This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated.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.

Congress sinks to new low. Stewart: No citizenship for immigrants. Myriad wins, loses court fight.

Happy Friday and happy Flag Day. You may have thought it impossible, but approval ratings for Congress have dropped even further. A new Gallup poll shows that Americans' confidence in Congress is at an all-time low, with only 10% expressing faith in the Legislative Branch. Congress, it seems, is less popular than HMOs, organized labor, big business and yes, even newspapers. [Time] [Gallup] [CNN]

Topping the news: Rep. Chris Stewart backs some kind of legal status for immigrants in the country illegally but doesn't think they should get to call themselves citizens. [Trib]

-> In a unanimous judgment that reverses three decades of patent awards and throws out patents held by SLC-based company Myriad Genetics Inc., the Supreme Court rules that parts of naturally-occurring human genes cannot be patented. [Trib] [DNews] [WaPost] [NYTimes] [Politico] [Fox13]

-> Indicted businessman Jeremy Johnson could land up back in jail if his wife continues to run an anti-federal government website that a judge believes violates a gag order. [DNews]

Tweets of the day: From @mollyesque: "1st item in intro of Sen. Mike Lee: 'A Google-like knowledge of '80s music.'"

From @daveweigel: "Installed a shortcut on my keyboard that writes a 500-word story whenever the GOP threatens to kill immigration bill over LGBT."

Happy birthday: Today to Fox13's Ben Winslow and on Saturday to Utah Film Center executive director Holly Martak Yocom and Cindie Quintana. And belated birthday wishes to Sen. Orrin Hatch's former chief of staff Trish Knight who celebrated yesterday.

In other news: After a Utah poll shows overwhelming support for immigration reform, questions are raised about whether the survey was impartial enough to be an accurate reflection. [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4]

-> Politico discovers that Mia Love is again challenging Rep. Jim Matheson. [Politico]

-> At the Faith and Freedom conference in Washington, Sen. Mike Lee urges conservatives to focus on family values. [Politico] [WSJ]

-> Sen. Orrin Hatch teams up with Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., to work on four amendments to the immigration reform bill that would prevent those with provisional legal status from gaining federal benefits. [Newsmax]

-> Former ABC4 journo Chris Vanocur argues to keep AG John Swallow in office because he has a lot to offer. [Vaniloquence]

-> Meanwhile, Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott debate the Swallow situation in their weekly videocast. [UtahPolicy]

-> Pat Bagley's guest cartoonist Tim Campbell gives his take on NSA leaker Edward Snowden. [Trib]

-> Paul Rolly is skeptical about ATVUtah's unexpected friendliness toward the Bureau of Land Management. [Trib]

-> The SL Co. Council votes unanimously in favor of a pilot program that would work to identify potential reoffenders within the prison system and put them into a training program to help combat recidivism. [Trib]

-> Utah officials launched the Road Respect Tour yesterday, urging motorists to be careful around bicyclists. [Trib]

Nationally: Following the announcement that the United States believes the Syrian government has been using chemical weapons against rebel forces, American officials have decided to begin providing military assistance to the rebels. [NYTimes] [WaPost] [Politico]

-> With significant Supreme Court rulings on same-sex marriage just days away, gay rights advocates are pushing Obama to decide where he stands. [WaPost]

-> Six months after the mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, House and Senate Democrats begin once more to push for gun control legislation. [NYTimes]

-> In its first major vote on amendments to the immigration reform bill, the Senate rejected a strict border security proposal sponsored by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa. [Politico] [TheHill]

Where are they?

Gov. Gary Herbert holds interviews for a new public safety commissioner, makes phone calls for the Republican Governors Association, attends a ceremonial bill signing and meets with House Speaker Becky Lockhart and Senate President Wayne Niederhauser.

SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams meets with Rep. Joel Briscoe, D-Salt Lake City, talks with County Council Chair Steve DeBry and meets with Salt Lake County Economic Development Director Christina Oliver.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder breakfasts with representatives from Jacobsen Construction and celebrates the ten year anniversary of the USANA amphitheatre.

President Barack Obama invites fathers, sons, students and leaders from the Chicago-based Becoming a Man program for lunch to celebrate Father's Day and welcomes the WNBA Champion Indiana Fever to the White House.

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]

— Thomas Burr and Isobel MarkhamTwitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/i_markham