News roundup: Texas invites New York gun owners to move

Texas invites New Yorkers. Swallow shelves immigration deal. TSA grabs four guns at SLC airport.

Happy Friday. In the wake of new gun legislation in New York state, the Texas attorney general has a new pitch: Come on down! While New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law earlier this week legislation that bars assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, Texas has no such restrictions.

-> The pitch from Texas: "WANTED: Law abiding New York gun owners seeking lower taxes and greater opportunities." [Reuters]

Topping the news: An attorney says the money AG John Swallow took in last year was for consulting on a cement proposal, not for anything involving another deal. The payment goes to the heart of the controversy over Swallow's involvement with indicted businessman Jeremy Johnson. [Trib]

-> The new TRAX service from the SLC airport may be limited in hours, officials say, so you may not be able to catch it for early flights out or a late one. [Trib]

Tweet of the day: From @JoeldWright: "Not one single elected official has come out in defense of @JohneSwallow - the silence is deafening."

In other news: An immigration deal with a Mexican state spawned by former AG Mark Shurteff has taken a backseat by the new AG John Swallow. [Trib]

-> "We're on a roll," says a TSA official at the Salt Lake City International Airport, after security workers there found four guns, an artillery shell and a set of samurai swords in carry on luggage, in the span of one week. All of the guns were loaded and their owners face charges. [Trib] [Fox13]

-> Releases of toxins into the air, ground and water are on an uptick in Utah, according to the EPA. [Trib]

-> A study from Utah State University found that while state trust lands in other parts of the West may have been mismanaged, Utah's trustlands have fared well in comparison, with between $70 million and $90 million coming out of the lands and into public education's coffer each year. [Trib]

-> Paul Rolly applauds state Senate President Wayne Niederhauser for publicly apologizing for a gaffe made at a political breakfast earlier this week. [Trib]

-> The employee behind a loss of Medicaid client data has lost her job over the incident. [Trib]

-> Two personal administrative assistants in the Weber County Commissioner's office are being paid up to $20 an hour, raising some financial concerns. [Trib]

-> Sen. John Valentine is considering a bill that would prohibit campaign donations being handed off inside the Capitol building. [UtahPolicy]

-> A rancher from Box Elder county has been named to the BLM's citizen council. [Trib]

-> After three years of haggling, Provo's mayor was finally able to up the speed limit to 45 mph on 1860 South between 1-15 and State Street. The mayor previously described the stretch as a "speed trap." [DailyHerald]

Nationally: A poll in the wake of the school massacre in Newtown, Conn. found that the majority of Americans support tighter gun laws, galvanizing support for President Barack Obama's new gun violence proposals. [NYTimes]

-> Republicans both inside and outside of the Senate are mustering a grassroots effort against Secretary of Defense nominee former Sen. Chuck Hagel, criticizing his stances on Israel and Iran. [Politico]

-> Sen. John Kerry, who was nominated to fill outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's spot, is set to begin his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Jan. 24. [Politico]

-> President Barack Obama tapped a top security adviser to be his chief of staff. Jack Lew, the former chief of staff, is leaving to become Secretary of the Treasury. [NYTimes][WaPost]

-> Take a virtual tour through the inaugural security command center. [Politico]

-> First Lady Michelle Obama celebrated her 49th birthday yesterday. [Politico]

Where are they?

Utah Governor Gary Herbert appoints Utah State Democratic Party chairman Jim Dabakis to the Senate, meets with the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and MBA students from the U, declares Jan. 30 "Fred Korematsu Day" and hits the Sundance Film Festival gala.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker is in Washington for the U.S. Conference of Mayors winter meeting.

President Barack Obama has no public events.

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