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Huntsman does Utah proud • Instead of standing apart like the crazy old uncle, Jon Huntsman is experiencing what it must be like to be the only sane person at a family reunion. Again, at Wednesday's debate among the eight candidates for the Republican presidential nomination, the former Utah governor distinguished himself as the one candidate who wasn't sucking up to the extreme fringe of his party. He didn't buy the climate change denial. He advocated for immigration policies that are both humane and job-creating. He personified a conservatism that is pro-growth, pro-business and internationalist rather than anti-science, anti-government and isolationist. As a result, the press and the pundits love him. And he's still scraping the bottom in the polls. Sad.

The end of Provo-bition • Members of the Provo Municipal Council are on the right track, moving forward an ordinance that would allow local supermarkets and convenience stores to sell beer on Sundays. Proponents of the change note that the city, which once banned the sale of beer altogether, is both inconveniencing its residents and costing itself sales tax revenue by pushing people who feel the need to replenish their fridges on Sundays to drive to Springville or some other community to buy brew. There is no reason why the residents of Provo are less trustworthy than those who live in most other burgs. And there is no reason why the city should lose out on the tax revenue generated, not only from the sale of beer, but from the sale of all the other groceries beer buyers buy when they are in that other city's store. Besides, if the trip home is shorter, the beer is more likely to stay in the bag, where it belongs, until the driver gets home.

Green River blues • Biologists have discovered genetic evidence of whirling disease in rainbow trout sampled downstream of Flaming Gorge Dam. That should bring tears to the eyes of fisher folk, though officials say the effects on brown trout, the dominant species there, will be minimal (they are naturally resistant) and even planted rainbows should not be much affected. Still, anglers should take steps to prevent spreading the disease. Scrape the mud off your gear where you've been fishing, and dry those boots and waders in the sun to kill disease spores. If your wading gear is wet when you move to another stream, disinfect it first with a 10 percent solution of chlorine bleach and water. For more tips on preventing the spread of this disease, which attacks fish, not people, go to wildlife.utah.gov/fishing/whirlingdisease.html.