This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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

Ted Cruz's anti-Planned Parenthood fight and a government shutdown. Owens: Mia Love plays a celebrity.

Happy Thursday. Sen. Ted Cruz says his hard-line strategy to defund Planned Parenthood and risk a government shutdown is about doing the "right thing" and following through on Republicans' vows to conservative voters. His colleagues, though, are not fans. Welcome to the September fight. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/cruz-defund-213467" target="_blank">Politico]

Topping the news: The Utah Democratic Party released a campaign video slamming Rep. Mia Love for using taxpayer money to pay for flying to D.C. for the White House Correspondents' Dinner. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2929697-155/utah-dems-slam-mia-love-over" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-dems-pound-rep-mia-love-for-taxpayer-funded-flights-to-dc-party" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> Sen. Mike Lee said he will not vote for a federal budget bill that includes money for Planned Parenthood. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865636398/Sen-Mike-Lee-wont-vote-for-federal-budget-that-includes-Planned-Parenthood.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> The chairman of the House Science Committee said Wednesday said the Environmental Protection Agency's actions in the wastewater spill in Colorado that brought pollution into Utah was "inexcusable." [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2930043-155/congress-digs-into-inexcusable-animas-wastewater" target="_blank">Trib]

Tweet of the day: From http://twitter.com/SethMacFarlane" target="_blank">@SethMacFarlane: "Torn between Hillary and Trump? Ask yourself, 'Which candidate would I rather have a weird, tightly-wound, simmering-hostility beer with?'"

Happy Birthday: To Marco Diaz and Justin Wiley.

Tune in: Draper Mayor Troy Walker and Tribune investigative reporter Matt Canham join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about possibilities for the Draper prison site along with a construction update for the new prison in Salt Lake City. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MDT on http://sltrib.com" target="_blank">sltrib.com.

In other news:  A report finds that Salt Lake County still has a long way to go before implementing a more humane system of keeping mentally ill and substance-abusing individuals out of jail and in stable treatment programs. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2930072-155/county-is-ready-but-is-it" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2015/09/09/study-highlights-what-is-and-isnt-working-within-salt-lake-county-criminal-justice-system/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865636431/SL-County-Jail-study-highlights-pitfalls-for-mentally-ill-at-risk-individuals.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/independent-report-recommends-system-wide-criminal-justice-reform-salt-lake-county" target="_blank">KUER]

-> The Disability Law Center and three jail inmates are suing the state for allegedly allowing some people declared mentally incompetent to spend months in jail awaiting treatment. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2929285-155/utah-sued-over-a-crisis-of" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865636440/Lawsuit-alleges-Utah-agencies-unconstitutionally-delay-mentally-ill-inmates-treatment.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/disability-law-center-sues-state-agencies-connected-mentally-ill-inmates" target="_blank">KUER]

-> Poor management in the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation, which helps Utahns with disabilities find work and live independently, cost the agency about $33 million. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2930914-155/audit-blasts-33-million-in-mismanaged" target="_blank">Trib]

-> The Wasatch and Oquirrh facilities at the Utah State Prison were on lockdown Wednesday following a gang­-related fight. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2930514-155/two-facilities-at-utah-state-prison" target="_blank">Trib]

-> SLC Mayor Ralph Becker and challenger Jackie Biskupski differ on police strategy for the homeless. [http://kutv.com/news/local/becker-biskupski-differ-on-police-strategy" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> The Utah Republican Party has hired Bryan Smith as its new executive director. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2930972-155/state-gop-hires-new-executive-director" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865636435/Utah-GOP-hires-new-executive-director.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Criminal defense attorney Heather Brereton has been appointed as a 3rd District Court judge, with a confirmation vote from full Senate next week. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2928754-155/senate-committee-confirms-public-defense-attorney" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A proposal for a recreation/aquatic, library and senior center will be on the ballot in November for Spanish Fork residents. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865636382/Spanish-Fork-voters-to-vote-on-bond-for-new-community-center.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> The Utah Transit Authority has expanded Sunday hours for TRAX and is planning how it would use additional funds to expand services should a proposed sales-tax increase pass on the November ballot. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2931025-155/uta-expands-sunday-trax-service-streetcar" target="_blank">Trib]

-> U.S. News & World Report named Westminster College a top draw for veterans. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2929049-155/with-new-focus-on-support-and" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865636402/Westminster-other-Utah-colleges-appear-in-national-college-rankings.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Rep. Kraig Powell is crafting a piece of legislation to prohibit drones from areas near wildfires after one inhibited firefighting efforts this week. [http://kutv.com/news/local/lawmaker-looks-to-crack-down-on-drones-near-wildfires" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> The Nature Conservancy bought a new machine to combat invasive plants on marshes along the Great Salt Lake. [http://www.sltrib.com/home/2930499-155/part-boat-part-tank-marsh-master" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865636407/Monster-amphibious-mower-devours-invasive-phragmites.html?pg=all" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/bayou-great-salt-lake-marsh-master-helps-conservationists-fight-phragmites" target="_blank">KUER]

-> Experts say Utah is not prepared for a big earthquake, predicting $33 billion in economic loss if a 7.0-magnitude quake were to hit the Wasatch Fault Line. [http://fox13now.com/2015/09/09/experts-suggest-utah-unprepared-for-possibility-of-powerful-earthquake/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865636410/Geologists-sample-Taylorsville-West-Valley-fault-line-to-study-earthquake-risk.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kutv.com/news/local/scientists-help-builders-planners-prepare-for-utahs-big-quake" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> The Utah Supreme Court's decision to allow an immigrant to withdraw from a plea deal that intended to wipe his record clean but instead left him at risk of deportation addresses a legal complication affecting thousands. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2930029-155/utah-supreme-court-rules-in-immigration" target="_blank">Trib]

Nationally: A federal judge gave the green light to Republicans to move forward with a suit against President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act. [http://time.com/4028590/obamacare-lawsuit-john-boehner/" target="_blank">TIME]

-> GOP rival candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz teamed up Wednesday for a rally in protest of the recent nuclear deal with Iran. [http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/09/09/438955004/trump-cruz-headline-tea-party-rally-against-iran-nuclear-deal" target="_blank">NPR]

-> Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, who was jailed for refusing to release marriage licenses to same-sex couples, will return to work Monday. [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/10/us/kim-davis-same-sex-marriage.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes]

-> The anti-abortion group behind the Planned Parenthood sting videos didn't testify at the first congressional hearing into the controversy, but it is already making abortion a 2016 campaign issue. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/planned-parenthood-abortion-2016-spotlight-213478" target="_blank">Politico]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Chris https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart" target="_blank">Stewart hits meetings for the House Intelligence Committee, Overstock.com, the Mule Deer Foundation, the International Conservation Caucus Foundation and Sevier County officials. He also addresses the National Association of Counties.
  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert gathers for the Uintah Basin Energy Summit, tours MCW Energy Group facility, stops by the Utah Woolen Mills 110th Anniversary Celebration and makes remarks at the Utah State Fair Opening Day.
  • Lt. Gov. Spencer https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">Cox dines at the Six County Volunteers Recognition luncheon.
  • SLC Mayor Ralph https://twitter.com/beckerformayor" target="_blank">Becker appears before the media at the LYFT Airport Service Press Event and participates in 110 Year Anniversary of Utah's Woolen Mills.
  • SL Co. Mayor Ben https://twitter.com/MayorBenMcAdams" target="_blank">McAdams speaks at the Salt Lake County employee symposium and the 110 year anniversary of Woolen Mills event as well as attends the Visit Salt Lake annual retreat.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama hosts a meeting with a small group of veterans and Gold Star Mothers to discuss the Iran Nuclear deal, talks on a conference call with rabbis about Rosh Hashanah and awards the 2014 National Medal of Arts and the National Humanities Medal to recipients.
  • 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 Mariah Noble

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