News roundup: Not The Onion: Local KKK meets with NAACP

Not The Onion: KKK meets with NAACP. Utah's congressmen skeptical of Syria action. County My Vote effort raises half-million.

Happy Wednesday. It sounds like a story straight out of the satirical Onion, but this one is true: The KKK and the NAACP met recently, and one of the KKK members signed up to join the black advocacy group. The meeting took place between a local chapter of the klan and a local NAACP official took place in Casper, Wyo., and experts believe it may have been the first such effort between the the groups. [AP]

Topping the news: Members of Utah's congressional delegation aren't convinced the U.S. military needs to strike Syria. [Trib] [DNews]

-> The Count My Vote initiative is making headway with its election reform project by bringing in more than a half a million dollars in the last two months. [Trib]

-> Utah politicians haven't been as squeaky clean as you would think. A look back at the state's headline-grabbing political scandals. [Trib]

Tweets of the day: From @badbanana: "Kerry, here's the problem with your 'armchair isolationism' comment. It sounds incredibly cozy and peaceful."

From @DomenicoNBC: "Corker wants Kerry's answers to be crisper... see 2004 presidential debates"

Happy birthday: To Salt Lake County Council administrative aide Leslie Reberg, state Sen. Deidre Henderson and Washington County Democratic Chairwoman Dorothy Engelman.

In other news: West Valley City Council unanimously ratified the hiring of Lee Russo as its new police chief with an annual salary of $128,000. [Trib]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert visited his alma mater, Westmore Elementary School in Orem, and encouraged students to make the most of their education. [Herald]

-> The Utah Bureau of Land Management will reconstruct the 16-mile road system in Little Sahara Recreation Area with federal funding. [Trib]

-> Paul Rolly notes a Kearns man was turned down for a job as a crossing guard because he's in a wheelchair. [Trib]

-> Former Helper mayor Dean Armstrong has been sentenced to home confinement after pleading guilty to driving while under the influence of alcohol. [Trib]

-> Some Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, are concerned that a federal agency is breaking the law in implementing the Affordable Care Act. [WaTimes]

-> The Weber County commission decided to delay a vote about the expansion of the county's library board. [Trib]

-> The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources has proposed changes to the state's regulations for fishing. [DNews]

-> A former Roosevelt mayor says he's disappointment that a long-running feud between the city and the Ute Indian Tribe is still unresolved. [DNews]

-> The UTA will be giving free return trips to all passengers coming back from the Utah State Fair on TRAX's green line. [Trib]

Nationally: Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel appeared before a Senate panel to argue for proposed military strikes on Syria. [WaPost]

-> House Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, encourages his colleagues to back the president on the Syrian action. [Politico] [NYTimes]

-> Meanwhile, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., says that he supports Obama's military intervention in Syria, but he still might vote no if the resolution doesn't do enough. [Politico]

-> Recalling local political leaders has become easier today, there's also an app for it. [WaPost]

Where are they?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz eats breakfast with Gov. Gary Herbert.

Gov. Gary Herbert dines with Chaffetz, attends a Refining, Energy and Environmental Issues roundtable discussion, a budget meeting and the state history conference reception.

SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams tours the Rocky Mountain Recycling Facility and launches a recycling campaign, meets with county staff, holds open-door meetings and attends a Granite Community Council meeting.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker hits a Performing Arts Center meeting and takes part in the Policy Group Emergency Management practice exercise.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder participates in Lake Park Corporate Center's "Meet with the Mayor," and the state history reception at the Alta Club.

President Barack Obama arrives in Sweden, meets with Swedish Prime Minister Reinfeldt, tours an expo featuring clean energy innovations at the Royal Institute of Technology and dines with Nordic leaders.

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 Jordan Bailey Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/thejordanbailey