Happy Tuesday. Is Joe Biden running for president in 2020? A look at his political action committee shows some signals that he may be prepping for a bid. His PAC raised millions during the midterm elections but most of the funding went to prop up Biden himself even as he doled out some funds to Democratic candidates. [Politico]
Topping the news: A new San Juan County commission is sworn into office amidst renewed legal disputes about one commissioner’s residency status. The county election marks a historic shift from the status quo of Republican representation to a Democratic and Navajo majority. [Trib] [KUER]
-> From lawmaker to TV role, former Utah congresswoman, Mia Love, has signed on as a political commentator with CNN. Love follows in the footsteps of Former Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz who signed on as a Fox News contributor after resigning from congress. [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4] [Fox13]
Tweets of the day: From @JoePerticone: “Easy solution for TV networks for Trump’s address: air the whole thing, but just dub the peanut butter baby sound over his voice if he says anything false”
From @OhNoSheTwitnt “To be a likable woman candidate just follow these simple rules: Don’t be old, don’t be young, don’t be middle aged, don’t be serious, don’t be funny, don’t be loud, don’t be quiet, smile more, don’t smile too much, don’t wear that, or that, here is a Handmaid’s costume.”
In other news: Following a letter from Utah lawmakers, Acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt issued a directive allowing national park entrance fees to cover essential operations impacted by the partial government shutdown. [KUER] [DNews]
-> From South Korea to Utah, a couple set on touring Arches National Park was among other international visitors disappointed to find the park’s gate closed due to the government shutdown. [Trib]
-> A temporary deal has been reached allowing hikers in Zions National Park to continue crossing -- post government shutdown -- a portion of the trail that falls on private lands. The owners hope to reach a more permanent deal before the agreement ends on March 31. [Trib]
-> Utah lawmakers to considers gun safety legislative measures after a recent Harvard study showed that 85% of Utah deaths by firearm were suicides. Amongst the measures being considered are biometric safes, gun locks, court orders and education efforts. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake County councilwoman Aimee Winder Newton has confirmed that she is considering running for governor after coaxing from fellow republicans. [DNews] [KUTV]
-> This year’s budget surplus and revenue growth could benefit Utah taxpayers but lawmakers are split on where to apply tax reductions. While some representatives and members of special interest groups are advocating for a reduction in Utah’s income tax, Gov. Gary Herbert hopes to see a sales tax reduction in order to avoid cutting education funds associated with income tax. [Trib]
-> Utah’s State Bureau of Investigations released data on Operation Rio Grande’s efforts to rid areas associated with Salt Lake’s homeless population of crime. A special narcotics squad that is part of the operation believes there is still work to be done as criminal activity disburses from the Rio Grande neighborhood throughout the city. [Trib] [Fox13]
Nationally: President Trump will address the nation on border security via national television this evening and visit the southern border on Thursday. [NYTimes] [WaPost] [USAToday] [Politico]
-> Tax refunds to be issued on time after the Trump administration reversed a policy that would have delayed the process due to government shutdown. [NYTimes] [WaPost] [USAToday] [Politico]
-> Cyntoia Brown, a trafficking victim sentenced to life in prison for killing a man who had solicited her for sex, was granted clemency by Tennessee governor Bill Haslam after serving 15 years of her sentence. [NYTimes]
-> Comments from Trump administration officials could foreshadow a declaration of a national state of emergency allowing the president to forgo congressional approval for border wall construction. [WaPost]
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Thomas Burr, Courtney Tanner and Christina Giardinelli
twitter.com/thomaswburr, twitter.com/CourtneyLTanner, twitter.com/Ninetta89