News roundup: IRS scrutinized tax records of politicians, donors

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IRS scrutinized politicians' records. Love raises $476K. House impeachment transparency?

Happy Tuesday. IRS officials may have improperly targeted political candidates and donors in recent years, subjecting them to audits without justification, according to a report in The Washington Times. The Treasury Department says tax records of candidates for public office and contributors were scrutinized by IRS officials, though it's unclear who the subjects were. The Justice Department has declined to prosecute. [WaTimes]

Topping the news: Even though Mia Love has raised more than 70% more for her campaign than Rep. Jim Matheson in the past three months, Matheson has marginally more cash at his disposal. [Trib] [DNews]

-> In advance of Wednesday's special session of state lawmakers who will consider bills empowering a House committee to investigate AG John Swallow, a coalition of media outlets has met with legislators to discuss how much of the investigation will be public. [DNews]

-> Utah gun-lobbyist Clark Aposhian, who was charged with domestic violence and stripped of his firearms, has been accused of stalking by his ex-wife Natalie Meyer and her new husband Ronald Keith Meyer. [Trib] [ABC4]

-> Republicans may have even-money odds of taking back the Senate, according to Nate Silver's new prognostication. [NYTimes]

Tweet of the day: From @FloridaJayhawk: "If Harry Reid does this thing called the 'Nuclear Option' what city will he blow up? Is this like an episode of 24? Sounds scary! NO HARRY!!"

Happy birthday: to state Rep. Merrill Nelson and former Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon.

In other news: Sen. Orrin Hatch was spotted at a White House event on Monday hosted by President Barack Obama to honor former President George H. W. Bush for creating the Thousand Points of Light Foundation. Hatch had a prime seat in the front row right next to House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. [Trib] National coverage: [NYTimes] [Politico]

-> Pat Bagley gives his take on racial profiling of young men. [Trib]

-> One U.S. Forest Service law enforcement officer single-handedly accounted for half of the simple possession of controlled substance cases dismissed by Utah's federal court in 2012. Defense attorneys and defendants have accused him of unlawful searching. [Trib]

-> The Salt Lake City Airport Authority has raised the rent at the 18-hole Wingpointe Golf Course from $1 to $55,000, causing concerns that Salt Lake City may be forced to close the course in 2017 at the end of its current lease. [Trib]

-> Nine years after Summit County rancher Dennis Earl submitted it, a claim accusing the U.S. Forest Service of negligence in losing control of a "prescribed" burn that destroyed 85 percent of the land he leased has been denied by the Department of Agriculture. [Trib]

-> At the request of Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, Utah lawmakers are set to consider repealing a bill that makes it illegal for BLM rangers and Forest Service employees to enforce state law. [Trib] [DNews] [Herald]

-> Bob Bernick looks at some of the reasons the Legislature has to tweak state laws as it heads into the Swallow investigation. [UtahPolicy]

-> Federal agencies are reviewing two energy projects that affect Utah - the Ruby Pipeline natural gas line and the TransWest Express wind power transmission line. [DNews]

Nationally: Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, wrote an op-ed column in Monday's Washington Times explaining his bill to reform the prison system. [WaTimes]

-> Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., is still adamant that the Senate filibuster rule must be changed. A vote is set for Tuesday morning to decide whether new limits will apply to the minority party's ability to delay confirmation of presidential nominees. [NYTimes] [Politico] [WaPost]

-> AG Eric Holder says he is concerned about the shooting death of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin and has promised to pursue a federal investigation into the case. [WaPost]

-> Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., is urging House Republican leaders to send over the pared-back farm bill that they passed last week as quickly as possible so that the two bodies can go to conference, concerned that time may run out on the existing farm bill. [Politico]

-> The secret FISA court, which authorized the government surveillance programs, is calling on the Obama administration to declassify as much of one of the court's early sanctioning decisions - concerning Yahoo - as it can. [WaPost]

Where are they?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz attends a National Turkey Federation event and participates in an NRCC Young Guns dinner.

Rep. Chris Stewart meets with the National Turkey Federation and attends a congressional dialogue event on great American presidents at the Library of Congress.

SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams holds a Unified Fire Authority board meeting, attends the County Council meetings and speaks at the Downtown Alliance Symposium.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker meets with officials to discuss the new performing arts center and joins a Policy Consensus Initiative conference call.

President Barack Obama takes part in the latest installment of "Live from the White House," conducting a round of interviews for Spanish-language TV stations from several cities on the need for bipartisan immigration reform.

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 Isobel MarkhamTwitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/i_markham