News roundup: Only 1 percent of Snowden files released so far

Hill catches the Lightning. Obamacare improves in Utah. Tarbet may seek the attorney general spot.

Happy Wednesday. There's the NSA's secret phone metadata program and how they can track web activity. There's the U.S. surveillance on foreign leaders. The major stories tied to Edward Snowden have come from just 1 percent of the documents he provided journalists, according to the embattled editor of the Guardian. He said more will come out, but the vast majority of the files will never become public. [APviaUSAToday]

Topping the news: The Affordable Care Act seems to be working far better in Utah, with three out of four people finding no problems signing up through healthcare.gov. But the site is still having difficulty interacting with Utah's computer systems for those who may be eligible for Medicaid. [APviaDNews]

-> Hill Air Force Base will be the home of the Air Force's first operational F-35A Lightning IIs, the jets will arrive in Utah in 2015 and replace the F-16 jets flown at the base. [Trib] [KUTV] [Fox13] [StandEx]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert appointed Brian Tarbet to oversee the Attorney General's office until a the position is filled. The deadline to file to be considered a candidate is Friday, and Tarbet hasn't ruled himself out for the spot. [DNews] [KUTV]

Tweet of the day: From @iowahawkblog: "Supporting Obama is a lot like college. You thought you were going to change the world, but you ended up an insurance salesman."

Happy birthday: To state Rep. Mark Wheatley.

In other news: -A case challenging Utah's gay marriage ban moves forward on Wednesday with both sides asking the District Court judge to throw it out. [Trib]

-> Bryan Schott says John Swallow will become a boogyman for aspiring politicians. [UtahPolicy]

-> The new Legislative Process Committee promised big reforms of Utah's lawmaking process but has dropped almost all of their ideas. [UtahPolicy]

-> Utah State Auditor John Dougall warned Utah is dependent on the federal government funds as one of the largest single source of income for the Gov. Gary Herbert's $13 billion spending plan. [DNews]

-> Paul Rolly discusses how well-prepared Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen and Mayor Ben McAdams were able to save a couple's wedding day. [Trib]

-> ICYMI the Trib Talk about Utah's next steps after wake of the John Swallow saga. [Trib]

-> You got to love bureaucracy. Congress passed a bill nine years ago requiring the feds to sell the Provo Reservoir Canal to a local group, but in the meantime the canal was covered making it an aqueduct. So now Rep. Jason Chaffetz has to push a bill to tweak the original law. He's going with the all encompassing water conveyance facility. [Trib] [Herald]

-> Third- and fourth-graders from Stewart Elementary, a Chinese immersion school in Centerville, helped decorate Herbert's family tree at the governor's mansion. [Trib]

Nationally:

-> The House approved a bill that extends a ban of manufacturing plastic guns that security scanners are unable to detect; the Senate is expected to approve the bill as well. [WaPost] [CNN] [NYTimes]

-> The District of Columbia's lawmakers unanimously approved raising the district's minimum wage from $8.25 to $11.50 over the next three years. The federal minimum wage is set at $7.25, but states have the right to set a higher rate. [CNN]

-> The Supreme Court decided to hear a suit against airlines and their frequent flyer miles programs as one man says he was kicked out of Northwest Airline's program before its merger with Delta Airlines. [WaPost] [CNN] [NYTimes]

Where are they?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz attends an National Republican Congressional Committee Executive Committee luncheon, meets with Nu Skin executives and plans to be on CNN's Crossfire.

Rep. Chris Stewart sits in on a a Science, Space and Technology Committee hearing, attends a Republican Study Committee meeting, meets with state legislators and attends a holiday reception with Speaker Boehner.

Gov. Gary Herbert discusses the budget with educators, announces the public budget and holds a holiday open house.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker attends Climate Impacts Collaborative workshop in Washington.

WVC Mayor Mike Winder holds final "Meet with the Mayor" open door constituent meetings, and attends the Governor's holiday reception.

President Barack Obama speaks about the economy at a Center for American Progress event, delivers remarks at the White House Youth Summit about the Affordable Care Act and meets with Treasury Secretary Jack Lew.

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