Police take down man on a shooting spree at a Trump golf course. Elaborate hoax attempts to overshadow LDS, NAACP meeting. Curtis is Utah’s wealthiest member of Congress.
Happy Friday. Breaking news this morning: Police shot and wounded a man early Friday at Trump National Doral, a golf and spa resort in Florida owned by President Donald Trump, after the man entered the lobby and began firing shots, waving an American flag and yelling about the president. One officer was injured in the incident. [SunSentinel]
Topping the news: LDS Church President Russell M. Nelson called for “greater civility, racial and ethnic harmony, and mutual respect” at a historic meeting between top church and NAACP leaders. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13] [KSL] [KUTV] [ABC4]
-> Meanwhile, in an elaborate hoax, a fake Mormon Newsroom statement was posted online apologizing for the church’s racist history. [Trib]
-> The Utah County Clerk’s Office said a box containing 105 petition packets from the Count My Vote initiative that didn’t get counted had simply been placed in the wrong pile. [Trib]
-> With a net worth of somewhere between $4.2 million and $15.2 million, Rep. John Curtis is the wealthiest member of Utah’s federal delegation — although Mitt Romney would far surpass him if he gets elected. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @amberhasalamb: “whoever is behind the fake mormon newsroom post owes me $10,000 for causing me emotional distress”
-> From @ConanOBrien: “I’m confused — if Obama won a Nobel Peace Prize, shouldn’t Trump be trying to dismantle the entire Peace Prize industry?”
Happy Birthday: To former White House spokesman and Utahn Peter Watkins (whom Politico profiled this morning) as well as former Salt Lake City Mayor Ted Wilson.
Behind the Headlines: Tribune government and politics editor Dan Harrie, editorial page editor George Pyle and editor Jennifer Napier-Pearce join KCPW’s Roger McDonough to talk about the week’s top stories, including layoffs at the Tribune and ballot initiative drama. Each Friday at 9 a.m., stream “Behind the Headlines” online at kcpw.org or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast.
Trib Talk: Recently retired news columnist Paul Rolly, who started with the Salt Lake Tribune in 1974 as a copy boy, speaks with Tribune reporter Benjamin Wood about journalism, Mormonism and why Utah Democrats have been unable to make any major moves on policy issues. [Trib]
In other news: Josh Holt, a Utahn being held as a political prisoner in Venezuela, said he is safe amid a prisoner revolt in the facility where he is being held. [Trib]
-> Rep. Angela Romero, D-Salt Lake City, is drafting a bill that would raise the legal age of marriage in Utah to 18. Right now, a Utahn can marry at 16 or 17 with parental consent or 15 with the permission of a juvenile court judge. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> Robert Gehrke looks at the Utah County Clerk’s Office’s great misses over the years, such as sending the wrong mail-in ballots to 68,000 voters last year. [Trib]
-> Although 10 candidates have withdrawn from the race, there are still 14 candidates running to become the Utah Republican Party’s No. 2 official. [Trib]
-> The Herriman City Council voted unanimously to cut ties with Unified Police Department and will instead start its own police force. [DNews] [ABC4]
-> Former Iron County Republican Party Treasurer Blake Cozzens pleaded guilty to soliciting a female prostitute. [Trib]
-> As of 2015, 3.2 percent of Utah births were outside of a hospital — more than twice the national rate — as more and more Utah women are choosing home births or deliveries in “birthing centers.” [Trib]
-> With “Deadpool 2” in theaters, here’s a look back at how the film’s predecessor created a First Amendment battle between Utah’s Brewvies theater and the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley shows that there is “nyet collusion” between President Donald Trump and Russia. [Trib]
Nationally: The Senate confirmed Gina Haspel as the new leader of the CIA, despite concerns over her role overseeing a brutal detention program in the wake of 9/11. [NYTimes] [WaPost] [CNN]
-> Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into whether the Trump campaign worked with Russia to influence the 2016 election turned a year old on Thursday. [WaPost] [Politico]
-> Stormy Daniels’ lawyer, Michael Avenatti, said he is currently vetting two more women who say they had sexual relationships with Donald Trump and were paid to stay quiet. [NBC]
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Send us a note to cornflakes@sltrib.com.
— Thomas Burr and Connor Richards
Follow @sltribpolitics