News roundup: Romney's fund-raisers quietly amassing millions

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Romney bundlers raising millions. Utah more urban than NY. The state's long-time 'Stand Your Ground' law.

Happy Tuesday. While critics may charge that Mitt Romney is too robotic, too uncaring and too unapproachable, that's the opposite of what former members of his Mormon ward say about their one-time bishop. The Tribune's Peggy Fletcher Stack looks back — updating a story she did in 2008 — at Romney's time as the lay leader of the Belmont, Mass., ward and stake. [Trib]

-> Meanwhile, as he gears up the general election, Romney's bundlers are quietly amassing millions of dollars behind the scenes so he's ready to do battle with President Barack Obama. [AP]

Topping the news: Here's your fun fact for the day: Nine of 10 Utahns crowd together on 1 percent of the state's total land mass, making Utah the eighth most urbanized state in the nation. [Trib]

-> The census adds a new city to the official name of Utah's largest urban area, tagging it on to create Salt Lake City-West Valley City. [Trib]

-> Utah's self defense legislation — the so-called "stand-your-ground" law — is nearly identical to that of Florida's law where Trayvon Martin was killed, but gun advocates say the law hasn't been an issue. [Trib]

Tweet of the day: From @LukeRussert: "OMG did #Romney just admit took grandkids under 13 to a PG-13 Movie!?!??!? Media meltdown commence!"

Happy birthday: To former Utah Democratic Party Chairman Donald Dunn.

In other news: A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit aimed at overturning recent changes to Utah liquor laws but left the door open for future revisions and amendments. [Trib] [DNews]

-> High profile illegal immigrant David Morales files a complaint saying that an immigration agent violated his civil rights. [Trib]

-> The race between incumbent Sen. John Valentine and Rep. Craig Frank for Senate District 14 could be one of the most interesting contests this year. [UtahPolicy]

-> The Affordable Care Act holds real weight for a father-daughter duo in Taylorsville, who struggle to maintain health benefits for a hard-to-treat muscular condition. [DNews]

-> The ACLU says in a lawsuit that the 39-day detention of a Weber State University student was illegal. [Trib]

-> Provo is taking back ownership of the troubled iProvo fiber-optic system, while still seeking buyers for the network. [Trib]

-> Utah's watershed is a top priority when as a panel meets to map out the rules revision for the canyons' use and its protection. [Trib]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert signs off on this year's not-so-controversial GRAMA bill. [Trib]

-> Utahns receiving financial assistance from the government must now prove they are not using illegal drugs in order to receive their aid under a bill signed by the governor. [Trib] [APviaABC4]

-> Utah Republican National Committeeman Bruce Hough comes outswinging for his pick for president, Mitt Romney. [Blogspot]

-> Peg McEntee says that although a majority of Utah lawmakers are LDS, lawmakers' bills often go beyond the strictness of their religion. [Trib]

-> Three members of Utah's federal delegation give the Secretary of the Air Force a tour of Hill Air Force Base. [StandardEx]

2012 Watch: Romney isn't yet halfway to winning the Republican nomination, and the ability to capture all 1,144 delegates won't even be possible until the end of May. [WaPost]

-> In for the long haul, Newt Gingrich says he'll keep running until Romney hits that magic number. [TheHill]

-> Rick Santorum lashes out at a New York Times reporter, using an expletive to make a point [WaPost] [NBC], and later defends his comment. [HuffPost]

-> Ron Paul wants to make sure he's not dismissed as a possibility for the nomination, saying he has "people in the right places" working to become delegates. [CNN]

-> Despite consistent attacks on his rivals, Santorum says he "of course" would consider being Romney's running mate if chosen. [FoxNews]

-> The New Yorker's answer to the dominance of a certain toy in the presidential race. [NewYorker]

Where are they?

Rep. Rob Bishop heads to the GOP Weekly Conference Meeting, attends a briefing on House Budget resolution, hits a Natural Resources Committee hearing and later attends a Rules Committee hearing.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz meets with Provo River Water Association and receives an award from the Natural Products Association.

Gov. Gary Herbert signs the education bills and reviews additional measures from the Legislature.

Lt. Gov. Greg Bell heads to the Bank of Utah State of the Economy Speech in Logan, attends a USAAV Council meeting then makes stops at the Grand and San Juan County conventions.

AG Mark Shurtleff is attenting the Supreme Court hearings on the Affordable Care Act.

SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon hits the Wasatch Choice 2040 Consortium meeting at the Salt Palace, attends the County Council meetings and later drops by the recognition ceremony for the County Customer Service Team.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker hosts an orientation for new hires, goes to a department directors meeting, meets with Community and Economic Development Director Frank Gray and attends a City Council meeting.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder meets with delegates in Taylorsville, and goes to a City Council meeting.

President Barack Obama is in South Korea for the Nuclear Security Summit and attends a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gillani of Pakistan. The president returns to the White House this evening.

Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Email us at cornflakes@sltrib.com.

— Thomas Burr and Laura SchmitzTwitter.com/thomaswburr