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Joe Scarborough as Trump's VP? He isn't ruling it out. Herbert pushes for education and health care. Rep. Noel warned Utah woman not to join Oregon protestors.
Happy Thursday. If polls are accurate, Donald Trump may possible sweep through several primary contests on his way to the Republican nomination. So who would he choose as his running mate? (Himself is not an acceptable answer). Conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt suggests that former congressman and MSNBC host Joe Scarborough would be a good pick. "I don't think he would ask me," Scarborough responded but didn't rule it out. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/01/27/hugh-hewitt-really-wants-joe-scarborough-as-trumps-veep-scarborough-is-less-interested/" target="_blank">WaPost]
Topping the news: Gov. Gary Herbert pushed for education and health care during his annual State of the State Address. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/3468409-155/utahs-guv-plugs-health-care-solutions-school" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646344/Utahns-have-never-been-stronger-Gov-Herbert-says-in-State-of-the-State-speech.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/governors-state-state-address-focuses-education-medicaid-expansion" target="_blank">KUER][http://fox13now.com/2016/01/27/governor-herbert-the-state-of-our-state-is-outstanding/" target="_blank">Fox13] [http://www.good4utah.com/news/top-stories/governor-herbert-declares-state-of-the-state-is-outstanding-in-annual-address" target="_blank">ABC4] Democrats said Utah can do better. [http://kuer.org/post/state-state-utah-democrats-offer-alternative-view" target="_blank">KUER]
-> State Rep. Mike Noel warned Shawna Cox, the Utah woman arrested in the Oregon standoff, not to join the protesters. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3467893-155/mike-noel-warned-utah-woman-arrested" target="_blank">Trib] Oregon Militia leader Ammon Bundy told the remaining protesters to go home yesterday. [http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/27/us/oregon-wildlife-refuge-siege-arrests/index.htm" target="_blank">CNN] [https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/fbi-seals-off-oregon-refuge-urges-remaining-occupiers-to-leave/2016/01/27/a16e4ed0-c538-11e5-8965-0607e0e265ce_story.html?hpid=hp_hp-top-table-main_oregon-1040a%3Ahomepage%2Fstory" target="_blank">WaPost] [http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/01/27/1-dead-feds-arrest-oregon-protest-leader-ammon-bundy/79392112/" target="_blank">USAToday] Another Utahn has been arrested leaving the standoff. [http://www.sltrib.com/home/3466557-155/utahn-among-three-more-ammon-bundy" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Eight Utah ranchers have promised to disavow their contracts with the federal government regulating grazing cattle on public lands. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3467639-155/utah-ranchers-renounce-federal-control-of" target="_blank">Trib]
->A new poll shows almost a quarter of Americans would not vote for a presidential candidate who is Mormon. Atheists, Muslims and homosexuals would have a harder time getting elected. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3463956-155/poll-a-quarter-of-electorate-opposed" target="_blank">Trib]
->A Utah mother is hiding from state officials, after giving her daughter cannabis oil to help with a medical condition. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3464396-155/utah-mom-in-hiding-fears-losing" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.people.com/article/utah-mom-illegally-treat-daughter-cannabis-oil" target="_blank">People]
Tweets of the day: From @http://www.twitter.com/BoydMatheson" target="_blank">BoydMatheson: "If a guy thinks he is above the law/rules now, imagine what he will do when in office. Trump is a force but he is really a farce!"
From @http://www.twitter.com/briangrimmett" target="_blank">briangrimmett: "Nobody yells into a camera better than Rod Decker. Nobody."
Happy Birthday: To Clarity Sanderson and PWC's Matt DoBias.
Tune in: House Minority Leader Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, GOP Sen. Todd Weiler and Tribune reporter Robert Gehrke join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about what's hot and what's not this legislative session. Watch Trib Talk live at 12:15 p.m. MT on http://sltrib.com/" target="_blank">sltrib.com.
From Capitol Hill: Woods Cross Republican Rep. Todd Weiler's bill to provide optional gun safety training as part of the eighth grade curriculum passed through committee. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3468469-155/idea-to-teach-gun-safety-has" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646328/State-senator-proposes-to-create-gun-safety-program-for-Utah-schools.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/gun-safety-course-eighth-graders-approved-committee" target="_blank">KUER]
-> Rep. Kraig Powell is drafting a bill that would favor heterosexual couples when applying for adoption. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3468812-155/bill-would-reinstate-utah-adoption-preference" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Sen. Lyle Hillyard introduced a bill to limit cities to keeping 25% of fines from speeding tickets. Hillyard says the bill is inspired by a "speed trap" in Mantua. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3467743-155/tired-of-mantua-speed-trap-senator" target="_blank">Trib] [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8345-proposed-bill-aims-to-crack-down-on-speed-traps" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> The Senate passed a bill to allow the state to garnish bank accounts of delinquent taxpayers. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3467634-155/bill-advances-to-garnish-accounts-of" target="_blank">Trib]
-> A coalition of conservative groups opposes the Utah Legislature's proposal to collect online sales tax. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3467029-155/coalition-of-conservative-groups-oppose-utah" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The state Senate passed a bill through committee that may fund the Lake Powell Pipeline. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3468491-155/water-funding-bill-could-trickle-sales" target="_blank">Trib] [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646337/Bill-to-divert-sales-tax-revenue-to-water-development-advances.html" target="_blank">DNews] [http://kuer.org/post/senate-panel-use-sales-tax-earmark-water" target="_blank">KUER] Some lawmakers and Utahns expressed concern about the ultimate cost of the project. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3459714-155/lawmakers-utahns-wary-of-lake-powell" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Sen. Steve Urquhart is pushing to shake up the power structure at the Utah College of Applied Technology. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3395433-155/legislature-to-consider-overhaul-of-beleaguered" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Higher Education Commissioner David Buhler warns that a proposal to cut funding from higher education could backfire on the state. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3450101-155/proposal-to-give-all-education-fund" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The Senate Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Confirmation Committee recommended defense attorney Denise Porter to join the parole board. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3464073-155/utah-senate-committee-recommends-defense-attorney" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Draper Republican Rep. LaVar Christensen is pushing to shift power back to the GOP on the Legislative Management Committee and Legislative Audit Subcommittee. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646312/Bill-would-give-GOP-majority-control-of-two-key-legislative-committees.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> A bill to increase penalties and a bill to raise the statue of limitations for criminal air polluters stalled in committee. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646338/Pair-of-air-pollution-bills-prompt-flurry-of-questions.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Two bills to create more opportunities to enroll children in early kindergarten passed the House. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646343/Extended-day-kindergarten-gets-early-thumbs-up-from-House.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> A new bill would allow Utah's standardized testing to affect a student's grade or determine whether they move up a grade. [http://fox13now.com/2016/01/27/standardized-tests-would-impact-utah-students-grades-advancement-under-proposed-bill/" target="_blank">Fox13]
-> The House Education committee approved a proposal to spend $30 million towards training and teacher improvement. [http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865646348/House-gives-early-approval-to-spend-30M-on-improving-classroom-instruction.html" target="_blank">DNews]
-> Here is today's legislative committee schedule. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3459222-155/legislative-committees-thursday-jan-28" target="_blank">Trib]
In other news: An ex-wife of FLDS leader Lyle Jeffs testified about her experiences in the church during the Short Creek trial. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3467637-155/wife-of-polygamous-church-leader-testifies" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kutv.com/news/local/ex-wife-of-a-leader-of-polygamous-church-testifies-of-isolation-from-children" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> Navajo lawmakers agreed to settle the tribe's claims to a water right along the Colorado River Basin in Utah. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3467386-155/navajo-lawmakers-approve-water-rights-settlement" target="_blank">APviaTrib]
-> A new poll shows that a majority of Utahns want tax credits to clean energy purchases in their homes and cars as a way to battle pollution. [http://utahpolicy.com/index.php/features/today-at-utah-policy/8349-poll-what-do-utahns-want-lawmakers-to-do-about-air-pollution" target="_blank">UtahPolicy]
-> A Tooele woman is suing the city for defamation after she claims the city damaged her reputation by saying she was on drugs at the time of the death of her daughter. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3464396-155/utah-mom-in-hiding-fears-losing" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The Emery County attorney's office filed new felony charges against a former Monticello police officer who was fired after allegedly being involved in a domestic violence incident. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3468527-155/ex-utah-cop-faces-new-charge-of" target="_blank">Trib] [http://kutv.com/news/local/former-monticello-cop-hit-with-another-felony-charge" target="_blank">KUTV]
-> The president of Utah's commercial real estate association says 2015 may be one of the most robust years in Utah's commercial real-estate market since the economic recession. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3467580-155/commercial-real-estate-booming-in-utah" target="_blank">Trib]
-> Hill Air Force Base will start testing bombs in Utah's western desert range about 80 miles west of Salt Lake City. [http://www.standard.net/Military/2016/01/27/Hill-Air-Force-Base-F-35s-to-soon-start-dropping-bombs-in-training-missions.html" target="_blank">StandEx] [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3468232-155/hill-air-force-base-to-drop" target="_blank">APviaTrib]
-> Former Sen. Bob Bennett was inducted into The Hinckley Institute of Politics's Hall of Fame at the University of Utah. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3468049-155/longtime-utah-sen-bob-bennett-inducted" target="_blank">Trib]
-> State Sen. Karen Mayne, along with officials from several cities, told Utah Transit Authority that bus service in residential areas is lacking. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/3468610-155/officials-tell-uta-it-neglected-neighborhood" target="_blank">Trib] UTA is also lowering the cost of various fines. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3468659-155/uta-rewrites-ordinances-lowers-fines" target="_blank">Trib]
-> The fraud trial against Jeremy Johnson will go on even though missing e-mails have not been recovered. [http://www.sltrib.com/news/3468666-155/emails-to-remain-missing-in-jeremy" target="_blank">Trib]
Nationally: Survey data show that Sen. Marco Rubio strongest state is Utah. It may be because he has some Mormon ties or it could be his establishment credentials and the state's higher than average level of education. [http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/27/upshot/where-mainstream-republican-candidates-are-most-popular.html?rref=upshot&smid=tw-upshotnyt&smtyp=cur&_r=1" target="_blank">NYTimes]
-> GOP presidential candidates mocked front-runner Donald Trump's decision to shun the Fox News debate that will take place tonight. [http://www.politico.com/story/2016/01/trump-debate-no-show-gop-response-218284" target="_blank">Politico] Trump decided instead to hold a rally with veterans. [http://www.cnn.com/2016/01/27/politics/donald-trump-veterans-event/" target="_blank">CNN]
Where are they?
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— Thomas Burr and Michael Anderson
https://twitter.com/thomaswburr" target="_blank">Twitter.com/thomaswburr and https://twitter.com/MKrusenews" target="_blank">Twitter.com/mkrusenews