This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Orrin Hatch, the 'happiest senator in Washington.' Romney, Bush set to meet in Utah. Matheson to host Hoyer fundraiser.
Happy Thursday. Yahoo News' Jon Ward sat down with Sen. Orrin Hatch recently to discuss his goals as the new chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and the Senate president pro tem, and Ward declared Hatch the "happiest senator in Washington." [http://news.yahoo.com/orrin-hatch-is-the-happiest-senator-in-washington-230742347.html" target="_blank">Yahoo]
Topping the news: Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush are set to meet privately in Utah this week, possibly to hash out whether both are running for the presidency. [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/22/us/politics/romney-and-jeb-bush-to-meet-raising-speculation-on-presidential-race.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes]
-> Romney, meanwhile, spoke in Salt Lake City last night but was mum on any White House hopes as he offered financial advise at a forum. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2084830-155/romney-shares-political-financial-views-at" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Former Rep. Jim Matheson may be out of office but he's still hosting a fundraiser, albeit to help his former political mentor, House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2064123-155/jim-matheson-now-with-lobbying-firm" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A new poll shows Utahns would be most interested in a gubernatorial race between Gov. Gary Herbert and Matheson, and there are few candidates who would otherwise attract much attention. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/4574-poll-herbert-and-matheson-running-for-governor-would-generate-interest" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
Tweet of the day: From @https://twitter.com/RexHuppke" target="_blank">RexHuppke "The Senate just voted 98-1 that climate change 'is not a hoax.' The United States of America has reached maximum absurdity."
Tune in: John Dehlin, who created the "Mormon Stories" podcast, joins Jennifer Napier-Pearce to discuss faith, apostasy and his upcoming church disciplinary council. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.
In other news: Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker issued an executive order directing the Police Civilian Review Board to publicly disclose the reports for all high-profile and controversial cases, except when they have extra-sensitive privacy interests. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2084341-155/becker-orders-police-civilian-review-board" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865620069/Salt-Lake-mayor-orders-some-officer-shooting-reports-to-be-made-public.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/police-civilian-review-board-to-start-publicizing/67303/T_Iqsjc-o0Odf6Sbc1ox5g" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://kuer.org/post/salt-lake-city-civilian-review-board-disclose-all-reports-high-profile-cases" target="_blank">KUER]
-> A federal judge determined yesterday that two of Warren Jeffs' brothers and members of the FLDS sect do have sincere religious beliefs and are exempt from answering certain questions about their church and possible violations of child labor laws in 2012. However, the judge also said that they will have to answer some of the questions that are in government interest and don't conflict with their religious beliefs. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2072546-155/polygamist-leaders-may-have-to-answer?fullpage=1" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2015/01/21/flds-leaders-will-not-testify-in-child-labor-case-due-to-sincerely-held-religious-beliefs/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/taste/289353851.html" target="_blank">AP]
-> Pat Bagley offers a couple new cartoons after the State of the Union Address, one snarking on Rep. Jason Chaffetz's opinion on a few of Obama's favorite issues [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2085763-155/bagley-cartoon-jason-chaffetz-is-shocked" target="_blank">Trib] and one blasting the official Republican response from Sen. Joni Ernst. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2081354-155/bagley-cartoon-american-snipper" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Once again, an overwhelming number of local residents turned up Tuesday for a public hearing for Utah's proposed wood-burning ban, this time in Ogden and Brigham City. During the two hour hearing, all but two voiced their opposition for the ban. [http://www.standard.net/Environment/2015/01/21/Weber-County-residents-speak-against-burning-ban.html" target="_blank">StandardExaminer] [http://fox13now.com/2015/01/20/harsh-words-expressed-toward-daq-governor-during-wood-burning-public-meetings/" target="_blank">FOX13]
-> A new report by the EPA says Utah ranks No. 2 nationwide for total toxic releases per square mile, an amount largely due to Utah's Kennecott Utah Copper mine. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865620060/EPA-inventory-highlights-toxic-releases-Utah-is-No-2-spot-in-the-nation.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/utah-ranks-second-toxic-releases" target="_blank">KUER]
-> Homeowners on Salt Lake's East Bench are opposing a new community council proposal to rezone a lot in the Mt. Olympus community and possibly turn it into a high-rise or business development. [http://fox13now.com/2015/01/21/homeowners-oppose-proposed-rezoning-of-lot-in-mt-olympus-community/" target="_blank">FOX13]
-> Salt Lake County will host the inaugural meeting of the Homelessness Services Collective Impact Council tomorrow to discuss improvement in the county's homeless services. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865620094/SL-county-city-convening-panels-to-study-services-facilities-for-homeless-population.html" target="_blank">DNews]
Nationally: The Republican-controlled Senate voted yesterday that climate change is real, although the body refused to say whether humans are the cause. [http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268798/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=KFGnJnTH" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/senate-climate-change-vote-114463.html" target="_blank">Politico] [http://time.com/3677496/climate-change-wicker-inhofe/" target="_blank">TIME] [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/01/21/senate-climate-change-key_n_6519728.html" target="_blank">HuffPost] [http://news.sciencemag.org/climate/2015/01/updated-u-s-senate-set-vote-whether-climate-change-hoax" target="_blank">ScienceMag]
-> House Republicans dropped plans to vote on an abortion bill yesterday, after disagreeing over the technicalities. The bill would make all abortions after 20 weeks illegal, with some exceptions. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765666810/House-Republicans-run-into-divisions-over-abortion-bill.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/01/21/abortion-bill-in-flux-as-female-gop-lawmakers-raise-concerns/" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.cnn.com/2015/01/21/politics/house-gop-abortion-bill/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/house-gop-abortion-vote-114454.html" target="_blank">Politico] [http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/01/21/house-republicans-pull-abortion-ban-bill/" target="_blank">WSJ]
-> Obama made his first visit to Idaho as president yesterday, reiterating his "middle-class economics" and telling the audience at Boise State University that he can achieve success late in his presidency, just like Boise did in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765666850/Obama-pitches-his-economic-plan-to-conservatives-in-Idaho.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/22/us/obama-to-take-state-of-the-union-theme-to-idaho-and-kansas.html" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/01/21/3602822/live-president-obama-comes-to.html" target="_blank">IdahoStatesman] [http://www.usatoday.com/story/theoval/2015/01/21/obama-idaho-south-carolina-south-dakota-utah-state-of-the-union/22102503/" target="_blank">USAToday] [http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-obama-47-states-20150121-story.html" target="_blank">LATimes]
-> As the Republican Congress continues to push for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline from Canada to the Gulf, Montana's Yellowstone River just took its second oil spill in four years. Traces of contaminants were found in the drinking water, causing the governor of Montana to declare a state of emergency in two counties. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765666847/Montana-oil-spill-renews-worries-over-pipeline-safety.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.npr.org/2015/01/20/378660013/montana-governor-declares-state-of-emergency-after-river-oil-spill" target="_blank">NPR] [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/21/us/traces-of-montana-oil-spill-are-found-in-drinking-water.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-yellowstone-river-oil-spill-20150120-story.html" target="_blank">LATimes] [http://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/cancer-causing-agent-detected-water-after-montana-oil-spill-n289746" target="_blank">NBC]
-> Vice President Joe Biden expressed interest Wednesday in running for the White House— even if he has to challenge Hillary Clinton to do it. [http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/joe-biden-reveals-chance-challenge-hillary-clinton/story?id=28368686" target="_blank">ABC] [http://edition.cnn.com/2015/01/21/politics/biden-opens-door-to-2016/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://www.today.com/news/joe-biden-potential-2016-white-house-run-i-think-i-2D80438438" target="_blank">TODAY] [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/01/joe-biden-hillary-clinton-election-2016-democrats-114436.html" target="_blank">Politico] [http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2015/01/21/vice-president-joe-biden-hints-at-2016-bid/" target="_blank">WSJ]
Where are they?
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— Thomas Burr and Erica Palmer
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