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Mitt Romney: I wish I'd bet $10,000 on my NCAA bracket. Shurtleff pitches himself as defense attorney. Dabakis enters SLC mayoral race.

Happy Tuesday. Back in the 2012 Republican primary fight, Mitt Romney joked at a debate that he would bet Texas Gov. Rick Perry $10,000 that he was right about his record, a comment that earned him some criticism over his wealth. Well, it appears Romney still has a pretty good sense of humor. Romney, who picked all four final teams in the NCAA championship and the winner, Duke, joked last night that he wished he'd bet $10,000 on his bracket. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/ncaa-duke-mitt-romney-bracket-116725.html?hp=l3_4" target="_blank">Politico]

Topping the news: Despite facing multiple felony charges, former Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has launched a new campaign advertising himself as an experienced criminal defense attorney. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2365057-155/rolly-in-a-legal-bind-mark" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865625878/Despite-bribery-charges-Mark-Shurtleff-seeks-legal-clients.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/former-attorney-general-facing-charges-touts-law-firm-in-ad/article_bcbe17a8-9395-5b8c-bc0f-672595ec6a62.html" target="_blank">AP]

-> The White House Correspondents' Association is putting together a list of demands for increased press access to the president's meetings after being shut out of events like President Barack Obama's sit down with LDS Church leaders. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2370297-155/obama-mormon-leaders-meeting-latest-example" target="_blank">Trib]

Tweets of the day: From @https://twitter.com/RobertGehrke" target="_blank">RobertGehrke: "I bring bold ideas to SLC mayor's race, like moving homeless services out of downtown so we can build the prison there. #VoteGehrke"

From @https://twitter.com/th_wright" target="_blank">th_wright: "The race for SLC Mayor is going to be its own form of March Madness. I filled out my bracket. Let the Democratic tourney begin!"

Tune in: Rose Park Community Council Chair Blake Perez, University of Utah political scientist Tim Chambless and Tribune city hall reporter Christopher Smart join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk Salt Lake City politics and who — Mayor Ralph Becker, City Council Chair Luke Garrott, former state Rep. Jackie Biskupski or state Sen. Jim Dabakis — will be the capital city's next mayor. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MDT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.

In other news: Utah's Sen. Orrin Hatch visited the Daily Herald Monday and had a lot of good things to say about Utah and Utah County. [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/sen-hatch-praises-utah-county-in-visit-to-daily-herald/article_1272ae1d-3a12-561a-b20d-5d56049d38de.html" target="_blank">Herald]

-> Rep. Chris Stewart sits down with Utah Policy's Bryan Schott to discuss Congress' ability to get anything done. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/5307-rep-chris-stewart-on-the-gop-congress-harry-reid-s-retirement-and-2016-podcast" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]

-> Democratic state Reps. Patrice Arent and Brian King discuss the impact Obama's visit had on Utah. [http://www.good4utah.com/story/d/story/utah-democrats-reflect-on-president-obamas-visit/98379/gcL7UVjOr0yS_6Xs02qMeA" target="_blank">ABC4]

-> A group of environmentalists is suing the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to require states to meet federal rules regarding coal power plant emissions. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2369875-155/environmentalists-sue-epa-to-force-state" target="_blank">Trib]

-> UTA is testing a first-of-its kind electric bus to potentially start using it on a regular basis. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865625879/UTA-testing-prototype-electric-bus.html" target="_blank">DNews]

-> After city recommendations that Salt Lake City repurpose some of its golf courses for other uses, the land's hundred-year-old deed may prevent that. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2360202-155/deed-nibley-must-remain-a-golf" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Salt Lake County has set guidelines for the new district attorney's office, including an expectation that it is environmentally advanced. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2336166-155/da-offices-will-be-green-but" target="_blank">Trib]

-> Five Utah County members of the House of Representatives and two state senators received "Friend of the Taxpayer" awards in the Utah Taxpayers Association 2015 Legislative Scorecard. [http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/utah-county-legislators-shine-in-utah-taxpayers-association-legislative-scorecard/article_363d7256-ee5d-5bc7-921e-e4e199989366.html" target="_blank">Herald]

-> Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer is strongly endorsing passage of a law that would give Congress the means to reject the White House's new deal with Iran, showing that Obama is facing increased bipartisan consensus that Congress should be more involved in the deal. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/chuck-schumer-bucks-white-house-on-iran-116713.html?hp=t1_r" target="_blank">Politico]

-> Despite a national trend toward allowing same-sex marriage and an upcoming Supreme Court decision on the issue, many of the country's sovereign Native American tribes have  decided to let the traditional definition of marriage stand, with some even putting outright bans on same-sex marriage. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/2369246-155/ap-handful-of-native-american-tribes" target="_blank">AP]

-> Bee-induced pandemonium among the children at the White House Easter Egg Roll provided President Barack Obama with a good opportunity to vouch for the pollinators. [http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2015/04/06/about-president-obamas-bee-agenda/" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/obama-bee-attack-easter-children-screaming-116704.html" target="_blank">Politico] [http://time.com/3772676/bees-interrupt-barack-obama-reading-white-house-easter-egg-roll-2015/" target="_blank">Time]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Chris https://twitter.com/RepChrisStewart" target="_blank">Stewart travels to southern Utah to speak to the Utah Association for Justice and meet with St. George and Cedar City officials.
  • Gov. Gary https://twitter.com/GovHerbert" target="_blank">Herbert has no public events.
  • Lt. Gov. Spencer https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox" target="_blank">Cox tours San Juan County and travels back to Salt Lake City.
  • SLC Mayor Ralph https://twitter.com/beckerformayor" target="_blank">Becker hits meetings with department directors, the Salt Lake Rotary Club and the City Council.
  • President Barack https://twitter.com/BarackObama" target="_blank">Obama hosts an Easter Prayer Breakfast with Vice President Joe Biden and Christian leaders from across the country and participates in a roundtable at Howard University to discuss the impacts of climate change on public health.
  • 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 Erica Palmer

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