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Columnist: There goes the tea party. Herbert signs 'monumental' land exchange. Capitol tile needs replacing.
Happy Friday. The Washington Post's conservative columnist Jennifer Rubin says the tea party is disappearing — not the cause, per se, but the groups that brought about the movement and its influence on the GOP. Fewer people identify as tea partiers and, Rubin says, "the big tent is back."
-> Key quote: "The tea party - at least the savvy groups and figures who don't crack up upon contact with the real world - is folding right back into the GOP." [WaPost]
Topping the news: Gov. Gary Herbert signed a monumental land exchange deal after five years of federal negotiations. The deal gives the federal government 25,000 acres for conservation and gives Utah 35,000 acres of "energy-rich" land. [KUTV] [KSL]
-> Studying the potential correlation of infant deaths and air pollution in Vernal will be a difficult process. [Trib]
-> Construction crews are replacing all tile flooring in the Utah State Capitol because the mortar placed six years ago "failed." [DNews] [KSL]
Tweets of the day: From @neiltyson: "The Soviet KGB would have admired all the ways America — land of the free — now conducts surveillance on its own citizens."
-> From @FrancisLaRe: "We need to let the 90s die. Bowl cuts, DIY bell bottoms, and the Monica Lewinsky scandal."
Happy Birthday: To Murray City Councilwoman Diane Wiley-Turner, Salt Lake County Councilman Randy Horiuchi, Jon Huntsman's daughter Liddy Huntsman and activist Diana Lee Hirschi. And on Saturday to Salt Lake County Councilwoman Aimee Newton and state Rep. Lynn Hemingway, D-Salt Lake City.
In other news: UTA held a mock terrorist attack in Murray to prepare for potentially deadly incidents. [Trib] [DNews] [KSL] [Fox13]
-> Take a look at political cartoonist Pat Bagley's latest piece on Benghazi. [Trib]
-> The Bureau of Land Management said threats against its employees, like a recent incident where a BLM official was threatened with a gun, will "not be tolerated." [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly gives his take on 'Best of Utah' advertising and attorney general payday-lending. [Trib]
-> Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott talk about the possibility of Jon Huntsman and Mitt Romney running again in 2016. [UtahPolicy]
-> Meanwhile, Bernick gives his take on the aspirations of Utah's politicians and where they'll probably end up. [UtahPolicy]
-> Rep. Jason Chaffetz was spotted at a Capitol Hill pizza spot with the new head of the Benghazi committee but Chaffetz says their friends and were just chatting. [RollCall]
-> A new federal lawsuit accuses Steven Henager College of paying incentives to recruiters based on the number of students they enroll. [Trib] [KUTV]
-> A recent UVU graduate is planning a rally to raise awareness for the more than 300 Nigerian girls kidnapped by Boko Haram, a militant Islamic group. [DNews]
-> The University of Utah has approval from the Ute Indian Tribe to continue using its name and mascot, but other Native American groups are fighting to get rid of monikers related to them. [Trib]
-> Several Utah cities have higher-than-average bike-to-work rates and UDOT is trying to make its projects bike friendly. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker announces the 2014 Twilight Concert Series lineup. [KUTV] [Fox13]
-> The Salt Lake County Parks and Recreation program is looking for community input on their future recreational development plans. [Trib]
-> The Salt Lake Tribune is set to host a debate on Wednesday on public land management — co-sponsored by the Hinckley Institute of Politics and KCPW 88.3/105.3 FM. Former BLM director Pat Shea, House Speaker Becky Lockhart, Rep. Ken Ivory and U. professor Dan McCool will participate. [Trib]
-> Utah state officials are searching for children that qualify for the Autism Medicaid Waiver. [KUTV]
Nationally: The House voted to create a new select committee to investigate the Benghazi terrorist attack. [NYTimes] [WaPost] Sen. Orrin Hatch says he agrees with the vote and wants Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to get involved. [TheHill]
-> President Barack Obama has banned the Office of Director of National Intelligence from citing materials from "unauthorized disclosures." [NYTimes]
-> Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki is expected to speak before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee next week about allegations of mistreated patients while the House VA Committee has issued a subpoena for him to appear. [WaPost]
-> Read why Aaron Blake says the GOP has a "foot-shooting addiction" when it comes to attacking their fellow running mates. [WaPost]
-> Former Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner talks about life after the job. [NYTimes]
-> Comedian Conan O'Brien welcomed Obama to Los Angeles with jokes and jabs. [LATimes]
Where are they?
Rep. Jason Chaffetz speaks at the Digital Dialogue Forum.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker attends the Westminster College Olympians event.
President Barack Obama speaks about energy at a California Walmart in Mountain View and later returns to Washington, D.C.
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 Courtney Tanner Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/CourtneyLTanner