Former FBI Director James Comey’s book is already a best-seller. Who is funding the Hatch Center? We may never know. Bishop wants the Census Bureau to count overseas Americans, including Mormon missionaries.
Happy Monday. Former FBI Director James Comey’s forthcoming book, “A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership,” isn’t scheduled for release until the middle of next month, but preorders for the memoir already occupy the No. 1 spot among Amazon’s top 20 books. [Politico]
Topping the news: As Sen. Orrin Hatch prepares for retirement, supporters are working to raise money to build a center in his name — though who is funding the effort mostly remains a mystery. [Trib]
-> An environmental group has filed a new claim against state Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, saying he has supported the Lake Powell pipeline project to benefit land he owns in the area. [Trib]
-> As Bears Ears faces changes, LDS Church leaders in Blanding have asked members to advocate for group access to an environmentally sensitive pioneer site. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @MikeMadden: “’Hardened Democrats’ is sort of an amazing phrase.”
-> From @ryanbeckwith: “In summary, if you’re filling out your White House March Madness bracket, you’re eating the chalk if you say McMaster is out. Every other pick is a wild card.”
In other news: Rep. Rob Bishop introduced legislation that would require the Census Bureau to count Americans living abroad, a policy that would help Utah by including Mormon missionaries serving overseas. [Trib]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert signed a bill Friday that would create an inland port authority in Salt Lake City, though he said he will call a special legislative session to address the city’s concerns with the bill. [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4] [KSL]
-> Herbert also signed a bill that will let parents avoid a penalty for allowing their children to do some things on their own to promote independence. [DNews]
-> The Interior Department has scheduled meetings in Utah later this month to gather public feedback on how the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments will be redrawn. [Trib]
-> The leader of a South Salt Lake after-school program has resigned while an audit continues to investigate if public funds were diverted to aid Mayor Cherie Wood’s 2017 re-election campaign. [Trib]
-> Students and pro-immigration advocates staged a walking demonstration Saturday to show their support for undocumented immigrants. [DNews]
-> Special UTA buses for the 2018 legislative session — meant to help with parking and pollution — averaged only five passengers per trip this year. [Trib]
-> Utah’s county jails help state inmates turn their lives around through a program that provides them with networking opportunities and individualized attention. [Trib]
-> A Utah family is suing the Boy Scouts of America, claiming a 15-year-old with Down syndrome was discriminated against after he was not allowed to become an Eagle Scout. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> The Real Monarchs stadium now has a state liquor license and can start selling beer at its season opener. [Trib]
-> Girls in the polygamous FLDS church attended a princess party Friday as a reward for meeting a reading goal. [Trib]
-> In a Trib Caucus Slack chat, Tribune political columnists and reporters discuss the large number of candidate filings for this year’s election season that could change the Utah Legislature. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley illustrates “A Tale of Two Moabs.” [Trib]
-> Robert Gehrke argues that Rep. Chris Stewart’s stance on Russian interference in the 2016 election is the representative’s latest work of fiction. [Trib]
-> Gehrke also notes that more women are running for office this year and how that will help bring some parity. [Trib]
-> Frank Pignanelli and LaVarr Webb discuss the aftershocks of this year’s legislative session. [DNews]
Nationally: Andrew McCabe, the former FBI deputy director, was fired for lack of candor Friday, just a day before he would have been eligible for a government retirement pension. [NYTimes]
-> McCabe reportedly kept memos about his interactions with President Donald Trump and former FBI director James B. Comey. [NYTimes]
-> Trump’s lawyer has asked the Justice Department to shut down the Russian interference investigation in the wake of McCabe’s firing. [WaPost]
-> A data analytics firm used in Trump’s 2016 campaign collected the data of millions of Facebook users without their knowledge. [WaPost]
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— Thomas Burr and Madalyn Gunnell
Follow @sltribpolitics