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Utahn files suit challenging Ted Cruz's natural born status. Utah lawmakers begin 2016 session. New poll: Utahns don't want secret votes.
Happy Tuesday. A Utahn is challenging Sen. Ted Cruz's ability to run for president, saying he's not a natural-born citizen under the Constitution and therefore ineligible to seek the Oval Office. It's the second such lawsuit filed. Donald Trump and his supporters continue to question whether the Texas senator — who was born in Canada to a mother with U.S. citizenship — can run for president. [http://www.buzzfeed.com/kyleblaine/theres-a-new-lawsuit-challenging-ted-cruzs-eligibility-to-be?utm_term=.afnwr6x2V&bftw=pol#.sqd1Kqar9" target="_blank">BuzzFeed]
Topping the news: The Utah Legislature opened its 2016 general session with House and Senate leaders laying out priorities that include health care, public lands and water. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3458670-155/the-utah-legislature-gets-underway-with?page=2">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646161/Public-lands-lawsuit-already-a-focus-of-2016-Legislature.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2016/01/25/2016-utah-state-legislature-gets-under-way/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://kuer.org/post/house-speaker-opens-legislative-session-passionate-words-about-public-lands" target="_blank">KUER] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/top-stories/medical-marijuana-medicaid-expansion-and-public-lands-all-up-for-debate-as-session-starts" target="_blank">ABC4] [http://kutv.com/news/local/utah-legislative-session-kicks-off-with-strong-words-against-the-federal-government" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8319-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy] More than a dozen bills have been filed to address Utah's air quality. [http://kuer.org/post/air-quality-rises-top-lawmakers-agenda" target="_blank">KUER]
-> State Sen. Jerry Stevenson and state Rep. Brad Wilson are proposing legislation to create a master plan study for a state of the art high tech center at the Draper prison site. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3459329-155/high-tech-study-would-link-draper-prison-site" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A Tribune/Hinckley Institute poll shows a majority of Utahns disapprove of lawmakers taking votes in secret. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3450482-155/poll-utahns-want-legislative-debate-out" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Another poll says Utahns want to extend early education options but aren't sure about full-day kindergarten. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8322-" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
Tweets of the day: From @http://www.twitter.com/amyewalter" target="_blank">amyewalter: "My 9 y.o. just summed up 2016 better than I ever could: 'Mom, Donald Trump thinks that he's the sun and everyone else are just stars.'"
From https://twitter.com/HollyontheHill">@hollyonthehill: "On the Hill for the first day of the legislative session, aka the day when everybody likes each other."
Tune in: Tribune editorial cartoonist and Pulitzer Prize finalist Pat Bagley joins Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about his favorite cartoons from 2015 and the tradition and importance of political cartooning. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MT at http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com. This conversation is part of the Pulitzer Campfires Initiative marking the 100th anniversary of the Pulitzer Prizes.
From Capitol Hill: State Rep. Kraig Powell is pushing to strike Utah's ban on same-sex marriage from the books in light of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling last year, but he may be in for a fight. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3450698-155/will-ban-on-same-sex-marriage-remain">Trib]
-> Utah Chief Justice Matthew Durrant says that the state of judiciary is good but lawmakers need to invest in criminal justice reform if it's going to get better. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3459750-155/utah-chief-justice-says-reforms-will" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646177/Justice-reform-could-increase-crime-without-treatment-funding-Utah-chief-justice-says.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2016/01/25/big-changes-could-be-coming-to-utahs-criminal-justice-system/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> The House passed a bill to allow county clerks to provide daily vote totals during elections. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3459936-155/utah-house-votes-to-let-clerks" target="_blank">Trib]
-> State Rep. Becky Edwards unveiled a bill to declare Utah's Spiral Jetty the official "state work of art." [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3459269-155/bill-seeks-to-declare-spiral-jetty" target="_blank">Trib]
-> House Speaker Greg Hughes has ended daily briefings with the news media. Gov. Gary Herbert and the Senate will continue the practice. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646179/House-speaker-ends-daily-media-availability.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Education was a big topic on day one, as many proposals are on the table. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646123/Job-1-for-legislators-Educate-Utahs-children.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Here's today's Legislative committee schedule [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3458822-155/legislative-committee-schedule-tuesday-jan-26" target="_blank">Trib].
-In other news:
-> Democrat Doug Owens has raised $500k to challenge Rep. Mia Love for Utah's 4th Congressional District in the 2016 election. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3459528-155/doug-owens-has-nearly-500k-to" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski has ousted 19-year Public Services Director Rick Graham. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3459238-155/veteran-public-services-director-rick-graham" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646142/Biskupski-sends-citys-30-year-public-services-director-out-of-office.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> In the non-discrimination trial against two FLDS towns, a Texas prison employee testified FLDS leader Warren Jeffs receives 300 letters a day, many from town leadership. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3458287-155/trial-testimony-imprisoned-flds-leader-warren" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Thousands of residents attended the memorial service for Unified Police Officer Doug Barney, who was killed in the line duty on Jan. 17. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3450304-155/thousands-gather-to-honor-slain-utah" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646127/Thousands-gather-to-honor-fallen-Unified-police-officer-Doug-Barney.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://fox13now.com/2016/01/19/all-invited-to-services-for-unified-officer-doug-barney/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://kutv.com/news/local/watch-live-funeral-service-for-officer-doug-barney" target="_blank">KUTV] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/local-news/hundreds-gather-to-celebrate-the-life-of-ofc-barney" target="_blank">ABC4] You can listen to Barney's "end of watch call" here. [http://fox13now.com/2016/01/25/listen-to-the-last-radio-call-for-officer-doug-barney/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> Pat Bagley's take on Utah's clean air problem. [http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3459172-155/bagley-cartoon-the-legislature-begins" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Paul Rolly discusses the real meaning of Rep. Rob Bishop's public lands initiative. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3445915-155/rolly-with-bishop-do-we-believe" target="_blank">Trib]
Nationally: Lawyers filed a motion to block the State Department's request for a one-month extension to release the final batch of Hillary Clinton's e-mails. [http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/266904-state-dept-meets-opposition-in-delaying-clinton-email-release" target="_blank">TheHill] [http://www.politico.com/blogs/under-the-radar/2016/01/reporter-fights-clinton-email-delay-218188" target="_blank">Politico]
-> Sen. Bernie Sanders and Clinton made a final pitch to voters in Iowa before the caucus next Monday. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/clinton-sanders-iowa-town-hall-218193" target="_blank">Politico]
-> President Obama has banned solitary confinement for juveniles in federal prison. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-bans-solitary-confinement-for-juveniles-in-federal-prisons/2016/01/25/056e14b2-c3a2-11e5-9693-933a4d31bcc8_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_obamasolitary-8pm%3Ahomepage%2Fstory" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/25/politics/obama-bans-juvenile-solitary-confinement/index.html" target="_blank">CNN] [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/01/25/obama-restricts-use-solitary-confinement/79327230/" target="_blank">USAToday]
Where are they?
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