This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Democratic caucuses tonight drawing extra attention. Romney rallies for Hatch. BYU poll: Utahns want contraceptives taught in schools.
Happy Tuesday. Utah's Democrats will head to party caucuses tonight at 7 p.m. to choose delegates to the state convention. Caucus-goers will also be picking their presidential candidate at those meetings. Republicans will be caucusing on Thursday night. For more information on where to go for your caucus click here: [Vote.Utah.Gov]
Topping the news: A new BYU poll shows that most Utah voters want contraceptives to be taught in schools. Those voters identifying as strongly Republican, however, do not. [Trib]
-> After 18-year incumbent Bob Bennett was ousted from his seat two years ago and with the LDS Church calling on its members this year to attend, Utah's caucuses are attracting extra attention. [Trib] [KSL]
-> FreedomWorks has spent some $600,000 targeting Sen. Orrin Hatch while a small percent of that going after Senate Democrats. [Politico]
-> Mitt Romney rallies around Hatch in the days leading up to this week's caucus, promoting a video that praises the senator's "strong leadership." [Trib] [Politico]
Tweet of the day: @matthew_piper: "I know nothing about NCAA bball but I always somehow feel like I do after filling out a bracket. This must be how most people feel voting."
Happy birthday: To KCPW's Jeff Robinson.
Focused: Sen. Hatch will be missing votes and hearings this week to campaign in Utah ahead of the Republican caucuses on Thursday.
In other news: Utah GOP Chairman Thomas Wright says that a tactic touted by FreedomWorks to curry favor in the caucuses is "dishonest." [Trib]
-> The Hill newspaper names Hatch is "Player of the Week" as he faces down the GOP caucuses. [TheHill]
-> Six of the Beehive State's public sector websites have been honored with awards for government transparency. [APviaABC4]
-> Rep. John Dougall plans to seek another political office in the 2012 elections: state auditor. [Herald]
-> After resident J. Johnson sued Riverton, claiming its sign ordinance violated free speech laws, the city has been granted until May 4 to repeal or amend the ordinance. [Trib]
-> Todd Taylor's life was honored in a memorial at Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center on Monday. [Trib]
-> Want to see who filed in the newly-opened 4th congressional district or whose jumping in the race for the state's other congressional races? Here's a complete list of the contenders who have so far put their name in: [Elections.gov].
-> The SL Co. council is tightening up legal loopholes, clarifying the process and funding regulations for hiring outside legal counsel when the county is involved after SL Co. Auditor Greg Hawkins hired a former law partner to file a suit against the council for moving budgeting responsibility from his office to the mayor's. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley offers his take on "Sex and the Utah Legislature." [Trib]
2012 Watch: Producers for HBO's Game Change snubbed Jon Huntsman for his role in introducing Sarah Palin at the GOP convention. [Trib]
-> The Romney camp sees Newt Gingrich's stubborn survival as an asset going into the Alabama primary, helping the former Massachusetts governor to side step a head-to-head battle with Rick Santorum. [NYTimes]
-> Romney's wealth-related gaffes don't seem to be coming to end after the candidate again steps in it: referring to his friends who are football team owners. [CNN] [ABCNews]
-> Gingrich reminds southern voters that he has sought God's forgiveness for his past infidelity. [HuffPost]
-> Santorum predicts he'll win the Republican nomination if the race remains undecided up to this summer's GOP convention. [Globe]
-> Ron Paul wins his first caucus in the Virgin Islands but still comes away with just one delegate, while Romney picked up seven. [Examiner] [Houston]
-> Despite turning 65 Monday — the legal age to begin Medicare — Romney will stick to his private insurance. [ABCNews]
-> The majority of Republican voters say they'll cast their ballot in Mitt Romney's favor, according to a new CBS News/New York Times poll. [TheHill]
-> A Paul-supporting super PAC is setting its hopes on the Republican convention, not backing out of the race and 100 percent of its spending will still go to support the candidate. [ChicagoTrib]
-> Santorum wages a war on teleprompters, saying the use of the technological devices should be outlawed and have no place in politics. [CNN]
Where are they?
Rep. Jason Chaffetz participates in a Budget Committee conference call, meets with reps from the ski industry and heads to a campaign town hall in Springville.
Gov. Gary Herbert meets with the Education Excellence Commission then reviews bills.
AG Mark Shurtleff attends the Martin Luther King Commission meeting and then sits down with officials from the Motion Pictures Association of America, Disney and Paramount at the state Capitol.
SL Mayor Ralph Becker hits the National League of Cities congressional city conference in Washington, D.C.
SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon heads to a mobile crisis response launch news conference, meets with the Economic Development Corporation of the Utah Board of Trustees, and attends the County Council meetings.
WVC Mayor Mike Winder attends the Economic Development Corporation of Utah board meeting.
President Barack Obama visits with the 2012 Intel science talent search finalists then hosts U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron, traveling to Ohio together to attend a first-round game of the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship First Four at the University of Dayton Arena.
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.
— Thomas Burr and Laura SchmitzTwitter.com/thomaswburr