This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

White House florist gone after clash with first lady. Gov. Herbert signs e-cig regulation. Google Fiber coming to SLC.

Happy Wednesday. The White House's head florist is gone, and while officially she resigned, there's more than meets the eye. Laura Dowling reportedly clashed with First Lady Michelle Obama over style. Laura's work "is just different. I'm not sure if it was right for the White House," said one top floral designer in the area who has done freelance florist work for splashy big events at 1600 Penn. This designer, like many we talked to, spoke on the condition of anonymity because "the floral community is very small, and nobody wants to put down anybody's work." [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/reliable-source/wp/2015/03/24/war-of-the-roses-former-white-house-floral-designers-look-clashed-with-first-ladys/?hpid=z5" target="_blank">WaPost]

Topping the news: Gov. Gary Herbert signed 42 bills into law yesterday, including one regulating e-cigarettes, one creating a statewide white-collar crime registry, and one allowing terminally ill patients to try experimental drugs. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2328688-155/gov-signs-e-cig-bill-white-collar-crime" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/24/governor-signs-more-bills-into-law-including-white-collar-crime-registry/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624933/Guv-signs-white-collar-crime-right-to-try-e-cigarette-bills.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Roman Catholic nun and renowned capital punishment opponent Sister Helen Prejean told Utah college students yesterday that the reinstatement of the firing squad in Utah is a more transparent form of the death penalty and might help the death penalty be abolished sooner. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624925/Firing-squads-return-in-Utah-may-hasten-end-of-death-penalty-Sister-Prejean-says.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/sister-helen-prejean-calls-utahns-challenge-death-penalty" target="_blank">KUER]

-> With the governor's recent signing of the bill reinstating the firing squad, here are the details on how it will work: [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765670646/Utah-brings-back-the-firing-squad-so-how-does-it-work.html" target="_blank">AP]

Tweets of the day: From @https://twitter.com/RobertGehrke" target="_blank">RobertGehrke: "Gov signed Horse tripping amendments. So you can share a cow but you can't trip a horse. #EatMoreChick'n"

From @https://twitter.com/BjaminWood" target="_blank">BjaminWood: "The real question is how did Supt. Smith's children feel about being compared to Utah teachers."

From @https://twitter.com/keder" target="_blank">keder: "Step 1: Talk about how awesome Obamacare exchanges are. Step 2: Make fun of Ted Cruz for using them. Step 3: ????? Step 4: #winning"

Tune in: Gov. Gary Herbert joins Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about Healthy Utah, firing squads and other wins, losses and compromises from the Utah legislative session. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MDT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.

In other news: The Utah Board of Regents is expected to approve a 3 percent tuition increase for Utah's colleges and universities, which it says will be the lowest increase in 15 years. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624902/3-percent-college-tuition-increase-on-the-table-for-2015-16.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> After a near liquor-less disaster at last year's Oktoberfest, members of Utah's Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission are discussing more flexible approaches to granting alcohol permits to events. [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/liquor-board-considers-new-rule-for-events-like-oktoberfest/article_fb277ba2-12a5-5def-aacc-1424b6ab4b9a.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://fox13now.com/2015/03/24/dabc-explores-changes-to-rule-after-oktoberfest-without-beer-fiasco/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> The state has announced the opening of a new liquor store in West Valley City, the first state-run liquor store to be built since 2010. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2327534-155/new-liquor-store-to-be-built" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Unless Gov. Hebert vetoes SB294, taxi cabs in Salt Lake City will no longer have regulations or set fairs, leaving the door open for ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Lyft. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2328882-155/slc-transportation-regulations-moot-if-guv" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Utahns who didn't have health insurance in 2014 are now finding out how much they'll have to pay under Obamacare rules. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/special-enrollment-period-established-for-those-pa/38724/Irlz7aMLD06X4QARRhuk5g" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> UTA is looking to reduce emissions and save fuel with its paratransit vehicles by installing hybrid-drive systems. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624891/UTA-aims-to-reduce-emissions-on-paratransit-buses.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Turns out Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox's comical commercials last year did more than prompt 40,000 Utahns to register, they also won some national awards. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2327099-155/rolly-utah-turns-to-award-winning-comedy" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Almost 2,000 Latino youths will meet at the University of Utah this week for the annual Latinos in Action conference. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624894/U-hosting-annual-Latinos-in-Action-conference.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Industry leaders and commercial developers met yesterday at the first Utah County Commercial Real Estate Symposium to discuss development in Utah County. [http://www.heraldextra.com/business/local/mayors-industry-leaders-discuss-development-in-utah-county/article_9c07a0d4-0d36-52b4-a0a1-3e11001c5117.html" target="_blank">Herald]

-> Demolition of Midvale's Road Home overflow homeless shelter is underway to make room for a new shelter. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624930/Road-Home-overflow-shelter-torn-down-to-make-way-for-new-facility.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Members of the Utah Wildlife Board approved a plan to manage endangered prairie dogs in Utah's non-federal lands. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865624889/Utah-prairie-dog-plan-approved.html" target="_blank">DNews]

Nationally: GOP presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz's promise to abolish the IRS if he gets elected might not be as easy as he makes it sound. [AP] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/ted-cruzs-irrational-war-against-the-irs/2015/03/23/84fc9590-d196-11e4-8fce-3941fc548f1c_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost]

-> With Cruz in full-blown campaign mode and his wife on an unpaid, uninsured leave from her job, Cruz said yesterday he will be signing his family up for Obamacare, a law that he has vowed to repeal if he makes it to the White House. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2328529-155/cruz-to-buy-insurance-via-obamacare" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.cnn.com/2015/03/24/politics/ted-cruz-obamacare/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/ted-cruz-enroll-obamacare-116363.html" target="_blank">Politico] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/03/24/ted-cruz-is-signing-up-for-obamacare/" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/ted-cruz-sign-obamacare-law-hates/story?id=29878708" target="_blank">ABC]

-> The Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday regarding the EPA's move to limit certain gases emitted by power plants, a decision that critics say was overstepping the agency's bounds. [http://thehill.com/regulation/energy-environment/236863-epa-regulations-face-new-test-at-high-court" target="_blank">TheHill] [http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/03/24/epa-mercury-rule-for-power-plants-goes-before-supreme-court" target="_blank">USNews]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Chris https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart" target="_blank">Stewart chairs an Appropriations Interior Hearing, attends a joint meeting of Congress with the president of Afghanistan, meets with the Utah Cattlemen's Association and GE Healthcare and attends other hearings.
  • Rep. Mia https://twitter.com/RepMiaLove" target="_blank">Love attends a Financial Services meeting and a joint session of Congress with the president of Afghanistan and meets with Utah Speaker Greg Hughes and city mayors from the Fourth District.
  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert appears on The Salt Lake Tribune's daily Trib Talk.
  • SL Co. Mayor Ben https://twitter.com/MayorBenMcAdams" target="_blank">McAdams speaks at the University of Utah Beehive Honors Society.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama delivers remarks for the fifth anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, meets with Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell and meets with local elected officials and small business exporters to discuss trade.
  • 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