This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Trump grabs lead in Utah. Romney's 'suicide mission.' Herbert's now 'Available Jones.'
Happy Monday. Mitt Romney tried, and apparently failed, to get Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse to run as a third-party alternative to Donald Trump, a move that Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Preibus described as "a suicide mission." Sasse, like Romney, have vowed to never support Trump. [<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/15/politics/mitt-romney-ben-sasse-third-party-donald-trump/"; target="_blank">CNN</a>]
<strong>Topping the news: </strong>It appears that Utah Republicans are falling in line behind Donald Trump, with a new poll showing the GOP's presumptive nominee holding a 13 point lead over Hillary Clinton and a 6 point lead over Bernie Sanders. [<a href="http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/9518-"; target="_blank">UtahPolicy</a>]
-> In audio from a private meeting with lobbyists obtained by the Trib, Gov. Gary Herbert says he is "Available Jones" to meet with campaign donors. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3890228-155/guv-says-hes-available-jones-to?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed">Trib</a>]
-> Donald Trump posed as John Miller, his supposed publicist, in an interview with <i>People </i>magazine to lavish praise on himself. [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/05/13/transcript-the-full-text-of-john-miller-interview-about-donald-trump-with-people-reporter/?tid=a_inl">WaPost</a>] Trump may have been the one to release the audio to The Washington Post. [<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/reporter-1991-audio-recording-trumps-denials-raise-questions/story?id=39119695"; target="_blank">ABCNews</a>]
<strong>Tweets of the weekend:</strong> From <a href="https://twitter.com/thefix"; target="_blank">@TheFix</a>: "'Have you heard about that super handsome, way cool guy named Donald Trump?' — John Miller, probably."
From <a href="https://twitter.com/timothypmurphy"; target="_blank">@timothypmurphy</a>: "Talked to John Miller. He's not sure where these stories are coming from but said whoever it is 'will be fired like a dog.'"
<strong>Happy Birthday:</strong> to Democratic guru Jim Gonzales.
<strong>Tune in: </strong>On Monday a<span class="aBn"><span class="aQJ">t 12:15 p.</span></span>m., Rep. Rob Bishop joins Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the his public lands bill and other issues. Watch this online video chat at <a href="http://sltrib.com/"; target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">sltrib.com</span></a>. You can also join the discussion by using the hashtag #TribTalk on Twitter and Google+ or texting 801-609-8059.
<strong>Opinion section: </strong>Sen. Orrin Hatch honors the late Sen. Bob Bennett. [<a href="http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865654283/A-tribute-to-Sen-Bob-Bennett.html"><span style="color: #0066cc;">DNews]</span></a>
-> Deanna Holland, vice president of ProLife Utah, says fetuses do feel pain. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3879963-155/op-ed-fetuses-do-feel-pain-in"; target="_blank"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Trib</span></a>]
-> Bill Hedden, executive director of the Grand Canyon Trust, says the Bears Ears National Monument is a better option than the Public Lands Initiative. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3883842-155/op-ed-tribes-involvement-would-make-bears">Trib</a>]
-> George Pyle says Republicans back Donald Trump out of party loyalty without regard to his policies. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3883623-155/pyle-trump-and-the-granfalloon-old?fullpage=1"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Trib</span></a>]
-> Kyle Scott says Trump's crass manners reflect those of the American population. [<a href="http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865654329/Trump-and-the-lack-of-manners.html">DNews</a>]
-> Lindsey Kneuven, Cotopaxi's chief impact officer, says Utah communities can do more for refugees. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3874850-155/op-ed-utah-has-stepped-up-to">Trib</a>]
-> Don L. Searle, a retired reporter for the Deseret News and a Republican, says he will vote for Hillary Clinton over Trump. [<a href="http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865654080/My-view-Am-I-the-GOPs-worst-nightmare.html">DNews</a>]
-> Jay Evensen says Americans embrace marijuana without understanding its effects. [<a href="http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865654059/Americans-embrace-marijuana-blindly.html">DNews</a>]
-> Brian Stoll says Utah residents need access to medical marijuana. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3875808-155/op-ed-utah-patients-need-safe-legal">Trib</a>]
-> Dave Golden, chair of the Utah Transportation Coalition, says Americans benefit from investment in infrastructure. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3879589-155/op-ed-infrastructure-is-where-the-rubber"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Trib</span></a>]
-> Paul Rolly discusses the conflict between the Republican legislature and academics at the University of Utah. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/bagley/3888582-155/bagley-cartoon-nothing-says-america-like"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Pat Bagley gives his take on Budweiser's patriotic campaign. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/bagley/3888582-155/bagley-cartoon-nothing-says-america-like"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb discuss whether or not Utah Republicans should endorse Trump. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865654287/Bears-Ears-Donald-Trump-and-a-rocky-start.html?pg=all"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
<strong>Weekend in review: </strong>Get to know the two Democrats running for the chance to face Sen. Mike Lee. Misty K. Snow is a transgender woman running as a strong progressive. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3879825-155/misty-k-snow-running-for-senate"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] Jonathan Swinton is a marriage counselor and a conservative Dem promising to compromise. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3876270-155/candidate-jonathan-swinton-pitches-himself-as"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Bennett was remembered for being more than a politician at his Utah funeral. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3876167-155/bob-bennett-remembered-for-his-personal">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865654290/Former-senator-Bob-Bennett-remembered-as-servant-leader.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/latest-sen-bob-bennett-remembered-salt-lake-city-39119476">APviaABCNews</a>] [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/top-stories/final-farewell-to-utah-senator-bob-bennett"; target="_blank">ABC4</a>]
-> The Utah Board of Education will end SAGE testing in high school and will review the Common Core system, but say the Legislature needs to give them a boost in funding to do so. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3887166-155/utah-school-board-well-review-common">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://kuer.org/post/school-board-okays-common-core-review-and-eliminating-sage-test-high-school"; target="_blank">KUER</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865654201/School-Board-to-review-standards-remove-SAGE-from-high-school-with-Legislative-action.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski helped installed street signs honoring gay-rights advocate Harvey Milk during a community celebration. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/home/3884314-155/harvey-milk-boulevard-signs-go-up">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/05/14/celebration-held-as-salt-lake-city-street-renamed-for-harvey-milk/">Fox13</a>] [<a href="http://kuer.org/post/city-celebrates-new-harvey-milk-boulevard-designation"; target="_blank">KUER</a>]
-> The Utah Transit Authority says it is closing committee meetings to the public because of The Salt Lake Tribune's reporting. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3887643-155/uta-chair-says-it-closed-meetings"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Trib</span></a>]
-> State lawmakers are investigate the Utah Communications Authority after a decade-long, $1 million embezzlement. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3884813-155/utah-legislature-will-scrutinize-agency-hit?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed">Trib</a>]
-> The federal appeals court will not rehear the "Sister Wives" polygamy case. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3886978-155/appeals-court-denies-rehearing-request-in"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Trib</span></a>] [<a href="http://m.deseretnews.com/article/865654227/Court-rejects-Sister-Wives-request-to-reconsider-Utah-polygamy-law-ruling.html?pg=all"><span style="color: #0066cc;">DNews</span></a>] The Brown family may appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/05/13/sister-wives-polygamy-case-to-go-to-the-u-s-supreme-court/"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Fox13</span></a>]
-> Salt Lake County Council discussed ways to use business licensing to crack down on prostitution and at the same time suggested a change in ordinances to encourage food trucks to use locally produced goods. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3887601-155/county-ponders-effects-of-licensing-on?fullpage=1">Trib</a>]
-> The Economic Development Corporation of Utah loses its tax-exempt status after failing to file tax returns for five years. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3887372-155/states-economic-development-partner-failed-to?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed">Trib</a>]
-> Republican upstart Chia-Chi Teng has aggressively gone after incumbent Rep. Jason Chaffetz and Chaffetz has fought back. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3870895-155/republican-challenger-gets-under-rep-jason?fullpage=1">Trib</a>]
-> A UtahPolicy poll shows most voters are undecided between Misty Snow and Jonathan Swinton, because they've never heard of the two candidates running for the Democratic Senate nomination. [<a href="http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/9494-"; target="_blank">UtahPolicy</a>]
-> With Pfizer's decision to no longer offer the drugs used in lethal injections, Utah is now one step closer to going back to the firing squad. [<a href="http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/9516-"; target="_blank">UtahPolicy</a>]
-> Emma Houston has been named Salt Lake County's new director of diversity affairs. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/3875311-155/salt-lake-county-names-diversity-affairs?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed"><span style="color: #0066cc;">Trib</span></a>]
-> As Millcreek becomes a city, 35 residents vie for public office. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865654322/Millcreeks-first-city-election-draws-crowded-primaries.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
<strong>Nationally:</strong> The Nevada Democratic Convention had an ugly ending with Bernie Sanders supporters being told by local law enforcement to leave after delegate disputes got testy. [<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2016/05/15/nevada-democratic-convention-becomes-unruly-and-unpredictable-amid-rules-disputes-over-delegates.html"; target="_blank">FoxNews</a>] [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/05/15/heres-what-happened-at-saturdays-dramatic-nevada-democratic-convention/">WaPost</a>] In the end, Hillary Clinton maintained a delegate advantage over Sanders in Nevada. [<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/15/politics/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-nevada-convention/index.html">CNN</a>]
-> The Senate is considering legislation that would allow Guantánamo Bay detainees to plead guilty to criminal charges in civilian court over video calls. [<a href="http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/05/13/us/politics/measure-would-let-guantanamo-detainees-enter-pleas-in-civilian-court.html?ref=politics&referer=http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/05/13/nytnow/your-friday-briefing-dilma-rousseff-oklahoma-city-thunder-money-monster.html?referer=">NYTimes</a>]
<strong>Where are they?</strong>
<ul>
<li>Rep. Jason <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/jasoninthehouse"; target="_blank">Chaffetz</a></strong> appears as a guest on Fox News and returns to Washington, D.C.</li>
<li>Gov. Gary <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/GovHerbert"; target="_blank">Herbert</a> </strong>attends the Utah Taxpayers Association Debate. In the afternoon he films a video in memory of Lewis Field and calls Idaho Gov. Butch Otter. In the evening he attends Operation Underground Railroad's film screening.</li>
<li>SL Co. Mayor Ben <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/MayorBenMcAdams"; target="_blank">McAdams</a></strong> meets with Rick Graham, the Salt Lake County director of townships and metro services.</li>
<li>President Barack <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama"; target="_blank">Obama</a></strong> hosts a Medal of Valor ceremony and meets with Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter.</li>
</ul>
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— Matt Canham and Kayla Goodson
<a href="http://Twitter.com/mattcanham"; target="_blank">Twitter.com/mattcanham</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/kay_goodson"; target="_blank">Twitter.com/kay_goodson</a>