News roundup: Herbert America's third most popular governor

Herbert third-most popular governor. Leavitt unveils Romney transition plans. Hill AFB to gain 200 jobs.

Happy Thursday. Gov. Gary Herbert is a popular guy in Utah, and according to a New York Times analysis, is the third most popular governor in America. Herbert nabs a 73 percent approval rating while some 20 percent of Utahns disapprove of his job performance, putting the state's chief executive just below Wyoming's Matt Mead and Arkansas Mike Beebe. [NYTimes]

Topping the news: The National Security Agency is working with the University of Utah to start a new degree program for data center management ahead of opening its new center in Bluffdale. [Trib]

-> What would a Romney administration look like? Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt details the process he and his team went through to prepare for a new president and the 200-day plan they would have launched on Day One. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Also note the Photoshopped photo included in the transition team's book that erases three governors between Leavitt and Romney. [Trib]

-> Hill Air Force Base could land some 200 jobs as the military moves all F-22 maintenance operations to Ogden from California. [Trib]

Tweet of the day: From ‏@pourmecoffee: "Lincoln Chafee will run as a Democrat in 2014. Also, Zombie Lincoln will hunt braaaaains as a Democrat going forward. Both expected." (See related: [Politico])

Happy birthday: To Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker.

In other news: California Rep. Darrell Issa has waged a campaign against the Obama administration but four other Republicans, including Rep. Jason Chaffetz, are doing their part to go after the White House. [Politico]

-> Facing potential domestic violence charges, Utah Shooting Sports Council's Clark Aposhian may lose his firearms and his perch as a top pro-gun spokesman in the state.

-> Gov. Gary Herbert has named the six individuals to serve on the board to decide about relocating the Draper prison. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Sen. Mike Lee is raising money arguing that liberals are waging war on the American people. [DNews]

-> A Utah Division of Motor Vehicles employee allegedly used her used her work computer to find personal information to settle a dispute. [Trib] [Fox13]

-> Pat Bagley gives his take on how Sir Isaac Newton may have seen Apple Inc. [Trib]

-> Peg McEntee says the Utah Legislature has hit a course correction that's been long needed. [Trib]

-> Bryan Schott notes that there's very little that could pull the attention away from embattled AG John Swallow. [UtahPolicy]

-> Rep. Jim Matheson says the nation can't just say "no way" to the idea of a path to citizenship for immigrants. [UtahPolicy]

-> A gay rights group is protesting Weber State University's plan to name a family center after LDS Church Apostle Boyd K. Packer. [Trib]

-> Many Utah cities are still suffering from the recession, with budgets mainly taking hits from rising health care costs. [Trib]

Nationally: Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann's announcement that she won't seek re-election caps a tumultuous rise and fall of the out-spoken member of Congress. [WaPost]

-> A new study shows that immigrants have paid billions more into Medicare than the program has paid out on their behalf, proof, some say, that they haven't been a drain on the nation as others have argued. [NYTimes]

-> In ruby red states, Democrats find themselves in a tough spot: do you run the candidate who may be more conservative but can win or stick to ideologic principles. [NYTimes]

-> Twenty-five tea party groups have filed lawsuits against the IRS and the White House over the extra scrutiny they received in the last election cycle. [Politico]

Where are they?

Gov. Gary Herbert greets attendees of the Veterans Memorial Golf Tournament and then heads to the NSA's Utah Data Center for a tour.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker hits a conference call on the Policy Consensus Initiative and meets with the Salt Lake Valley Conference of Mayors.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder meets with Utah Bankers Association's Howard Headlee, attends the Salt Lake Valley Conference of Mayors and attends a choir concert at Valley Junior High.

President Barack Obama returns to Washington from Chicago and attends meetings at the White House.

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 BurrTwitter.com/thomaswburr