Happy Wednesday! White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham claimed without evidence that aides to former president Barack Obama left behind disparaging messages around the White House on the day President Donald Trump was inaugurated. Grisham said Obama folks left a big “You will fail” sign on the press office -- though there’s no proof that ever happened and Obama officials pushed back swiftly on what they said was a lie. Grisham later backtracked somewhat and called the controversy “silly.” [WaPost]
Topping the news: West High School students walked out of class yesterday in protest of their principal being suspended after driving two students home who had been drinking. [Trib] [Fox13] [StandEx]
-> Rep. Chris Stewart said it was wrong for Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman to equate President Trump’s request for “a favor” from Ukraine’s president with an “order.” [Trib] [DNews]
-> Utah Rep. John Curtis proposed a federal pilot program, supported by Gov. Gary Herbert, that would allow immigrant workers to receive state-sponsored visas. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @DavidJollyFL: “Nunes needs a hug.”
-> From @StuPolitics: “Volker’s new position is that he is so naive he didn’t know/understand what was going on.”
Happy Birthday: State Rep. Francis Gibson and GOP consultant Mike Deaver.
Also in the news: Utah’s oil and gas program has not abided by environmental regulations, according to a scathing legislative audit released Tuesday. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Utah’s lewdness law is being challenged as unconstitutional due to the fact it treats men and women differently for the same act of baring their chests. [DNews] [Fox13]
-> Months after state lawmakers passed a new bill that was supposed to make it easier for cities to enforce their idling ordinances, it’s still unlikely for an idler to receive any citations. [Trib]
-> Safety concerns about the Road Home’s family center in Midvale arose following an arrest recently made at the facility. [DNews]
-> New e-scooter rules would include stricter limitations on where the vehicles can be parked, but don’t include standards for reducing sidewalk ridership. [Trib]
Nationally: In the second week of impeachment hearings two White House national security officials said President Trump’s request to President Zelensky was inappropriate. [NYTimes] [Politico] [WaPost] [CNN]
-> The House passed a short-term funding bill on Tuesday in an effort to stave off another government shutdown before funds expire later this week. [CNN] [NYTimes] [Politico] [WaPost]
-> Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman’s military uniform played a larger role than most anticipated in the impeachment hearing yesterday. [Politico] [NYTimes]
-> The New York man who threatened to kill Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress, pleaded guilty while Omar asked the judge show “compassion.” [NYTimes] [CNN]
-> While President Donald Trump stalls, a House panel has advanced a sweeping ban on flavored tobacco that includes vaping products. [Politico]
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-- Thomas Burr and Clara Hatcher
Follow @sltribpolitics