Obama living the 1% life? Leavitt for Senate? UTA now boasting higher fares.
Happy Monday and welcome to April. The Washington Times' Joseph Curl says President Barack Obama is living the 1 percent life: Golf when he wants it, trips to wherever on a moment's notice something, Curl says, wasn't George W. Bush's style. [WaTimes]
Topping the news: Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt is laying the groundwork to challenge Sen. Mike Lee in 2016, Paul Rolly reports. Make sure you read to the very end. [Trib]
Before running for mayor, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker worked for a time with newly-minted Rep. Chris Stewart in the private sector. [Trib]
-> Starting today, UTA will boast some of the highest base fares in the country, at $2.50 per adult on TRAX or buses. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @joeldavidsawyer: "I'm going to assume any assignment given to me today that I would rather not complete was merely an April Fools joke."
Happy birthday: To former state Sen. Chris Buttars, Sen. Orrin Hatch's spokesman Matt Harakal and Mimi Andrews.
Opinion section: Paul Rolly says that Sen. Mike Lee's rise to power was the catalyst for the Utah GOP's move to reform their caucus-convention system for nominating candidates. [Trib]
-> George Pyle says that marriage of all varieties should be encouraged, not lambasted. [Trib]
-> Advertising guru Bill Paulos outlines his plan for a happy and diverse workforce.[Trib]
-> Just after the 10th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War, Barb Guy laughs at the reactions and reminisces of the Bush administration. [Trib]
-> The executive director of Alliance for a Better Utah asks who the Utah Legislature really represents. [Trib]
-> A professor and Boy Scout troop leader says gay people should be welcomed by the organization. [Trib]
-> A doctor warns about "burnout" in her field, and how it affects patient care. [Trib]
-> A health care worker urges Gov. Gary Herbert to accept a Medicaid expansion. [Trib]
-> Colby Poulson blasts an Earth Day poster contest in Utah schools that celebrates fossil fuels. [Trib]
-> The co-founder of Utah Parents Against Gun Violence applauds Herbert's veto of a bill that would allow gun owners to conceal and carry without a permit, and urges the Utah Legislature to uphold it. [Trib]
-> Vivian Lee warns that federal budget cuts are hurting research funds at the U. [Trib]
-> LaVarr Webb and Frank Pignanelli take a look at a possible legislative override of Herbert's veto. [DNews]
-> The director of Utah Clean Energy says that the state has made big moves in moving towards alternative energy sources. [DNews]
-> John Florez says that applying business ideas to education may be a solution for reform. [DNews]
-> A representative from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says he's committed to working with private land owners when it comes to prairie dogs. [DNews]
-> Matthew Sanders says he isn't surprised that the same-sex marriage debate has gotten so heated, as it deals with very personal issues. [DNews]
-> Former Sen. Bob Bennett says the federal courts are too packed with cases that should be handled on the state level. [DNews]
Weekend in review: Even the sponsor of a vetoed bill that would allow Utahns to conceal and carry firearms without a permit admits that overriding the veto may be a challenge. [DNews]
-> Utah GOP boss Thomas Wright is not running again, with the party set to choose its new leader on May 18. [Trib]
-> Two lawmakers may have found themselves in hot water after it was discovered that their PAC raised more than $1,000 in donations during the session - a violation of contribution rules. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley takes a look at the national public's reaction to the Sandy Hook school shooting. [Trib]
Nationally: Legal teams set up by the Labor Department to investigate improving mine safety have been axed due to sequestration, meeting criticism from families of miners killed in mining accidents. [WaPost]
-> They're just like the rest of us: President Barack Obama and the First Family hit St. John's Episcopal Church in Washington for an Easter service yesterday. [Politico]
-> Check out this handy chart of the Supreme Court, from the Post's Chris Cillizza.[WaPost]
-> Despite most federal agencies taking a hit in the sequester, the Department of Agriculture is figuring a way to ride out the cuts. [WaPost]
Where are they?
Gov. Gary Herbert prepares for an economic summit, gets a sage grouse update, reviews bills and has a strategy meeting.
Utah AG John Swallow meets with county attorneys from Salt Lake and Utah counties.
SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams has a Cabinet meeting, a staff and scheduling meeting and gets a Salt Lake County Bicycle Advisory update.
President Barack Obama hits the White House Easter Egg Roll and delivers a speech with First Lady Michelle Obama.
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