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GOP matching Huntsman? Garn vs. the Electoral College. Utah's $12 million presidential race.

Happy Monday and happy Earth Day. Jon Huntsman may or may not be running for president again in 2016, but whomever does may end up following his lead on policy issues. A profile of Huntsman notes that the Republican Party seems to be gravitating toward the positions the former Utah governor espoused during his failed White House run: against a Constitutional ban on gay marriage, a more moderate approach on immigration and resistance toward ambitious military operations. [DailyBeast]

Topping the news: Salt Lake County Republicans have chosen former state lawmaker Chad Bennion as their chairman. [Trib]

-> Former Sen. Jake Garn is continuing his battle against the Electoral College, arguing in a new book for a method that allows small states like Utah to have a say. [Trib]

-> In the end, Utahns poured nearly $12 million into the presidential race in the last two years. [Trib]

Tweets of the day: From @RepPatriceArent: "My heart continues to go out to the people of MA. It was strange seeing the street where I lived in Watertown on the map on tv."

New today: Ex-ABC4 reporter Chris Vanocur has launched his own website where he says he'll be reporting on stories and talking about his upcoming e-book. [ChrisVanocur]

Opinion section: Salt Lake City Councilman Soren Simonsen says the best route for the new Sugarhouse Street Car is along 2100 South, which will run through his district. [Trib]

-> On the other hand, City Councilman Kyle LaMalfa - who represents west-side neighborhoods - says the best route lies along 1100 East. [Trib]

-> Utah's Sierra Club leader calls for action on Earth Day. [Trib]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert talks about Utah's role in stewardship as part of Earth Day. [DNews]

-> Herbert, says Paul Rolly, seems to have fallen out of grace with Utah Grass Roots, a conservative group. [Trib]

-> A former global warming skeptic calls into question Rep. Chris Stewart's doubts about climate change. [Trib]

-> A Salt Lake City lawyer examine the CIA's use of torture, and the effect on those who inflicted it. [Trib]

-> A member of the Citizens Climate Lobby argues for a capitalist approach to fighting climate change. [Trib]

-> George Pyle draws lines between guns and drugs. [Trib]

-> Former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist says the goodness of people always trumps evil in times of tragedy. [DNews]

-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb look at the Utah GOP's rejection of a plan that would increase the number of delegate votes needed to win the party's nomination.[DNews]

-> U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank touts investing in American businesses. [DNews]

-> John Florez lauds technology for all of its newly-found purposes - but urges caution in keeping up with it. [DNews]

-> An environmental policy adviser says oil shale and tar sands can be developed without hurting the outdoors industry if a cautious and meticulous plan is devised. [DNews]

-> A political scholar and former congressman calls for the return of the regular-order budget. [DNews]

-> Pat Bagley offers his take on North Korea's Kim Jong Un and the recent tragedies in America. [Trib]

-> Former Sen. Bob Bennett says gun control just wasn't the big issue some politicians were saying it was and that proponents made some big miscalculations in pushing the legislation. [DNews]

Weekend in review: Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, says that the Boston Marathon bombing suspects' Chechen origin could hold up immigration reform plans, noting that there are "loopholes" in the system. [Trib] [NYTimes]

-> The Utah Legislature says it won't be overriding Gov. Gary Herbert's veto of a bill that would allow gun owners over the age of 21 to concealed carry without a permit, saying the current law is successful - and it doesn't have enough votes to override the veto anyway. [Trib]

-> Department of Transportation officials say they'll only meet with Layton residents concerned about the controversial West Davis Corridor if the news media isn't invited to the discussion - which some residents say highlights a lack of transparency. [Trib]

-> With only 1,000 gallons of clean-up left to go, Chevron got the go-ahead from federal regulators to resume pumping diesel through a pipeline that leaked into Willard Bay last month. [Trib]

-> The Utah Transportation commission says it'll be using $135 million raised from bonding to finance road projects around the state, including adding additional passing lanes on the Uinta Highway to allow drivers to pass oil tankers. [Trib]

-> The LDS Church is experimenting with using the new Airport TRAX line to ferry missionaries between Provo's Missionary Training Center and Salt Lake City International Airport. [Trib]

-> A French diplomat bestowed her country's highest honor on a 91-year-old Salt Lake City veteran who landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day and participated in the Battle of the Bulge. [Trib]

-> Earl Holding, a Utah billionaire icon and owner of Sinclair Oil, passed away this weekend. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]

-> Two teams of U. engineering students were on the National Mall last week to compete for a $90,000 grant from the EPA to create sustainable projects for developing countries. [Trib]

Nationally: After the one surviving Boston Marathon bombing suspect, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, was apprehended on Friday night, some Republican lawmakers are asking for him to be tried as an enemy combatant - which would strip him of his right to an attorney, and other legal protections. [APviaTrib] [WaPost] [NYTimes] [Politico]

-> Despite the urgings of his conservative colleagues to slow down on immigration reform in the wake of the Boston bombings, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., says Congress should move full steam ahead. [WaPost]

-> Thousands of federal employees are starting the beginning of furloughs this week - including air traffic controllers at airports in Ogden and Provo. [WaPost] [Politico]

-> Boy Scouts of America's board announced that they recommend repealing the group's policy barring gay Scouts, but not gay leaders. [WaPost]

Where are they?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz heads to a CNN interview and works in his district office.

SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams fills sand bags at the County Public Works building, watches kids soccer games and hits an Excellence in the Community Concert in West Jordan.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker has a budget meeting, meets with Rocky Mountain Power Customer and Community Manager Alene Bentley and has a performing arts center meeting.

President Barack Obama views science projects at the White House and delivers remarks.

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [Trib]

— Thomas Burr and Emily AndrewsTwitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/emilytandrews