News roundup: Jeb Bush: My brother is the most popular president among Republicans

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Jeb Bush: My brother is the most popular president among GOP. LDS Church condemns Oregon standoff. Hatch says Obama's gun orders are a 'mistake.'

Happy Tuesday. Jeb Bush is pushing back on news that Mitt Romney said he warned the former Florida governor that the legacy of his older brother, ex-President George W. Bush, would be a major problem in his White House bid. Bush said his brother's legacy wasn't an issue: "Look, Mitt Romney's a great guy, and I do consider him a friend, and in that private conversation, we talked about the campaign 'cause he was thinking about running and I went out to see him. I wanted him to know that I was all in and had a plan to win this, and I still do. But my brother — if you did the polling and actually looked at it, he's probably the most popular president amongst Republicans in this country." [Politico]

Topping the news: Despite connections between the militia in the Oregon standoff and the LDS Church [BuzzFeed], the faith's leaders "strongly condemn" the siege. [Trib] [DNews] [KUTV] [ABC4] [KUER] [Fox13]

-> The display may also feel familiar to Utahns who have joined in the fight with the federal government over Western land. [DNews] One of Utah's own spoke for the militia at a press conference. [Fox13]

-> Sen. Orrin Hatch believes President Barack Obama's planned executive orders to expand background checks on gun purchases to anyone selling such weapons is a "mistake." [Trib] Obama's move could have an impact on the Beehive State. [KUTV]

-> Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski was sworn in yesterday, making history as the city's second female and its first openly gay chief executive. [Trib] [DNews] [KUTV] [ABC4] [KUER]

Tweets of the day: From @lizzwinstead "Planning a takeover of a park for months & didn't plan for snacks?!-Not only are ya bad at militia-ing, you're bad at cub scouting."

From @Steampunk_Skunk: "It takes a special kind of idiot to try to protest the federal government while asking people to send you stuff through the USPS "

From @Mr_MikeParker: "Dear Utah. You look great at 120 and your economy is as vibrant as ever. Keep it up."

Happy Birthday: To Josh Loftin.

Tune in: Mormon historian Paul Reeve, author Jana Riess and others join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about how the church's history, doctrine and scripture help explain the armed takeover of a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MT on sltrib.com. 

In other news: Pat Bagley offers his take on the Oregon militia standoff. [Trib]

-> A proposed state law would require middle school students to be trained on what to do if they come in contact with a gun or gunman. [Trib]

-> Josh Romney, son of 2012 presidential candidate Mitt Romney, is "strongly considering" a run for Utah governor. [DNews] Rep. Jason Chaffetz is also eyeing the title. [DNews]

-> Mitt Romney says he still gets calls every day from people asking him to run for president this year. [WaPost]

-> Nearly 40 Utah candidates have filed to utilize the signature-gathering method in order to appear on the primary ballot come election season. [Trib] [Fox13]

-> Utah Division of Air Quality will hold a public hearing on a proposed new power plant following a resident complaint. [Trib]

-> The Carbon County judge, who received national attention a few months ago for ordering the removal of a baby from her same-gender foster parents' home, has retired. [Trib] [DNews][KUTV] [Fox13]

-> A judge approved, albeit begrudgingly, a request by indicted St. George businessman Jeremy Johnson to be his own attorney in a six-week trial scheduled to begin in less than a month. [Trib] [DNews]

-> A court ruled that federal land managers cannot indefinitely postpone carrying out an inventory of cultural resources. [DNews]

-> The Utah-based dating site for white people to connect is "not racially motivated," according to its owner, but critics say the billboard is uncalled for in a state where more than 90 percent of the population is Caucasian. [Trib] [KUTV] [ABC4] [Fox13]

-> Polygamist families living in "The Jeffs Block" were required to obey strict rules, gain permission from Lyle Jeffs "for everything," and make due with meager resources. [Trib]

-> A giant Utah seal was unveiled in the tile floor of the Capitol yesterday to commemorate the building's 100th anniversary. [DNews] [KUER]

-> Athletes in Utah question what impact exercising outside during inversion season may have on their health. [Trib]

-> The Utah Transit Authority is working with Salt Lake City to improve bus stops. [DNews]

-> Fewer people in Utah were killed after face-0ffs with the police than in the previous year. [KUTV]

-> Eight law enforcement officers were disciplined yesterday, two of whom took prescription medication belonging to someone else. [DNews]

-> The Utah Department of Commerce has warned people in the state of another fraud via the phone. [KUER]

-> A Utah Army National Guard unit was deployed to Iraq yesterday. [DNews]

-> Wounded veterans learned how to ski and snowboard in Park City yesterday. [KUTV]

-> Davis County is offerring caregiver classes, starting in February. [DNews]

-> A seat is open on the Kaysville Planning Commission and leaders are looking to fill it. [DNews]

-> The tiny town of Grouse Creek in Box Elder County now is within range for cellphone service. [DNews]

-> Paul Rolly tells how a young Utah pianist took matters into her own hands to purchase a piano when her family couldn't afford one. [Trib]

Nationally: The Obama administration faces yet another Middle Eastern conundrum with the feud between Saudi Arabia and Iran jeopardizing major issues like the Iranian nuclear deal, the Syrian civil war and global oil markets. [NPR] [AlJazeera]

-> President Barack Obama is expected to announce plans to combat gun violence in the America, including expanding mandatory background checks for some private sales. [CNN] [NYTimes]

-> GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump released his first TV ad, which reiterates his stance that U.S. leaders should ban Muslims from entering the country as a safety precaution. [BBC]

-> Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said aliens may have visited Earth already, after being prompted by a question in reference to her husband's comments on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" about extraterrestrial life two years ago. [TheHill]

Where are they?

  • Rep. Jason Chaffetz hears a briefing from the committee staff regarding ongoing investigations and votes.
  • Gov. Gary Herbert joins Lincoln Fillmore for a meeting at the state Capitol and travels to Washington.
  • Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox gives an interview for X96 Radio and holds meetings with the Multicultural Commission and the Executive Military Affairs Committee.
  • President Barack Obama delivers remarks in the East Room to announce steps that the administration is taking to reduce gun violence. He also heads to a meeting with Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and Vice President Joe Biden.

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 Mariah Noble

Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/mnoblenews