This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated.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

Budget showdown offers Ted Cruz a chance to break out in the presidential race. Harry Reid echoes the pope. Poll: Nearly half of Utahns want prison in Draper.

Happy Monday. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz has a good following among conservatives but hasn't really had his break-out moment of the presidential race as he coasts in the lower teens — or less — in the polls. But this week, and the budget showdown in Congress over Planned Parenthood funding, offers a chance for Cruz to make a mark. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/09/ted-cruz-planned-parenthood-2016-government-shutdown-214098" target="_blank">Politico]

Topping the news: Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Mormon, called for more inclusion within religion and urging compromise over extremism. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2994638-155/mormon-sen-harry-reid-calls-for" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Utah Rep. Chris Stewart and House Speaker Greg Hughes support Sen. Marc Rubio in his run for president. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2997411-155/utahs-stewart-hughes-back-rubio-for" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A new poll shows that nearly half of Utahns want the state prison to remain in Draper, either as is or rebuilt in some way. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/7128-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> A Utah LGBT activist group applied for charter membership with the Boy Scouts of America. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2990933-155/utah-group-applies-to-start-boy" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2015/09/25/utah-group-applies-to-start-gay-welcoming-scout-troop/" target="_blank">Fox13]

Tweet of the weekend: From @http://www.twitter.com/ConanOBrien" target="_blank">ConanOBrien: "On day after meeting Pope, John Boehner announced he is retiring. How do we get the Pope to meet Donald Trump?"

Happy Birthday: Today to JM Bell and Scott Howell.

Tune in: Ty Mansfield of North Star and the Reconciliation and Growth Project, Out in Zion advocate Kendall Wilcox and others join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the controversy surrounding gay conversion therapy and perceptions within the Mormon community. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MDT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.

Opinion section: Various LGBTQ advocates say why they feel Mayor Ralph Becker is the best candidate for the people they represent in the upcoming election. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2984049-155/op-ed-becker-is-best-choice-for" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Nancy Von Allmen, along with others, explain why re-electing Mayor Ralph Becker will continue the change he's started. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2984073-155/op-ed-re-electing-becker-is-a-vote" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Ray Mabus, secretary of the Navy, explains why naming the USS Utah submarine shows the military branch's commitment to the state. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2987063-155/op-ed-uss-utah-shows-navys-commitment" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Gold Star families remember loved ones who served and died in the military. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865637744/Gold-Star-families-remember-loved-ones-who-died-in-military.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Dean McGovern, executive director of the Lowell Bennion Community Service Center at the U., explains how the spirit of his organization's namesake lives on through students. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2990602-155/op-ed-spirit-of-lowell-bennion-lives" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Kim Wirthlin, president of GetReadyRoom, says the Mountain Planning District preserves the Wasatch Range. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2987082-155/op-ed-mountain-planning-district-preserves-jewel" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Greg Skordas, a criminal defense lawyer in Salt Lake City, writes about Utah's 20-year celebration of saving lives through drug court. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2987077-155/op-ed-utah-celebrates-20-years-of" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Gregory A. Clark, a resident of Salt Lake City, tells how intolerance is enabled even in moderate Christianity. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2987070-155/op-ed-even-moderate-christianity-enables-intolerance" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Jonathan Swinton, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, feels a government shutdown is no way to lead. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2987074-155/op-ed-shutting-down-the-government-is" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Ruth R. Draper, the executive director of the Utah Arts Council from 1974 to 1985, says the state's historic commitment to the arts is withering away. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2987052-155/op-ed-utahs-historic-commitment-to-the" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Paul Rolly explains how female voters kept Jim Matheson in office for 14 years. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/2988022-155/rolly-women-voters-kept-jim-matheson" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb share their take on Pope Francis' visit and Carly Fiorina's rise in the polls. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865637713/Frank-Pignanelli—LaVarr-Webb-Pignaelli-Pope-Francis-visit-Fiorinas-rise-dominate-political.html" target="_blank">DNews]

Weekend in review: Ten cities in Utah are considering canceling elections because candidates are running unopposed. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2990631-155/10-utah-cities-looking-at-canceling" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Homelessness and helping local businesses rank as the top issues for Salt Lake City Council candidates. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865637735/Addressing-homelessness-assisting-local-businesses-rank-as-top-issues-in-SL-City-Council-races.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> A fifth-grade choir concert was cancelled after parents complained about the political agenda of the program. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2991946-155/school-choir-performance-canceled-after-complaints" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kutv.com/news/local/school-choir-pulls-out-of-festival-over-political-agenda" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> A Harvard report calls Salt Lake City the "poster child" for collaborative student support. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865637750/Harvard-report-SLC-becoming-poster-child-for-collaborative-student-support.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Utah girls were encouraged to join the ranks in the field of aviation on Saturday. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2991876-155/young-utah-women-encouraged-to-take" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A local businesswoman has started a networking event to help women re-enter the workforce. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865637733/Local-businesswoman-starts-networking-event-to-help-women-re-enter-the-workforce.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Former Utah Gov. Olene Walker accepted an honor from the YWCA. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2991738-155/former-utah-gov-olene-walker-accepts" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2015/09/25/former-governor-olene-walker-awarded-ywca-lifetime-achievement-award/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> Provo is now home to Utah's No. 2 airport. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2987562-155/provo-now-utahs-no-2-airport" target="_blank">Trib]

-> The state is sitting on $11.5 million in unused grants for water projects. [http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-sitting-on-115m-in-unused-grants-for-water-projects" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> A BYU researcher says new grants will help increase the rate of rape prosecutions in the state. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2987304-155/byu-researcher-says-new-grants-will" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Two Utahns filed a lawsuit against VW after its emissions cheating scandal. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865637606/2-Utahns-file-lawsuit-against-VW-on-heels-of-emissions-cheating-scandal.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> In wake of recent floods, Zion National Park is re-evaluating its permit system. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2988078-155/zion-park-permit-system-re-evaluated-in" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Experts compare notes as to why gay Mormons seek out conversion therapy if it doesn't work. [http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/2979919-155/conversion-therapies-dont-work-experts-say" target="_blank">Trib] One member shares his experience. [http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/2983735-155/ex-utahns-journey-from-mormon-counseling-to" target="_blank">Trib]

Nationally: House Speaker John Boehner surprisingly announced Friday that he will resign from his post in Congress in October. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2990574-155/gop-lawmakers-speaker-boehner-to-resign" target="_blank">Trib] He fears Republican hard-liners are like "false prophets" with unrealistic expectations. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/09/27/republican-hard-liners-are-false-prophets-boehner-says/" target="_blank">WaPost]

-> Pope Francis departed from America after showing his humanity and urging others to do the same. [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/28/us/pope-departs-after-showing-a-deft-touch.html?ref=us&_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes]

-> Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton announced her opposition to the Keystone XL pipeline, calling it a distraction from important issues. [http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/09/hillary-clinton-distraction-keystone-pipeline-213195" target="_blank">Politico]

-> The discussion between President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin today is expected to follow a similar format of that from two years ago, except that Putin may be better prepared. [http://time.com/4051144/vladimir-putin-obama-syria-talks/?xid=homepage" target="_blank">TIME]

-> If Carly Fiorina's history at HP defines her candidacy, her rising popularity could be a problem. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/fiorinas-record-at-hp-defines-her-candidacy—which-could-be-a-problem/2015/09/26/5a5b5e16-6174-11e5-8e9e-dce8a2a2a679_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost]

-> GOP candidate Mike Huckabee was upset that Doritos would partner with the LGBT activist group It Gets Better and produce rainbow-colored chips to celebrate gay pride. [http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/09/26/huckabee-and-christian-right-wage-war-on-pro-gay-doritos.html" target="_blank">DailyBeast]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Jason https://twitter.com/jasoninthehouse" target="_blank">Chaffetz returns to Washington, hosts a Republican member meeting on the Planned Parenthood hearing and attends a RNC reception.
  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert gives a Fox Business interview and participates in business development meetings and a reception for business ambassadors in New York City.
  • Lt. Gov. Spencer https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">Cox pays his respects at the funeral of LDS apostle Richard G. Scott and hits the USS Utah submarine ceremony.
  • SLC Mayor Ralph https://twitter.com/beckerformayor" target="_blank">Becker heads to a coordinating meeting, appears on KUTV2 Fresh Living: SLCExplore, attends Mormon apostle Richard G. Scott's funeral and sits in on a Cap City Education Alliance meeting and a TRCC Advisory Board meeting.
  • SL Co. Mayor Ben https://twitter.com/MayorBenMcAdams" target="_blank">McAdams welcomes participants to the annual urban maternal child health conference, hosts a Cabinet meeting and an Unincorporated Islands Community Preservation town hall meeting.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama addresses the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, holds a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, dines at a luncheon hosted by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, chairs the United Nations Peacekeeping Summit and meets with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Later, he hosts a United Nations General Assembly reception.
  • 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