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Poll: Sen. Mike Lee would beat Jim Matheson. Why it's good to check your White House invite twice. Budget cuts hurting IRS' ability to help on tax questions.
Happy Thursday. Following up on yesterday's poll that showed Sen. Mike Lee topping Josh Romney with Republicans, Utah Policy is out with more details showing that Sen. Lee would, as it looks now, beat a challenge by former Rep. Jim Matheson. With a 4 percent margin of error, it's technically a statistical dead heat but interesting nonetheless. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/5328-poll-lee-would-top-matheson-in-2016" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
Topping the news: Thinking he was attending a press conference at Hill Air Force Base with a senior White House official, an Air National Guardsman and UVU student was surprised when he found himself just a seat away from President Obama in a closed door meeting. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/765671501/Surprise-Utah-guardsman-dons-polo-ends-at-table-with-Obama.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2015/04/08/miscommunication-lands-utah-man-at-round-table-with-pres-obama/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/5324-white-house-mix-up-got-some-random-guy-into-a-meeting-with-president-obama" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> As Tax Day nears, the nation's tax employees are being spread thinner and thinner. Budget cuts and drastically reduced staffing are leaving employees unable to answer more than half the calls that come in with taxes questions. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2379061-155/irs-budget-cuts-reduced-staffing-mean" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A new report by the U.S. Department of Education shows that Utah has one of the smallest percentages of preschool students in the nation. [http://www.sltrib.com/home/2374660-155/utah-trails-the-nation-with-public" target="_blank">Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @https://twitter.com/BenWinslow" target="_blank">BenWinslow: "@utahbecky recalls her 7th grade campaign campaign slogan for school leader: 'Becky Price is Nice!' She lost."
From @https://twitter.com/Acosta" target="_blank">Acosta: "On the ground in Jamaica, POTUS is at the Bob Marley museum, per WH pool."
From @https://twitter.com/TheFix" target="_blank">TheFix "This headline is amazing: 'Clinton to focus on contact with voters at start of 2016 bid.' Good idea."
Happy Anniversary: To Robert and Mary Lee Downward of Moab, who are celebrating 67 years together today. The couple has eight children, 32 grandchildren and 34 great grandchildren.
Tune in: With more than than a month-long wait time for veterans at Salt Lake's Wahlen Medical Center, advocate Terry Schow and Tribune reporter Nate Carlisle join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the backlog and ways to improve medical care for veterans. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MDT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.
In other news: Some say Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker's fierce opposition against a federal halfway house — which he later found out has no intention of expanding — shows that the campaign pressure may be getting to him. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2377427-155/was-beckers-halfway-house-misfire-the" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The Office of the Utah State Auditor released a report yesterday that cited instances where registered sex offenders were living at or around home child care facilities, giving the state room for improvement in keeping track of its offenders. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2377260-155/audit-finds-problems-monitoring-utah-sex" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865626031/Sex-offenders-lived-in-homes-that-provide-child-care-state-audit-says.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2015/04/08/utah-audit-finds-sex-offenders-living-in-near-child-care-facilities/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/audit-sex-offenders-living-at-homes-offering-child-care/article_8d46a97c-d606-5fc7-bc93-c82b92b833a0.html" target="_blank">AP] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/utah-auditors-office-releases-performance-audit-of/35039/9twatsNWr0KxHzBseweQVA" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert participated in a ceremonial bill signing for five education bills yesterday and spent some time with middle school kids at Joel P. Jensen Middle School in West Jordan. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865626025/Lawmakers-put-their-money-where-their-mouth-is-mdash-visit-local-middle-school-for-education-bill.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/governor-herbert-signs-education-legislation-spend/16306/NtjKOvtjeEmpPziHhM_hxQ" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> The Human Rights Campaign is criticizing a statement made by LDS Church Leader L. Tom Perry during the church's General Conference when he voiced opposition to "counterfeit and alternative lifestyles" trying to replace the traditional family. [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/central/provo/gay-families-not-counterfeit-human-rights-campaign-says/article_19058a5d-dc25-539b-a244-0bd30ae9eda1.html" target="_blank">Herald]
-> Glen Greenwald, the journalist who worked to publish government information leaked by Edward Snowden, told University of Utah students yesterday that the "collect-all" philosophy of the NSA impedes the freedom of Americans and hints at a tyrannical system. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2331830-155/snowden-journalist-visits-u-says-goal" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A new report by the Women's Policy Research gave Utah a C-minus grade, showing that poverty rates have risen among women and the gender wage gap persists. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2378288-155/report-utah-women-losing-ground-in" target="_blank">Trib]
-> UTA gave itself high marks for its last year, saying it completely hit 13 out of 16 of its 2014 goals. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2378626-155/uta-gives-itself-high-marks-in" target="_blank">Trib] UTA officials also praised their safety record, with 2014 bringing more trains but no fatalities. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865626022/Safety-campaign-brings-fatalities-down-UTA-officials-say.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Officials are trying to get a bond on the Salt Lake City ballot this November that would allow the city to update or repurpose some of the city's failing golf courses. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/glendale-golf-course-closing/11583/-zFc-1eI40WbRDa-mgJwng" target="_blank">ABC4]
Nationally: The White House issued an official statement denouncing "conversion therapy" for homosexual and transgender young people in response to a petition from transgender supporters. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/barack-obama-denounces-conversion-therapies-for-gays-116797.html?hp=c2_3" target="_blank">Politico] [http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/08/politics/white-house-seeks-ban-on-gay-conversion-therapies/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/us/politics/obama-to-call-for-end-to-conversion-therapies-for-gay-and-transgender-youth.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes] [https://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2015/04/08/petition-response-conversion-therapy" target="_blank">WhiteHouse] [http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/04/08/398411824/white-house-says-it-supports-efforts-to-ban-gay-conversion-therapy" target="_blank">NPR] The same day, officials announced the addition of gender-neutral restrooms at the White House as the Obama administration's latest symbol of tolerance and inclusion toward the LGBT community. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/white-house-gender-neutral-bathroom-116779.html?hp=l1_3" target="_blank">Politico] [http://time.com/3814410/white-house-gender-neutral-restroom/" target="_blank">Time]
-> After a contentious interview with a female NBC host today, Sen. Rand Paul admitted that he sometimes gets testy with reporters. [http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/why-dont-we-let-me-explain-rand-paul-spars-savannah-n337856" target="_blank">NBC] [http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/08/politics/election-2016-rand-paul-south-carolina/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/238170-rand-pauls-nbc-interview-gets-testy" target="_blank">TheHill] [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/rand-paul-savannah-guthrie-fight-116757.html?ml=po" target="_blank">Politico] [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/04/08/rand-pauls-problem-with-female-interviewers-just-cropped-up-again/" target="_blank">WaPost] His first day on the trail shows he is going to be an interesting candidate to watch at the very least. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/04/08/rand-paul-had-a-bad-day-and-he-ended-it-in-a-very-rand-paul-way/" target="_blank">WaPost]
-> After a cell phone video came out showing a white police officer fatally shooting an unarmed black man in the back, North Charleston city officials have fired the police officer and promised body cameras for their entire police department in an effort to avoid another Ferguson. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/in-north-charleston-urgent-promises-of-change-to-avoid-another-ferguson/2015/04/08/659b16c2-de25-11e4-be40-566e2653afe5_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/08/us/south-carolina-officer-charged-with-murder/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/us/walter-scott-north-charleston-residents-express-disgust-but-not-surprise.html" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/walter-scott-shooting/north-charleston-police-chief-walter-scott-shooting-i-was-sickened-n337941" target="_blank">NBC] [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2376972-155/outrage-spreads-with-bystander-video-of" target="_blank">AP]
Where are they?
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— Thomas Burr and Erica Palmer
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