This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Obama gives up some of his pay. Vader radar spies immigrants crossing the border. Herbert says no to Snake Valley water deal.

Happy Thursday. President Barack Obama says he'll forfeit about $20,000 in salary in an act of solidarity with federal employees facing furloughs as a result of the sequester, following the example of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham. [Politico] [WaPost] [NYTimes]

Topping the news: After a public outcry by local ranchers and environmentalists, Gov. Gary Herbert rejected a water rights sharing plan that would divert 21 billion gallons of water per year from the Snake Valley to Nevada. [Trib] [DNews] [Herald]

-> The government created the Vader radar system to track Taliban fighters planting roadside bombs, but its now been repurposed to track people slipping across the border in southern Arizona. The new info shows that Border Patrol agents caught less than half of the people slipping over the border. [LATimes]

Tweet of the day: From @RobertGehrke: "Final tally is 501 bills signed; 1 bill vetoed."

From @LarrySabato: "Truly sad part of our politics: R & D activists excuse their miscreants by pointing to bad/ worse ones on other side."

Happy birthday: to Dan Hauser, who previously was Sen. Mike Lee's state director, and Trib photographer Rick Egan.

In other news: A ban on teenage cell phone use while driving will go into effect starting May 14 after being signed by Herbert. The governor has now taken action on all legislation passed in 2013, with the only veto being the constitutional carry gun bill. [Trib] [Herald] [UtahPolicy]

-> Herbert also signed a controversial school grading bill, which opponents say could lead the state to having two unclear grading systems. [Trib]

-> Salt Lake City school board member Michael Clara filed a civil rights complaint against the school district, alleging that a Cub Scout group was banned from meeting at a school. [Trib]

-> Immigration activists are rallying behind the plight of a 22-year-old woman who faces deportation – and being separated from her five kids. They rallied at Rep. Jim Matheson's office on Wednesday. [Trib]

-> A study contends that a third of all cigarettes in Utah are contraband, avoiding high taxes. The Utah Tax Commission doubts the findings. [Trib]

-> The FBI is now investigating West Valley City Police's recently-dismantled narcotics investigation unit at the request of District Attorney Sim Gill. [Trib] [APviaHerald] [Fox13]

-> Sunset's town council unanimously adopted a resolution to support the Second Amendment, following in the footsteps of Syracuse. [Trib]

-> Salt Lake City will hike the fees for baseball fields for rec leagues, although not as much as they previously feared they would pay. [Trib]

-> More Utahns are having to get creative as the cost of childcare continues to climb. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley blasts a proposed UTA fare hike. [Trib]

-> Peg McEntee lauds Herbert's rejection of the Snake Valley agreement. [Trib]

-> Bryan Schott argues the Democrats supporting a call to protect Canyonlands in Southern Utah will hurt the party's prospects of growing its numbers outside of Salt Lake County. [UtahPolicy]

Nationally: Although vastly overshadowed by the NRA, a smaller yet more fierce pro-gun lobby is gaining ground in Congress. [NYTimes]

-> That group counts Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky, as a fundraiser, even as it throws barbs at fellow Republicans – accusing them of helping pass bipartisan gun control legislation. [Politico]

-> Here's a rundown of everything you need to know about the Keystone XL pipeline project. [WaPost]

-> James Carville has joined a super PAC meant to convince Hillary Clinton to run for office. [WaPost]

-> The lead sponsor of an assault weapons ban in the House clearly doesn't understand how gun clips work. [DenverPost]

Where are they?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz ends his tour of the U.S.-Mexico border with border patrol agents in Nogales, Ariz.

Gov. Gary Herbert hits a Battelle outreach event, has a business and regulatory sub-cabinet meeting and prepares a speech.

Utah AG John Swallow hits an intern appreciation lunch and meets with families of child identity theft.

SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams has a health board meeting, a joint policy advisory committee meeting and a council of governments meeting.

President Barack Obama speaks at a Democratic National Committee event in Atherton, Calif. and then flies back to Washington.

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 your inbox. [Trib]

— Matt Canham and Emily Andrews Twitter.com/mattcanham and Twitter.com/emilytandrews