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NYTimes looks at black Mormons. 'Grand flushes' planned. June's primary implications.

Happy Thursday. The New York Times takes at the LDS Church and black members — and how they're handling this year's election between Mormon Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama. As a Mormon in the story says: "A Mormon candidate and a black candidate? Who would have thunk?" Ms. Driessen said. "I think 30 years ago, we would not have had this choice." [NYTimes]

Topping the news: Howard Kurtz writes in the Daily Beast that Mitt Romney is protecting himself by avoiding questions about himself. [DailyBeast]

-> Interior Department officials say they plan a couple "grand flushes" at the Glen Canyon Recreation Area. [Trib]

-> Utah's June primary could, in many ways, offer a turning point in politics, with the results of a couple elections very showing. [UtahPolicy]

Tweet of the day: @elonmusk: "The President just called to say congrats. Caller ID was blocked, so at first I thought it was a telemarketer :)"

Our condolences: Rep. Jason Chaffetz is mourning the loss of his father, John Chaffetz, who died of colon cancer at the age of 76 on Tuesday. The congressman said his dad was such a fighter that he said goodbye on seven separate visits, thinking it would be their last. Rep. Chaffetz will join his family for private services on Sunday and Monday before resuming his official duties.

Saying Goodbye: From KSL's Bruce Lindsay: "I'm an Old Media kind of guy who hasn't done too well at Facebook posting. But here's a sincere try on my final day at KSL Television: From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for inviting me into your home over the years and letting me be your newsboy. It has been a wonderful privilege. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Exciting things lie ahead for me. My prayer is that all good things await you, too. Happy Trails!" The Deseret News counts down Bruce's top ten stories. [DNews]

In other news: An "accounting error" leaves a $760,000 hole in Salt Lake City's budget. The City Council will have to make up for the blunder with leftover funds from transportation budget. [Trib]

-> The Utah Education Association's PAC goes with Gov. Gary Herbert for a second time. [Trib] [UtahPolicy]

-> Pat Bagley goes after Republicans in his latest cartoon. [Trib]

-> Rep. Rob Bishop unearths emails from park service officials that contradict the administration's decision on uranium mining. [Trib]

-> The state conducts its own population count and finds less growth than the Census. [Trib]

-> Liberal and conservative coalitions prepare to clash: Occupy, Peaceful Uprising and others plan a protest during Republican-dominated ALEC conference. [Trib]

-> UTA looks to restore previously cut bus routes now that the economy is restoring and its major rail projects are finishing. [Trib]

-> Rep. Stuart Reid thinks it should be the parents in the classroom, not kids, when it comes to sex-ed. [DailyHerald] [Fox13]

-> The NYTimes looks at Hatch's run as compared to his first bid in 1976. [NYTimes]

2012 watch: Potential VP pick for Romney, Rep. Paul Ryan, calls out Obama as a "failed president" and says the Romney will save the country from pessimists. [MSNBC]

-> The Arkansas Democratic primary shows that Obama is no Clinton. [FoxNews]

-> The Arizona secretary of state says he's convinced of the president's birth records after confirmation from Hawaiii officials. [FoxNews] [ABCNews]

-> Florida is looking more and more Romney friendly, according to polls. A Romney-Rubio ticket would almost guarantee him the state. [WaPost] [ABCNews]

-> Primaries in Arkansas and Kentucky show that southern Democrats are growing mistrustful of Obama. [WaPost]

-> Obama mixes in the positive with the negative, with ads aimed at veteran care and Medicare users. [WaPost]

-> Romney's new ad says it's Obama's economy in question, not his Bain Capitol tenure. [ABCNews]

-> Romney's traction in Florida shows he's slowly getting Latino voters on his side. [LATimes]

-> With Biden on the front lines of campaigning, Republicans are quick to highlight his missteps and blunders. [Politico]

Where are they?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz holds a fund-raising breakfast, then visits a Facebook and Google officials.

SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon appears at the "Flip the Switch" ceremony, then goes on to the Conference of Mayors in West Jordan and later attends the grand opening of the WIC Clinic.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder chairs a Conference of Mayors meeting and then chats with the Utah Public Employees Association.

President Barack Obama campaigns in San Jose, then tours and delivers remarks at a wind energy company in Newton, Iowa. He wraps the day up with a campaign event in Des Moines.

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 you inbox. [Trib]

— Thomas Burr and Andreas RiveraTwitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/andreascrivera