This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Trump, Carson continue to lead the polls nationally. Utah lawmakers critical of Herbert's Syrian refugee position. UTA's vice chair resigns.
Happy Thursday. It continues to be the year of the outsider. A new poll shows that billionaire Donald Trump still leads his fellow Republicans nationally, grabbing 24 percent of the vote while neurosurgeon Ben Carson follows with 20 percent. Sen. Marco Rubio has 12 percent and the rest of the field is stuck in single digits. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/poll-donald-trump-ben-carson-216048" target="_blank">Politico]
Topping the news: Utah Republican lawmakers are criticizing Gov. Gary Herbert's willingness to allow Syrian refugees who have passed security screenings to settle in Utah and pressuring him to change his stance for fear of potential terrorist attacks. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3198672-155/most-utah-gop-house-members-push" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641873/House-GOP-caucus-falls-short-of-support-for-asking-Gov-Herbert-to-pause-on-taking-refugees.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/7690-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> Utah House Minority Leader Brian King sent out a tweet blasting fellow legislators for their fear of accepting refugees. [http://fox13now.com/2015/11/18/utah-democrat-calls-legislators-opposed-to-accepting-refugees-bed-wetters-acting-out-of-fear/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> UTA board vice chairman Chris Bleak has resigned amid controversy in the agency, and two others are expected to follow suit soon. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/3198577-155/uta-board-member-resigns-after-controversial" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641898/One-UTA-board-member-resigns-after-Switzerland-trip-two-others-to-follow.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kutv.com/news/local/3-uta-board-members-resign-following-unauthorized-switzerland-trip" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://fox13now.com/2015/11/18/uta-board-member-resigns-amid-scrutiny-over-switzerland-trip-that-interfered-with-bidding-process/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> The UTA has expanded ethics rules to prevent conflicts of interest by its board and top executives. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3198109-155/uta-board-adopts-enhanced-ethics-rules" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's spokeswoman on Wednesday blasted news of an investigation by Davis County Attorney Troy Rawlings as political grandstanding. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3198780-155/reid-dismisses-utah-prosecutors-probe-as" target="_blank">Trib]
Tweets of the day: From http://twitter.com/MichelleMumford" target="_blank">@MichelleMumford: "You know what I like about https://twitter.com/hashtag/utpol?src=hash">#utpol? When I get something wrong, https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox">@SpencerJCox will reach out w/kindness and school me. (deleting former tweet)"
From @http://www.twitter.com/Bernstein" target="_blank">Bernstein: "The NYPD tweet claiming hoverboards are illegal has been deleted."
Tune in: Tribune sports columnist Kurt Kragthorpe and reporter Matthew Piper join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to preview Utah football's home game matchup against the UCLA Bruins and the Ute's positioning in the PAC-12. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.
Coming soon: The Hinckley Institute of Politics will host Sen. Mike Lee, as he's interviewed live on Doug Fabrizio's KUER radio show on RadioWest on Nov. 23 at 11 a.m. [http://www.hinckley.utah.edu/calendar/2015/11/23/a-conversation-with-senator-mike-lee-a-live-radiowest-broadcast-with-doug-fabrizio" target="_blank">HinkleyInstitute]
In other news: Pat Bagley shares his take on America's iconic gift from France. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3200012-155/bagley-cartoon-our-gift-from-france" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Rep. Mia Love has drafted a bill that would extend certain benefits to veterans and their families. [http://kutv.com/news/get-gephardt/law-that-has-veterans-losing-benefits-before-they-die-could-change" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> The newly renovated House GOP caucus room honors the late Speaker Becky Lockhart. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/7694-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> The Salt Lake City Council voted in an unofficial straw poll last week to deny a request by Mayor-elect Jackie Biskupski for money to fund a transition team. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3197338-155/slc-council-to-biskupski-no-money" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Although Biskupski has made national headlines for being the first openly-gay mayor in SLC, her campaign manager says sexual orientation had little to do with her election. [http://kuer.org/post/locals-say-biskupski-victory-not-about-making-history" target="_blank">KUER]
-> Utah Transit Authority officials said massive improvements are expected in some counties next year after results came in for Proposition 1. [http://fox13now.com/2015/11/18/uta-says-massive-improvements-coming-to-counties-where-proposition-1-passed/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> Even with upcoming tax hikes, Utah faces a projected shortfall of about $7.3 billion for high-priority transit and highway projects through 2040. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3198174-155/even-with-new-taxes-state-has" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A proposed bill, endorsed by the Legislature's Government Operations Interim Committee, would require county clerks to provide daily updates on any votes they count between election night and the official canvass. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3197084-155/law-would-end-2-week-wait-for" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641881/Lawmakers-endorse-allowing-election-results-to-be-updated.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> A law intended to expand voter participation in primary elections may end up excluding unaffiliated voters from casting ballots in primaries or signing candidates' petitions. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3198678-155/judges-ruling-may-leave-independent-voters" target="_blank">Trib] Utah lawmakers, meanwhile, say they or the courts need to tweak SB54. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/7695-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> Lawmakers, families and physicians in Utah are discussing the possibility of legislation for the right to "die with dignity" when someone is diagnosed with a terminal illness. [http://fox13now.com/2015/11/18/families-lawmakers-and-physicians-in-utah-debate-the-right-to-die-with-dignity/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> Utah patients with conditions ranging from cancer pain to epilepsy would be able to take medicine with cannabidiol, a marijuana extract, under a bill endorsed Wednesday by an interim legislative committee. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3197590-155/lawmakers-give-nod-to-medical-marijuana" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641874/Utahns-lawmakers-put-medical-marijuana-on-upcoming-legislative-agenda.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2015/11/18/utah-state-legislature-to-consider-two-medical-marijuana-bills/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://kuer.org/post/chronic-pain-patients-want-medical-marijuana-utah-2016" target="_blank">KUER]
-> The Legislature's Health and Human Services Interim Committee voted to extend Utah's first experiment with medical marijuana for five more years after advocates say it's making a big difference in the lives of children with epilepsy. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3198325-155/parents-say-utahs-experiment-with-medical" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/patients-caregivers-advocates-show-support-for-legalized-medical-marijuana" target="_blank">ABC4]
->Utah lawmakers debated a proposal yesterday to fund a $7 million expansion of public preschool in the state. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3197423-155/utah-lawmakers-eye-7-million-expansion" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A task force made several recommendations Wednesday to the Education Interim Committee, including changes to the way charter schools are funded. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641835/Task-force-recommends-changes-to-charter-school-funding-model.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> The Obama administration said Wednesday it opposes legislation by Rep. Rob Bishop to overhaul a public-lands conservation program. [http://www.sltrib.com/home/3196562-155/obama-administration-opposes-bishops-overhaul-to" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Utah lawmakers are considering laying down the rules for drone use. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3197257-155/utah-lawmakers-considering-array-of-rules" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Some GOP state legislatures have laid out blueprints of proposals that would permanently cut public funding to Planned Parenthood and ban nonemergency abortions at 20 weeks of pregnancy. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3197464-155/if-we-could-run-a-bill" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641889/Pair-of-GOP-lawmakers-target-Planned-Parenthood-abortion.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-lawmakers-planning-to-defund-planned-parenthood-restrict-abortions" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> A new bill at the State Capitol could cut time on Utah's Sex Offender Registry for some people convicted of misdemeanor crimes. [http://kutv.com/news/local/change-in-law-may-get-some-off-utah-sex-offender-registry-early" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> Rep. LaVar Christensen hopes Utah lawmakers will have "open hearts and open minds" as the they consider possible follow-up legislation to anti-discrimination and religious rights bills passed early this year. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641890/Utah-lawmaker-Follow-up-religious-liberty-legislation-likely-next-year.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Draper City Council unanimously approved a deal that will likely bring two Larry H. Miller car dealerships to the area. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3171123-155/draper-gives-final-ok-to-lucrative" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A developer who was proposing a land swap in Bountiful has taken the deal off the table after residents in the area complained about losing open space. [http://fox13now.com/2015/11/18/developer-cancels-bountiful-land-swap-proposal/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> Participants of the Salt Lake County Watershed Symposium raised the question of what effects climate change has had and will have on Utah's Water. [http://kuer.org/post/climate-refugees-possibility-overlooked-water-plans" target="_blank">KUER]
-> A request for state funding to build three new homeless shelters along the Wasatch Front is likely after two groups studied the location of homeless service providers and services in Salt Lake County. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865641897/Three-new-homeless-shelters-along-the-Wasatch-Front.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Gov. Gary Herbert appointed Gene Cottrell as the Inspector General of Medicaid services to investigate potential fraud. [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/governor-herbert-appoints-inspector-general" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://kuer.org/post/gov-herbert-appoints-new-inspector-tackle-medicaid-fraud" target="_blank">KUER]
Nationally: The White House revealed Wednesday that President Barack Obama would veto a bill intended to tighten security requirements for admitting Syrian refugees if Congress were to try and pass the legislation. [http://time.com/4119391/president-obama-syrian-refugee-bill/" target="_blank">TIME]
-> Presidential hopeful Donald Trump visited Massachusetts yesterday. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2015/11/18/nine-things-that-happened-during-donald-trumps-visit-to-worcester/" target="_blank">WaPost] He's also recruited a new spokesperson, a former ally of GOP rival Ted Cruz. [http://www.politico.com/story/2015/11/donald-trump-katrina-pierson-216005" target="_blank">Politico]
-> Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton is trailing her GOP rivals in a new poll of voters in Colorado. [http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/18/politics/colorado-quinnipiac-poll-clinton-trails-rubio-carson/index.html" target="_blank">CNN]
-> Sen. Bernie Sanders is set to give a long-awaited speech today, explaining what Democratic socialism is, which he thinks could help him win the 2016 race for president. [http://www.npr.org/2015/11/18/456401100/listen-4-speeches-bernie-sanders-should-hear-before-his-socialism-address" target="_blank">NPR]
Where are they?
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— Thomas Burr and Mariah Noble
https://twitter.com/thomaswburr" target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr and https://twitter.com/mnoblenews" target="_blank">Twitter.com/mnoblenews