This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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 turmoil continues as Trump says his campaign is united. Lt. Gov rules Wilde wins over Brown. Rape victim says AG's Office helped her rapist.
Happy Thursday. Turmoil in the Republican Party escalated Wednesday as party leaders, strategists and donors voiced increased alarm about the flailing state of Donald Trump's candidacy and fears that the presidential nominee was damaging the party with an extraordinary week of self-inflicted mistakes, gratuitous attacks and missed opportunities. Trump, however, said his campaign was more united than ever. [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-reaches-new-level-of-panic-over-trumps-candidacy/2016/08/03/de461880-5988-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html?hpid=hp_rhp-top-table-main_gop-120pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory">WaPost</a>]
<strong>Topping the news:</strong> Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox ruled that 64 ballots that were postmarked a day after the deadline for the Republican primary election will not be counted in the House District 53 race, so Morgan County Council Chairman Logan Wilde holds his nine-vote victory over long-serving Rep. Mel Brown. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4191084-155/election-day-postmarked-ballots-wont-count-wildes"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> A rape victim says the Utah Attorney General's office helped her alleged rapist by giving him files of evidence before the civil lawsuit was officially filed. [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/rape-accuser-says-utah-ags-office-helped-perpetrator-not-her"; target="_blank">KUTV</a>]
-> Rep. Chris Stewart delivered school supplies <span class="s1">at the Utah Refugee Education and Training Center, where he also held a roundtable discussion to learn more about how to help Utah's refugees. </span>[<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659346/Photos-Congressman-delivers-school-supplies-to-refugees.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/08/03/rep-chris-stewart-delivers-back-to-school-supplies-is-briefed-on-refugee-resources/"; target="_blank">Fox13</a>] Stewart says Salt Lake City has one of the best veteran care programs, but there is still a lot of work to be done across the nation. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4191816-155/stewart-lauds-veteran-care-in-salt"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> President Barack Obama commuted the sentences of two Utahns who are serving time on drug charges. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4190854-155/obama-commutes-sentences-of-two-utahns"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/chrisgeidner/obama-commutes-sentences-of-more-than-200-people-serving-fed?utm_term=.wrEel0Qme#.fd3n13EYn"; target="_blank">BuzzFeed</a>]
<strong>Tweets of the day: </strong>From <a href="https://twitter.com/jwoodham"; target="_blank">@jwoodham</a>: "Donald Trump asking about nuclear weapons is the biggest red flag since Voldemort asked about Horcruxes as a teenager at Hogwarts."
<strong>In other news:</strong> Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams revealed his plan to battle homelessness, which will focus on increasing people's independence, so they will not rely so heavily on current facilities. [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/salt-lake-county-mayor-reveals-plan-to-battle-homelessness"; target="_blank">ABC4</a>]
-> State Auditor John Dougall will audit the Unified Fire Authority after several of its top officials received large bonuses. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4191188-155/state-auditor-to-scrutinize-unified-fire"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> A toxic algal bloom contaminated the water of Big East Lake in Payson Canyon, prompting the Utah County Health Department to warn against water sports in the lake. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4191516-155/toxic-algal-bloom-spurs-warnings-at"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865659344/Algal-blooms-prompt-warnings-to-stay-out-of-Paysons-Big-East-Lake.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]
-> One of the FLDS leaders re-arrested earlier this week was released on updated terms pending a polygamist food-stamp-fraud trial. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4192117-155/polygamous-co-defendant-released-restrictions-reinstated"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
-> Utah leaders are generally against federal public lands, but economists at the Outdoor Retailer panel said protecting public lands is good for the economy as an increasing number of people continue to seek outdoor recreation in Utah. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4192103-155/outdoor-retailer-panel-counters-utah-mindset"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]
<strong>Nationally:</strong> Gov. Mike Pence, Donald Trump's running mate, endorsed House Speaker Paul Ryan despite Trump's refusal to do so. [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/04/us/politics/donald-trump-gop.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=b-lede-package-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0"; target="_blank">NYTimes</a>] This is just one of many examples that shows the growing rift between Trump and many Republican Party leaders. [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/gop-reaches-new-level-of-panic-over-trumps-candidacy/2016/08/03/de461880-5988-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_gop-120pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory" target="_blank">WaPost</a>]
-> Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson and his running mate, Bill Weld, appeared in a CNN town hall, where they promised a less polarized political system if they are elected. [<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/03/politics/gary-johnson-bill-weld-libertarian-town-hall/"; target="_blank">CNN</a>]
-> A divided Supreme Court temporarily blocked a lower court order that would let a transgender male student use the boys' bathroom in a Virginia public school. [<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/03/politics/supreme-court-transgender-bathroom/"; target="_blank">CNN</a>] [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/supreme-court-blocks-ruling-that-allowed-transgender-virginia-student-to-use-boys-bathroom-226636"; 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>meets with the mayor of Alpine and speaks at Utah Tri-City Chamber of Commerce and chats with the Bluehost team. Later he meets with the Utah Red Cross CEO.</li>
<li>Gov. Gary <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/GovHerbert"; target="_blank">Herbert</a> </strong>travels to Cedar City, where he attends the Utah Rural Summit in the morning. In the evening he attends the preview of the FLIGHT Exhibit at The Leonardo Museum.</li>
<li>Lt. Gov. Spencer <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox"; target="_blank">Cox</a></strong> also attends the Utah Rural Summit in Cedar City in the morning.</li>
<li>President Barack <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama"; target="_blank">Obama</a> </strong>has lunch with Vice President Joe Biden. Later in the afternoon, President Obama and Vice President Biden participate in a National Security Council Meeting on the counter-ISIL campaign at the Pentagon. After the meeting, the President holds a press conference from the Pentagon Briefing Room.</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>