This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated.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.
Mormons for Obama pushes their guy. Tea party activist charged with rape. Immigration cases piling up.
Happy Friday. The group Mormons for Obama may be small but its members are hoping to make sure people know that not all Latter-day Saints are Mitt Romney fans. They've even handed out some 500 bumper stickers with the phrase: "I'm voting for Obama and I'm a Mormon."
-> "I would say just like Mitt Romney is not your average American, he's not your average Mormon, he doesn't represent every Mormon in America," says Laura Saganac, a spokeswoman for the group mainly made up of Mormons living in Seatttle. [ABCNews]
Topping the news: A tea party activist who has held fundraisers for several Utah Republican candidates is charged with the kidnapping and rape of four women. He has campaigned with prominent Utah politicians and even Mitt Romney. [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4] [Fox13]
-> Immigration cases keep piling up and with a Salt Lake County judge retiring, the system may be in danger of getting clogged. [Trib]
Tragedy in Colorado: Developing news out of a Denver suburb this morning after a gunman whips out a gun at a screening of the new Batman movie, killing 14 people and wounding 50. Our colleagues at the Denver Post have the latest: [DenverPost].
-> Statement just out from President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama: "As we do when confronted by moments of darkness and challenge, we must now come together as one American family. All of us must have the people of Aurora in our thoughts and prayers as they confront the loss of family, friends, and neighbors, and we must stand together with them in the challenging hours and days to come."
-> From Mitt and Ann Romney: "We are praying for the families and loved ones of the victims during this time of deep shock and immense grief. We expect that the person responsible for this terrible crime will be quickly brought to justice."
Tweet of the day: From @TheDailyShow: "@NewtGingrich unveils his Shadow Cabinet. pic.twitter.com/q8EmXOZi."
Happy birthday: Today to Barney Bettilyon and on Sunday to state Rep. Eric Hutchings and WVC Councilman Corey Rushton.
In other news: Gov. Gary Herbert has a decision to make on the Medicaid expansion, and according to advisers, he's weighing the pros and cons. [Trib]
-> Rep. Rob Bishop sets up a bill that would give states more control over Medicaid, using the Supreme Court's decision that state's must decide on the expansion to its advantage. [KUER]
-> Morgan Philpot plans to start his own D.C. watchdog publication to shed light on what Americans want and need to hear. [CityWeekly]
-> Sen. Mike Lee complains that the Democrats budget plans would leave 94 percent of the nation's deficit next year. [WeeklyStandard]
-> Paul Rolly notes a proponent of Utah's gold-as-legal-tender law has been accused of running a Ponzi scheme. [Trib]
-> The Tribune's Thomas Burr talks about the impacts the automatic budget cuts could have on federal funding for Utah. [KCPW]
-> Bryan Schott and J.M Bell talk about Romney's tax filing problem and Utah candidates' fundraising. [UtahPolicy]
-> Herbert says it's time for the state to have a comprehensive water strategy. [DNews]
-> Pat Bagley's take on what people are looking for in their bank. [Trib]
2012 watch: Romney's next volley of attacks use Obama's "you didn't build that" comment. Democrats say the GOP is twisting the president's words. [TheHill]
-> An Obama Super-PAC flexes its star power with a $1 million boost from actor Morgan Freeman. [CNN]
-> Romney says he's released the amount of tax records required by law, but some members of Congress want to force more disclosure. [Trib]
-> Democrats use Ann Romney's Olympic horse in attack ads. Romney's wife is offended by the spot and the group says they'll no longer use the horse in future videos. [CNN]
-> Ann Romney says her husband has nothing to hide in tax returns and that its "all you people need to know." [CNN]
-> Jordan Garn pokes fun at how nasty the presidential election has become. [UtahPolicy]
-> A new poll says the majority of Americans want to see more Romney tax returns. [CNN]
-> Condoleezza Rice is most likely not Romney's choice for VP, but a majority of voters say they wouldn't mind voting for a Romney-Rice ticket. [WaPost]
-> Romney goes after Obama for not meeting with his jobs council. He says the president is spending too much time at fundraisers and not enough on the economy. [ABCNews]
-> Michael Kinsley of the LA Times suggests that Romney play up his faith more, to humanize him to people who he seems out of touch with. [LATimes]
-> Four out of five Romney sons weren't too sure about their father running for president a second time. [ABCNews]
-> Romney may have left Bain behind during the 2002 Winter Olympics, but it seems he brought venture capitalist giant's resources along with him. [HuffPost]
-> YouTube restores a Romney video that was previously taken down for copyright infringement. [Politico]
-> In celebration of the new Batman movie, a little fun with Romney and the Dark Knight Rise's villain Bane. [BuzzFeed]
Where are they?
Rep. Rob Bishop leads a National Parks, Forests and Public Lands subcommittee hearing.
Rep. Jason Chaffetz meets with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, votes and then returns to Utah.
Gov. Gary Herbert attends a Utah Sports Commission Event, meets with Jim and Beverley Taylor Sorenson to discuss the arts learning program and then sits down with Dirk Anjewierden to discuss Medicaid.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker attends the U.S. Conference of Mayors leadership meeting in Philadelphia.
President Barack Obama continues campaigning in Florida.
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.
Thomas Burr and Andreas RiveraTwitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/andreascrivera