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Political Cornflakes: Report: Mueller wants to wrap up collusion inquiry this fall

FILE - In this June 21, 2017, file photo, Special Counsel Robert Mueller departs after a closed-door meeting with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee about Russian meddling in the election at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Report: Mueller wants to wrap up collusion inquiry this fall. Romney routs Kennedy and Curtis trounces Herrod. Kitchen leads Plumb 53-47.

Happy Wednesday. Special counsel Robert Mueller is likely to ramp up his investigation and come to some conclusion this fall on whether President Donald Trump’s team colluded in any way with the Russians in the 2016 election. Mueller is said to be wanting to wrap up that big question so he can focus on other issues. [Bloomberg]

Topping the news: Mitt Romney handily beat state Rep. Mike Kennedy for the GOP Senate nomination, receiving 73 percent of the vote. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13] [KUTV]

-> Rep. John Curtis, once again, beat challenger Chris Herrod in the 3rd Congressional District race with 75 percent to Herrod’s 25 percent. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Salt Lake City Councilman Derek Kitchen, who had the endorsement of retiring state Sen. Jim Dabakis for his seat, led his opponent, pediatrician Jennifer Plumb, 53 percent to 47 in unofficial results Tuesday. [Trib]

-> Here are the results for all of the primary races for the Utah Legislature. [Trib]

Tweets of the day: From @juliaritchey: "Congrats to the GOP state delegates who will never get back those hours they spent at the Maverik Center on a beautiful Saturday afternoon.”

-> From @RobertGehrke: "I think Chris Herrod conceded two months ago. Not much of a race this time.”

-> From @StephenAtHome: "But if Harley Davidson goes away, how will retired dentists in my neighborhood wake me up on Saturdays?”

Happy Birthday: To KSL Radio’s Sheryl Lake Worsley.

In other news: Social worker Lee Castillo led opponent Kurt Weiland, a veteran and business owner, 57 percent to 43 percent in unofficial election results, setting Castillo up to face eight-term incumbent Rep. Rob Bishop in November. [Trib]

-> Most Utah voters, 54 percent, support a proposed ballot initiative to fully expand Medicare in the state; 35 percent are opposed, according to a poll by The Salt Lake Tribune and the Hinckley Institute of Politics. [Trib]

-> Utah 17-year-olds who will be 18 by November were able to vote in Tuesday’s primary election thanks to a new state law. [KUER] [APviaTrib]

-> The Wasatch Front Waste and Recycling District is considering implementing a $1-per-month fee increase for curbside services to account for the costs that go into separating nonrecyclable or contaminated materials. [Trib]

-> Robert Gehrke says political tribalism could explain why, despite 18 months of turmoil, a recent poll found the majority of Utahns approve of President Donald Trump. [Trib]

Nationally: In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld President Trump’s travel ban on several majority-Muslim countries. [Politico] [WaPost] [NYTimes]

-> Justice Sonia Sotomayor delivered a blistering dissent to the court’s ruling, arguing the ban was “motivated by hostility and animus toward the Muslim faith.” [NYTimes]

-> The Supreme Court also ruled 5-4 that California may not require “crisis pregnancy centers” to supply information about abortion. [NYTimes] [WaPost]

-> A judge in the Federal District Court in San Diego issued a nationwide injunction temporarily stopping the immigration policy of separating children from their parents at the border. [NYTimes]

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Send us a note to cornflakes@sltrib.com.

— Thomas Burr and Connor Richards

Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/crichards1995