Happy Monday!
A former official chief White House photographer raised questions about whether President Donald Trump staged a stern-faced Situation Room photo said to be taken during the raid that killed ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. Pete Souza tweeted that the time stamp was 90 minutes after the reported time of the raid. He later said it is possible the raid was “still going on” when the photo was shot, but social media erupted with speculation that Trump was golfing during the raid and later staged the shot. [Newsweek]
Topping the news: Federal officials shift gears to say now that off-road vehicles won’t be allowed in Utah’s national parks, a move applauded by eco-advocates. [Trib]
-> Suicides are escalating among current and former followers of polygamist leader Warren Jeffs, and solutions do not look easy. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson vowed to use only public transit in her travels for a week, but cheated once for lack of a timely late-night ride. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @mviser: “Joe Biden on President Obama not endorsing him in his presidential campaign: ‘I asked him not to. He said OK.’”
-> From @kylegriffin1: “Trump was greeted with a thunderous chorus of boos from the sold-out crowd attendance at Game 5 of the World Series.”
-> From @emptywheel: “Duncan Hunter has affairs with staffers on the taxpayer dime and doesn't resign even after indictment. Katie Hill, by contrast…”
Happy Birthday: Belatedly, to former state Sen. Peter Knudson.
Also in the news: A judge is expected to rule Monday whether the state acted inappropriately by imposing an emergency ban on the sale of flavored nicotine vaping products at certain stores. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> Tribune reporter Thomas Burr breaks down what’s happening with the impeachment inquiry and why. [Trib]
-> In San Juan County, a copper mine hasn’t paid property taxes since 2014 and subsequently owes $1.4 million while county officials consider a tax hike. [Trib]
-> The Utah Attorney General’s office is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider a death penalty case slowed by delays. [Fox13]
-> UDOT agrees to overhaul its stormwater practices to settle suit filed by EPA. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake City’s Project Homeless Connect provides one-stop help shop for people living on the streets. [Trib]
-> Tribune Cartoonist Pat Bagley envisions how Facebook would operate as a freeway. [Trib]
-> Sen. Jake Anderegg proposes a bill to seek $35 million for affordable housing. [DNews]
-> Utah ranks No. 3 for protecting online privacy. [Trib]
-> Meth — not opioids — is the most common drug in overdose deaths in western U.S., including Utah. [APviaTrib]
-> As Election Day nears, county clerks in are reminding everyone to watch deadlines and mail their ballots. [DNews]
-> The Utah Department of Health is seeking applicants to fill medical marijuana pharmacy roles as early as March. [DNews]
Nationally:President Donald Trump said American forces killed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi this weekend. He said the head of ISIS “died like a dog.” [NYTimes] [AP] [WaPost]
-> Military officials say that Trump’s decision to pull forces from northern Syria complicated plans for the al-Baghdadi raid because it forced the Pentagon into a risky night operation. [NYTimes]
-> House Speaker Nancy Pelosi complains that Russia was told in advance about the al-Baghdadi raid, but not congressional leaders. Trump explains that he didn’t want any leaks from Congress. [NBC]
-> Trump falsely claims his 2000 book demanded the killing of Osama bin Laden. [CNN]
-> Gordon Sondland, the U.S. ambassador to the European Union, told House investigators that Trump’s efforts to push Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden was a quid pro quo.[WSJ]
-> Amid an ethics investigation into Katie Hill’s alleged sexual involvement with a member of her congressional staff, the Democrat from California will resign. [NYTimes] [CNN] [AP] [WaPost]
-> One of the longest-serving members of Congress eve, former Rep. John Conyers died at age 90. He co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus and battled for reparations for African Americans. He resigned in 2017 amid allegations of sexual misconduct. [APviaTrib]
- > The parents of slain U.S. human rights activist Kayla Mueller said that their daughter might still be alive had former President Obama been as “decisive” as Trump in ordering military action to recover her from ISIS before her death in 2015. [TheHill]
-> When Ariana Grande tweeted, “baby how u feelin” this weekend, Sen. Bernie Sanders replied. [CNN]
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-- Lee Davidson and Clara Hatcher
Follow @sltribpolitics