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Poll: Obama approval tied with lowest in his presidency. Voters favor Herbert's Healthy Utah plan. LDS Church drops adoption agency.
Happy Wednesday. Some 41 percent of Americans approve of President Barack Obama's job performance, according to a new poll that matches the lowest mark since the beginning of his presidency. The poll also shows that respondents said things are getting worse for Obama in the last year: 41 percent said his performance has worsened in that time. [Politico]
Topping the news: Utah voters favor Gov. Gary Herbert's "Healthy Utah" version of Medicaid expansion just about any way you put it, according to a poll by Dan Jones & Associates. [Trib] [Fox13] [UtahPolicy]
-> The LDS Church will no longer serve as an adoption agency because they've seen a drop off in the number of young and unwed mothers seeking its services. [Trib] [DNews] [KUTV] [KSL] [Fox13]
-> The church, meanwhile, says the excommunication efforts against two members were started by local officials but it's clear that higher ups in the faith could halt the move if they wanted to. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @LukeRussert: "Overheard on Capitol Hill: Teacher to students, 'Next time we're on a field trip never ask the person speaking to us how old they are.'"
-> From @BenWinslow: "I've said it before and I will say it again: The #Utah State Capitol cafeteria has the best tater tots. THE BEST. #nomnomnom"
Happy Birthday: To veteran Utah pollster Dan Jones, Tiffany Gunnerson and BYU's Joel Campbell.
In other news: Heber City may be visited by more than 20,000 counterculture peace-makers coming to attend the 43rd annual Rainbow Gathering. [Trib] [DNews] [KSL] [Fox 13]
-> Ally Isom, a spokeswoman for the LDS Church, fielded questions on the recent threats of excommunication for two church members on KUER. [KUTV]
-> At the end of June, Utah will have a surplus of between $25-150 million in its pocket for the fiscal year. [Trib]
-> Paul Rolly notes the Carbon County Commission has told federal law enforcement officers not to police within its borders anymore. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake County plans to hire two new officers to aid in their software and education programs. [Trib]
-> Some Utah politicians, including Gov. Gary Herbert, donated to Sen. Evan Vickers, R-Cedar City, in the primary instead of former state Sen. Casey Anderson. [Trib]
-> The Utah Supreme Court has OK'd subdividing property in Hildale, Utah that has polygamous ties. [Trib]
-> Rep. Rob Bishop is one of a few members of Congress who doesn't tweet. He has a Twitter handle, to reserve his spot, but hasn't tweeted a single character yet. [RollCall]
-> Lindon City officially said 'no' to UTOPIA, the Internet service provider. [DNews]
-> Kaysville City officials are proposing a 102 percent tax increase to offset rising police and maintenance costs. [KUTV]
-> UTA wants feedback on potential transit plans, including a bus rapid-transit system or a streetcar, from residents in Ogden. [Trib]
Nationally: U.S. forces have an alleged perpetrator of the 2012 Benghazi attacks in their custody after a secret raid in Libya. [WaPost] [WSJ] [Politico] While promoting her new book in an interview with CNN, Hillary Clinton said despite the capture, she is "still looking for answers, because it was a confusing and difficult time." [WaPost]
-> President Barack Obama will not order any air strikes on Iraq without exhausting other attempts to help the country's military. [WSJ]
-> The three members of Congress vying for the House majority whip spot will speak before their caucus today before a leadership vote on Thursday. [WaPost] [Politico] [LATimes]
-> Obama drafted an executive order to create a sanctuary in the Pacific Ocean for marine wildlife, saying, "I'm going to use my authority as president to protect some of our most precious marine landscapes, just like we do for mountains and rivers and forests." [NYTimes] [WaPost] [LATimes]
-> According to a WSJ and NBC poll, members of the conservative party are split nearly even on the Common Core. [WSJ]
-> Two brothers, Charles and David Koch, are in the midst of creating a $15 million super PAC to target mid-term elections. [Politico]
-> Vice President Joe Biden surprised the U.S. soccer team playing in the World Cup with a visit after their victory over Ghana; people on social media urged the coach to "put Biden in." [WaPost]
Where are they?
Rep. Chris Stewart attends a GOP conference meeting, takes part in an Appropriations Committee energy and water bill mark-up, speaks with Garkane Energy Youth and participates in a Republican Study Committee meeting. Later Stewart meets with Utah's National History Day students, ATK, BlueCross BlueShield, the Utah Board of Juvenile Justice and the CEO of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
Gov. Gary Herbert speaks with the CEO of the Girl Scouts, meets with Gayle Ruzicka and Sen. Margaret Dayton, R-Orem, and attends the Dick Bass celebration. Later Herbert talks with Rep. Edward Redd, R-Logan, and Rep. Francis Gibson, R-Mapleton, and participates in Rod Zundel's golf event with KSL TV in Bountiful.
Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox speaks to the Salt Lake Chamber Capitol Club.
SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams goes to the Dick Bass recognition event and later attends a Community Preservation Advisory Committee meeting.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker takes part in an Airport Board retreat, eats lunch with community council chairs and attends the Salt Lake Bee's game with HIVE Pass winners.
President Barack Obama looks over Maker Faire projects, eats lunch with economists, meets with congressional leaders and speaks with Secretary of State John Kerry.
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com. If you haven't already, sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox. [Trib]
— Thomas Burr and Courtney Tanner Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/CourtneyLTanner