This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
GOP insiders: Face it, Donald Trump is your nominee. Obama fails to persuade Hatch on Supreme Court nomination. Sen. Lee grabs a spot on the primary ballot.
Happy Friday. He won New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, three of the four initial contests in the GOP presidential primary. He leads the delegate count, and the polls for most of the states coming up in the gauntlet of choosing the nominee. If it were anyone else, you'd probably call him the presumptive nominee. A crew of GOP insiders have a message for you: Face it, Donald Trump is your nominee. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/donald-trump-gop-nominee-insiders-say-219799" target="_blank">Politico]
Topping the news: Despite a personal request from President Barack Obama, Sen. Orrin Hatch is refusing to meet with any Supreme Court nominee. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3581114-155/obama-pulls-utah-sen-orrin-hatch" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Sen. Mike Lee has submitted a collection of 28,000 signatures to ensure him a spot in the primary election, if there is one. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3582599-155/sen-mike-lee-turns-in-voter" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Vice President Joe Biden reportedly arrived in Salt Lake City last night and stayed at the Hotel Monaco. He is scheduled to tour the Huntsman Cancer Institute today. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3583958-155/likely-biden-motorcade-arrives-in-utah" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865648646/Vice-President-Joe-Biden-coming-to-Utah-Friday.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2016/02/25/vice-presidents-visit-to-salt-lake-city-closes-portion-of-second-south/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/vice-president-biden-coming-to-slc-to-hear-about-groundbreaking-cancer-research" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> Some 48 percent of Utahns oppose spending $14 million on a lawsuit to take over federal lands in the state while 43 percent support the move, a new poll shows. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8657-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> The Utah Senate approved a bill from Sen. Mark Madsen legalizing a medical-marijuana program in the state, but its future is uncertain as it heads to the House for consideration. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3582811-155/utah-senate-passes-medical-marijuana-bill" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865648619/Utah-Senate-passes-controversial-medical-marijuana-bill.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-senate-passes-broad-medical-marijuana-bill-heads-to-house" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://fox13now.com/2016/02/25/medical-marijuana-bill-heading-to-utah-house-after-passing-17-12-in-senate/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/top-stories/medical-marijuana-bill-passes-senate-off-to-house" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://kuer.org/post/medical-marijuana-passes-utah-senate-goes-house" target="_blank">KUER]
Tweets of the day: From https://twitter.com/AlexConant">@AlexConant: "Any headline writer who doesn't use variation of 'Houston, we have a problem' to describe Trump is doing it wrong"
From https://twitter.com/jonlovett">@jonlovett: "Congrats to Hillary Clinton on yet another GOP debate victory."
From https://twitter.com/billmaher">@billmaher: "Wait, did Ben Carson just actually admit he fell asleep? Kasich looks like the college professor where you drop the class after the first day"
From https://twitter.com/LOLGOP">@LOLGOP: "Every Ted Cruz answer is a variation on 'Trump or Rubio has Obama/Hillary cooties.'"
Happy Birthday: Today to Rep. Rob Bishop's communication's director Lee Lonsberry, tomorrow to state Sen. Wayne Harper and Rob Miller, a veteran of the Utah Democratic Party. And on Sunday to our friend Pat Shea.
Tune in: Tribune reporters Nate Carlisle, Matt Canham and Jennifer Dobner along with editorial writer George Pyle join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the week's top news stories, including Utah's GOP presidential candidate debate, FLDS arrests and a failed sex education bill. Listen to Behind the Headlines live at 9 a.m. on KCPW and Utah Public Radio.
From Capitol Hill: The House approved a bill that would make it more difficult to designate a neighborhood historic district, and it will go on to the Senate. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3583197-155/house-oks-bill-to-make-historic" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A committee stalled efforts by Rep. Mike Noel to pass a bill making it less difficult to fire state attorneys. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3582148-155/noel-wants-to-strip-utah-state" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A committee endorsed a bill that would charge customers a 10-cent fee for the use of plastic or paper bags at the grocery store. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3583281-155/proposal-advances-to-charge-10-cent-fee" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865648667/Committee-sends-shopping-bags-bill-to-full-Senate.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kutv.com/news/local/paper-or-plastic-how-about-a-10-cent-fee" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://fox13now.com/2016/02/25/bill-to-charge-utah-shoppers-for-using-paper-or-plastic-bags-passes-first-committee-vote/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/utah-lawmaker-wants-us-all-to-stop-using-plastic-bags" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> Rep. Kraig Powell is authoring a bill that would raise the legal age for smoking to 21. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3582107-155/video-should-the-smoking-age-be" target="_blank">Trib]
-> New legislation would direct $10 million to helping the homeless in Utah. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8647-lawmakers-propose-spending-10-million-on-homeless-programs" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> The Senate gave final approval to erect two statues of early Catholic Latino explorers in Utah. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3581571-155/statues-of-2-early-latino-explorers" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A bill requiring professional computer technicians who come across child pornography on the job to report it or face misdemeanor charges was approved by the Senate. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3582029-155/bill-passes-to-require-utah-computer" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Rep. Curt Oda is pushing for a bill — though it's likely unconstitutional — outlawing the most common forms of abortion in Utah. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3581968-155/bill-introduced-to-ban-most-abortions" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865648669/Bill-intends-to-ban-certain-abortion-procedures-in-Utah.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8648-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> Two Utah state lawmakers who took a paid trip to Azerbaijan are under criticism for praising the country's religious freedom amid evidence to the contrary. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3576456-155/utah-lawmakers-criticized-for-praise-of" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Sen. Wayne Harper has withdrawn a bill calling for more restrictions on Utah drones in order to do a rewrite. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3581189-155/bill-to-more-tightly-control-utahs" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865648598/Drones-in-Utah-Its-important-that-we-get-this-right.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> The House gave approval for a bill creating grant funding statewide for classroom technology. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3582804-155/utah-house-signs-off-on-school" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Rep. Rebecca Chavez-Houck's bill to legalize fatal prescriptions for the terminally ill failed to gain committee approval, but she says she'll keep trying. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3581375-155/bill-allowing-fatal-prescriptions-defeated-again" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865648617/Utah-Legislature-postpones-discussion-on-end-of-life-options.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kutv.com/news/local/right-to-die-bill-delayed-for-another-year-by-legislative-committee" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://fox13now.com/2016/02/25/patients-plead-with-lawmakers-for-right-to-die/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/top-stories/committee-holds-right-to-die-bill-for-more-study" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://kuer.org/post/lawmakers-put-physician-assisted-suicide-bill-another-year" target="_blank">KUER]
-> A new bill would change the law regarding paternity and child support to reflect the possibility of same-sex couples. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865648604/Bill-proposes-to-remove-mother-father-from-Utah-paternity-law.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert said in a speech that he'd rather the Medicaid expansion plan be approved than nothing get done. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865648660/Gov-Herbert-says-House-Medicaid-expansion-plan-better-than-zero.html" target="_blank">DNews] He discussed other topics in his address to Utah lawmakers yesterday. [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/governor-herbert-discusses-big-topic-issues-in-utah" target="_blank">ABC4]
-> Here is today's legislative committee schedule. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3583039-155/legislative-committees-friday-feb-26" target="_blank">Trib]
In other news: Gov. Gary Herbert reversed the state's plan to reduce carbon emissions by suspending the development of Utah's clean power implementation plan Thursday, after theEPA's Clean Power program has been called into question. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3582547-155/citing-national-uncertainty-utah-guv-suspends" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kutv.com/news/local/herbert-stops-state-led-efforts-to-meet-epa-standards-while-courts-battle" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> In an interview Thursday, Gov. Herbert also confirmed that his goal for criminal justice reform in 2013 was to reduce the number of inmates in the state by a quarter. [http://kutv.com/news/local/govs-call-for-efficiency-spawned-effort-to-send-fewer-offenders-back-to-prison" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> House Speaker Paul Ryan will be in Salt Lake City on Monday to raise funds for Rep. Mia Love. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8656-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> Thursday was another day of frustration for attorneys in the Jeremy Johnson trial, including the F-bomb and a strip club dancer on the witness stand. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3581795-155/tempers-a-stripper-and-f-bombs-just" target="_blank">Trib]
-> SLC Mayor Jackie Biskupski wants to change the way the city polices the homeless. [http://kutv.com/news/local/biskupski-says-the-way-slc-polices-the-homeless-should-change" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> More indicted members of the FLDS church have been arrested on alleged food stamp fraud. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3582513-155/seventh-indicted-flds-member-now-in" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865648657/Seventh-FLDS-member-taken-into-custody.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2016/02/25/flds-man-surrenders-3-others-released-from-jail/" target="_blank">Fox13] A minister in SLC is creating a sanctuary for those who have left the polygamous religion. [http://kutv.com/news/local/salt-lake-minister-creating-sanctuary-for-former-flds-members" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> A same-sex couple in Mt. Pleasant says an LDS Church congregation harassed them about a disciplinary council. [http://fox13now.com/2016/02/25/same-sex-couple-claims-lds-church-congregation-harassing-them-over-disciplinary-council/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> The Utah Hunting and Conservation Expo is surrounded by controversy as those opposed accuse the Division of Wildlife Resources of corruption. [http://kutv.com/news/local/allegations-of-corruption-surround-utah-hungtin-and-conservation-expo" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> A Facebook post portraying a gun, which turned out to be an airlift pistol that was supposedly brought to school, has caused trouble for two Granite High School students. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3581836-155/fake-gun-photo-posted-on-facebook" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865648585/Police-round-up-students-who-posted-selfie-with-gun-allegedly-threaten-school.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Researchers at Utah State University are looking to develop an immunization for the Zika virus. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865648521/USU-researchers-studying-live-Zika-virus-to-develop-immunization-compound.html" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Utah organ transplants are at an all-time high. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865648627/Utah-organ-transplants-reach-record-high.html" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Free dental care will be available for Utahns on Saturday, thanks to the Junior League. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3581304-155/junior-league-sponsors-free-dental-care" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Pat Bagley shares his view on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's influence on appointing a new Supreme Court Justice. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3582889-155/bagley-cartoon-mcconnell-spreads-his-influence" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Paul Rolly explains why some Utahns who ordered commemorative rifles last year are accusing the Utah Legislature of fraud. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3577844-155/rolly-fraud-complaint-names-utah-legislature" target="_blank">Trib]
Nationally: Although GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump once again held the attention of those tuning into the debate last night, challenger Marco Rubio took a new approach as he mocked Trump. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/marco-rubio-mocks-and-spars-with-donald-trump-in-houston-debate/2016/02/25/ac475b2c-dc07-11e5-891a-4ed04f4213e8_story.html" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/02/marco_rubio_finally_learned_how_to_attack_donald_trump.html" target="_blank">Slate] [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/republican-2016-debate-marco-rubio-donald-trump-219841" target="_blank">Politico] Ted Cruz also turned up the heat on Trump, [http://www.npr.org/2016/02/25/468186701/and-then-there-were-5-the-republicans-debate-in-texas" target="_blank">NPR] [http://www.bbc.com/news/election-us-2016-35665575" target="_blank">BBC] but despite the debate taking place in his home state, the Texas senator didn't seem to stand out much. [http://time.com/4238324/republican-debate-ted-cruz-houston/?xid=time_socialflow_twitter" target="_blank">TIME] And Ben Carson just wanted to be included. [http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/270867-carson-can-somebody-attack-me-please" target="_blank">TheHill] Here are 20 insults from the debate in 60 seconds. [http://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2016/02/26/cnn-debate-insults-origwx-allee.cnn/video/playlists/2016-republican-presidential-debates/" target="_blank">CNN] Here's the debate summed up in 19 tweets. [http://www.vox.com/2016/2/26/11118372/twitter-gop-debate" target="_blank">Vox]
-> A mass shooting in Kansas killed four and wounded 14 yesterday. [http://www.vox.com/2016/2/25/11117866/hesston-kansas-mass-shooting" target="_blank">Vox]
-> President Barack Obama says the next few weeks will be "critical" for Syria, after arrangements have been made for a truce. [http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-35665819" target="_blank">BBC] [http://time.com/4238300/obama-syria-truce-russia-critical-assad/?xid=time_socialflow_twitter" target="_blank">TIME]
-> Obama also used LinkedIn to post about his first job scooping ice cream. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/obama-linkedin-ice-cream-219771" target="_blank">Politico]
-> An action figure of Sen. Bernie Sanders is gaining popularity. [http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/02/bernie-sanders-action-figure-kickstarter-219806" target="_blank">Politico]
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]
— Thomas Burr and Mariah Noble
https://twitter.com/thomaswburr" target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr and https://twitter.com/mnoblenews" target="_blank">Twitter.com/mnoblenews