Happy Friday!
The Census Bureau plans to tap Department of Homeland Security files on millions of immigrants, including noncitizens, as part of its data collection for the 2020 Census. It comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is weighing whether the Census can include a question about citizenship in the next head count. The files would include information on immigrants’ citizenship status, addresses, birth dates and Social Security numbers. Experts says the request has a number of plausible explanations, and does not necessarily mean the administration is trying to sidestep recent judicial rulings barring the citizenship question. [AP][NYTimes]
Topping the news: Gov. Gary Herbert and legislative leaders announce they will no longer pursue a massive overhaul of the state’s tax code during the current legislative session. The abrupt turnaround came amid mounting pressure from industry, community and education leaders. [Trib][Fox13][DNews]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert apologizes to a group of young protesters waging a sit-in at his office for an ‘enormous misunderstanding’ over a bill to ban conversion therapy, which was changed dramatically with his support. [Trib][Fox13]
-> A school safety bill aimed at protecting Utah’s students in the case of an active shooter, has been revived after stalling in committee. But the new version gutted many of the original provisions. [Trib][DNews]
Tweets of the day: From @ndillydalley “In case I haven’t been clear — I am glad the governor and Spencer Cox apologized, but until I see action on their words I don’t accept their apologies and they’ve lost my trust.”
-> From @OlsenHiatt “For those saying an apology isn’t enough, you’re right, but we weren’t there to demand Herbert move legislative mountains in a day. We were there for an apology for his words, and we got that.”
-> From @zmortensen155 “Just to recap. this year, Utah voted to: • keep gay conversion therapy legal • stop medicare expansion• stop the approved and voted-for medical marijuana program • keep full strength beer illegal • make pre-marital sex legal (in 2019). Utah is living in the stone age.”
Behind the Headlines: Tribune senior managing editor Matt Canham, reporter Bethany Rodgers, and columnist Robert Gehrke join KCPW’s Roger McDonough to talk about the week’s top stories, including the amendments to a bill to ban conversion therapy in Utah. Every Friday at 9 a.m., stream “Behind the Headlines” at kcpw.org, or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast. Join the live conversation by calling (801) 355-TALK.
Trib Caucus: Tribune reporters covering the Legislature look inside tax reform and behind the fury of LGBT advocates over the conversion therapy debate. [Trib]
Friday Quiz: Last week, 95 percent of you knew about pushes to ban conversion therapy in Utah, but only 40 percent knew about the number of bird-plane collisions at the Salt Lake City International Airport. Think you kept up with the news this week? Take our quiz to find out. A new one will post every Friday morning. [Trib]
Happy Birthday: on Sunday to Former Tribune editor Terry Orme
In other news: Two missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be deported from Russia for teaching English without a license. [Trib][Fox13]
-> Utah is among multiple states that prohibit marriage between first cousins out of concern for the gene pool, one local couple is looking to challenge that through an online petition. [Trib][Fox13]
-> The Utah Transit Authority is looking for public feedback on whether to spend funds on increasing bus frequency or to cover more geographic area. [Trib]
-> A House-passed bill that would have allowed Utah drivers to run red lights in some circumstances — after stopping for at least 90 seconds — was killed in a Senate committee after strong opposition from law enforcement, prosecutors, cities and the Utah Department of Transportation. [Trib]
-> Legislative Republicans are digging in on a split over a bill that sought to allow for beer with higher alcohol content to be sold in grocery stores. It passed the Senate, but he House changed the measure to only study the proposed change. Both sides appear unwilling to negotiate further. [Trib]
-> Tribune columnist Robert Gehrke denounces conversion therapy calling it a pseudo-science and shaming those who continue to sustain it. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley illustrates campaigns against socialism. [Trib]
Nationally: President Donald Trump tweeted Friday morning that his border wall already “is being built and is well under construction.” He added, "Many additional contracts are close to being signed. Far ahead of schedule despite all of the Democrat Obstruction and Fake News!” [TheHill]
-> The U.S. House overwhelmingly approves a measure that started as a response to anti-Israel comments by Rep, Ilhan Omar but developed into an all-inclusive condemnation of bias and bigotry. [NYTimes]
-> Bernie Sanders is the only 2020 presidential candidate thus far, who has shown support for Rep. Ilhan Omar’s controversial comments about Israel, he warned against viewing them as anti-semitic. [Politico]
-> Former Trump presidential campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, was sentenced to about four years in prison for tax evasion and bank fraud, the district court’s sentence was far less than the one he had faced under federal guidelines. [WaPost][NYTimes]
-> President Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, files a lawsuit against the Trump organization for an alleged breach of contract that occurred after it refused to pay his court fees. [NYTimes]
-> A ruling by a federal appeals court broadened constitutional protections for undocumented immigrants seeking asylum at the border, opening a potential new legal gateway for some to stay in the country. [NYTimes]
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Send us a note to cornflakes@sltrib.com.
Lee Davidson and Christina Giardinelli
Follow @sltribpolitics