Mitch McConnell cancels the Senate’s August recess. Josh Holt speaks about his Venezuelan imprisonment. Greg Hughes and Jim Dabakis try to sell inland port deal.
Happy Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is canceling all but a week of the Senate’s traditional August recess, hoping to keep vulnerable Democrats off the campaign trail and confirm as many of President Donald Trump’s judicial and executive branch nominees as possible. The House, however, isn’t likely to follow suit and it’s unsure whether McConnell’s plan will yield results. [Politico]
Topping the news: Utahn Josh Holt, who spent two years in a Venezuelan prison as a political prisoner, said during an appearance on NBC’s “Today Show” that he is writing a book about the experience. [Trib]
-> While peak ozone pollution season doesn’t hit until July or August, Utah has already exceeded federal standards three times in the past month. [Trib]
-> Republican House Speaker Greg Hughes and Democratic state Sen. Jim Dabakis proposed a new inland port plan. The question now is: Can they sell the idea to state and Salt Lake City officials? [Trib] [DNews]
Tweets of the day: From @petridishes: “oh no if Miss America drops the swimsuit portion then women will only be judged harshly on their appearance every time they post anything online”
-> From @JamesKosur: "Donald Trump literally forgot the words to ‘God Bless America’ at an event meant to show how American and Patriotic he is. But please tell me more about NFL players who kneel during the national anthem.”
-> From @RVAwonk: “Trump has tweeted 22 times in less than 24 hours … but he ‘doesn’t have time’ to prep for an interview wth special counsel Mueller.”
In other news: Despite seemingly united opposition, the Salt Lake County Council voted to approve building a massive housing project in the southern region of the county. [Trib]
-> Facebook will receive a tax exemption that will save the company an estimated $5.8 million in sales taxes when its builds a data center in Eagle Mountain. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake County voters can expect to receive primary ballots in the mail this week. [Trib]
-> Four men were allegedly chased as they left the Utah Pride Festival by a mob of 10-20 men, who reportedly attacked a store worker who tried to step in. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> A group of CrossFit enthusiasts in Lehi say they were kicked out their gym for not “fitting in” with the gym’s culture. [KSL]
-> Robert Gehrke believes the alliance between House Speaker Greg Hughes and state Sen. Jim Dabakis over plans for an inland port in Salt Lake City still leaves city officials underrepresented. [Trib]
-> Michelle Quist says religious hostility was determinative in the Colorado baker Supreme Court case. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley shows what the “swamp” of Utah politics looks like. [Trib]
Nationally: Eight states, including California, Iowa and Alabama, held primary elections Tuesday night. [NYTimes]
-> NFL players spoke out against President Donald Trump after he uninvited the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles to the White House. [Politico]
-> Attorney General Jeff Sessions defended border patrol agents separating immigrant children from their parents after they cross the border illegally. [WaPost]
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