This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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

Inside Russia's hacking of the Democratic National Committee. SLC releases the four new homeless shelter sites. Poll: Most Utahns want to keep the Electoral College.

Happy Wednesday. In 1972, some "plumbers" broke into the Democratic National Committee's headquarters in the Watergate building, only to be caught and brought to court. This year, Russian hackers snuck into DNC computer systems and stole countless more documents even as the FBI was warning the party. The New York Times takes a deep dive into how the hacking came about and the mishaps that led to bigger problems. [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/13/us/politics/russia-hack-election-dnc.html?_r=0">NYTimes</a>]

<strong>Topping the news: </strong>Salt Lake City leaders say the four newly released sites for future homeless shelters — picked behind closed doors — are non-negotiable, and they're ready to face the tidal wave of pushback from the affected neighborhoods. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4654207-155/salt-lake-city-leaders-say-decision?page=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865669192/Salt-Lake-City-identifies-4-sites-for-new-homeless-resource-centers.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/12/13/sugarhouse-business-owners-residents-concerned-about-new-homeless-shelter-site/"; target="_blank">Fox13</a>] [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/salt-lake-city-announces-sites-for-new-homeless-resource-centers/618900493"; target="_blank">ABC4</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/salt-lake-city-council-to-announce-locations-of-4-new-homeless-shelters"; target="_blank">KUTV</a>] [<a href="http://kuer.org/post/salt-lake-city-announces-locations-new-homeless-shelters"; target="_blank">KUER</a>] Check here for an in-depth look at each site. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4709046-155/here-is-a-look-at-the?page=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> Just as 600 new homeless shelter beds open up two years from now, Rio Grande Street's 1,100-bed Road Home will close its doors, and city and county leaders are confident by that time there will be a place for everyone. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4707922-155/road-home-shelter-on-rio-grande?page=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/road-home-set-to-close-as-new-resource-centers-announced/618682686"; target="_blank">ABC4</a>]

-> The Utah Republican Party forges onward with its lawsuit against a state law that creates a new path to get on the primary ballot. Meanwhile, Sen. Curt Bramble says his draft bill to solve the issue outside the courts hasn't garnered much excitement in the legislature. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4709555-155/gop-pursuing-election-lawsuit-appeal-while"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> A new poll shows some 60% of Utahns want to keep the Electoral College. [<a href="http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/11743-">UtahPolicy</a>]

<strong>Tweets of the day: </strong>From @<a href="https://twitter.com/StephenAtHome"; target="_blank">StephenAtHome</a>: "To: New Energy Secretary Rick Perry- How bout we power the country with a turbine connected to the founding fathers rolling in their graves?"

From @<a href="https://twitter.com/VictoriaDahl"; target="_blank">VictoriaDahl</a>: "Trump is replacing our current Secretary of Energy, a nuclear physicist — A NUCLEAR PHYSICIST — with Rick Perry. RICK PERRY."

 

<strong>Happy Birthday: </strong>to Sutherland Institute President Boyd Matheson.

<strong>In other news: </strong>The BLM approves two transmission lines to zap Wyoming wind power to Utah and Las Vegas. Conservationists like the idea but question the lines' routes through wilderness areas. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4707708-155/blm-approves-two-transmission-alignments-across"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865669206/Interior-Department-approves-major-transmission-lines-through-Utah.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/big-zap-huge-new-power-lines-in-west-get-federal-ok"; target="_blank">APviaKUTV</a>]

-> State Rep. Angela Romero promises a 2017 bill that would require all sex-assault kits to be DNA tested. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4710391-155/utah-lawmaker-pledges-bill-to-mandate"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/backlog-of-untested-rape-kits-a-crisis/619150273"; target="_blank">ABC4</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-lawmaker-proposes-mandated-testing-of-rape-kits"; target="_blank">KUTV</a>]

-> Abby Huntsman, daughter of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, has been named a new co-host of Fox & Friends Weekend. [<a href="http://thehill.com/media/310179-abby-huntsman-named-new-co-host-of-fox-friends-weekend"; target="_blank">TheHill</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865669214/Abby-Huntsman-to-join-FOX—Friends-as-co-host.html"; target="_blank">DNews</a>]

-> Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott start their annual top 10 stories countdown with No. 10: That Utah finally agreed to a deal to collect online sales tax from Amazon. [<a href="http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/11742-Bryan%20Schott%20and%20Bob%20Bernick">UtahPolicy</a>]

-> Six faiths and Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams declare Wednesday Religious Freedom Day for the county as part of an ongoing effort to counteract post-election division. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4709401-155/salt-lake-county-faith-leaders-unite"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://kuer.org/post/salt-lake-county-residents-encouraged-support-religious-freedom-worship-their-neighbors#stream/0"; target="_blank">KUER</a>]

-> Twenty-two large arts groups will split $13.7 million next year from the Zoo, Arts and Parks tax, which brought in an extra half million this year. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4709529-155/large-arts-groups-to-split-137m"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> The Department of Housing and Urban Development sues a Salt Lake City apartment complex landlord for denying housing to a disabled woman with an assistance dog. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4707906-155/hud-files-charges-of-discrimination-against"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> A Pioneer Park vigil remembers the 97 homeless who died over the past year. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4703835-155/vigil-commemorates-97-people-who-died"; target="_blank">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2016/12/13/slc-community-holds-candlelight-vigil-to-remember-homeless-who-have-died-this-year/"; target="_blank">Fox13</a>]

-> Pat Bagley compares today's employed who are still struggling to get by to the likes of workers under Ebenezer Scrooge. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4709849-155/bagley-cartoon-scrooged"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

-> Paul Rolly talks about former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt taking American healthcare providers to Cuba to learn about churning out high quality health care on a budget and Alexander Hamilton's argument about the Electoral College in The Federalist, which just might justify an elector revolt next week. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4708841-155/rolly-we-can-learn-something-from?page=1"; target="_blank">Trib</a>]

<strong>Nationally: </strong>President-elect Donald Trump scoops up two more Cabinet appointments: Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke as secretary of the interior and Rick Perry as energy secretary. [<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/13/politics/rick-perry-energy-secretary/index.html"; target="_blank">CNN</a>] [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/13/us/politics/donald-trump-ryan-zinke-interior-secretary.html?ref=politics&_r=0"; target="_blank">NYTimes</a>] [<a href="http://time.com/4598910/rick-perry-department-energy-oops-gaffe/"; target="_blank">Time</a>]

-> The Post investigates: why Trump ditched his top secretary of state contenders and what it says about his leadership style. [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-wasnt-happy-with-his-state-department-finalists-then-he-heard-a-new-name/2016/12/13/0727658e-c161-11e6-8422-eac61c0ef74d_story.html?utm_term=.77f3a38b9b7e"; target="_blank">WaPost</a>]

-> Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle want to investigate Russia's interference with the election, but the chambers are splintering over how to do it. [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/congress-cant-decide-how-to-probe-charges-russia-aimed-to-help-trump/2016/12/13/d1ff4e6c-c151-11e6-8422-eac61c0ef74d_story.html?utm_term=.6e0ce00db677"; target="_blank">WaPost</a>] [<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/13/us/politics/congress-russia-mcconnel-graham-mccain.html?ref=politics"; target="_blank">NYTimes</a>]

<strong>Where are they?</strong>

<ul>

<li>Gov. Gary <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/GovHerbert"; target="_blank">Herbert</a></strong> wraps up Western Governors' Assocation meetings in San Diego and hops back to Salt Lake City for the Governor's Mansion holiday open house.</li>

<li>Lt. Gov. Spencer <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox"; target="_blank">Cox</a></strong> makes an appearance at the Governor's Mansion holiday open house.</li>

<li>State Auditor John <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/FrugalDougall"; target="_blank">Dougall</a> </strong>reviews draft audit reports and sits in on office meetings.</li>

<li>President Barack <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/BarackObama"; target="_blank">Obama</a> </strong>hosts two Hannukah receptions and addresses the crowd at a My Brother's Keeper summit.</li>

</ul>

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— Thomas Burr and Zoe Woolf McGinn

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