Email cornflakes@sltrib.com to subscribe.
Herbert's budget to show growth. State may hand over Mark Hofmann letter. Bennett says he's not dead yet.
Happy Friday, Gov. Gary Herbert is expected to unveil his much anticipated budget, which is likely to show the first revenue growth in years - and without new taxes during a press conference this morning. [Trib]
Topping the news: AG Mark Shurtleff undergoes surgery today to remove part of his colon to determine if a cancerous tumor in his appendix has spread. Shurtleff says doctorss believe cancer is worse that first thought and he will now likely have to undergo chemotherapy. [ABC4]
Bennett's farewell: Sen. Bob Bennett defends his TARP vote and the ethics of senators in his farewell speech. He also made it clear that he plans to live to see his 100th birthday. Afterward he gave the Trib his views on the outstanding issues in the lame duck session.[Trib] [DNews] [KSL] [NYTimes] You can watch his full farewell speech online. [YouTube]
-> His press secretary Andrea Candrian has put together a 30-minute legacy video including interviews with a dozen senators reflecting on Bennett's service. [Vimeo]
-> Bennett's address got high marks from The American Prospect for talking about Democrats without any demagoguery. [Prospect]
-> The U.'s Hinckley Institute is creating a special, likely salaried, position for Bennett, that will morph to meet the Senator's available time. [Trib]
-> Bennett and Indiana's Evan Bayh say the political extremes may dominate the debate but they are out of touch. [PBSNewsHour]
Tweet of the day: @mkraju "Reid calls GOP Sen. Bob Bennetts' failure to win reelection a 'loss for the country.'
Happy Birthday: to incoming state Sen. Daniel Thatcher, who actually had his birthday on Wednesday.
Where are they?
In the news: Chevron says it will pay for an independent investigation of its leaky pipeline. [Trib]
-> Utah senators explain why they voted against the repeal of don't ask, don't tell. [Trib]
-> The State Records Committee unanimously rules a letter convicted murderer Mark Hofmann wrote to the state Board of Pardons and Parole two decades ago is a public record. [Trib]
-> Chaffetz is against a plan to tack a provision to legalize online gambling on a bill extending tax cuts. [KSL] [DNews] But it appears that proposal is all but dead on arrival. [LVSun]
-> Despite long odds, DREAM Act supporters in Utah remain hopeful. [Trib]
-> UDOT unveils a $7 billion list of needs for rural roads, but says it has identified just $2.5 billion to pay for projects. [Trib]
-> Regents adopt a plan they say is aimed at boosting the number of degree-holding residents by more than 50 percent. [Trib]
-> Western governors say water is a scarce and precious commodity that is only becoming more scarce and more valuable. [Trib]
-> Sen.-elect Mike Lee rips a NYTimes Magazine piece that called him eccentric for his constitutional stances. [NatReview]
-> Poverty rates spiked in Utah the last two years. [Trib] And so have jobless claims. [Trib]
-> New health rankings show Summit County residents stand out. [Trib]
-> Utah economic development officials offer more than $1M in job creation incentives to Overstock.com. [Trib] [DNews] [Herald]
-> Utah earns an A grade for giving residents access to renewable forms of energy, according to the Network for New Energy Choices. [Trib] [DNews]
-> A group in Georgia trying to replicate the Utah Compact on immigration policy. [DNews]
Get Political Cornflakes delivered to your inbox every weekday morning by sending an email to cornflakes@sltrib.com to subscribe.
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.
-- Matt Canham
