News roundup: Crist: Race motivates GOP hate for Obama

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Crist: Race motivates GOP hate for Obama. Huntsman says he could run again. Lewinsky speaks out.

Happy Wednesday. Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who is seeking his old job back now as a Democrat, says he left the Republican Party because it was racist towards President Barack Obama. Republicans are perceived as "anti-women, anti-immigrant, anti-minority [and] anti-gay," Crist says, adding that he now feels "liberated" to be a Democrat. [Fusion]

Topping the news: Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman told Larry King he would consider running for president again if he had a solid strategy to get through the primary elections. Huntsman also heaped compliments on Hillary Clinton, his former boss. [Trib] [DNews] [UtahPolicy]

-> Monica Lewinsky plans to "take back" her story by writing on her affair with Bill Clinton after a decade of remaining quiet, adding, "It's time to burn the beret and bury the blue dress." [VanityFair] [WaPo]

-> The White House will send agents, not troops, to Nigeria to assist in locating the nearly 300 abducted girls in the country taken by Boko Haram, a militant Islamic group. [WaPo] [NYTimes] [FoxNews] Also, take a look at Tribune cartoonist Pat Bagley's take on the situation. [Trib]

-> Paul Rolly notes that Bountiful City Mayor Randy Lewis reported that more than half his campaign contributions came from "anonomous" — misspelling and all — and he gets to keep the cash for his race because he says he doesn't know where the money came from. [Trib]

Tweet of the day: From @Kia_Mak: "Not often does someone break a decade-long silence AND issue a correction to Beyonce. Monica Lewinsky speaks."

Happy Birthday: To Gov. Gary Herbert.

In other news: SLC Mayor Ralph Becker's budget calls for a 3 percent raise for staff, the first such increase in six years. He also called for no property tax increase. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Becker has concerns that a new alternative to taxis called Lyft isn't following city traffic regulations. [KUTV]

-> Gov. Gary Herbert held a ceremonial bill signing for new laws involving sexual offenses: pornography, rape and human trafficking. [KUTV]

-> Pat Jones is leaving the Legislature and the polling company that carries her husbands name, but insists she isn't retiring. [DNews]

-> Days of 47 parade organizers have denied a request by Mormons Building Bridges — a group trying to foster good will between Mormons and the LGBT community — saying the entry would be too controversial. [Trib]

-> People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is asking UDOT to reconsider its decision to deny a roadside memorial for 700 turkeys killed in a semi crash last month. [Trib]

-> UTA is targeting youth with its new summer transportation pass. [Trib]

-> The Federal Reserve is unveiling a statue today for Utahn Marriner Eccles, whose work as Fed chairman is widely credited with helping to rescue the country from the Great Depression. [Trib]

-> Federal authorities struck a tentative deal to protect some land for an endangered flower while not blocking Utah's oil shale development. [Trib] [DNews]

-> The Bureau of Land Management rounded up eight wild horses, a move that ranchers in Iron County call a drop in the bucket. [Trib] [KSL]

-> A decision on the endangered species designation for the Gunnison sage grouse is delayed another six months. [Trib]

-> The Utah Division of Wildlife wants Utahns to go fish for invasive carp at Pelican Lake to help restore the native bluegill species. [DNews]

-> Salt Lake County is asking for help from the public to design future parks in the area. [DNews]

-> South Jordan officials say their heavily subsidizing Mulligans Golf and Game even as residents plead for it to remain open. [Trib]

Nationally: The White House's National Climate Assessment report says climate change is currently affecting the entire country. President Barack Obama is expected to unveil a plan based on these findings. [NYTimes] [WaPo] [WSJ] [LATimes] [DNews]

-> The White House was locked down after a man followed a motorcade into a secure area. [CNN]

-> Vice President Joe Biden defends his comment from March that undocumented workers in the country are "already" Americans because of their hard work ethics. [WaPo]

-> Nearing five years on the job, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has taken increasingly strong stances on issues before the court. [NYTimes]

Where are they?

Gov. Gary Herbert attends the annual conference on poverty, speaks with Mike Smith of Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, conferences with the Western Governor's Association and meets with officials from the Goldman Sachs Technology Division. Herbert later holds meetings with SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams, Tami Pyfer, state Sen. Howard Stephenson and state Rep. Greg Hughes.

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox speaks with the Emergency Management Administrative Council.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker holds an orientation for new hires and meets with community liaisons.

President Barack Obama travels to Arkansas to tour the damage from recent tornados. He then flies to California for a fundraiser and finishes his day at a dinner sponsored by the USC Shoah Foundation.

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 Courtney Tanner Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/CourtneyLTanner