News roundup: Obama, Romney team up for Boston marathon service

Obama, Romney together for Boston. Hatch, Lee join GOP to defeat gun bills. Ricin scare rocks the Hill.

Happy Thursday. Mitt Romney will join his former rival, President Barack Obama, at an interfaith memorial service today for the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. It'll be one of the first times the two will be back in the same room - they met previously at the White House post-election — and it's all for a good reason: praying for those who were killed or injured in Monday's blasts. [Globe]

Topping the news: Two fault lines in Salt Lake City could bring a larger "Big One" earthquake than scientists have predicted, a new study says. [Trib]

-> Joining their conservative colleagues, Sens. Orrin Hatch and Mike Lee were part of a Senate faction that voted against every single gun control measure brought to the floor, opting instead to join an unsuccessful Republican plan to expand some gun rights and bolster gun prosecution resources. [Trib] [WaPost] [NYTimes] [Politico]

-> It was a jittery day in Washington on Wednesday, after letters sent to President Barack Obama and Mississipi Sen. Roger Wicker tested positive for toxins and suspicious packages were found in Senate office buildings. Authorities arrested a Mississippi man believed to have sent the letters. [Politico] [WaPost] [NYTimes]

-> Utah's Senate offices were both told to shelter-in-place yesterday for some time as Capitol Police checked out suspicious packages. [Trib]

Tweet of the day: From @KenJennings: "It was all a ploy to see if the real bomber would call in and be like, 'I was NOT arrested, dumba—. I'm here at home. Yeesh!'"

In other news: Provo will join the ranks of Austin and Kansas City in being the third city to get Google Fiber - an ultra-high speed broadband Internet service that operates 100 times faster than most American's current connections. The service will be free for every resident for the next seven years. [Herald] [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13] [ABC4]

-> Utah's two senators are split on a bipartisan immigration reform bill that was dropped last night. While Sen. Mike Lee remains staunchly opposed, Sen. Orrin Hatch is more open to the idea, saying, "I want to support it." [Trib]

-> Chief Justice John Roberts mentioned a Utah case during a ruling on police offers drawing blood from DUI suspects without a warrant. [Trib]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert says the investigation into allegations against Utah AG John Swallow has gone on long enough, and federal authorities should decide soon whether to charge him or exonerate him. [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4]

-> Herbert also thanked for those who helped his daughter Kim, who had just completed her second Boston Marathon when two bombs exploded near the finish line on Monday. [Trib] [Herald]

-> The governor plans to lead a trade delegation to Israel soon. [DNews]

-> Outgoing Utah GOP chair Thomas Wright says he isn't sure what the future will hold - but he isn't ruling out a bid for office. [DNews]

-> There may be a cultural reason more women aren't getting involved in Utah politics. [UtahPolicy]

-> A preliminary design for a 2,500-seat theater in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City was unveiled on Wednesday. The venue will be jointly-owned by the city and Salt Lake County and is set to open in 2016. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Thousands of Utahns - most of them young people and working families - will be able to get tax credits to help pay for health insurance premiums next year. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley takes on the NRA's grasp over the U.S. Senate. [Trib]

-> Utah's emergency management planners teamed up with schools, cops, hospitals and local businesses to stage a massive earthquake drill on Wednesday to test the state's preparedness plan for glitches. [Trib] [ABC4]

-> However, the fake quake didn't stop crowds from packing UTA's new airport TRAX line, which the agency gave free rides on to promote the new extension. [Trib]

Nationally: With multiple gun control measures introduced, it's hard to keep track of what happened in the Senate on Wednesday. Here's a handy graphic. [NYTimes]

-> The Senate's failure to pass the multiple gun control measures is a significant political loss for President Barack Obama, who threw his full support behind the movement in the wake of the school shooting in Newtown, Conn. that killed 20 children and six school workers. However, he vowed to keep working on the issue. [Politico]

-> Former Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was shot in the head during an attempted assassination attempt that killed six people, said in a New York Times op-ed that she's "furious" at the Senate for faltering on gun control. [NYTimes]

-> Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., played up his Mormon roots as he cited LDS President Thomas Monson's words on courage in a speech supporting an assault weapons ban which ultimately failed to pass. [Trib]

-> Up to 15 people were killed last night in a fertilizer plant explosion in Texas. [DMN]

-> While it faltered at times, it ultimately took a cheese pizza and some old school Washington cross-aisle negotiation to forge a bipartisan immigration reform deal.[NYTimes] [Politico]

Where are they?

Rep. Rob Bishop meets with Fruit Heights Mayor Todd Stevenson, holds a Public Lands and Environmental Regulations Subcommittee hearing, meets with representatives from the Utah Food Industry Association and with the director of Colombia's National Park Agency.

Rep. Chris Stewart meets with Wayne County Commissioners, representatives from the Utah Food Industry and the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance and hits a Public Lands and Environmental Regulations Subcommittee hearing.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz has a National Republican Congressional Committee meeting and conducts a hearing on the Transportation Security Administration.

Rep. Jim Matheson speaks at the International Foodservice Distributors Association conference and meets with representatives from the Utah Food Industry Association.

Gov. Gary Herbert hits an outdoor recreation promotion event and meets with Daggett County officials.

SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams has a Visit Salt Lake executive committee meeting and a Salt Lake Valley Law Enforcement Service Area board meeting, meets with the Utah Association of Counties, chats with directors from the Department of Community Services and speaks at the Women in Transportation Northern Utah gala.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker meets with community liaisons, lunches with community council chairs, has a performing arts center meeting and an Access Wasatch executive committee meeting.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder meets with U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank and visits composite manufacturer Hexcel.

President Barack Obama flies to Boston with First Lady Michelle Obama to attend an interfaith service dedicated to those killed or wounded in Monday's attack, and flies back to Washington in the evening for a Greek Independence Day reception.

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