Is the Interior secretary at work? Look for the flag. Former SL Co. Recorder Gary Ott was diagnosed with dementia in 2014. A federal board renames Negro Bill Canyon.
Happy Friday. Turns out Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has his own flag — and he makes an employee go to the roof of the department’s headquarters and fly the banner when he’s is in the building. The former NAVY seal is taking a cue from military flag officers. [WaPost]
Topping the news: More than a year before Gary Ott was reelected in 2014 as Salt Lake County county recorder he was diagnosed with dementia. [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4] [KUER]
-> A federal board voted to change the name of Utah’s Negro Bill Canyon to GrandStaff Canyon. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13] [KUTV]
-> Wellsville’s annual “Founder’s Day” festivities will no longer feature white residents in redface. [Trib]
-> Provo Mayor and congressional candidate John Curtis called on challenger Kathie Allen to apologize after she posted a tweet asking him to “pick a torch.” [Trib] [KUTV]
Tweets of the day: From @ryanbeckwith: “‘Grandpa, what was a slow news day?’ ‘You see, back in 2015...’”
-> From @meakoopa: “time to unwind after this Eminem controversy by watching an all-new episode of WILL & GRACE bc life is just a coma i’ve been in since 2002”
-> From @byrdinator: “The secret to staying sane on Capitol Hill is to treat every solo elevator ride as an opportunity for a dance break”
Happy Birthday: To House Speaker Greg Hughes.
Behind the Headlines: Tribune reporter Matt Piper, Washington Bureau Chief Thomas Burr, Senior Managing Editor Matt Canham and columnist Robert Gehrke, join KCPW’s Roger McDonough to talk about the week’s top stories, including the officer-involved shooting death of Patrick Harmon and criticism of Operation Rio Grande. Each Friday morning, stream “Behind the Headlines” online atkcpw.org or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast.
In other news: After the controversial arrest of nurse Alex Wubbels, Salt Lake Valley police and a Utah nursing organization announced new protocol for interactions between police and nurses. [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4] [KUER]
-> Congressional hopeful Kathie Allen will set off on a districtwide tour next week. [Trib]
-> Experts disagree if declining fertility rate in Utah is cause for concern. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> Pat Bagley illustrates the effect thoughts and prayers have on victims of the fires in northern California. [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly assesses the role Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill has played in the case of Patrick Harmon’s shooting. [Trib]
Nationally: President Donald Trump unveiled a plan to get rid of subsidies to health insurance companies. [NYTimes]
-> White House chief of staff John Kelly confirmed he is not quitting or getting fired during a press briefing Thursday. [Politico]
-> According to Sen. James Lankford, Trump will extend the March 5 deadline to end DACA protections if there’s no action on Congress’ part. [WaPost]
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-- Thomas Burr and Karenna Meredith Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/meredithkarenna
Follow @sltribpolitics