News roundup: Biden's awkward adventures on swearing in day

Biden's comical adventures. Stewart joins Congress; Hatch starts seventh term. Hughes amongst delinquent taxpayers.

Happy Friday. The Capitol was bustling yesterday as a new Congress was sworn in. And the place to be, apparently, was watching Vice President Joe Biden offer the ceremonial oath to senators. Biden, known for his off-the-wall behavior on occasion, had some pretty interesting, and awkward, encounters, including telling Sen. Orrin Hatch's grandaughter "no serious guys til you're 30." It's all summed up in this video montage: [CBSNews]

-> Our coverage of the day: Newly minted Rep. Chris Stewart joins Congress amid challenging times and notes that he's aware of the weight of his new responsibilities. [Trib]

-> Sen. Orrin Hatch entered his seventh, and according to him, his final term in office. [Trib]

-> Rep. Jim Matheson votes for Rep. John Dingell for House speaker, his second vote against Nancy Pelosi. [Trib]

Topping the news: Utah's health exchange program, which existed before Obamacare, has won conditional approval from the federal government. [Trib]

-> The state's budget likely will only see a bit of a "bump" after the fiscal cliff deal Congress struck, and not the huge impact that it could have been if spending cuts had gone through. [Trib]

-> The delinquent property tax list is out and includes some prominent names and businesses: Trolley Square Associates, Lehi Roller Mills, developer Terry Diehl and House Majority Whip Greg Hughes. [Trib]

Tweet of the day: From @OhSchnitt: "Among those who called this afternoon to say "congrats" to @SpeakerBoehner: Gov. @MittRomney."

Happy birthday: Today to state Rep. Curtis Oda and former Gov. Norm Bangerter, and on Saturday to Josh Loftin.

In other news: Incoming SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams is planning a celebration of county services and a food drive as part of his inauguration activities. [Trib]

-> Sen. Mike Lee explains his no vote against the fiscal cliff deal, arguing that it actually made the country's situation worse. [Examiner]

-> Paul Rolly blames the Utah Eagle Forum for the controversy over the "All Shook Up" play at Herriman High School temporarily getting axed. [Trib]

-> Fox 13's Ben Winslow reports from St. George that the City Council has approved a resolution calling for Dixie State College to keep the Dixie and not bow to pressure to jettison the long-held name. [Fox13]

-> Utahns are invited to join for Gov. Gary Herbert's inauguration on Monday that will cost taxpayers about $30,000. [Trib]

-> High school graduation rates are up in Utah, continuing a positive trend that educators are cheering. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott talk in their weekly videocast about the Utah delegation's fiscal cliff vote. [UtahPolicy]

-> Bernick notes that the budget impasse in Washington could haunt Utah lawmakers when they get into session this month. [UtahPolicy]

-> Pat Bagley offers his take on Utah lawmakers' solution to inversions in the Salt Lake Valley: More guns! [Trib]

Nationally: Speaker John Boehner was re-elected to his post on Thursday but it was more close than he would have liked. Several members waited to cast their votes, or voted for someone else. [WaPost]

-> Rush Limbaugh said that Obama's return to Hawaii after the fiscal cliff vote was a "slap in the face" to Republicans. [Politico]

-> Take a peek at the Obama's vacation home in Hawaii and prepare to be in awe. [USN]

Where are they?

Utah Governor Gary Herbert meets with H. David Burton and Utah Transit Authority leaders, tours the Edward Life Sciences building in Draper and then heads to the ribbon cutting for the new REES Capital facility.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker hits the Wasatch Canyons Planning meeting.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder meets with Bob and Jon Springmeyer at Bonneville Research and hits a reception at the McCune Mansion honoring outgoing SL Co. Mayor Peter Corroon.

President Barack Obama is in Hawaii on vacation until Saturday.

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 BurrTwitter.com/thomaswburr