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Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing

Morning must reads for Monday, June 5, 2017

Good Monday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 156th day of the year. There are 209 days remaining in 2017. Today is the 137th day of Donald Trump's presidency.

Several women allege sexual misconduct by a candidate for chair of the Utah Democratic Party. President Donald Trump defends his travel ban on Twitter. Vladimir Putin says he doesn't have compromising information on President Trump.

The clock:

• 12 days until the Utah Republican 3rd District nominating convention at Timpview High School (6/17/2017).

• 12 days until the Utah Democratic State Convention at Weber State University (6/17/2017)

• 71 days until the 2017 Utah primary election (8/15/2017)

• 155 days until the 2017 election (11/7/2017)

• 231 days until the opening day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (1/22/2018)

• 276 days until the final day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (3/8/2018)

• 519 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)

• 1,247 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

Today's political TL; DR -

• Our "Political Insiders" say Sen. Deidre Henderson should have the advantage among GOP delegates when they vote on June 17 to pick a nominee for the special congressional election in CD3 [Utah Policy].
  
  
• Several women have come forward alleging sexual misconduct on the part of Rob Miller, who is a candidate for Utah Democratic Party Chair. Miller says the allegations are political dirty tricks, coming just two weeks before the election for party chair [Utah Policy].
  
  
• On the latest episode of "Beg to Differ," Bryan Schott and Rep. Mike Winder ask some very tough questions of Sens. Deidre Henderson and Margaret Dayton, who are running for the soon-to-be open seat in Utah's 3rd Congressional District [Utah Policy].
  
  
• President Donald Trump made several official statements via Twitter on Monday morning, defending his travel ban and saying the Department of Justice should have done more to defend the controversial order [The Hill].
  
  
• President Trump reacted to Saturday's London Bridge terrorist attack by stoking panic and fear via Twitter, appearing to capitalize on the incident for political gain [Washington Post]. Here's what we know following the horrific attack over the weekend [BBC].
  
  
• Must-see TV! Former FBI Director James Comey will testify before a Senate panel on Thursday of this week [The Hill]. Here's everything we know, and what we don't know, about the investigation into Russia's involvement in the 2016 election [Axios].
  
  
• Senate Republicans are worried the fight over raising the debt ceiling in September will lead to a "train wreck" when Congress returns to work following the summer recess [Politico].
  
  
• Russian President Vladimir Putin denied having any compromising information on President Donald Trump during an interview with NBC's Megyn Kelly [Politico].
  
  
• Republicans have been in total control of Washington for almost 6 months and have still not accomplished a major legislative achievement. Time is running out for them to get something significant done [Associated Press]. In fact, Republicans and President Donald Trump have done little more than dismantling some of the policies of previous administrations [Washington Post].
  
  
• President Donald Trump will launch his push for more infrastructure spending this week [Wall Street Journal].
  
  
• Salt Lake City Council members are questioning whether Sen. Jim Dabakis is qualified to be the city's representative on the Utah Transit Authority board. Key quote from Councilman Derek Kitchen: "I'm disappointed that she (Mayor Jackie Biskupski) keeps 'firing' well-qualified professionals and putting forward her friends" [Tribune].
  
  
• A Utah judge has blocked Chia-Chi Teng's bid to get on the ballot for the special election in Utah's 3rd Congressional District. Teng attempted to file for the election remotely because he was out of the country. Utah law specifies that candidates must file in person [Fox 13, Tribune].
  
  
• Gov. Gary Herbert says the Utah Board of Education needs to do more to dispell myths about the Common Core education standards [Tribune].
  
  
• Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan is running for his sixth straight term leading that city while Former Murray Mayor Dan Snarr has filed to run again for that office [Tribune].
  
  
• The Utah Transit Authority Board is seeking a way to rebuild public trust following several public scandals and controversies [Tribune].
  
  
• The Nevada legislature is considering tearing down the Glen Canyon Dam, which would drain Lake Powell [Fox 13].
  
  
• Many Utah drivers are cheering the end of mandatory safety inspections for cars, but businesses are worried it will hurt their bottom line [Tribune].

On this day in history:

• 1933 - The United States went off the gold standard.
  
  
• 1967 - War erupted in the Middle East as Israel raided Egyptian military targets. Syria, Jordan and Iraq entered the conflict.
  
  
• 1968 - Sen. Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated in Los Angeles after claiming victory in California's Democratic presidential primary. Gunman Sirhan Bishara Sirhan was immediately arrested.
  
  
• 1981 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that five homosexuals in Los Angeles had come down with a rare kind of pneumonia; they were the first recognized cases of what became known as AIDS. 
  
  
• 2002 - Elizabeth Smart, 14, was kidnapped from her bedroom in her family's Salt Lake City home. (She was rescued in March 2003.) 

Today At Utah Policy

'Political Insiders' say Henderson is the frontrunner to win delegate vote in CD3 special election By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Our "Political Insiders" say Deidre Henderson is the person to beat at the GOP nominating convention for Utah's 3rd District on June 17....

Several women allege sexual misconduct by candidate for Utah Democratic Party chair By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Several women have come forward alleging they were sexually harassed by Rob Miller, one of the leading candidates for Utah Democratic Party Chair....

'Beg to Differ' podcast: Standing out in a crowd By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor There are 21 candidates running to replace Rep. Jason Chaffetz, including 15 Republicans, 13 of whom will be at this month's convention. ...

Policy News

Press release: Congress' proposed health care plan would reduce funding for Utah children's health programs and services by $470 million by 2026, new estimates show New analysis shows that the American Health Care Act passed by the House of Representatives earlier this month would lead to reduced funding for children’s Medicaid services and programs....

'Double up food bucks' stretches food stamp benefits at 23 farmers' markets statewide Utahns Against Hunger is launching the third season of Double Up Food Bucks at farmers’ markets and farm stands across the state of Utah....

Wise Words

Stubborn Things
"Facts are stubborn things; and whatever may be our wishes, our inclination, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence." John Adams

Lighter Side

Not a Stroke
"Twitter went absolutely berserk. Not since Phil Collins gave us the word "Susudio" has a nation been so utterly fascinated and perplexed. You know a typo is bad when even Melania is like, 'I'm pretty sure that's not English, Donald.' Even after Trump deleted the tweet, which he almost never does, Sean Spicer claimed it was intentional. He said it wasn't a typo or a stroke." Jimmy Fallon