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Another government shutdown possible. FBI director mum on Swallow, Shurtleff probe. Utah cities wind back gun laws.

Happy Wednesday. Last year's government shutdown — which came after the White House and Senate Democrats wouldn't yield to House Republicans over Obamacare funding — could happen again. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnel says that if Republicans wrest back control of the Senate, he will push to pass legislation reining in the Obama administrations policies, leaving President Barack Obama with a choice to accept them or shut down the government. McConnell says he'll force the president to "move to the center" to get anything done in Washington. [Politico]

Topping the news: FBI director James Comey visited Salt Lake City on Tuesday but wouldn't weigh in on why his agency pursued the investigation of former Attorneys General Mark Shurtleff and John Swallow while the Justice Department backed off. [Trib]

-> Several Utah cities are planning to — or at least considering — changing their gun laws after a Washington state gun rights group sent notice that only the state of Utah has the right to regulate firearms and they may be in violation of state law. [Trib]

-> UtahPolicy.com announced it will partner with Zions Bank for weekly polls by Dan Jones & Associates on various subjects. [UtahPolicy]

Tweet of the day: From @pourmecoffee: "Going to just wait for Aaron Sorkin to oversimplify Ferguson for me."

Happy Birthday: To the executive director of the Rape Recovery Center, Holly Mullen, Gov. Herbert's Deputy for Community Outreach, Mike Mower, and the Omaha World-Herald's Joseph Morton.

In other news: Provo Mayor John Curtis got ticketed in Wyoming for having too many people on his river raft; next summer he says he'll stay home and read a book. [Herald]

-> The Salt Lake County Council is backing a move to unify all of the county's emergency response system. [Trib]

-> After fighting for decades to keep its small swath of land, the Flower Patch store on State Street was demolished on Tuesday and the land sold to Grand America. [Trib]

-> Six Wasatch Front cities are reconsidering plans to put a question about UTOPIA on the ballot this November over worries they may not have the legal right to do so. [Trib]

-> West Lake High School's first day of school was canceled after a bomb threat was called in demanding $10 million in cash. [Trib][DNews][Fox13]

-> Fox News takes a look at the fear that some Utah officials have over a possible new national monument in southern Utah. [FoxNews]

-> Paul Rolly comments on who the new militarized police forces are really protecting. [Trib]

-> Utah's American Civil Liberties Union has asked the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals not to grant an extension to the Attorney General's office for its appeal in the case requiring the state to provide spousal benefits to same-sex marriages. [Trib][DNews]

-> Paul Rolly notes a possible new way for government agencies to ask marital status given the legal limbo caused by the court battles over same-sex marriage. [Trib]

Nationally: White House officials are looking into the authenticity of a video of Islamic militants beheading an American photojournalist in response to U.S. airstrikes. [Examiner][WaPost][Fox13][NBC][LATimes]

-> Texas Gov. Rick Perry turned himself in to be booked for two felony counts at the criminal justice center in Austin — and then he stopped for ice cream. [Statesman][WaPost][LATimes][WSJ]

-> Ferguson police say they made 31 arrests after being under "heavy gunfire" and two people in the protesting crowd were shot, but not by police . [WaPost][WSJ][NYTimes][Politico][LATimes]

-> Israel has halted negotiations for a long-term truce between Palestinian factions after Southern Israel was hit with at least six rockets. [NYTimes][LATimes][WSJ]

Where are they?

Gov. Gary Herbert discusses land strategy and later attends the Governor's Mansion Art Series.

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox meets with Chevron to discuss tier 3 fuel and then hits the Governor's Mansion Art series.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker meets with NationalLeague of Cities Executive Director Clarence Anthony.

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 Mallory Jesperson Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/JespersonM