Happy Wednesday! President Donald Trump is not happy with the new congressional deal that offers nearly $1.4 billion for border fencing but it doesn’t appear that he’d veto the bill and prompt another government shutdown. The White House has hatched a new plan that would not need Congress to approve and take money from other pots to build a fence. “I’m extremely unhappy with what the Democrats have given us,” Trump complained to reporters yesterday. But he added he would be securing additional money from “far less important areas.” [WaPost]
Topping the news: A bill supported by Sen. Mitt Romney and opposed by Sen. Mike Lee soared through the Senate on Tuesday. The legislation, the most massive public lands package in decades that will affect Utah, would expand wilderness and create a permanent fund to preserve acreage and create new national monuments. [Trib] [DNews] [KSL]
-> Last January, a Cedar City councilman promised to serve as both a member of the council and as county commission — now, lawmakers are introducing legislation aimed to bar such a motion. If passed, the bill will prevent someone from serving on both city council and county commission at the same time. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: @DeidreHenderson: “Fun fact: 149 years ago today Utah’s all-male territorial legislature UNANIMOUSLY voted for women’s suffrage. #respect”
-> @BenWinslow: “Remember the group “Truth About #Prop2?” That sued and claimed LDS people found medical cannabis offensive? They dismissed their lawsuit today against @SpencerJCox for daring to put it on the ballot."
Happy Birthday: to state Rep. Stephanie Pitcher and retired postmaster Walt Borla.
Correction: An item in yesterday’s Cornflakes incorrectly said who started a petition to get more brightly painted lines on Utah roads. Nick Bodkin started the petition, not a UDOT employee.
In other news: In the months since University of Utah student athlete Lauren McCluskey was shot and killed by her ex-boyfriend, campus police have been fiercely criticized and condemned for what some have called their failure to respond to McCluskey’s calls for help. Now, what would have been McCluskey’s 22nd birthday has rolled around and the university has said the campus officers are participating in more training, but none will be dismissed. [Trib] [Fox13] [KSL] [KUTV]
-> The bill sponsor who introduced a piece of legislation aiming to raise the alcohol limit to 4.8 percent said he is not surprised that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has declared their opposition to the bill — he’s not interested in yielding either. [Trib]
-> The executive director of the Utah Rivers Council and other officials have criticized a water conservation plan put forward by the Utah Division of Water Resources. The plan, which is expected to be publicly released within the next few weeks, suggests lowering per-capita municipal water use by 0.5 percent each year, a number that critics are condemning for being too small. [Trib]
-> David Garbett, environmental lawyer, activist and former Pioneer Park coalition leader, announced that he is running for Salt Lake City mayor. [Trib] [DNews] [KSL]
-> HB258, a bill which would allow law enforcement to arrest someone engaging in sex for money on the grounds of operating without a business license, is advancing on in the Legislature. The bill was approved by the House and will head to the Senate next. [Trib]
-> Former Mexico President Vincente Fox addressed students at the University of Utah on Tuesday afternoon. The highlight? “Walls divide. We must build bridges,” according to Fox. [Trib]
-> A spokesperson for Salt Lake Community College confirmed that more than 42,000 students’ tax documents were lost in the mail after administration opened the envelope that was supposed to contain the flash drive and found it empty. [Trib]
-> Last week Gov. Gary Herbert made a swift call for over $200 million worth of tax cuts during his State of the State address. Now the Utah Senate has unanimously approved a $150 million cut. [Trib]
-> A bill proposing to allow cars to run through red lights after stopping for 90 seconds and determining the light is not cycling properly, passed out of committee, but only just barely. [Trib]
-> To prepare for potential future federal government shutdowns, the Salt Lake City Council is creating an emergency loan program of $100,000 to help future unpaid federal workers. If needed, loans will be allocated one-time to workers and will not exceed $1,500. [Trib]
-> A committee unanimously passed a bill that called for including the costs and revenue sources of propositions atop future ballots. [Trib]
Nationally: Less than 24 hours after congressional Republicans and Democrats reached a bipartisan border security compromise, President Donald Trump said he was not pleased with the decision and has yet to indicate whether he will sign. Despite his less than celebratory reaction, the president also said that he doesn’t think there will be another federal government shutdown. [NYTimes] [WaPost]
-> Joaquín Guzmán Loera, more commonly known as Mexican crime lord El Chapo, was sentenced to a lifetime in prison. After three-months of intensive trial, Loera was found guilty on all 10 counts. Throughout the past weeks, 56 witnesses testified against the drug lord. [NYTimes] [WaPost]
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-- Thomas Burr and Sahalie Donaldson