Trump will examine eight border wall prototypes — the proposal to fill a moat with nuclear waste did not make the cut. Rep. Chris Stewart says there’s no proof of collusion between Trump and Russia. 20 state lawmakers will not seek re-election.
Happy Tuesday. President Donald Trump will visit California today to see eight prototypes for a wall between the United States and Mexico. Some of the proposals that didn’t make the cut? A 100-foot-deep moat filled with nuclear waste. A 2,000-mile bright pink wall with a shopping mall. A wall topped with a monorail to serve both countries. [NYTimes]
Topping the news: Utah Rep. Chris Stewart, a member of the House Intelligence Committee that closed its investigation of alleged collusion between President Donald Trump and Russia, said there was no proof and “the CIA just got it wrong.” [Trib]
-> Twenty members of the Utah Legislature will not seek re-election this year. [Trib]
-> The governing First Presidency of the LDS Church has once again shot down the idea that Mormons should be Republicans. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @ryanbeckwith: “Idea: Spellchecker expansion packs with things like current unusual last names in politics”
-> From @RobertGehrke: “Today I am announcing my plan to gather signatures. Not running for anything. I just think it’s interesting the goofy ways people sign their names.”
Happy Belated Birthday: To Mitt Romney, who celebrated yesterday.
In other news: Utah’s latest water war stemmed from disagreements over Facebook, the Mountain Accord and canyon development. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake City is pushing Gov. Gary Herbert to veto a bill approved by lawmakers that would create an inland port, but Herbert plans to sign the bill into law. [Trib]
-> Utah County Republicans are testing an app that would allow GOP members to vote in their party’s caucus remotely. [APviaTrib]
-> The U.S. attorney’s office is using a federal grand jury to indict Utah drug dealers who carry firearms — and put them behind bars for a longer period of time than it could by state court. [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4]
-> Utah Rep. Mia Love filed for re-election Monday. She will run against Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams. [KUTV]
-> A doctor who has worked to combat Utah’s opioid epidemic announced Sunday that she will run for retiring state Sen. Jim Dabakis’ seat. [Trib]
-> Robert Gehrke writes that Dabakis, D-Salt Lake City, could challenge a vulnerable Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski during this year’s election. [Trib]
-> Gehrke also argues that state lawmakers — and the president — should listen to young people and take meaningful steps to address gun violence. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley depicts Betsy DeVos’ effectiveness in taking the wheel at the U.S. Department of Education. [Trib]
Nationally: President Donald Trump backed off Monday from his ideas to prevent gun violence, instead siding with the National Rifle Association’s plan to arm teachers and improve background checks. [NYTimes]
-> Trump has ousted Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and plans to replace him with CIA Director Mike Pompeo. [WaPost]
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— Courtney Tanner and Madalyn Gunnell
Follow @sltribpolitics