News roundup: Rand Paul gets standing ovation — at Berkeley

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Standing ovation for Rand Paul, at Berkeley. AG's Office: Don't talk to reporters. Huntsman buys Fred Thompson's house.

Happy Thursday. Sen. Rand Paul entered what some would say is the lion's den yesterday, speaking at the University of California Berkeley campus — a hotbed of liberal activism. But the libertarian senator found a receptive audience for his talk about the overreach of U.S. surveillance overreaches. He even got a standing ovation. [DailyCaller]

Topping the news: A revised policy at the AG's office says that employees could be fired for talking to a reporter without permission. [Trib]

-> Former Utah Gov. Jon Hunstman bought a house in the Washington suburbs last owned by actor and former presidential candidate Fred Thompson. [Trib]

-> The general managers of the seven Wasatch Front ski resorts discussed plans to link their ski areas. [Trib] [DNews] [APviaHerald] [KUER] [Fox13] [ABC4]

-> The Salt Lake County Republican Party chairman and treasurer have resigned. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]

Tweet of the day: From @mwbowler: "If I run for office I pledge I will never post a pic of me signing a paper at the clerk's office. pic.twitter.com/2RCymKq5ec"

From: @RalstonReports: "I need a medical marijuana prescription to salve the agony of watching these local officials dither on an issue decided in the year 2000."

In other news: AG Sean Reyes files to keep the job he was appointed to. [DNews] [KUER] [Fox13]

-> Rep. Chris Stewart and others seeking his seat also filed their paper work to run. [DNews]

-> Stewart wants to change the way the federal government counts threatened and endangered species. [KUER]

-> A state panel has ordered Bluffdale to turn over records concerning the National Security Agency data center's water usage. [Trib] [KUTV]

-> BYU's Adam Brown recaps some interesting observations of the Legislature's session: [UtahDataPoints]. Individually: Who missed the most votes: [UtahDataPoints] Who sponsored the most bills: [UtahDataPoints] The closest votes: [UtahDataPoints] How consensus rules the Hill: [UtahDataPoints] And the typical rush at the end: [UtahDataPoints]

-> Former state Rep. Brad Daw, who during the last election was the target of a smear campaign allegedly overseen by former AG John Swallow, will run for his old seat. [KUTV]

-> Republican Bob Fuehr will seek outgoing Rep. Jim Matheson's seat. [DNews]

-> Salt Lake County Sheriff Jim Winder announced he will run for a third term. [DNews]

-> Bryan Schott says lobbyists wield a lot of power on Capitol Hill, citing the example of a transparency bill that died in the last days of the session. [UtahPolicy]

-> Schott also pulls together all the best moments from their lightning round episodes this session. [UtahPolicy]

-> Utah Insurance companies are trying to sign people up for insurance on healthcare.gove before the deadline at the end of March. [Trib]

-> SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams and other mayors from around the county went out with Meals on Wheels. [Trib]

-> A subdivision in the Olympus Cove is trying to get on the National Register of Historic Places and will get a push because Salt Lake County brought back a historic preservation ordinance for unincorporated areas. [Trib]

-> A new archive at the U. seeks to document the lives of women who helped create social and cultural change. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley gives his take on to value of dog breeds. [Trib]

Nationally: House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, is not thrilled with the Senate plan to extend federal unemployment insurance. [WaPost]

-> The White House is make a big, last push to get millions of young Americans to buy health insurance through healthcare.gov. [NYTimes]

-> A federal judge called the DOJ's repeated requests for broad searches of people's email accounts "repugnant" to the Constitution. [NYTimes]

Where are they?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz hits a morning fundraiser, meets with the FBI Special Agent In Charge and later with Spanish Fork Mayor Steve Leifson. He attends an evening GOP caucus meeting.

Rep. Chris Stewart speaks to the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, NAIOP, and meets with the Utah Home Builders Association. He later awards a Purple Heart to Specialist James McCloy.

Gov. Gary Herbert meets with Ron Gordon, has a call with Jon Huntsman Sr., gets a weekly update from Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, speaks with Scott Howell, reviews bills and prepares for an economic summit.

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox speaks to the Ogden Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors and heads to a caucus in Fairview.

President Barack Obama participates in a roundtable discussion at Valencia College in Orlando with students and local workers and gives remarks about improving economic opportunity for women and working families. He also hits a DNC event in Miami and speaks and answers questions at a DCCC dinner before returning to 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 Burr and Topher Webb Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/topherjwebb