Happy Tuesday!
The big crowd of 23 Democratic presidential candidates is due for its first serious culling later this month. The second round of debates — set for July 30-31 in Detroit — will be an elimination round, pundits say. [Politico]
Topping the news: Utah officials have denied reports that Immigrations and Customs Enforcement officials and the FBI have been allowed to do wholesale facial recognition sweeps of state driver license and driving privilege card databases. [Trib] [Fox13] [DNews]
-> The old Swift Building property sold by the Smith and Edwards family to Ogden is loaded with tens of thousands of containers of chemical and toxic waste. [Trib]
-> Ex-Congresswoman Mia Love’s comments to the Deseret News that she might have to run against Rep. Ben McAdams if the Republican Party can’t find a suitable challenger has drawn a good deal of skepticism on social media. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @aedwardslevy: “Maybe we told too many children that they could grow up to be president.”
-> From @DLind: “Me, the last 6 months: TOO MANY PEOPLE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT Me, today: WAIT IF MEGAN RAPINOE TURNED 34 THIS WEEK SHE’LL BE 35 AS OF NOVEMBER 2020.”
In other news: The Democratic Attorney Generals Association has unleashed an ad blitz against Utah’s Sean Reyes and other Republicans on the eve of a court hearing about the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act. [Trib]
-> Utah is allowing more employees to work from home after a pilot program showed that productivity went up. The new program has the potential to reduce car emissions in addition to boosting life quality. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> Centrist “Blue Dog” Democrats like Rep. Ben McAdams are small in numbers but are using leverage in the House to shape policy. [Trib]
-> University of Utah law professor Paul Cassell argued in 2008 that billionaire sex offender Jeffrey Epstein should face harsher charges after he was given only one year in jail after trafficking minors in Florida. Epstein is now facing trafficking charges in New York. [Trib] [DNews]
-> An estimated 250 people showed up to a public hearing in Layton by the legislative task force on tax reform, with many pressing their concerns about potential tax increases. [StandEx]
-> Rep. Ben McAdams has pushed for more funding for research on and prevention of suicide at the national level. [Trib] [KUER]
-> The Gateway could be a good example of how struggling malls can revive themselves in a country that is losing interest. [Trib]
-> Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch? UTA is trying to prove the adage wrong. [Trib]
Nationally: A federal judge has blocked a measure by President Trump that would require drug companies to include prices in drug ads. [WaPo]
-> Democratic presidential candidates are embracing and speaking out about religion. [APViaTrib]
-> President Donald Trump gave a speech about “America’s environmental leadership,” but didn’t mention climate change. [NYT]
-> A Fish and Wildlife field supervisor says he was pressured to remove a roadblock to an Arizona housing project and golf course after the developer, a donor to President Trump, had a private meeting with then deputy Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. [CNN]
-> Elizabeth Warren raised $19.1 million in three months, pulling ahead of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, and approaching the fundraising marks sent by Pete Buttigieg and Joe Biden. [NYT] [Politico]
-> President Trump is in a dust-up with a British ambassador after confidential memos insulting Trump were leaked. [Reuters]
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven’t already, sign up here for our weekday email to get this sent directly to your inbox.
-- Dan Harrie and Sara Tabin
Follow @sltribpolitics