This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Professor who predicted President Trump now says he'll be impeached. SL County looks to hand off homeless issue to nonprofit board. $13m more needed to build homeless shelters.

Happy Thursday. Political science professor Allan Lichtman became somewhat famous last year for predicting Donald Trump would win the presidency long before anyone else, using a formula based on the popularity of the party in control of the White House that accurately predicted the eight previous presidential elections. Now Lichtman wants everyone to pay attention to the rest of what came through his crystal ball — that Trump will now be impeached. [http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/trump-impeachment-professor-allan-lichtman-237181">Politico]

Topping the news: Utah's highway crews face a busy summer construction season this year, with a list of 180 highway projects from the Utah Department of Transportation that include new interchanges and highways, freeway reconstructions and widening and repaving projects. [http://www.sltrib.com/home/5162861-155/utah-highway-crews-ready-to-hit" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/heres-a-look-at-udots-top-10-summer-construction-projects/691118579" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://fox13now.com/2017/04/12/udot-outlines-its-top-10-projects-for-2017/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://kutv.com/news/local/udot-to-announce-its-top-10-construction-projects-for-2017" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> Salt Lake County is looking to hand off its primary leadership of ongoing homeless reform to a private nonprofit board, which County Mayor Ben McAdams said would more collaboratively further the work that's already been done. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/5170399-155/salt-lake-county-prepares-to-step" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A preliminary budget analysis presented at the county's Collective Impact on Homelessness Steering Committee meeting said more than $13 million in funds are still needed to reach the anticipated $72.4 million cost to build three new homeless resource centers and fund their programs. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677715/Early-analysis-County-still-missing-13-million-for-new-homeless-system.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Ahead of the 2018 legislative session, Utah lawmakers already have a list of topics to study in monthly interim sessions, including 3.2 percent beer, teacher compensation, medical marijuana and drilling near Bears Ears. [http://fox13now.com/2017/04/12/taxes-3-2-beer-dui-and-medical-marijuana-on-the-list-for-utah-lawmakers-to-study/" target="_blank">Fox13]

Tweets of the day: From https://twitter.com/PatrickQuinnTV" target="_blank">@PatrickQuinnTV: "Welcome to Southwest, where we beat our competitors...not our customers." - the announcer on this " target="_blank">#Southwest flight is SAVAGE."

-> From https://twitter.com/matthaig1" target="_blank">@matthaig1: "It's still very hard to tell these days where your anxiety disorder ends and where actual news begins."

-> From https://twitter.com/WallahIrmiya" target="_blank">@WallahIrmiya: "If Ben Carson knew anything about public housing he would have taken the stairs in the first place."

Happy Birthday: to state Sen. Scott Jenkins.

In other news: Gov. Gary Herbert signed a bill creating a commission that will aim to find the best way to consolidate efforts for a single crisis hotline for Utahns struggling with suicidal thoughts. [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/utah-closer-to-statewide-crisis-hotline/691189741" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> A judge is expected to determine Friday whether now-19-year-old Abdullahi "Abdi" Mohamed, who was 17 years old when he was shot by police for allegedly assaulting a man, will remain in juvenile court. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/5170407-155/judge-expected-to-decide-friday-whether" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/defense-wants-17-year-old-to-remain-in-juvenile-system/690027673" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> A half-dozen Utah counties do not currently comply with the Environmental Protection Agency's current ozone standard. However, the EPA has signaled it may reconsider the current regulations, which it tightened in 2015. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/5170293-155/utah-failed-to-meet-current-ozone" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A Duchesne County subdivision that has festered in its own sewage for the past few years will now get some relief after the Utah Community Impact Board approved $2.5 million in loans and grans to replace the failed septic system and the Utah Department of Environmental Quality said it would cover much of the project's remaining costs. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/5161212-155/utah-taxpayers-to-rescue-duchesne-subdivision" target="_blank">Trib]

-> The Daybreak Townhome 1 Homeowners' Association represents nearly 400 South Jordan families who are fighting for compensation from builders and developers they say erected poorly-constructed town homes with defects from millions of dollars' worth of water damage in the walls. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/5170062-155/daybreak-homeowners-association-accuses-builders-of" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/trouble-at-south-jordans-daybreak/691189490" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://fox13now.com/2017/04/12/daybreak-homeowners-file-lawsuit-accusing-builders-of-cutting-corners-on-construction/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://kutv.com/news/local/daybreak-homeowners-want-answers-after-homes-begin-crumbling-cracking" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> Homeowners near the new American Preparatory Academy said they think a recently-erected "spite fence" at the school's property was installed to keep parents from learning about the ongoing frustrations between the charter school and its residential neighbors. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/5170703-155/american-preparatory-academys-neighbors-say-the" target="_blank">Trib]

-> The 110 year-old Granite High School campus in South Salt Lake has been closed since 2009 and now faces its final days after the Granite School District approved a $2.55 million demolition that will likely begin in August. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/5170509-155/district-approves-25-million-demolition-of" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Late fees could be a thing of the past in the Salt Lake City library system under a new proposal that would also bump yearly homeowner taxes about $20 and business taxes $149 to fund updates to its oldest branches. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/5170394-155/salt-lake-city-library-budget-calls" target="_blank">Trib]

-> In response to salary boosts at Jordan School District and Canyons School District and amid a statewide teacher shortage, the Granite Board of Education announced plans to raise property taxes this year to fund pay raises for teachers and administrators. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/5171450-155/granite-school-district-readies-tax-hike" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Brigham Young University researchers pulled together a complete picture of Moabosaurus, a new dinosaur named from thousands of fossilized bones recovered from a quarry in southern Utah. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/5171398-155/meet-moabosaurus-utahs-latest-dino-discovery" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2017/04/12/byu-researchers-name-utahs-newly-discovered-dinosaur-after-moab/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> Utah economists joined nearly 1,500 others around the country in signing a letter asking President Donald Trump and Congress to reconsider their stance on immigration. [http://fox13now.com/2017/04/12/utah-economists-sign-letter-challenging-feds-on-immigration/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> A panel discussion at Utah Valley University explored the complexities of U.S.-Russian relations, including hacking techniques Russia allegedly used to interfere with the 2016 presidential elections and the potential that Trump was involved in the efforts. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677632/Cybersecurity-expert-explains-difficulty-attributing-hacking-to-Russian-government.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> More than 80 Utah women have already signed up to learn more about how to run for political office at the Real Women Run training on April 22 — a 40 percent registration increase. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/5170924-155/real-women-run-registering-for-spring" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Responding to dropping water levels, the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge reopened its Wildlife Education Center and popular Auto Tour Loop, which had been closed due to flooding and water-related damage. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/5170003-155/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge-reopens" target="_blank">Trib]

-> North Ogden Mayor Brent Taylor said in an email to his fellow members of the Utah Transit Authority that it missed an opportunity by not discussing an ongoing federal investigation into the transit agency at its board meeting. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865677718/UTA-board-should-seize-the-opportunity-and-toughen-up-member-says.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> A group of volunteers took to the streets off 600 West in Salt Lake City to clean up discarded drug syringes in an effort to keep Utahns from contracting HIV. [http://kutv.com/news/local/volunteer-group-cleaning-up-dangerous-used-syringes-from-streets-and-trails" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> The National Waste and Recycling Association named a Utah garbage truck operator as the first woman in the public sector to win its national "Driver of the Year" award. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/5162771-155/this-utah-garbage-truck-driver-has" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Pat Bagley explores the role of context in framing recent political controversies. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/5171387-155/bagley-cartoon-our-benevolent-overlords" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Robert Gehrke says a state law the Supreme Court upheld that prohibits car manufacturers from selling automobiles directly to consumers is an example of the muscle the dealers have on Capitol Hill, a point that allows them protection from economic Darwinism. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/5166913-155/gehrke-utah-loves-the-free-market" target="_blank">Trib]

Nationally: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for nearly two hours, addressing the contentious relationship between the two countries. "The world's two foremost nuclear powers cannot have this kind of relationship," Tillerson said. [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/world/europe/tillerson-putin-lavrov-russia-syria.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes] [https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/tillerson-meets-with-putin-amid-deepening-tensions-over-us-missile-strikes-in-syria/2017/04/12/328b49f0-1fcd-11e7-be2a-3a1fb24d4671_story.html?utm_term=.c2d97ae3394d" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/putin-meets-tillerson-moscow-n745591" target="_blank">NBCNews] [http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/apr/12/vladimir-putin-meets-rex-tillerson-tensions-rise-o/" target="_blank">WaTimes]

-> Stepping away from economic policy pledges he'd made as a candidate and supported only days ago, Trump said he no longer wanted to label China a currency manipulator, no longer wanted to eliminate the Export-Import Bank and might consider reappointing Janet Yellen as chairwoman of the Federal Reserve after her term ends next year. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2017/04/12/trump-says-he-will-not-label-china-currency-manipulator-reversing-campaign-promise/?utm_term=.e862a354d7b8" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.bbc.com/news/business-39583571" target="_blank">BBCNews][https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/us/politics/export-import-bank-janet-yellen-china-currency.html" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/major-reversal-trump-says-china-not-currency-manipulators-n745826" target="_blank">NBCNews]

-> Trump distanced himself from Steve Bannon, his chief strategist, playing down his adviser's role in the presidential campaign and made clear his subordinate role in the administration. Last week, Trump removed Bannon from his post in the National Security Council. [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/12/us/politics/steve-bannon-white-house-trump.html" target="_blank">NYTimes] [http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/328598-spicer-trump-wanted-to-make-it-very-clear-his-views-not-bannons-won" target="_blank">TheHill] [http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/12/politics/steve-bannon-donald-trump-relationship/" target="_blank">CNN] [http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/328598-spicer-trump-wanted-to-make-it-very-clear-his-views-not-bannons-won" target="_blank">TheHill]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Mia https://twitter.com/RepMiaLove" target="_blank">Love reviews legislative priorities with staff and meets with constituents.
  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert prepares throughout the day for the Economic Summit, attends a Cabinet meeting and hosts the State of Sport Awards at the Vivint Smart Home Arena.
  • Lt. Gov. Spencer https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">Cox heads to a Cabinet meeting and speaks with the KUED director before attending a meeting on publicly owned treatment works. Later, he talks with staff and attends the Governor's State of Sports awards.
  • State Auditor John https://twitter.com/FrugalDougall" target="_blank">Dougall heads to a meeting in Lehi and a management meeting and speaks with the director of administrative services. Later, he talks with the attorney general's office, releases three audits and interviews job candidates.
  • 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 Taylor Stevens

    https://twitter.com/thomaswburr" target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr and https://twitter.com/tstevens95">Twitter.com/tstevens95