Rumblings of an imminent ouster of Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions are growing deafening. BYU’s top cop is already out, but who knew? And Moab is reeling after a weekend ICE raid that swept up nine employees and scared many more into staying home.
Happy Tuesday. As President Trump steps up his attacks on former Alabama senator and current U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, Republicans in his home state who have in the past defended him are remaining largely silent. [Politico] And now Jerry Falwell Jr. says Sessions has lost the support of evangelicals. [Politico]
Topping the news: Brigham Young University Police Chief Larry Stott retired “several weeks ago,” although the school never made an announcement. His department has faced scrutiny in recent years over how it accesses and shares police records. [Trib]
-> Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee both favor renaming the Russell Senate Office building after the late Sen. John McCain. [Trib]
-> The Office of U.S. Attorney for Utah agreed to pay a $150,000 settlement to developer and former Utah Transit Authority board member Terry Diehl after the bankruptcy fraud case against Diehl fell apart last year. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> Utah’s official government website was ranked best in the nation for security features and 17th overall by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a D.C.-based technology policy think tank. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @ddale8: “Basically, what keeps happening is that Trump says things about making two separate two-country deals with Canada and with Mexico, then his administration just keeps working on the three-country NAFTA. His rhetoric has often had almost no connection to the actual negotiations.”
-> From @GJMcClintock: “Okay so the church wants people to stop using the term ‘Mormon’ but what about the people in Cache Valley who say ‘Marmin’?”
-> From @BrendanBuck: “Reminder, it is ‘half-staff’ not ‘half-mast,’ unless you are on a boat. (if you’re on a boat, good for you.)”
-> From @AaronBlake: “Trump: ‘So we made a deal with Canada.’ Aide corrects him that it’s actually with Mexico.”
Happy Birthday: To Luci Arveseth, legislative assistant to Rep. Chris Stewart and Latino activist Tony Yapias.
-> And happy work anniversary to Cathy Reese Newton who marks 30 years with The Salt Lake Tribune. In these days of industry turmoil, that’s a feat.
In other news: Weekend ICE raids in Moab have left the resort town deeply divided as local restaurants and hotels struggle with depleted staffs. [Trib]
-> Multiple parents complained after seventh-grade students at Indian Hills Middle School were asked to fill out a 25-question survey that included questions about LDS Church membership and thoughts of suicide. The principal apologized and called the survey “inappropriate.” [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4]
-> Utah County will leave it up to voters to decide whether to approve a $22 million sales tax-hike that would be used for transportation and road projects. [DNews]
-> After Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams' congressional campaign released a video highlighting his family life, Rep. Mia Love followed up with an ad showcasing her efforts to get political prisoner Josh Holt and his wife out of a Venezuelan jail. [DNews]
-> The CEO and CFO of Washakie Renewable Energy, notable donors to Utah lawmakers and Gov. Herbert specifically, were indicted on fraud charges. [Fox13]
-> As Rep. Rob Bishop prepares to run for his ninth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, he discussed his positions on a variety of subjects, including President Donald Trump and public lands. [KUER]
-> Gehrke remembers his personal interactions with Sen. John McCain and says the nation will sorely miss one of the last members of Congress to put country before party. [Trib]
-> After Trump was criticized for his response to Sen. McCain’s death, Pat Bagley wonders if the president has any decency. [Trib]
Nationally: In a letter written to the American people, the late Sen. John McCain urged Americans to not “hide behind walls," seemingly a comment towards the president. Trump will not be attending McCain’s funeral. [BBC]
-> While United States officials scramble to come up with a revision of NAFTA that pleases both Mexico and Canada, President Donald Trump threatened to freeze Canada out of the agreement. [NYTimes] [WSJ]
-> A panel of federal judges has again struck down North Carolina’s Republican-drawn political maps as unconstitutional gerrymandering. [Hill]
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-- Connor Richards, Cara MacDonald and Dan Harrie
Twitter.com/danattrib, Twitter.com/crichards1995 and Twitter.com/carammacdonald
Follow @sltribpolitics