This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

Biden: 'I would have been the best president.' UTA to close committee meetings to the public. Sen. Bennett's funeral brings bipartisanship.

Happy Wednesday. Vice President Joe Biden teased a possible presidential run but in the end, declined to put his hat in the ring. He now says he would "would have been the best president" if he had mounted a successful campaign in the 2016 election, but that forgoing the race was the right decision for his family. Biden says he had planned to run but changed course only after his eldest son Beau died last May and his only regret is that his son isn't with him anymore. [<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/joe-biden-best-president/story?id=39023077">ABCNews</a>]

<strong>Topping the news: </strong>The Utah Transit Authority's board has decided to close its committee meetings to the public, which may violate Utah's open meetings law. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3875839-155/uta-says-its-committee-meetings-are"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> Lawmakers show little interest in voting on eliminating SAGE testing at next week's special session despite Gov. Gary Herbert's push. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3875497-155/speaker-hughes-scoffs-at-utah-guvs"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865653961/Utah-House-speaker-says-Herberts-Common-Core-efforts-are-political.html?pg=all"; target="_blank">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/05/10/governor-may-put-eliminating-sage-testing-on-special-session-agenda/"; target="_blank">Fox13</a>]

-> Former Sen. Bob Bennett's funeral in Virginia was a bipartisan affair. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3875874-155/bipartisan-sendoff-for-former-sen-bennett"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

<strong>Tweets of the day: </strong>From @<a href="http://www.twitter.com/markknoller">markknoller</a>: "Congrats to the Bison. Our National Mammal. Speaking for people, was an honor just to be nominated."

From <a href="https://twitter.com/lilyrothman"; target="_blank">@lilyrothman</a>: "Bisons have not only a great history, but also a great scientific name: Bison bison bison."

From <a href="https://twitter.com/arosegregory"; target="_blank">@arosegregory</a>: "Laugh at @HillaryClinton if you want for saying she'll declassify UFO stuff, but UFO aficionados are significant % of Trump supporters."

From <a href="https://twitter.com/inkedtater"; target="_blank">@inkedtater</a>: "I won't lie... Bernie Sanders giving the State of the Union speech would be amazing."

<strong>Tune in: </strong><span class="s1">University of Utah Academic Senate president and geology professor Bill Johnson and bioengineering professor Joe Andrade with the Academic Senate Ad Hoc Reinvestment Committee join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the divestment debate within a state tied to coal, oil and gas development. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MT on <a href="http://sltrib.com/"><span class="s2">sltrib.com</span></a>.</span>

<strong>In other news:</strong> Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski launched an initiative that will double the city's use of sustainable energy. Many lawmakers worry the deal will give California authority over Utah. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3872295-155/rocky-mountain-power-wants-to-sign?fullpage=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/05/10/slc-mayor-wants-city-running-on-clean-energy-by-2032/"; target="_blank">Fox13</a>] [<a href="http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/featured-articles/9465-salt-lake-city-launches-program-to-double-its-amount-of-municipal-solar-power"; target="_blank">UtahPolicy</a>] [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/salt-lake-city-going-solar"; target="_blank">ABC4</a>] [<a href="http://kuer.org/post/biskupski-initiative-bring-more-solar-energy-salt-lake-city-government"; target="_blank">KUER</a>]

-> Airmen returned to Hill Air Force Base after finishing their deployment to Afghanistan. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3870883-155/airmen-from-hill-air-force-base"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/midday/300-airmen-welcomed-home-at-hill-air-force-base"; target="_blank">ABC4</a>] [<a href="http://www.standard.net/Military/2016/05/10/More-than-300-Hill-Air-Force-Base-airmen-return-after-8-months-in-Afghanistan.html"; target="_blank">StandEx</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/photos-421st-fighter-squadron-returns-home-after-8-months-in-afghanistan"; target="_blank">KUTV</a>]

-> Policymakers discuss a bill that would allow students to have legal representation during sexual assault hearings. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3876134-155/utah-bill-would-allow-lawyers-for"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="https://www.ksl.com/?nid=157&sid=39721119&title=utah-lawmakers-consider-allowing-lawyers-in-academic-hearing"; target="_blank">APviaKSL</a>]

> More people are registered to vote in Utah than ever before. [<a href="http://kuer.org/post/number-registered-utah-voters-higher-ever">KUER</a>]

-> The NAACP is investigating a teacher who used a racial slur in his junior high history class. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3876127-155/naacp-investigates-utah-teachers-use-of"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> A potential property tax increase could be used to build six new school buildings in Jordan School District. [<a href="http://www.ksl.com/?sid=39722349&nid=148&title=jordan-school-district-proposes-245m-bond-for-6-new-schools"; target="_blank">KSL</a>]

-> Salt Lake County prosecutor Chad Platt died after jumping from a parking tower. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3874900-155/salt-lake-county-prosecutor-jumps-from"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/deputy-county-attorney-falls-to-his-death"; target="_blank">ABC4</a>]

-> American Fork Police Chief Lance Call will step down at the end of this month. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3876585-155/american-fork-police-chief-to-step"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> The number of Utah students and parents walking and biking to school increases, while the national average decreases. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3863100-155/jazz-bear-works-with-udot-to"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/walking-school-bus-promotes-carpool-without-the-car"; target="_blank">KUTV</a>]

-> Former Escalante Police Chief Kyle Worlton is charged with making false statements in a drug investigation report. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3875952-155/former-utah-police-chief-to-stand"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> Rep. Jason Chaffetz questions where the IRS found the money to hire 700 enforcement staffers after the agency claimed to be broke. [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/05/10/top-republican-to-irs-you-say-youre-broke-how-can-you-afford-700-new-staff/"; target="_blank">WaPost</a>]

-> A bill addressing Puerto Rico's debt and humanitarian crisis will be introduced today after being reworked by Utah Rep. Rob Bishop. [<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-puertorico-dbt-congress-idUSKCN0Y01Y4"; target="_blank">Reuters</a>]

-> Two studies say Utah is among the safest states to drive in. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3874896-155/two-studies-give-utahns-high-marks"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> Utah concealed firearm permits get a makeover. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3872088-155/utah-concealed-carry-permits-get-a"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/top-stories/new-cards-for-concealed-carry-owners"; target="_blank">ABC4</a>]

-> Paul Rolly writes about two Salt Lake City International Airport lounges that have been illegally selling alcohol for eight months. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3874599-155/rolly-illegal-booze-sales-at-salt"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> Pat Bagley comments on North Carolina's bathroom bill in his latest cartoon. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3876175-155/bagley-cartoon-transgender-bathroom-monitor"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

<strong>Nationally: </strong>Donald Trump won the West Virginia and Nebraska Republican primaries. Bernie Sanders won the West Virginia Democratic primary. [<a href="http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/sanders-wins-west-virginia-democratic-primary-n571356"; target="_blank">NBC</a>] Hillary Clinton won the Nebraska primary, but this win does not override March's caucus results that awarded Sanders more delegates. [<a href="http://www.kmov.com/story/31933742/the-latest-clinton-wins-symbolic-primary-in-nebraska?utm_term=%23kmov+%23News4StLouis&utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter" target="_blank">APviaKMOV4</a>] The results show how problematic party divisions may be in November's election. [<a href="http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-west-virginia-primaries-20160510-snap-story.html"; target="_blank">LATimes</a>] [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/05/10/early-w-va-numbers-show-4-in-10-sanders-backers-prefer-trump-over-clinton-and-trump-over-sanders/?postshare=7581462927826628&tid=ss_tw"; target="_blank">WaPost</a>]

-> President Barack Obama will be the first sitting U.S. president to visit Hiroshima, where he will address nuclear nonproliferation. [<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/10/politics/obama-hiroshima-visit-japan/index.html"; target="_blank">CNN</a>] [<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/05/10/barack-obama-hiroshima-jaoan/84174774/"; target="_blank">USAToday</a>]

-> Hillary Clinton has been dubbed the first "E.T. candidate" for her unusual knowledge of extraterrestrials, which has garnered her support from U.F.O. enthusiasts. She says she will publicize the X-files if she wins the presidency. [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/11/us/politics/hillary-clinton-aliens.html?_r=0"; target="_blank">NYTimes</a>]

-> Ted Cruz keeps speculation alive, saying he will "respond accordingly" if there is a chance he can win the GOP nomination. [<a href="http://time.com/4324733/ted-cruz-restart-campaign-donald-trump-nebraska/"; target="_blank">TIME</a>]

-> Users and Congress are wary of Facebook after allegations that the site blocks conservative news from its "trending" list. [<a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/10/477525204/is-facebook-suppressing-politically-conservative-content"; target="_blank">NPR</a>] [<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-socialmedia-idUSKCN0Y12EU"; target="_blank">Reuters</a>] [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/gop-unfriends-facebook-liberals-223030"; target="_blank">Politico</a>]

<strong>Where are they?</strong>

<ul>

<li>Rep. Jason <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/jasoninthehouse"; target="_blank">Chaffetz</a></strong> chairs an Oversight hearing on postal reform. He also meets with the National Association of Realtors, the Marriott general manager, and the upper Colorado regional director of the Bureau of Reclamation.</li>

<li>Rep. Chris <a href="https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart"; target="_blank"><strong>Stewart</strong></a> attends a House Intelligence Committee briefing and a GOP Conference meeting. He then meets with the U.S. Army War College and speaks to students from the Hinkley Institute before meeting with Utah Industrial Banks. Later he meets with the Utah Association of Realtors and the Associated General Contractors of Utah.</li>

<li>Gov. Gary <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/GovHerbert"; target="_blank">Herbert</a> </strong>attends the Private Wealth Management Advisory Conference in Park City and meets with school superintendents in Provo in the morning. He meets with Attorney General Sean Reyes and holds judicial interviews at the State Capitol in the afternoon. He attends a Weber State Alumni Association event in the evening.</li>

<li>Lt. Gov. Spencer <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox"; target="_blank">Cox</a></strong> attends the Alternative Fuels Symposium at Thanksgiving Point and the Utah PTA Convention in Provo in the morning. He also meets with Reyes in the afternoon.</li>

<li>State Auditor John <strong><a href="http://twitter.com/FrugalDougall"; target="_blank">Dougall</a> </strong>meets with the Division of Finance and reviews the results of a competitive request for proposal for contract audit services.</li>

<li>SL Co. Mayor Ben <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/MayorBenMcAdams"; target="_blank">McAdams</a></strong> meets with County Auditor Scott Tingley before holding a media event. He then meets with Robert Grow and Ari Bruening of Envision Utah.</li>

<li>President Barack <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama"; target="_blank">Obama</a></strong> meets with the Secretary of the Treasury Lew. He signs the Defend Trade Secrets Act in the afternoon.</li>

</ul>

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— Thomas Burr and Kayla Goodson

<a title="Thomas Burr" href="https://twitter.com/thomaswburr"; target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/kay_goodson"; target="_blank">Twitter.com/kay_goodson</a>