This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Democratic insiders: Biden won't run. Poll: Hatch most effective senator. Lyman wants a new trial.

Happy Friday. Vice President Joe Biden has been holding conversations with donors, advisers and strategists about a possible 2016 presidential bid, unnerving those within the Hillary Clinton campaign and putting President Barack Obama in a tough spot. But eight of 10 Democratic insiders in the 10 states voting first in the nominating process don't believe Biden will ultimately jump in. It's all talk, they say. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/joe-biden-president-2016-decision-213103" target="_blank">Politico]

Topping the news: Attorneys for San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman want a new trial — based on a 1979 map — as he faces up to 16 months in jail over an ATV ride through a restricted canyon. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2883329-155/utah-lawmaker-says-discovery-of-decades-old" target="_blank">Trib]

-> A new poll shows 36 percent of Utahns think Sen. Orrin Hatch is the state's most effective senator and 28 percent believe Sen. Mike Lee is. But if you look at just those who align with the tea party, Lee's numbers are off the chart. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/6818-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert released a 12-step plan to improving Utah Department of Alcohol Beverage Control operations this week, but critics say some concerns are left out. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2883811-155/governor-highlights-12-steps-to-improve" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2015/08/27/governors-office-wants-changes-at-dabc/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865635508/State-unveils-plans-to-improve-service-working-conditions-at-Utah-liquor-stores.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> GOP hopeful Rand Paul plans to hold a rally in Orem on Saturday, after Overstock.com CEO Patrick Byrne hosts a private event for him Friday. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865635456/GOP-presidential-candidate-Rand-Paul-to-hold-rally-in-Orem.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> The federal government plans to spend more than $200 million over the next three years on programs to protect greater sage grouse in Western states, regardless of whether or not the birds live on reserves, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. He hopes to almost double the protected habitat to 8 million acres for the animals. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2882973-155/ag-secretary-promises-more-sage-grouse" target="_blank">Trib]

Tweets of the day: From http://twitter.com/scottlincicome" target="_blank">@scottlincicome: "'Trump says what everyone else is thinking' is a truly depressing & insulting analysis of America's collective intelligence"

From http://twitter.com/birbigs" target="_blank">@birbigs: "I will vote for Trump if Hulk Hogan doesn't run."

Happy Birthday: Today to Winston Wilkinson and Latino activist Tony Yapias and on Sunday to Todd Thorpe, former Utah GOP Chairman Thomas Wright, Adam Piner and superlawyer Melissa Galleto. And belated birthday wishes to to Heal Utah's Matt Pacenza who celebrated yesterday.

Tune in: Tribune reporter Matt Canham, editorial writer George Pyle, health, education and environment editor Rebecca Walsh and managing editor Dave Noyce join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the week's top news stories including the public lands initiative endorsed by Reps. Chaffetz and Bishop, the LDS church's relationship with scouting and the Planned Parenthood rally. Tune in to KCPW 88.3/105.3 FM or Utah Public Radio at 9 a.m. for the live broadcast. 

In other news: Utah leaders launched an "education campaign" this week where they inform and strongly encourage voters to adopt the proposed sales-tax hike, or Prop 1, a move that has earned disapproval from a group critical of the tax increase, saying it would take away much-needed money from family budgets. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2879600-155/utah-civic-business-leaders-launch-campaign" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865635527/Elected-officials-business-leaders-campaign-for-local-sales-tax-hike.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/wasatch-front-mayors-unite-support-proposition-one">KUER]

-> Though school district administrators have said for years that charter school funding should appear on property tax notices, the Charter School Funding Task Force voted Thursday to start drafting legislation to make that change. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2884333-155/utah-homeowners-could-see-charter-school" target="_blank">Trib]

-> The Wasatch Front Regional Council approved a five-year transportation plan, which includes multi-million-dollar projects like adding new train tracks, improving parking structures and adding bike lanes. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2883033-155/3m-for-sugar-house-streetcar-rails" target="_blank">Trib]

-> The Utah Wildlife Board voted to increase the number of cougar-hunting permits from 460 to 492 starting in 2016, despite pleas from the Wildlife Conservancy to decrease the number by as much as 25 percent. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2885004-155/utah-wildlife-managers-increase-number-of" target="_blank">Trib] [http://fox13now.com/2015/08/27/utah-dwr-and-humane-society-clash-over-cougar-management-recommendations/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://kuer.org/post/wildlife-board-adopts-cougar-plan" target="_blank">KUER] [http://kutv.com/news/local/changes-to-cougar-hunting-approved-activists-disappointed" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> Paul Rolly remembers the life of Elly Muth, a loyal and active "fixture inside the Utah Republican Party," who always rooted for the mavericks. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2878646-155/rolly-remembering-elly-muth-republican-workhorse" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Jordan Garn argues that Donald Trump is successful so far because he speaks what some people believe is the truth — even if it has no roots in actual facts. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/6815-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott talk this week in politics, including the fight over Planned Parenthood funding and the LDS Church's involvement with the Boy Scouts. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/6816-Bob%20Bernick%20and%20Bryan%20Schott" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> A $6.4 million grant will allow researchers at the U. to investigate links between heart defects and poor academic performance. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2875979-155/with-64-million-grant-u-to" target="_blank">Trib]

-> An elderly Utah man died of the plague for the first time since 2009. Few details were provided, but the disease could be contracted from fleas of infected wild rodents anywhere in the state. [http://www.sltrib.com/home/2883231-155/plague-kills-elderly-utah-resident" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/department-of-health-confirms-one-dead-after-comin/86058/3MGof-NDeUSW_A8jydhKXg" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://fox13now.com/2015/08/27/utah-man-dies-of-the-plague-first-case-since-2009/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865635488/Utah-man-dies-of-bubonic-plague.html?pg=all" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/utah-resident-dies-plague" target="_blank">KUER] [http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-resident-dies-of-plague-in-first-case-since-2009" target="_blank">KUTV]

-> West Jordan is close to filling a void that has existed for months – the slot of city manager. Four finalists were interviewed in a public meeting Wednesday night, but decisions were made behind closed doors and will be known to the public as soon as all negotiations are complete for the contract. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2884878-155/utah-city-ready-to-hire-new" target="_blank">Trib]

-> The Utah Supreme Court ruled unanimously Wednesday in favor of public access to bank records and other documents in criminal investigations involving matters of public interest, thanks to Weber State physicist Dan Schroeder. The ruling is considered "a big win for open government," according to media attorney Jeff Hunt. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2880429-155/ogden-man-crusading-to-expose-political" target="_blank">Trib]

-> ACLU of Utah says that the public defender system is falling apart and wants to take advantage of the momentum stemming from the criminal justice reform bill that passed earlier this year. Utah, they said, is failing to fulfill their obligation in the 6th Amendment — to provide defendants with a lawyer. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/aclu-of-utah-calls-on-state-to-fix-public-defender/91022/x7dRpxHSQUCdcEPF8bn-pA" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://fox13now.com/2015/08/27/aclu-says-utah-is-failing-you-on-your-right-to-a-lawyer/" target="_blank">Fox13]

-> The Volunteers of America and supporters broke ground Thursday for a new 30-bed Youth Homeless Shelter, which will provide homeless youth with three meals a day, housing assistance, employment services, education support and access to free legal advice on a daily basis. It is expected to be completed next spring. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2883853-155/volunteers-of-america-to-build-new" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kuer.org/post/construction-begins-youth-homeless-shelter-salt-lake-city" target="_blank">KUER]

Nationally: The Planned Parenthood sting videos that have caused so much controversy in recent weeks were found to be altered after an analysis by Fusion GPS, a Washington-based research and corporate intelligence company. Though reviewers could not determine "the extent to which C.M.P.'s undisclosed edits and cuts distort the meaning," they said the manipulation means "they have no evidentiary value in a legal context," unless the unaltered versions are released to authorities. [http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/28/us/abortion-planned-parenthood-videos.html?_r=0" target="_blank">NYTimes]

-> In an interview Wednesday, President Barack Obama drew attention to the fact that gun violence kills more people in America than terrorism. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/08/27/obama-is-right-that-guns-kill-more-americans-than-terrorism-so-do-lots-of-things/?postshare=4611440691066015" target="_blank">WaPost]

-> A graphic entitled "The Two Circles of Trump Twitter Hell" shows the number of attacks via Twitter between Donald Trump and other GOP candidates from June 16 through August 26. [http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/when-donald-trump-attacks-gop/" target="_blank">FiveThirtyEight]

-> Since the Chinese stock market crash this week affected U.S. markets, GOP presidential hopefuls Scott Walker and Donald Trump have both begun bashing China, with Trump saying he'd treat the Chinese president to McDonald's instead of a fancy dinner. It is likely that as more candidates speak on foreign policy, China will get the brunt of it. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/the-republicans-red-scare-121823#ixzz3k5sf1Ub6" target="_blank">Politico]

Where are they?

  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert attends a UCAT Board of Trustees Meeting and gathers for a Centenarian Celebration.
  • Lt. Gov. Spencer https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">Cox joins in the Centenarian Celebration luncheon.
  • SLC Mayor Ralph https://twitter.com/beckerformayor" target="_blank">Becker hits a Rio Grande follow up meeting.
  • SL Co. Mayor Ben https://twitter.com/MayorBenMcAdams" target="_blank">McAdams convenes with Deputy Mayor Nichole Dunn and later participates in Salt Lake Community Action Program's Head Start event.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama takes part in a live webcast with the North American Jewish community and later joins a DNC fundraiser at Fiola Restaurant.
  • 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