Three in 4 Americans support President Donald Trump meeting with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, according to new poll. Utah’s Mia Love signs petition to force House vote on immigration proposals. A new bill backed by Utah congressional leaders sets aside more than a half-million acres of wilderness in Emery County.
Happy Thursday. Most Americans — regardless of political party — support President Donald Trump sitting down with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. A new poll finds that more than 3 in 4 respondents, roughly 77 percent, approve of the planned diplomatic talks. Republicans favor the move 92 percent, Democrats 62 percent. The survey results come, too, after North Korea released three American prisoners Wednesday. [TheHill]
Topping the news: Rep. Mia Love, R-Utah, signed a petition to force the House to vote on legislation that would protect young undocumented immigrants from deportation. [Trib]
-> A bill backed by Utah’s Rep. John Curtis and Sen. Orrin Hatch that would set aside more than a half-million acres of wilderness in Emery County has gotten mixed responses from conservation groups. [Trib]
-> A new book about Leonard J. Arrington includes excerpts from his diaries and details the struggles over truth the Mormon church historian had with the faith’s leaders. [Trib]
Tweet of the day: From @MerriamWebster: “As of this writing, ‘negative’ is not yet a synonym of ‘fake.’”
Happy Birthday: To Salt Lake County Council chair Aimee Newton and state Rep. Lynn Hemingway.
Trib Talk: Tribune reporters Benjamin Wood and Taylor Stevens speak with employment attorney Jonathan Driggs about the ongoing debate over workplace harassment and issues that can arise from hugging. [Trib]
In other news: A $1.2 million reduction in parking fines for the year could put a small hole in Salt Lake City’s $275.5 million budget for next year. [Trib]
-> To the worry of conservationists, the Great Salt Lake’s third largest island was sold to a monster truck entrepreneur and star of Discovery Channel’s “Diesel Brothers,” David “Heavy D” Sparks, whose attorney describes him as environmentally conscious despite his public image. [Trib]
-> Sinclair Broadcast Group — a media conglomerate that was recently scrutinized for ordering local news anchors to read scripted messages about “one-sided news stories” — announced it will sell Utah’s KSTU Fox 13 to Twenty-First Century Fox. [APviaTrib] [Fox13]
-> Officials in Cache County approved a sales tax increase from 6.6 percent to 6.85 percent, which they said will be used to fund public transit and other transportation projects. [APviaTrib]
-> Canyons School District announced it will increase new teacher salaries by 4.5 percent for the 2018-19 school year. [Trib]
-> A tentative budget passed by the Cottonwood Heights City Council proposes cuts to the city’s police and fire departments, prompting backlash from some residents. [Trib]
-> Michelle Quist, a Mormon and Republican herself, defends The Salt Lake Tribune against criticisms that it’s anti-Mormon and anti-Republican. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley illustrates the split between the Mormon church and the Boy Scouts of America. [Trib]
Nationally: Gina Haspel, President Donald Trump’s nominee for CIA director, testified to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday. Here are four takeaways from the heated hearing. [WaPost]
-> What if Iran decides to relaunch its nuclear program? “I don’t think they should do that,” Trump told reporters Wednesday. “If they do, there will be a very severe consequence.” [Politico]
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— Courtney Tanner and Connor Richards
Follow @sltribpolitics