Ahead of the midterm elections, gas prices are surging. Trump nominates Utahn who has railed against immigrants. Herbert talks about medical marijuana.
Happy Friday. This is not the deal President Donald Trump was hoping for. A huge jump in gas prices in recent months is likely to fuel a wave of economic anger across the nation — just in time for the midterm elections. As Americans head out for the Memorial Day weekend, they’ll find gas at the highest price since 2014. [Politico]
Topping the news: Ronald Mortensen of Bountiful, an outspoken advocate against illegal immigration, was nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as a top State Department official overseeing refugees and immigration. [Trib]
-> At his monthly news conference, Gov. Gary Herbert spoke about a number of issues, including medical marijuana, an inland port proposal, gun safety and NFL protests. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From: @pattymo: “Looks like Kim Jong Un missed his chance to be shown the 2016 election map and hear about how kneeling NFL players are ‘very unfair to me’“
-> From @thistallawkgirl: “I can only assume that Rachel Dolezal is trending because Donald Trump has offered her a job to add some diversity to his White House staff.”
Behind the Headlines: Salt Lake Tribune reporters Peggy Fletcher Stack, Sean P. Means and Lee Davidson as well as columnist Holly Richardson join KCPW’s Emily Means to talk about the week’s top stories, including the LDS Church’s meeting with the NAACP. 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.
Programming note: Political Cornflakes is taking Memorial Day off on Monday but will be back in your inboxes on Tuesday. Enjoy the holiday weekend.
In other news: A 10-month audit from an outside firm found no evidence that funds had been diverted into South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood’s 2017 re-election campaign. [Trib]
-> A former Mormon who posted a fake LDS Church statement addressing racism in the faith’s past actions apologized for causing black Mormons “tremendous pain.” [Trib]
-> According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Utah’s housing stock grew at the fastest rate in the country from 2016 to 2017. But would-be first-time homebuyers are struggling to keep up with rising costs. [Trib]
-> A Census report shows that Salt Lake City surpassed 200,000 residents, although local experts are skeptical of those numbers. [Trib]
-> FanX co-founder Bryan Brandenburg is stepping down after being criticized for treating sexual harassment allegations too lightly. [Trib]
-> Residents in Salt Lake City’s 13th and 13th neighborhood are concerned about an ingoing homeless assisted living shelter that they worry will become a de facto shelter. [Trib]
-> The polygamous towns of Hildale, Utah, and Colorado City, Ariz., hired Mark Askerlund, formerly of the Salt Lake City Police Department, as the new police chief. [Trib]
-> The University of Utah is one of four schools participating in a contest hosted by former Google executive Eric Schmidt that will award proposals that best demonstrate how to boost middle-class incomes. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley draws some of Trump’s other commemorative coins. [Trib]
Nationally: U.S. allies fear destabilization and heightened tensions in East Asia after President Donald Trump pulled out of a summit meeting with North Korea. [WaPost]
-> North Korea’s vice minister of foreign affairs said the country is still willing to talk negotiations with the U.S. “at any time, at any format.” [Politico]
-> Harvey Weinstein is expected to turn himself in to New York police on charges of rape and sexual assault. [NYTimes] [WaPost]
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— Thomas Burr and Connor Richards
Follow @sltribpolitics