News roundup: U.S. government admits four Americans killed in drone strikes

Huntsman's new Utah venture. Winder won't seek another term in West Valley. Obama admits drones killed four Americans

Happy Thursday. Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman has set up a new political action committee based in the Beehive State. The Red Rock PAC will give him a way to raise money to travel and speak about issues dear to his heart as he considers another presidential run in 2016.

"For this year and next year, it will be more about talking about the issues that really matter, presenting them to people who are interested in hearing about them and kind of seeing where they go." [Politico]

Topping the news: For the first time, the U.S. government admits to killing for American citizens with drones. Expect to hear more about this when President Barack Obama gives a speech on terrorism Thursday afternoon. [NYTimes] [WaPost]

-> The president is expected to place new limits on the use of drones and place more strikes in the hands of the military, removing some from CIA oversight. [NYTimes]

-> The state starts the search for a special counsel to look into Attorney General John Swallow, while a federal agent and a state law enforcement official met briefly with a "fixer" for former AG Mark Shurtleff. [Trib]

-> WVC Mayor Mike Winder announces that he won't seek re-election. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]

Tweets of the day: From @ryanbeckwith: "Late Friday, a number of IRS officials are expected to plead for a fifth of Scotch."

From @HuntsmanAbby: "This paints a pretty clear picture..IRS's approval rating still abt double that of Congress. What has happened to our insitutions of power?!"

From @daveweigel: "Oh, you're doing a "virtual march on Washington"? I'll "virtually" pay attention."

Happy birthday: To Carl Downing.

In other news: Rep. Jason Chaffetz asked the former IRS commissioner if he ever talked about tax-exempt political groups in any of his more than 100 visits to the White House. His response: "Not that I remember." [Trib]

-> A website that publishes mug shots sues Salt Lake County. [Trib]

-> A group of activists and educators is challenging a state law seeking the transfer of public land from federal control to state control. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Peg McEntee looks into the new route for the Sugar House street car. [Trib]

-> It would take another $2.6 billion for Utah to hit the nation's per pupil spending average. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder was honored by the American Society for Public Administration. [Trib]

-> Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams hires an employee from UTA to be his economic development director. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley takes on Sen. Mike Lee/Republicans for arguing for offsets for disaster funding in the wake of the Oklahoma tornado. [Trib]

-> Rep. Jason Chaffetz and state Rep. Curt Oda say there is no excuse for gun owners to forget they have a gun in their carry on luggage after a spate of firearms found at Salt Lake International Airport. [Trib]

-> West Jordan's City Council plans to make the mayor's position full time, but isn't sure how much to pay the elected executive. [Trib]

-> Utah Latinos rallied to encourage Sen. Orrin Hatch to continue his support of immigration reform as it goes before the full Senate. [DNews]

-> Utah's Republican members of Congress met with Air Force officials about sequestration. [StandEx]

-> Chris Vanocur gives his take on the Swallow scandal, including some speculation that a Utah lobbyist wore a wire. [Vanocur]

-> Bryan Schott dissects former Utah Republican Party leader Thomas Wright's advice to reach out to minorities and other groups that are not naturally inclined to support the GOP. [UtahPolicy]

Nationally: Immigration reform backers got Hatch's vote in committee, but they face a daunting political challenge as they search for more Republican supporters in the Senate. [Politico]

-> Why Lois Lerner pleading the Fifth before Congress on the IRS scandal is bad for Obama. [WaPost]

-> Disgraced New York Congressman Anthony Weiner launches comeback bid to be mayor of the Big Apple. [USAToday]

Where are they?

Rep. Rob Bishop attends a House Armed Services Committee Tactical Air and Land markup and meets with Logan City Environmental Director Issa Hammud.

Rep. Jason Chaffetz hits an Aspen Institute breakfast, meets with NRCC officials and heads to a Natural Resources hearing on his bill regarding Provo River Project Transfer Act.

Rep. Chris Stewart chairs an Environment subcommittee hearing and flies back to Salt Lake City.

Gov. Gary Herbert offers remarks at a Goldman Sachs event, hits the KUED monthly news conference, speaks at the Utah Taxpayers Association's Taxes Now Conference, attends a Quality Growth Commission meeting, holds a ceremonial bill signing and later does the Utah Broadcaster's Let Me Speak to the Governor.

SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams hits a news conference on the county's Life Saving Program, attends the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office Annual Awards luncheon and heads to the Wasatch Front Regional Council Executive Committee meeting.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker attends the Salt Lake Valley Conference of Mayors meeting, stops by the Wasatch Front Regional Council meeting and gets a briefing on the performing arts center.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder attends the Utah Taxpayers Association conference, Salt Lake Valley Conference of Mayors meeting, and the Wasatch Front Regional Council meeting.

President Barack Obama delivers a major counterterrorism speech at the National Defense University.

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]

— Matt Canham and Thomas Burr Twitter.com/mattcanham and Twitter.com/thomaswburr