Seventy-seven percent of Americans — like the president — believe major media outlets report “fake news,” according to a new poll. Some Utah candidates have already secured a spot on the primary ballot by collecting signatures. The Utah Medical Association says leaders of a Utah ballot initiative are misleading voters.
Happy Tuesday. President Donald Trump has long railed against supposed “fake news” reported by the nation’s major media outlets. And a new poll shows a majority of Americans have similar concerns. Some 77 percent of national survey respondents said they believe television stations and newspapers broadcast or publish misinformation. That’s up from 63 percent last year. [Politico]
Topping the news: The Utah GOP announced Monday it will appeal a court ruling — again — that upheld a state election law allowing signature-gathering candidates to get on the primary ballot. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Some Utah candidates are using that same law to get on the primary ballot by gathering signatures. Here’s a list of those who are already qualified by that route ahead of the convention. [Trib]
-> The Utah Medical Association is accusing leaders of an initiative to legalize medical marijuana of misleading voters to get their support. [Trib]
Tweet of the day: From @RobertMaguire_: “’Just think of $700 billion because that is all going into our military this year’ - Trump addressing [checks notes] children at the annual White House Easter Egg Roll“
Happy Birthday: To state Rep. Marie Poulson.
In other news: UDOT announced its top 10 roadwork projects for 2018. [Trib] [Fox13] [KSL]
-> The ACLU wants to educate Utah voters about the role of a prosecutor before residents go to elect their county attorneys. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake City is currently seeking feedback from residents on a sales tax increase that would help fund roads, public transit, housing and public safety. The city will decide on the hike soon. [Trib]
-> A new state law will help Utahns protect their credit and debit cards from data breaches. [ABC4]
-> Salt Lake County sent Gov. Gary Herbert a list of 16 low-income areas that would benefit from institutional investments as well as 10 others the governor can consider if other Utah communities don’t submit suggestions. [Trib] [DNews]
-> Robert Gehrke suggests Herbert should meet Hestevan Hennessy, who suffers from cerebral palsy and could benefit from medical marijuana, after the governor came out forcefully against a ballot initiative last week that would legalize it for a wide range of patients. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley draws parallels between Sinclair Broadcast Group and George Orwell’s dystopian writing. [Trib]
Nationally: Sinclair Broadcast Group, the largest broadcasting corporation in the United States, made dozens of its anchors read the same script about fake news last month. [NYTimes]
-> Russia is pushing for a White House meeting between President Donald Trump and its leader, Vladimir Putin. [NYTimes]
-> U.S. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., announced Monday that she will not seek re-election after reports surfaced that she waited three months to fire an employee who threatened to kill a former colleague. [WaPost]
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— Courtney Tanner and Madalyn Gunnell
Follow @sltribpolitics