Chamber backs Matheson. Lee fights judicial nominee. DNC hits Romney.

Happy Friday. Ahead of Mitt Romney's speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference today, the DNC is out with a new video attempting to show Romney's flip-flops on several issues -- as well as some controversial comments by Ann Coulter, Donald Trump, Michele Bachmann and Rand Paul. [YouTube]

-> Meanwhile, Romney held court with donors last night at the J.W. Marriott in downtown Washington, D.C. where former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt headed a panel on health care. Reporters weren't allowed inside.

Topping the news: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is offering its support for just one Democrat so far: Rep. Jim Matheson. [Trib]

-> Sen. Mike Lee continues his fight against President Barack Obama's appointments, voting against a judicial nominee with just five other Republican senators. [Trib]

-> In a state widely touted as having the world's best snow, Utah lawmakers agreed to make skiing and snowboarding the state's official sports. [Trib]

Tweets of the day: @RyanDWilcox: "Just received a report from security that bomb-sniffing dog "relieved" himself on @utahsenate floor today. @UtahReps to honor dog."

Happy birthday: Today to the Tribune's always inspiring Pat Bagley, and on Saturday to state Rep. Carol Spackman Moss, Jon2012Girl Mary Anne Huntsman and Corrections Department spokesman Steve Gehrke.

In other news: A state engineer has been asked to reconsider his decision last month to allow Green River water to be used for the first nuclear power plant proposed for Utah. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley offers his take on Wall Street's poker-like games of chance. [Trib]

-> Paul Rolly digs deeper into the DABC, arguing it "just ain't what it used to be." [Trib]

-> Union Pacific settles pollution case with federal regulators, agreeing to pay $1.5 million in pollution violations. [Trib]

-> Taylor Oldroyd announces he's running for the Republican nomination for a new seat in the state House, representing east Lindon, northeast Orem and north Provo. [Herald]

-> Sen. Lee says the Obama administration is still "wed" to the idea of taxing some more than others. [HumanEvents]

-> At CPAC, Lee gets called Mr. Constitution, and he endorses two more candidates. [Trib]

-> My conservation with KCPW's Jeff Robinson about this week's political happenings. [KCPW]

2012 watch: A Super PAC supporting Ron Paul is found to be operated by a political activist steeped in conspiracy theories. [NBC]

-> Mitt Romney met privately with conservative leaders at the annual CPAC event to help Republicans skeptical of him to "feel comfortable" about his candidacy. [CNN]

-> All eyes are on Maine this weekend as the state holds the only contest for a couple weeks in the presidential race. [USAToday]

-> Romney and Rick Santorum are in a dead heat in a new Pennsylvania poll. [WaPost]

-> Ron Paul slams both Romney and Santorum for leaning too far left of the spectrum. [CNN]

-> After taking on roles in his family's ventures, Jon Huntsman has been elected to Ford Motor Company's board of directors. [Trib] [Fox13]

The Session: A House committee narrowly advances the abstinence-only sex-ed bill after a few amendments. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13] [Herald]

-> As much as 20,000 of Utah's coyotes could have a bounty on their heads as lawmakers look to protect deer and cattle herds. [Trib]

-> This bill would reduce requirements for auto safety inspections in favor of dispatching more troopers on the highway. [Trib] [DNews]

-> The free-fare zone for UTA buses might come to an end in an effort to streamline costs. [Trib]

-> Could Utah earn more than $300 million a year from drilling? [Trib]

-> Utah hospital infection rates may soon be public after a bill to disclose the information won unanimous approval in a Senate committee. [Trib]

-> SLC Mayor Ralph Becker's plan to outlaw cars from idling for more than two minutes has met its match in a bill looking to overturn the measure. [Trib]

-> A House committee OKs a Hookah ban that would ban its use in public places, with a five-year exemption for hookah bars and e-cigarette shops. [Trib]

-> Lawmakers hold onto the controversial birth-father bill that would give more rights to biological dads if their baby is put up for adoption. [Trib] [DNews]

-> The Senate approves limits on fireworks after adding a midnight curfew. [Trib]

-> The reporting of U. student fees might have stricter guidelines after an audit revealed the school's informal practices. [Trib]

-> One lawmaker unveils a teacher employment bill that would rate salaries based on their performance in the classroom. [Trib]

Where are they?

• Rep. Rob Bishop has no public events.
• Rep. Jason Chaffetz participates in a morning fundraiser, then attends the Grand County Lincoln Day dinner.
• Gov. Gary Herbert visits the Western Hunting Expo at the Salt Palace Convention Center and then hosts a cabinet meeting.
• Lt. Gov. Greg Bell attends the cabinet meeting, joins higher-ed leaders in the Capitol rotunda and later travels to Moab for the Grand County Lincoln Day dinner.
• SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon hits the monthly Board of Tourism meeting.
• SLC Mayor Ralph Becker goes to a community development block grant and emergency solutions grant funding meeting then meets with Tracy Aviary executive director Tim Brown.
• WVC Mayor Mike Winder reads to second graders at Valley Crest Elementary, has lunch with South Jordan Mayor Scott Osborne, then goes to cottage meetings in Millcreek and Taylorsville.
• President Barack Obama signs H.R. 3801, the Ultralight Aircraft Smuggling Prevention Act of 2012 -- the last piece of legislation that former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords sponsored and voted on in the House.

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.

-- Thomas Burr and Laura Schmitz
Twitter.com/thomaswburr