News roundup: Obama to unveil gun control plans soon

Obama to unveil gun control plans soon. Swallow asks for investigation of himself. Huntsman joins anti-partisan group.

Happy Tuesday. Vice President Joe Biden is expected today to unveil his findings from a quickly formed task force on gun violence, and President Barack Obama may as soon as Wednesday begin laying out his plan to combat mass shootings. The president is expected to call for major legislation to expand background checks, limit assault rifles and high-capacity clips. Knowing Congress is bitterly divided over the issue, Obama may do some of that by executive order. [NYTimes]

Topping the news: Embattled Utah Attorney General John Swallow asks the U.S. attorney for Utah to look into the bribery allegations against him, saying he wants to clear the air. [Trib] [DNews] [KUTV] [Fox13]

-> The Tribune editorial board says Swallow should resign. [Trib]

-> Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman officially joined the anti-partisan group, No Labels, in New York City. The effort, led by Huntsman and Sen. Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, encourages cross-aisle cooperation as a solution to Washington gridlock. [Trib] [ABC4] [CNN]

-> The Washington Post's Jennifer Rubin has had enough of Huntsman andsays he should go away. [WaPost] Another Post commentator says Huntsman's stock has sunk and he's not really helping the cause. [WaPost]

Tweets of the day: @HotlineReid: "If Lance Armstrong personally repaid all $30m USPS spent on his team, it'd be enough to pay one day of their losses (~$1B a month)."

And from @RBReich: "Thomas broke silence today to make derisive comment about alma mater [Yale Law School]. I attended YLS at same time. Thomas never said word there either." (Reference: [WaPost])

Happy birthday: To former State Rep. Steven Mascaro.

In other news: Utah schools are implementing a suicide prevention training as part of a state law passed last year that requires teachers to be trained as part of recertification. Utah kids attempt suicide at higher rates than their national peers do, with two suicide attempts per day. [Trib]

-> Nominees were announced to fill a vacancy left by retiring First District Judge Clint Judkins. The district covers Cache, Box Elder and Rich counties. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley offers his take on the Sundance Film Festival's real welcome to Utah went like. [Trib]

-> Utah's election officials hit late filers with a bunch of fines last year, including many of the state's well-known lobbyists. [UtahPolicy]

-> Senate Minority Leader Gene Davis plans to introduce several animal protection bills in the Legislature this session. [Trib]

-> UTA has scheduled five public hearings this week to discuss potential service changes. [Trib]

-> Scientists will be flocking the Uinta Basin over the next few weeks to take a look at air quality issues in the region. [Trib]

Nationally: At his final press conference of his first term, President Barack Obama warned Congress not to hold the country hostage over the debt ceiling. "We are not a deadbeat nation," the president said. [Politico] [NYTimes] [APviaTrib]

-> Obama also deflected criticism about a lack of diversity in his new cabinet. [APviaDNews]

-> On the one month anniversary of the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., that prompted a national discourse on gun violence, family members of the 20 children and 6 staff members killed spoke out for the first time. [NYTimes]

-> The White House says Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will stick around for the president's second term. [Politico]

-> Former President George H.W. Bush was released from a Houston hospital, where he has been treated for bronchitis-related issues. [APviaTrib]

Where are they?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz hits Politico's Deep Dive, meets with SLC Mayor Ralph Becker and Weber County Commissioners, and hits the Celebration of Internet Freedom at the Newseum.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert has a conference call for the Western Governor's Association and prepares for his State of the State address.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker is in Washington meeting with congressional members and federal agencies.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder hits a City Council meeting.

President Barack Obama lunches with 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 Emily AndrewsTwitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/emilytandrews