Senate candidate threatens D.C. with 'castration.' Bishop seeks environmental review for Antiquities Act designations. Swallow probe took 17 investigators 9,300 hours.
Happy Wednesday. Americans aren't big fans of Congress or Washington in general but no one before has threatened to, well, take such extreme measures as a Senate candidate suggests in a new television ad. Iowa's Joni Ernst says in a new 30-second spot that she knows what to do when she's election:
-> "I grew up castrating hogs on an Iowa farm. So when I get to Washington, I'll know how to cut pork," she says, as a pig squeals in the background. Must see ad: [ABCNews].
Topping the news: Rep. Rob Bishop's bill to restrict presidential declarations of new national monuments a measure that'd require environmental reviews first is up for a House vote today. [Trib]
-> New documents show that the investigation into former Utah AG John Swallow took 17 investigators and 10 outside lawyers more than 9,300 hours. [Trib]
Tweet of the day: From @HillHulse: "Running on the castration platform in Iowa. New meaning to the phrase cutting an ad."
Happy Birthday: To Rep. Jason Chaffetz, former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman and former SL Co. District Attorney Lohra Miller.
In other news: F-35 fighter jets, including he squadron at Hill Air Force Base, could be out of combat for another 13 months because of software problems. [Trib]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert held a ceremonial signing of the bill providing trail access to non-intoxicating cannabis oil to Utahns with epilepsy. [Trib] [Fox13] [KUTV]
-> Although the governor signed the bill, it will still be a while before patients can use the oil. [DNews]
-> As she has repeatedly said, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell told lawmakers she supports repaying states that donated money to reopen national parks during the government shutdown; but she noted it will take legislation to do so. [DNews]
-> Pat Bagley gives his take on the medical benefits of guns. [Trib]
-> The head of the University of Utah Medical School told Congress that sustained funding for research like the kind that helped identify a gene for breast cancer risk is necessary for public health. [Trib] [KUER]
-> Paul Rolly discusses mixed caucus location/campaign signs and other topics. [Trib]
-> Sugar House residents told the Salt Lake City Council to keep the zoning along the S line street car as it is. [Trib] [Fox13]
Nationally: After a 32-month closure, the Washington Monument will reopen May 12. [WaPost]
-> The White House has moved the deadline to mid-April for those who have started to apply for health insurance on healthcare.gov but did not finish. [WaPost]
-> A divided Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of whether the Affordable Care Act's contraceptive mandate violates the religious freedom of Hobby Lobby's owners. [WaPost] [Fox13]
-> President Barack Obama plans to order an end to the NSA's bulk collection of American's telephony metadata, requiring a judicial order to access records that'd be held by the phone companies instead. [NYTimes]
Where are they?
Rep. Jason Chaffetz hits an Oversight hearing on the IRS, meets with SLC Mayor Ralph Becker, holds a news conference on Internet gambling, conducts a hearing on Libyan nationals being granted access by DHS for flight training and nuclear sciences, and attends the NRCC March dinner.
Gov. Gary Herbert visits Monroe Elementary School and goes to the Utah Chiefs of Police Association Conference in St. George.
SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams hits the United Way of Salt Lake public policy meeting and meets with county staff.
SLC Mayor Ralph Becker attends EPA meetings in Washington.
President Barack Obama visits Flanders Field Cemetery with Belgium Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo and His Majesty King Phillipe, and later participates in an E.U.-U.S. summit.
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