This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Trump 'thought it would be easier' being president. Herbert weighs how to fill Chaffetz's House seat. Utah's congressional delegation talks Bears Ears with Interior Secretary Zinke.
Happy Friday. As he nears his 100-day mark, President Donald Trump reflected on his time in office: It hasn't been quite what he had expected. "I loved my previous life. I had so many things going," Trump said. "This is more work than in my previous life. I thought it would be easier." Though he'd experienced security constraints as a former reality TV star, Trump said the 24-hour Secret Service detail that now follows him makes it so that "you really can't go anywhere." He also misses being able to drive. [<a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-100days-idUSKBN17U0CA">Reuters</a>]
<strong>Topping the news: </strong>With Rep. Jason Chaffetz's anticipated departure, Utah legislators want to call a special session to flesh out state law on electing a U.S. House member midterm. But Gov. Gary Herbert says he is wary of doing so because some current lawmakers may have a vested interest in boosting their own chances to win the seat. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5226702-155/herbert-worries-calling-session-would-allow"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trib</a>]
<p class="p1">-> One day after Trump signed an executive order mandating a review of federal monument designations dating back to 1996, Herbert and members of Utah's congressional delegation met with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to discuss the next steps for Bears Ears in southeastern Utah. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865678745/Interior-Secretary-Zinke-Utah-delegation-meet-to-discuss-next-steps-on-Bears-Ears.html"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/utah-delegation-meet-with-secretary-of-interior-ryan-zinke-to-discuss-bears-ears/700536198"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ABC4</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/utahs-entire-congressional-delegation-meets-with-interior-secretary-about-bears-ears"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">KUTV</a>]</p>
<p class="p1">-> A Utah mom whose son is imprisoned in Venezuela wrapped up a four-day trip to Washington, where she met with Utah's lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for her son's release. [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2017/04/27/utah-mom-travels-to-washington-works-to-free-son-imprisoned-in-venezuela/"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fox13</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/josh-holts-mom-spends-week-in-dc-pushing-for-his-release-from-venezuela-jail"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">KUTV</a>]</p>
<p class="p1">-> Chaffetz's foot surgery to resolve complications from an injury he had 12 years ago was successful. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5228090-155/chaffetz-recovering-from-surgery"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2017/04/27/rep-jason-chaffetz-recovering-after-successful-surgery/"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fox13</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/rep-chaffetz-has-successful-surgery-begins-his-recovery-at-u-of-u-hospital"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">KUTV</a>]</p>
<strong>Tweets of the day: </strong>From <a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/gaywonk"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@gaywonk</a>: "'We're going to repeal Obamacare' is the GOP's version of 'I'm going to stop eating carbs.'"
-> From <a class="ProfileHeaderCard-screennameLink u-linkComplex js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/scottdools"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">@scottdools</a>: "Say what you will about his policies, no President in history has thrown himself into #takeyourchildtoworkday quite like Donald Trump."
<strong>Happy Birthday:</strong> Saturday to the Utah Foundation's Dan Bammes, to Paul Murphy, external communications director at Rocky Mountain Power, and to state Rep. Marc Roberts.
<strong>Behind the Headlines: </strong>Salt Lake Tribune Washington Bureau Chief Thomas Burr, reporters Alex Stuckey and Aaron Falk, government and politics editor Dan Harrie and editorial page editor George Pyle join KCPW's Emily Means to talk about the week's top stories, including President Donald Trump's executive order calling for a review of all national monument designations and Mary Beckerle's reinstatement as Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO and director. Listen at KCPW.org or tune in to KCPW or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast from 9-10 a.m.
<strong>In other news:</strong> Supporters of Vivian Lee, the CEO of University of Utah Health Care, worry the high-profile conflict between her and Huntsman Cancer Institute CEO Mary Beckerle — who recently was reportedly fired without cause and then later reinstated — threatens to undermine her transformation of the university's health system. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5227602-155/rift-at-university-of-utah-poses"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trib</a>]
<p class="p1">-> A $12 million donation to the University of Utah in September 2014 has the attention of Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes, who has asked the Office of the Legislative Auditor General to determine whether the state needs to conduct an audit of the university. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865678770/Audit-considered-amid-criticized-donation-to-University-of-Utah.html"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DNews</a>]</p>
<p class="p1">-> One researcher says Census Bureau numbers released in March that indicated an improbable growth rate for the population in San Juan County has to do with how the Navajo population is counted — which could potentially hold political and funding implications. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5216761-155/does-the-us-census-undercount-utah"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trib</a>]</p>
<p class="p1">-> The Utah Transit Authority adopted a new nepotism policy mandating that employees related to anyone appointed to the agency's board of trustees in the future will be fired. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5225633-155/uta-adopts-tougher-anti-nepotism-rule-over"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trib</a>]</p>
<p class="p1">-> Keith Bartholomew, Salt Lake City's longtime representative on the Utah Transit Authority's board of trustees, resigned under orders from Mayor Jackie Biskupski, who cited concerns about the length of his term and the circumstances under which he was appointed. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865678760/Biskupski-orders-resignation-of-Salt-Lake-Citys-longtime-UTA-trustee.html"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">DNews</a>]</p>
<p class="p1">-> Numbers from the Utah Division of Water Resources show numerous corrections to water data collected by state agencies and a utilization of in-house estimates to fill in missing information — meaning Utah only has a partial grasp, at best, of how much water it actually consumes. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5221625-155/how-much-water-does-utah-really"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trib</a>]</p>
-> Daggett County's search for a new sheriff is complicated by its status as the least populated county in Utah and by an ongoing state investigation into possible mistreatment of inmates at the county jail. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5222490-155/daggett-countys-search-for-a-new"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trib</a>]
-> Fierce competition for Utah homes priced under $500,000 has made 2017 a good year for sellers but a "brutal" time for buyers. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5226999-155/wasatch-front-home-prices-going-through?fullpage=1"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/to-be-a-buyer-right-now-is-just-brutal-home-sales-decline-across-wasatch-front"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">KUTV</a>]
-> Draper's American Preparatory Academy has a little more than eight months to resolve its property dispute for traffic access, after which the charter school will have to pay $50,000 in easement fees. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5222113-155/american-preparatory-academy-facing-50000-deadline?fullpage=1"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trib</a>]
<p class="p1">-> A high number of individuals in Utah die from prescription opioid overdose each month — something a new Utah Department of Health initiative hopes to change. The program will encourage pharmacists to start a dialogue with their patients about the risk of opioids and begin placing red caution stickers on opioid pill bottles next month. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5226540-155/ask-about-those-opioids-utah-health"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2017/04/27/new-efforts-to-stop-utahns-from-opioid-overdose/"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fox13</a>] [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-health-leaders-launch-talk-to-your-pharmacist-month"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">KUTV</a>]</p>
<p class="p1">-> A Salt Lake City tattoo shop is moving out of the Rio Grande area because its owners say the 20 to 50 drug transactions that happen outside their front door each day are bad for business. [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/police-pledge-fight-against-rio-grande-drugs-tattoo-shop-to-move"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">KUTV</a>]</p>
<p class="p1">-> Data from the Salt Lake City Recorder's Office show complaints about the city's parking meters, which have been a source of gripes and controversy, have decreased as more people have grown used to the new system. [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2017/04/27/parking-complaints-drop-in-slc/"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Fox13</a>]</p>
<p class="p1">-> The Salt Lake City Fire Department is encouraging Salt Lake City residents<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>to attend an interactive, three-dimensional wildfire simulation Saturday morning. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5217765-155/salt-lake-city-residents-invited-to"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trib</a>]</p>
<p class="p1">-> Mapleton residents are fighting a proposed city development project to build 144 new homes on close to 190 acres in their neighborhood. [<a href="http://kutv.com/news/local/mapleton-neighbors-fight-new-homes-developer-pledges-open-space"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">KUTV</a>]</p>
<p class="p1">-> The first legal wife of Winston Blackmore — a man accused of marrying 24 women, some of whom are from Utah — testified in the British Columbia Supreme Court about her marriage. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5226387-155/wife-of-accused-canadian-polygamist-testifies"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CranbrookTownsmanviaTrib</a>]</p>
-> Paul Rolly examines whether the Black Republican Assembly will lose its seat at the Utah Republican Party's main table as the state's GOP Central Committee examines the status of auxiliary organizations that qualify for membership. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/5225445-155/rolly-will-black-republican-group-lose"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trib</a>]
<strong>Nationally:</strong> Republican leaders postponed a vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act before President Donald Trump's 100-day mark in office. [<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/27/us/politics/republicans-propose-short-term-funding-plan-to-avert-shutdown.html?_r=0"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NYTimes</a>] [<a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/gops-revised-health-care-bill-hasnt-yet-swayed-enough-moderate-republicans/"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PBSNews</a>] [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/house-republicans-scramble-for-votes-on-new-health-care-proposal/2017/04/27/3cde975a-2b70-11e7-be51-b3fc6ff7faee_story.html?utm_term=.9921edea97e9"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">WaPost</a>] [<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/25/politics/shutdown-border-wall-obamacare-congress/index.html"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CNN</a>]
-> Trump warned of the possibility of "major, major conflict" with North Korea amid rising tensions. The UN Security Council is meeting to discuss North Korea, and the House is expected to vote on a bill authorizing new sanctions against the country. [<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39741671"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">BBCNews</a>] [<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/27/world/asia/trump-north-korea-kim-jong-un.html"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NYTimes</a>] [<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/27/politics/north-korea-sanctions-house-vote/"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">CNN</a>] [<a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/04/27/525866684/trump-administration-wants-north-korea-at-negotiating-table-on-nuclear-weapons"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NPR</a>]
<p class="p1">-> Trump told leaders of Mexico and Canada that he will not pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement if he concludes a renegotiated agreement is "a fair deal for all." [<a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/trump-says-u-s-wont-leave-nafta-now/"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">PBSNews</a>] [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/04/27/trump-nafta-tweets-237681"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Politico</a>] [<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/26/us/politics/nafta-executive-order-trump.html"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NYTimes</a>] [<a href="http://www.npr.org/2017/04/27/525920241/with-billions-at-stake-trump-agrees-to-mend-nafta-not-end-it"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">NPRNews</a>]</p>
<strong>Where are they?</strong>
<ul>
<li>Rep. Mia <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/RepMiaLove"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Love</a> </strong>participates in a Financial Services Committee planning meeting, votes and flies to Utah.</li>
<li>State Auditor John <strong><strong><a href="https://twitter.com/FrugalDougall"; target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dougall</a> </strong></strong>eats breakfast with staff for Administrative Professional Day and attends a conference with a peer review team of auditors from across the U.S. He later meets with charter school representatives and heads to the Box Elder County Republican convention.</li>
</ul>
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— Courtney Tanner and Taylor Stevens