This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Obama launches new solar initiative in Utah. A first-hand account of Air Force One. Chaffetz's Secret Service past leaked.
Happy Friday. Top aides to Rep. Jason Chaffetz have asked the Department of Homeland Security to investigate a leak meant to embarrass and possibly intimidate the congressman. The Daily Beast was the first to report that Chaffetz once applied and was rejected by the Secret Service, an agency he is aggressively investigating in his role as House Oversight chairman. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/dhs-asked-to-probe-secret-service-over-release-of-chaffetzs-job-rejection/2015/04/02/08352c52-d98e-11e4-b3f2-607bd612aeac_story.html?tid=sm_tw" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/02/congressman-who-oversees-secret-service-was-rejected-by-secret-service.html?via=desktop&source=twitter" target="_blank">DailyBeast]
Topping the news: President Barack Obama will discuss the importance of investing in clean energy technology today and launch a new program called Solar Ready Vets, which will seek to retrain veterans to get jobs in the growing field. He'll make the announcement at Utah's Hill Air Force Base, which will be one of the pilot sites for Solar Ready Vets. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2358962-155/exclusive-obama-to-highlight-clean-energy-jobs" target="_blank">Trib]
->Obama met with high ranking LDS Church officials and Gov. Gary Herbert last night and took pictures with prominent Utah Democrats at the Sheraton Hotel, where he stayed the night. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2360146-155/president-obama-will-meet-with-mormon" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2015/04/02/obama-to-meet-with-lds-church-officials-during-utah-visit/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/obama-scheduled-to-meet-with-lds-church-leaders-during-visit/article_ce559035-a4ba-5a6b-a1d2-13b894fa9953.html" target="_blank">AP]
-> Ever wonder what it would be like to fly on Air Force One? The Tribune's Thomas Burr has this firsthand account. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2361029-155/the-only-way-to-fly-?page=1" target="_blank">Trib] And there's more on the president's trip to Utah below.
Tweets of the day: From @https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">SpencerJCox: "Safe to say we will not be presenting same gift in Utah. MT: @https://twitter.com/louisvillemayor" target="_blank">louisvillemayor: We'll also present POTUS w/ a trunk full of KY bourbon"
From @https://twitter.com/ConnollyNews" target="_blank">ConnollyNews: "Officer who wishes to remain anonymous: 'I've been telling everyone that Lindsay Lohan is in town.'"
From @https://twitter.com/OKnox" target="_blank">OKnox: "Man, I just hop for Obama's sake that the Iran nuclear negotiations website rollout goes ok..."
From @https://twitter.com/taylordmorgan" target="_blank">taylordmorgan "I preemptively blame @BarackObama for everything bad that happens in Utah over next 24 hours. #BlameObama #ThanksObama"
From @https://twitter.com/stevenpjackson" target="_blank">stevenpjackson "Just waiting for the rumors to start flying that Pres. @BarackObama will be attending LDS General Conference this weekend."
Happy Birthday: State Rep. Marie Poulson, and on Saturday to Karen Crompton, associate department director for Salt Lake County's human services, along with Jesse P. Higgins.
Tune in: Tribune reporters Tony Semerad, Jessica Miller and Peggy Fletcher Stack along with columnist Paul Rolly join guest host Ross Chambless to talk about presidential visits, Gov. Gary Herbert's vetos, a death penalty case, transgender Mormons and more. Listen to Behind the Headlines - the Tribune's weekly radio roundtable - live at 9 a.m. MDT on KCPW 88.3/105.3 FM or http://kcpw.org/" target="_blank">kcpw.org.
In other news: Here's a look at the 13 other presidents who have visited Utah and what their visits were like. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2355512-155/rolly-utah-presidential-visits-a" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Although Obama was greeted by Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee, there are a few Utah members of Congress who weren't present, including Reps. Chris Stewart, Jason Chaffetz and Mia Love. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865625537/Obama-set-to-arrive-in-Utah-on-Thursday.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Pat Bagley offers his take on Obama's visit. [https://cornflakesdummy.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=13715&action=edit" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Utah and 15 other states filed a brief Thursday to urge the Supreme Court to leave the issue of legalizing gay marriage up to the voters and state lawmakers. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2360792-155/utah-and-14-other-states-urge" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Ann Romney, wife of former GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney, has written a book of tips directed toward college graduates. The proceeds will go to the Ann Romney Center for Neurological Diseases. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/ann-romneys-new-book-to-aid-in-neurological-diseas/39958/eg_9ytZcQ06dpHidDIkDTg" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> UDOT is suing the contractor who built Utah County's Timpanogos Highway in 2012 after the road was finished late and with a slew of quality-related complaints. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2360028-155/udot-sues-timpanogos-highway-contractor-for" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/north/lehi/udot-files-suit-against-builder-of-timpanogos-highway/article_82bec585-b755-5854-b5f4-a8933219f77e.html" target="_blank">Herald] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865625596/UDOT-files-lawsuit-against-state-Route-92-contractors.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> The UTA board approved giving away 10 of their most expensive, most prone to breaking down buses to Idaho - for free. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2359696-155/utas-gift-to-idaho-free-buses" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Common Core education standards have been a major political issue nationwide, but some say talk of the Common Core Cataclysm has been overstated. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865625338/Some-states-scramble-with-flawed-Common-Core-tests-but-others-argue-testing-is-going-well.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Investigative reporters have picked up on some strange voting patterns in Colorado City, Ariz. Although they aren't sure of the cause there is speculation that the presence of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints might have something to do with it. [http://www.sltrib.com/blogs/polygamy/2359246-155/even-voting-is-strange-in-polygamous" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Educators in Ogden school district are looking to teach their young students more about current events. One class of fifth graders watches CNN every day and is putting together projects on solutions to ISIS, technology addiction and world hunger. [http://www.standard.net/Education/2015/04/02/Fifth-graders-learning-deeply.html" target="_blank">StandEx]
-> Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott talk about the week in politics. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/5269-bernick-and-schott-on-politics-episode-231" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
Nationally: President Barack Obama was late in his visit to Utah yesterday because he was reaching a "historic" agreement outlining limits on Iran's nuclear program. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765671164/Nuke-deal-World-powers-Iran-reach-crucial-framework.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/02/world/iran-nuclear-talks/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/04/02/obama-iran-deal_n_6993676.html" target="_blank">HuffPost] [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/iran-nuclear-deal-breakthrough-116618.html" target="_blank">Politico] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/04/02/u-s-iranian-officials-expected-to-speak-on-nuclear-deal/" target="_blank">WaPost] But Utah's members of Congress responded with skepticism that the agreement isn't strict enough. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2361110-155/iran-deal-not-tough-enough-say" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Amid the national controversy over Indiana's new religious liberties law, potential GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush pointed to Utah's SB296 as a model approach to balancing religious freedom and LGBT protections. [http://www.standard.net/Government/2015/04/02/Utah-s-SB296-hailed-as-a-better-approach.html" target="_blank">Standard] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/04/02/how-jeb-bush-has-answered-questions-about-religious-freedom-laws/?postshare=3081427979469873" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.businessinsider.com/jeb-bush-on-utahs-handling-of-religious-freedom-law-2015-4" target="_blank">BusinessInsider] [http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/04/01/bush-seems-to-shift-tone-in-his-praise-of-indiana-law/?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/237710-jeb-bush-shifts-tone-on-indiana-law" target="_blank">TheHill]
-> Meanwhile, Indiana lawmakers announced proposed changes to their law. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765671149/Indiana-unveils-changes-to-religion-bill-Arkansas-in-flux.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-indiana-religous-freedom-law-revise-20150402-story.html" target="_blank">LATimes] [http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32166862" target="_blank">BBC] [http://www.wsj.com/articles/indiana-lawmakers-unveil-changes-to-religious-freedom-law-1427981035" target="_blank">WSJ] [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-indiana-law-discrimination-20150402-story.html" target="_blank">ChicagoTribune]
-> Wednesday was the first day to apply for the 85,000 work visas available for highly skilled workers to travel to the U.S., but officials are already talking about resorting to a lottery because of such a high demand for visas. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865625538/Demand-again-expected-to-far-outstrip-supply-of-visas-for-highly-skilled-workers.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2015/04/02/u-s-set-to-reach-h-1b-working-visa-ceiling-within-days/" target="_blank">WSJ]
Where are they?
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]
— Matt Canham and Erica Palmer
http://www.Twitter.com/mattcanham" target="_blank">Twitter.com/mattcanham and https://twitter.com/erica_palmer">Twitter.com/erica_palmer