News roundup: Americans don't like Congress, or their congress members

Americans don't like Congress, or their congressmen or congresswomen. Utah appeals to Supreme Court on gay marriage rulings. State leaders look at reforming their corrections policies.

Happy Wednesday. OK, we already know that Americans don't like Congress — rating the legislative branch lower than cockroaches, traffic jams and yes, Nickelback — but a new poll shows that for the first time a majority of Americans don't even like their own member of Congress. Just over half, 51 percent, said they disapprove of the job their member is doing. That runs against the conventional wisdom that people hate Congress but love their congressmen or congresswomen. However, please take note that with our gerrymandered districts, even if a majority don't like their member, he or she has a good shot still of winning re-election. [WaPost]

Topping the news: Utah is the first state in the nation to ask the Supreme Court to overturn two lower court rulings that jettisoned a gay marriage ban. The case could be heard later this year and supporters on both sides are hopeful the justices will provide clarity on the issue. [Trib] [DNews] [AP] [Fox13] [ABC4]

-> With Utah's recidivism rate is above the national average and prison population expected to grow, Gov. Gary Herbert and other state leaders are looking at a comprehensive review of the state's correction policies. [Trib]

-> Jeremy Johnson, who faces 86 charges related to his now-defunct I Works company, is now scheduled for trial on March 2. [Trib] [DNews]

Tweet of the day: From @PatDennis: "I know people who consistently use their phones while driving and are also afraid of catching ebola. Humans ain't great at risk assessment."

In other news: Residents of some 20 homes in North Salt Lake fled on Tuesday morning after a landslide started moving toward them. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley offers his take on why Rocky Mountain Power wants to charge self-powering solar homes a fee. [Trib]

-> What has former Sen. Chris Butters been doing for the last three years? The same thing he did in the Senate — "blend[ing] facts with white-knuckle visions of the possible." Only this time he's doing it in a Sci-Fi novel he's written. [UtahPolicy]

-> A West Jordan city councilman, who also works for Salt Lake City, sent a letter apologizing — and castigating The Tribune — after he was quoted saying that a strong mayor government like SLC has leads to a bloated and corrupt city. [Trib]

-> Paul Rolly takes after Rep. Chris Stewart for using a photo on his congressional website from the Grand Staircase Escalante Monument while voting to weaken the president's power to name monuments. [Trib]

Nationally: U.S. national security officials believe there is another leaker amongst its midst after new documents emerge dated after former NSA contractor Edward Snowden had fled the country. [CNN]

-> An Afghan soldier shot and killed a U.S. Army major general and a German brigadier general near Kabul on Tuesday, and wounded 14 others before the gunman was killed. The American general is the highest ranking officer killed in combat since the Vietnam War. [NYTimes]

-> About 70 percent of each state's richest person donates his or her money to Republicans, and that includes Jon Huntsman Sr. in Utah. [WaPost]

Where are they?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz flies to Utah from Seattle.

Rep. Chris Stewart speaks at the new Salt Lake courthouse dedication, tours the Adobe Lehi Campus, stops by the Teva Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Facility and appears on Fox 13 News.

Gov. Gary Herbert speaks at the 26th Rocky Mountain Energy Summit- Energy the Western Way in Denver.

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox heads to the courthouse dedication and attends the Governor's Rural Partnership board meeting.

SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams meets with officials from sister city Yuzawa, Japan, heads to the courthouse dedication, meets with Draper Mayor Troy Walker and hits the Future of Unincorporated Salt Lake County meeting.

President Barack Obama hits the leaders session of the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit, "Investing in Africa's Future," takes an official family photo with the African leaders, participates in a second session on peace and regional stability and a third on governing the next generation. Later, the president holds a news conference.

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 Twitter.com/thomaswburr