Happy Monday!
A record 69% of voters say they personally dislike the president, including 19% who approve of his policies, according to a new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. That leaves just 29% saying they personally like the president. [NBC]
Topping the news: If a Democrat is elected president next year, Utah’s Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments will be restored to their original size. [Trib]
-> Moab’s halt to hotel and other lodging construction has angered residents and landed on the radar of state legislators. [Trib]
-> Construction of the new prison and the planned inland port are going to run into a big challenge in the form of the tiny mosquito — millions of them. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @MittRomney: “If the President asked or pressured Ukraine’s president to investigate his political rival, either directly or through his personal attorney, it would be troubling in the extreme. Critical for the facts to come out.”
-> @VoteDarlene: “Mitt Romney thinks it would be ‘troubling,’ while I’m sure Susan Collins would find it very ‘concerning.’ Can either of them just say, illegal?”
Happy Birthday: To the Salt Lake Tribune’s Thomas Burr, on Sunday.
In other news: State Sen. Luz Escamilla, who is running for Salt Lake City mayor, says criticism of her LDS faith during the campaign is “insulting” and out of line. [Trib]
-> Hundreds turned out in Salt Lake City streets on Friday to rally for climate change action. [Trib] [DNews]
-> The University of Utah wants a lawsuit by the parents of slain student Lauren McCluskey dismissed, saying U. police had no duty to protect her from an attacker who was not a student or employee of the school. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> A recreational marijuana dispensary will open in West Wendover, Nev., in coming months. [Fox13]
-> The Utah Supreme Court rules that people don’t have the right to a jury trial for traffic tickets. [Fox13]
-> Organizers unveiled the design for Utah’s new Martha Hughes Cannon statute that will be placed in the U.S. Capitol collection next year. [Trib]
-> Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch during a visit to Utah said judges are not just politicians in robes. [Trib] [DNews]
-> A legislative audit suggests hiking fees for out-of-state hunting and fishing licenses. [DNews]
-> The Ogden City Council has adopted a 5-year strategic budget plan. [StandEx]
-> Salt Lake City is looking to find a fix for the affordable housing shortage, but the city finds it “can’t build way out.” [DNews]
-> Pat Bagley illustrates what it’s like for the Earth when one-third of the world’s birds disappear. [Trib]
Nationally: President Donald Trump confirms that he discussed corruption allegations against former Vice President Joe Biden with Ukraine. Meanwhile, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is warning of a “new chapter of lawlessness.” [NYTimes] [WaPost]
-> Joe Biden says it appears that President Trump abused his power in pressing for a Ukranian investigation of him and says the reason for it is that Trump “knows I’ll beat him like a drum” in next year’s election. [WaPost]
-> California and 13 other states are suing to block the Trump administration from revoking an agreement that lets states have tougher vehicle emissions standards than Washington, D.C. [LATimes]
-> Many House Republicans — 18 so far — have announced they will not seek re-election next year, some because they no longer feel comfortable in the party of Trump. [WaPost]-> On the frontlines of the United Automobile Workers strike from General Motors in Detroit, are Democratic presidential candidates Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden. [NYTimes]
-> As trade talks loom closer, Trump calls China a “threat to the world.” [NYTimes]
-> The GOP is showing signs of making possible progress in moving toward a background checks bill for gun safety. [CNN]
-> House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is calling for legislation to allow sitting U.S. presidents to be indicted for crimes. [CNN]
-> New polls show Sen. Elizabeth Warren leading over Sen. Bernie Sanders in the race to be the next Commander-in-Chief. [WaPost]
-> Cory Booker is on the verge of exiting the presidential race — unless he can raise a lot of campaign cash fast. [CNN]
-> Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says President Trump wants a diplomatic solution to the confrontation with Iran. [Politico]
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- Dan Harrie and Clara Hatcher
Follow @sltribpolitics