This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated.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

Obama to offer a "non-traditional" State of the Union address. Utah looks to collect online sales tax. Herbert stocking $1.4 million in his re-elect account.

Happy Tuesday. President Barack Obama is heading into his final State of the Union speech "more optimistic than he has ever been," says a White House official. While GOP presidential candidates may be speaking of the doom and gloom, Obama "intends to use this opportunity to discuss his optimism about the future of this country, and his optimism about our ability to confront both the challenges ahead and capitalize on those opportunities that are right in front of us." The Washington Post says the White House promises a "non-traditional speech" intended to cut through the 'day-to-day noise of Washington." Stay tuned. Obama speaks at 9 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Mountain. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obamas-last-state-of-the-union-will-try-to-counter-electorates-anger/2016/01/11/3371e012-b61b-11e5-a76a-0b5145e8679a_story.html?tid=pm_politics_pop_b" target="_blank">WaPost]

Topping the news: By law already, Utahns are supposed to pay sales tax on any online purchases they make by voluntarily adding it to their state income tax returns, and now lawmakers are seeking a way to collect. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3406200-155/lawmakers-seek-to-collect-taxes-owed" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865645299/2016-Legislature-may-try-to-force-feds-to-take-action-on-Internet-sales-tax.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> The House approved a bill proposed by Utah's Rep. Jason Chaffetz that would slashes the taxpayer-funded allowance for ex-presidents. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3406355-155/house-passes-chaffetz-bill-to-slash" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert has entered the 2016 election year with $1.4 million in the bank ready to spend on a campaign that he hopes will keep him in office. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3407010-155/gov-gary-herbert-starts-election-year" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Former Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said the Bundys, who are at the center of a 10-day siege of a national wildlife refuge in Oregon, are out of touch and don't represent the views of Western residents. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865645286/Former-Interior-Secretary-Salazar-Bundys-out-of-touch-on-lands-issues.html" target="_blank">DNews]

Tweets of the day: From https://twitter.com/mckaycoppins">@mckaycoppins: "I generally support more presidential candidates answering questions about their favorability rating with, 'Hell if I know.'"

From https://twitter.com/lexi4prez">@lexi4prez: "Donald trump is that 12 year old boy on Xbox who can't stop telling girls to go make him a sandwich"

From https://twitter.com/EWErickson">@EWErickson: "It is worth noting that Marco Rubio is one of Ted Cruz's few Senate colleagues or other candidates to dismiss the birther issue about Cruz."

Happy birthday: To The AP's Michelle Price

In other news: The Salt Lake County Council is looking to define more precisely what to do this year to advance criminal-justice reform, bypassing the chance to return $9.4 million a year to county taxpayers. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3395784-155/salt-lake-county-council-how-best" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Utah members of Congress joined more than 200 lawmakers in a friend-of-the-court brief supporting organizations seeking exemption from a federal contraceptive coverage mandate. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865645291/Utah-members-of-Congress-join-court-brief-opposing-contraceptive-coverage-mandate.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Sen. Orrin Hatch says one of the more overlooked issues in the presidential race is the impact the next White House occupant will have on the Supreme Court. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8186-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> A bill that deals with "dying with dignity" is likely to appear before the state Legislature this month. [http://kutv.com/news/local/end-of-life-bill-headed-to-utah-legislature" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> Another bill proposes that the SLC airport go smoke free. [http://fox13now.com/2016/01/11/bill-proposes-slc-international-airport-go-smoke-free/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> A December poll showed that Utahns favor jettisoning funding for Obamacare and Planned Parenthood. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8188-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> The Monticello City Council is expected to decide today whether Police Chief Kent Adair will continue as in his job, after he was placed on leave last month for failing to take immediate action following a report that an officer assaulted someone. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3406649-155/monticello-police-chief-back-at-work" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kutv.com/news/local/monticello-police-chief-back-at-work-still-faces-possible-discipline" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> Salt Lake City School District is asking parents to weigh in on whether high schools should start later through a survey. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3405959-155/slc-school-district-seeks-input-on" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A former tenant of an Ogden hotel that provides government-subsidized housing has filed a lawsuit saying he was discriminated against because he is black. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3406469-155/former-tenant-of-utah-hotel-files" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert has declared January radon action month. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3406991-155/herbert-names-january-radon-action-month" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Herbert also called the new Provo LDS temple a "work of art." [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865645258/Gov-Gary-Herbert-calls-new-Provo-LDS-temple-6work-of-art7.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> Herbert also said he enjoys calling constituents who have phoned in to his office to leave a comment or complaint. [http://kutv.com/news/local/calling-the-governors-office-gary-herbert-just-might-call-you-back" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> Jordan Garn says the cancelation of the Utah-BYU game is a tragedy but the Legislature should stay out of it. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/policy-buzz/8187-Jordan%20Garn" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> A coalition of plant managers is calling for legislation to ensure that water-quality rules pass scientific muster, but critics fear the proposal would allow them to dodge regulations needed to keep Utah's water safes. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3398509-155/critics-fear-proposal-could-allow-utah" target="_blank">Trib]

-> More Utah parents are opting out of immunizing their children, a report from the Utah Department of Health shows. [http://kutv.com/news/local/more-utah-parents-opt-out-of-immunizations-for-kids" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> Utahns have continued to flood neighboring states to buy Powerball tickets. [http://fox13now.com/2016/01/11/utahns-continue-to-flood-neighboring-states-to-purchase-powerball-tickets/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> Salt Lake City officials fear their city is losing out on high-tech growth. [http://kutv.com/news/local/is-salt-lake-city-friendly-to-tech-start-ups" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> UDOT is seeking help from the public for ideas of messages to post on electronic billboards each "Message Monday." [http://fox13now.com/2016/01/11/udot-ask-utah-drivers-for-ideas-to-post-on-its-electronic-billboards-for-message-monday/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> The Utah Department of Health is launching a new media campaign aimed at increasing the rate of Human papillomavirus vaccinations among Utahns, whose rate is below the national average. [http://kuer.org/post/udoh-campaign-aims-boost-hpv-vaccination-rates" target="_blank">KUER]

-> SLC made it into a list of the top 10 queerest cities in America. [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/salt-lake-makes-list-of-queerest-cities" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> Pat Bagley gives his take on the 2016 State of the Union. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3406686-155/bagley-cartoon-2016-state-of-the" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Paul Rolly explains how Kelly Gneiting went from being a Mormon backer to a Mormon bucker since the LDS Church denounced the armed occupiers in Oregon. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3391702-155/rolly-militia-ally-goes-from-mormon" target="_blank">Trib]

Nationally: The mother of the late Trayvon Martin endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton for president yesterday, saying that she is the candidate best positioned to "stand up to inaction from Republicans and indifference from the NRA" on gun control. [http://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/11/politics/hillary-clinton-trayvon-martin-sybrina-fulton-endorsement/index.html?sr=twcnni011116hillary-clinton-trayvon-martin-sybrina-fulton-endorsement0505PMVODtopLink&linkId=20268136" target="_blank">CNN]

-> GOP presidential hopeful Marco Rubio cancelled his appearance at a Florida fundraiser to attend a classified hearing on North Korea's recent claim that it launched a hydrogen bomb. [http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/265461-rubio-cancels-fundraiser-to-attend-north-korea-briefing" target="_blank">TheHill]

-> Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has vowed to cut back tremendously on funding for education and the EPA if he is elected to the White House. [http://www.wsj.com/articles/donald-trump-vows-to-slash-funding-for-education-epa-1452551107" target="_blank">WSJ]

-> President Barack Obama received criticism for meeting with rapper Kendrick Lamar but denying requests from politicians to discuss "critical issues." [http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/265448-amash-tweaks-obama-over-rapper-meeting" target="_blank">TheHill]

-> Parallels can be drawn between GOP presidential candidate Jeb Bush's failed run for Florida governor in 1994 and his not-so-promising campaign for president in 2016. [http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/12/us/politics/jeb-bush-first-campaign.html?ref=politics" target="_blank">NYTimes]

-> Republicans Rand Paul and Carly Florin will not have a place on the main stage at the next GOP presidential debate on Thursday. [http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/rand-paul-carly-fiorina-debate_569443b9e4b09dbb4bac5bc9" target="_blank">HuffPost]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Jason https://twitter.com/jasoninthehouse" target="_blank">Chaffetz chairs an Oversight mark-up and heads to the State of the Union address.
  • Rep. Chris https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart" target="_blank">Stewart meets with the Air Force officials, hits an Appropriations Subcommittee meeting with the King of Jordan, votes, speaks with the president of Primary Children's Hospital and listens to the State of the Union address.
  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert sits down for meetings with the Education Excellence Executive Committee and with Cary Ruggles.
  • Lt. Gov. Spencer https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">Cox visits Houwelings Tomatoes, talks with Juab County Commissioners and business owners in Juab County.
  • SL Co. Mayor Ben https://twitter.com/MayorBenMcAdams" target="_blank">McAdams attends a County Council meeting where he will discuss criminal justice. He also makes a presentation to the Salt Lake City Council about homelessness.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama receives his daily briefing and delivers the State of the Union address at the U.S. Capitol.
  • 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 Mariah Noble

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