GOP leaders to fellow Republicans seeking re-election: Run scared. Curtis responds to complaints about Provo police chief. Herbert signs more bills into law.
Happy Thursday. This could be a tough year for Republicans running for re-election, as the most recent Pennsylvania race shows. And the GOP is fearing that some of its own officeholders aren’t taking their bids seriously. Their message to fellow Republicans: Get your act together, and run scared. [Politico]
Topping the news: In response to a lawsuit that accuses Rep. John Curtis and Provo leaders of ignoring complaints of a police chief’s sexual harassment, Curtis says he would never shield someone guilty of sexual misconduct. [Trib]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert signed several more bills into law, including one that would send a statue of Martha Hughes Cannon to the U.S. Capitol and another that would give terminally ill patients the opportunity to use medical marijuana. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @petridishes: “if you delete Facebook I’m happy to come to you and shout my opinions about gerrymandering in response to the news of your engagement”
-> From @pbump: “Reminder as you start your day: DO NOT CONGRATULATE”
-> From @AlexConant: “Ironic that the quotes complaining about the leak are from officials ‘not authorized’ to complain about leaks“
Happy Birthday: To state Rep. Jacob Anderegg.
In other news: A jury found the defendant guilty in a hate crime trial where a former Utahn was accused of shouting a racial slur at a child before attacking the child’s father with a stun device. [Trib] [KUTV]
-> The LDS Church issued a response to allegations of sexual assault by a former head of the Missionary Training Center on a female missionary. [Trib] [KUTV]
-> One of the other bills signed into law by Gov. Herbert earlier this week would allow women to purchase birth control from pharmacies without having to visit a doctor. [DNews] [KUTV] [KSL]
-> Rowenna Erickson, a former plural wife and staunch anti-polygamy activist, recently died at age 78. [Trib]
-> Utah police officers are facing suspensions for using official databases to search for friends and family. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley depicts a Trump nativity scene. [Trib]
-> Michelle Quist argues that the Utah Republican Party needs to move past its recent loss in court. [Trib]
Nationally: Law-enforcement officials have identified the man responsible for the Austin bombings and are still looking into his possible motive and the danger of additional explosives. [WaPost]
-> Republicans have agreed to include a provision in the upcoming government funding package to allow the CDC to research gun violence. [TheHill]
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— Thomas Burr and Eric Baker
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