This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2017, and information in the article may be outdated.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 to take questions from the press, finally. Hatch says Dems won't be able to derail Sessions for AG. Metcalf warns Outdoor Retailer show should leave Utah.
Happy Wednesday.President-elect Donald Trump has resisted holding a wide-ranging news conference since his election, postponing the first one he set mid-December to explain how he will untangle himself from ethical and financial conflicts of his business empire. Instead, he's mostly taken to Twitter to communicate his will and his wishes — at times sending shockwaves across the financial markets and Capitol Hill. Today, Trump is expected to finally take questions from reporters, though he's also expected to criticize them. [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/donald-trump-press-conference-233445">Politico</a>]
<strong>Topping the news: </strong>Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, says he's seen "dirty tactics" in the past but those won't be successful if Democrats chose to use them in derailing Jeff Sessions' nomination for attorney general. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4804574-155/hatch-says-democratic-attempts-to-derail">Trib</a>]
-> Kirk Torgensen, former chief deputy Utah attorney general, was arrested and later released Tuesday to ensure he testifies at the trial of his former boss John Swallow in February. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4802738-155/more-swallow-intrigue-former-ag-deputy?fullpage=1">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.ksl.com/?sid=42828627&nid=148&title=ex-assistant-utah-attorney-general-witness-in-john-swallow-case-arrested">KSL</a>]
-> Peter Metcalf, founder of Black Diamond Equipment, says the Outdoor Retailer show should leave Utah because of the stance of state leaders on public lands, including the recent Bears Ears National Monument designation — but Gov. Gary Herbert's office pushed back on Metcalf's assessment. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4803464-155/utah-guv-pushes-back-on-black">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865670834/Black-Diamond-co-founder-calls-on-outdoor-trade-show-to-leave-Utah-over-public-lands-stance.html">DNews</a>] [<a href="http://www.ksl.com/?sid=42833101&nid=148&title=black-diamond-co-founder-calls-on-outdoor-trade-show-to-leave-utah-over-public-lands-stance">KSL</a>]
<strong>Tweets of the day: </strong>From @<a href="https://twitter.com/Fresh">Fresh</a>: "I feel like I just binged watched a show for 8 years and now its over. Like what do I do now? Do I go outside? #ObamaFarewell"
From: @<a href="https://twitter.com/densaer">densaer</a>: "Trump's inauguration to exude 'soft sensuality'? Yuck. I bet it means velour uniforms."
-> From: @<a href="https://twitter.com/ImToBlame">ImToBlame</a>: "If I went to a job interview and said 'I wasn't aware of that' as many times as Jeff Sessions has today they'd kick me out"
-> From @<a href="https://twitter.com/mviser">mviser</a>: "Who predicted David Ortiz would come up during the Jeff Sessions confirmation hearings???"
<strong>Happy Birthday: </strong>To SLC Mayor Jackie Biskupski and XMission founder Pete Ashdown.
<strong>In other news: </strong>SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams wants the Road Home homeless shelter to remain open until there is no longer a pressing need for it, while a drafted plan from Salt Lake City's administration suggests shutting it down as soon as the four incoming resource centers open. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4805357-155/salt-lake-city-county-leaders-agree">Trib</a>]
 
-> Fred Karger, a Mormon critic, is challenging the LDS Church's tax-exempt status with a series of TV ads. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/lifestyle/faith/4803801-155/tv-campaign-targeting-mormon-church-tax?fullpage=1">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2017/01/10/new-ads-target-the-lds-church-and-its-tax-exempt-status/">Fox13</a>]
-> A Utah federal judge will not drop the lawsuit against the NSA for alleged illegal surveillance during the 2002 Winter Games. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4803651-155/judge-wont-dismiss-suit-alleging-nsa">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2017/01/10/judge-wont-toss-lawsuit-accusing-nsa-of-spying-on-everyone-in-slc-during-the-2002-olympics/">Fox13</a>] [<a href="http://www.ksl.com/?sid=42830730&nid=148&title=judge-wont-dismiss-lawsuit-over-alleged-nsa-olympic-spying">KSL</a>]
-> Oscar Azarcon Solis, chosen as Utah's new Catholic bishop, has "such a reputation for pastoral love, and it's not just words." [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4803805-155/new-catholic-bishop-charms-utahns-with?fullpage=1">Trib</a>]
-> The federal trial for the remaining FLDS members in the food stamp fraud case was delayed while lawyers work on a potential settlement for one man. [<a href="http://fox13now.com/2017/01/10/flds-food-stamp-fraud-trial-delayed-while-another-plea-deal-is-in-the-works/">Fox13</a>]
-> The Salt Lake County Council appointed Erin Litvack as deputy mayor. [<a href="http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865670843/Salt-Lake-County-Council-approves-McAdams-new-deputy-mayor.html">DNews</a>]
-> Pat Bagley suggests Republicans may be under the influence of a creature akin to Jabba the Hutt. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/4804810-155/bagley-cartoon-jabba-the-trumps-creature">Trib</a>]
-> Calling it "controversial enough that it deserves a vote in the Congress," Rep. Jason Chaffetz hopes to overturn a Washington, D.C., law that allows assisted suicides. [<a href="http://www.ksl.com/?sid=42831387&nid=148&title=chaffetz-plans-to-block-new-dc-assisted-suicide-law">KSL</a>]
-> A state lawmaker dropped his bill Tuesday after fears it would incite debate over abortions. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4803325-155/utah-lawmaker-abandons-bill-to-avoid">Trib</a>]
-> Salt Lake International Airport created a new personal best this past year for number of travelers: 23,043,149. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4803022-155/salt-lake-city-international-airport-sets">Trib</a>] [<a href="http://www.ksl.com/?sid=42830253&nid=148&title=salt-lake-city-international-airport-reports-record-23-million-plus-passengers">KSL</a>]
-> Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah, was named chairman of Defense Intelligence and Overhead Architecture Subcommittee. [<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/news/4804670-155/utah-rep-chris-stewart-selected-to">Trib</a>]
<strong>Nationally:</strong> President Barack Obama's farewell speech was marked by optimism for the future and a defense of his legacy. [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-heads-home-to-chicago-to-say-farewell-the-nation/2017/01/10/bd7c7e3a-d6ad-11e6-9a36-1d296534b31e_story.html?utm_term=.118a173a2260">WaPost</a>]
-> AG nominee Jeff Sessions says he would not be a "mere rubber stamp" for President-elect Donald Trump and would rather resign than carry out a policy he found unconstitutional. [<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/10/us/politics/jeff-sessions-attorney-general.html?ref=politics">NYTimes</a>]
-> Does Russia have comprising personal information about Trump? U.S. intelligence agencies presented unsubstantiated reports raising that possibility to Trump and Obama. [<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/10/us/politics/donald-trump-russia-intelligence.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news">NYTimes</a>] [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/intelligence-chiefs-briefed-trump-and-obama-on-unconfirmed-claims-russia-has-compromising-information-on-president-elect/2017/01/10/9da3969e-d788-11e6-9a36-1d296534b31e_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_trumpintel745p%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.73172dc96ea5">WaPost</a>]
-> Trump wants a replacement plan for Obamacare "very quickly." [<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trumps-obamacare-repeal-replace-233444">POLITICO</a>]
-> Fox News settled the alleged sexual harassment lawsuit filed against Bill O'Reilly. [<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/fox-news-secretly-settled-sex-harassment-claim-against-bill-oreilly/2017/01/10/e2fcb414-d75b-11e6-b8b2-cb5164beba6b_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_oreilly-3pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.44ee3023413d">WaPost</a>]
<strong>Where are they?</strong>
<ul>
<li>Rep. Jason <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/jasoninthehouse"; target="_blank">Chaffetz</a></strong> attends a summit and votes.</li>
<li>Rep. Chris <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart"; target="_blank">Stewart</a></strong> sits in on a Republican Study Committee meeting, speaks with staff, casts his vote and gives a speech at a Military Order of Daedalians event.</li>
<li>Rep. Mia <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMiaLove"; target="_blank"><strong>Love</strong></a> goes to Financial Services Committee meeting, chats with constituents and votes.</li>
<li>Lt. Gov. Spencer <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox"; target="_blank">Cox</a></strong> attends the Winter Outdoor Retailers Show and checks out the National Ability Center.</li>
<li>State Auditor John <strong><a href="https://twitter.com/FrugalDougall"; target="_blank">Dougall</a> </strong>reviews draft audit reports.</li>
</ul>
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— Thomas Burr and Miranda Tilley
<a title="Thomas Burr" href="https://twitter.com/thomaswburr"; target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/mtilley11">Twitter.com/mtilley11</a>