-giving-scott-brown-bunny-ears/" target="_blank">WaPost]

Topping the news: Utah Rep. Norm Thurston, R-Provo, is working on legislation to legalize carrying a weapon onto a bus or UTA train, saying those areas are no different than other public areas. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2034942-155/lawmaker-wants-to-allow-weapons-on" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A big majority of Utahns favor converting public and school buses to compressed natural gas over diesel, as House Speaker Greg Hughes has proposed. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4459-poll-plan-to-convert-diesel-buses-to-natural-gas-has-far-reaching-support" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> The Senate yesterday ratified Sen. Orrin Hatch as the choice to lead the powerful Senate Finance Committee, and he said health care reform is on his agenda. [http://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/228942-hatch-officially-ratified-as-finance-chairman" target="_blank">TheHill]

Tweet of the day: From @https://twitter.com/NathanWurtzel" target="_blank">NathanWurtzel "I knew Ben Carson's book would be a problem when I saw the first sentence is: "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit."

@https://twitter.com/hunterw" target="_blank">hunterw "Always love it when obscure local political figures weigh in on international news."

Happy Birthday: Today to KUER's Elaine Clark, Saturday to Bobby Harrington and on Sunday to former state Rep. Jackie Biskupski and XMission founder Pete Ashdown.

Tune in: Tribune health and environment editor Rebecca Walsh and reporters Thomas Burr, Matt Canham and Robert Gehrke talk about inaugurations, the prison move, wood smoke, measles and more during Behind the Headlines, the Trib's weekly news roundtable. Listen live at 9 a.m. MT on KCPW 88.3 FM or http://www.kcpw.org/" target="_blank">http://www.kcpw.org;.

-> Comedy Central's "The Daily Show" spotlighted Utah's successful battle against homelessness on Wednesday night, saying the best way to avoid being homeless is to move to Utah. [http://www.sltrib.com/home/2034718-155/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865619165/Comedy-Centrals-The-Daily-Show-shines-a-spotlight-on-Utahs-homelessness-policy.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://www.kutv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/Daily-Show-praises-Utah-39-s-homeless-housing-program-67795.shtml#.VK9FW8ahl4U" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> Rep. Mia Love appears on Fox News' Greta Van Susteren to say that she wants to get a bill changing Obamacare to the president to force him to act on his veto threat. [http://nation.foxnews.com/2015/01/08/newest-cbc-member-mia-love-intends-get-obamacare-bill-presidents-desk" target="_blank">FoxNews]

-> Bob Bernick says the effort to delay implementation of the caucus-convention changes is the "Save Mike Lee" alternative. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4461-bob-bernick-s-notebook-stopping-sb-54-to-save-mike-lee" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> Bernick and Bryan Schott discuss this week in politics, including that the Legislature convenes in three weeks and the fight over SB54. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4458-bernick-and-schott-on-politics-episode-219" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> In wake of the Common Core controversy, Utah school leaders are carefully beginning the process of updating the state's science education standards. They plan to model the revised standards on another set of standards that were created by science experts and complement Common Core. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2036484-155/state-school-board-starts-work-on" target="_blank">Trib]

-> More than two dozen activists for Utah Tar Sands Resistance were sentenced to community service yesterday after protesting against tar sands development in the Uintah Basin over the summer. The protesters believe the government should punish those "corporate criminals" who are destroying the Earth. [http://fox13now.com/2015/01/08/tar-sands-protesters-strike-mass-plea-deals/" target="_blank">FOX]

-> The Logan Municipal Council voted on Wednesday to ban e-cigarettes from parks and outdoor public spaces. [http://news.hjnews.com/allaccess/logan-municipal-council-bans-e-cigarettes-from-outdoor-public-spaces/article_82b73198-96d4-11e4-9cb3-a39297c79163.html" target="_blank">HJNews]

-> Paul Rolly notes that a recent Emmy Award winner from Utah once saved his rooster by mouth-to-beak resuscitation. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2035793-155/rolly-utah-emmy-winner-saves-a" target="_blank">Trib]

Nationally: President Obama announced a new proposal yesterday to give all citizens who meet certain base requirements two free years of community college. Although the project doesn't yet have price tag other than "significant," it could potentially benefit 9 million students a year. [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/09/us/politics/obama-proposes-free-community-college-education-for-some-students.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-to-call-for-two-years-of-free-community-college-for-all-students-1420760026" target="_blank">WSJ] [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/barack-obama-free-community-college-114094.html?hp=l2_4" target="_blank">Politico] [http://money.cnn.com/2015/01/08/pf/college/obama-free-college/" target="_blank">CNN]

-> The showdown in the Senate has begun, with the GOP armed with their list of bills they hope to speed through and President Obama armed with his veto power, which he holds at the ready. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765665805/Ready-set-showdown-New-GOP-leader-Obama-lining-up-fights.html" target="_blank">AP]

-> Sen. Orrin Hatch spoke on the Senate floor yesterday morning encouraging talk about the Keystone XL Pipeline, a project that has been in limbo for six years. Watch his speech here: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsjFpSw1IVM&feature=youtu.be" target="_blank">YouTube]. The bill cleared a Senate committee and will go to the floor next week, but still faces the threat of Obama's veto. [http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/senate-approves-keystone-bill-despite-obamas-veto-threat/" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.npr.org/2015/01/08/375799646/obama-gop-to-face-off-over-keystone-xl-pipeline" target="_blank">NPR] [http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2015/01/06/obama-threatens-to-veto-keystone-xl-pipeline-pundits-react" target="_blank">USNews] [http://www.cbsnews.com/news/keystone-xl-pipeline-bill-advances-in-senate/" target="_blank">CBS]

-> The House approved a bill Thursday to change Obamacare's 30-hour workweek provision, although the White House had said this bill is also on Obama's "to-veto" list. [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/jan/8/house-passes-40-hour-workweek-obamacare-mandate/" target="_blank">WaTimes] [http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/01/08/house-approves-obamacare-bill-despite-veto-threat/" target="_blank">FOX]

-> Days after Florida's ban on gay marriage was lifted, Florida Gov Jeb Bush said people should accept court rulings and respect gays and their relationships, revealing a much more open stance to gay marriage than in the past and a possible growing trend among other GOP presidential candidate hopefuls. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/has-jeb-bush-shown-republicans-a-new-way-to-talk-about-same-sex-marriage/2015/01/07/5d03a4c2-95e4-11e4-927a-4fa2638cd1b0_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://time.com/3654939/jeb-bush-urges-respect-for-florida-gay-marriage-ruling-but-declines-specifics/" target="_blank">TIME] [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/05/jeb-bush-marriage_n_6416596.html" target="_blank">HuffPost]

-> President Obama is facing opposition from the Democrats in Congress as he tries to win the authority to negotiate international trade agreements and fast-track them through Congress. [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/09/business/democrats-step-up-efforts-to-block-obama-on-trade-promotion-authority.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes]

-> Ex-body builder and America's ambassador to Finland Bruce Oreck proves with his beefy Christmas cards that he hasn't quite let go of the glory days. [http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/yes-man-u-s-ambassador-finland/" target="_blank">PBS]

-> Experts say the government's dietary guidelines for 2015 could include some changes, such as giving specific limits on sugar, deemphasizing the dangers of salt, and recommending less caffeine for pregnant women. [http://www.sltrib.com/home/2035428-155/5-things-to-look-for-as" target="_blank">AP]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Jason https://twitter.com/jasoninthehouse" target="_blank">Chaffetz votes and attends various meetings in Washington before returning to Utah later in the day.
  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert speaks at the Utah Economic Review and attends the inauguration of SLCC's new president.
  • SLC Mayor Ralph https://twitter.com/SLCMayorsOffice" target="_blank">Becker is in West Palm Beach, Fla. for the National League of Cities Leadership retreat.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama heads to Knoxville, Tenn., to talk about helping more Americans go to college and then travels to Clinton, Tenn., to offer remarks on efforts to create high-paying manufacturing jobs.
  • Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com" target="_blank">cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [http://www.sltrib.com/pages/email" target="_blank">Trib]

    — Thomas Burr and Erica Palmer

    https://twitter.com/thomaswburr" target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr and https://twitter.com/erica_palmer">Twitter.com/erica_palmer