This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Military weapons program extends to schools, too. Herbert: No pending monument decision. Huntsman eyes sidelines in 2016.

Happy Thursday. After the Ferguson, Mo., riots, there's been increased scrutiny on a federal program to dole out used military equipment to police forces across America. But did you know that effort also extends to schools? Some school districts have taken advantage of the Defense Department program to nab grenade launchers, heavily armed vehicles, and of course, high-powered rifles. [WSJ]

Topping the news: Gov. Gary Herbert says he's been assured the Obama administration will hold off on designating a new national monument in southeastern Utah, but only as long as a local public-lands initiative progresses. [Trib][DNews][Fox13] [UtahPolicy]

-> Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman says he's not ruling out running for president in 2016, but is planning to stick to the sidelines where he thinks he can have more impact. [Trib]

-> After an emergency hearing, the Utah Supreme Court ruled that Draper must put a property tax referendum on the ballot. [Trib]

Tweet of the day: From @martycarpenter: ".@GovHerbert has press conf today & while writing my 1st email of day my phone auto corrects 'reporter' to 'terrorist.' Oh boy."

From @standardex: "Ogden dispute over urination ends with shots fired. #Ogden #thisisOgden http://ow.ly/BCi14";

Happy Birthday: To former Sen. Bob Bennett.

In other news: The Senate unanimously confirmed Sen. John Valentine as the next chairman of the Utah Tax Commission. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Two Utah lawmakers argued in favor of local police forces receiving military equipment from the federal government, saying gangs have AK47s, so cops should have powerful weapons, too. [Trib] [DNews]

-> While Gov. Gary Herbert says he's close to getting a waiver from the federal government for his Healthy Utah plan, he still has to get approval from state lawmakers — also a difficult task. [UtahPolicy]

-> Sen. Howard Stephenson says he will draft legislation to make computer programming classes available across Utah schools, starting, perhaps, in elementary. [DNews]

-> More information has been divulged through federal documents regarding the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints child labor investigation. [Trib]

-> Utah lawmakers and business leaders announced a new education initiative that would require high school students to pass a U.S. civics test in order to graduate. [DNews]

-> U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups ordered Joel D. Wright's name to appear on the election ballot for the Utah State Board of Education. [Trib]

-> Ordain Women, a group seeking the priesthood for women within The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, plans to rally at neighborhood stake centers instead of at Temple Square. [Trib]

Nationally: The House voted on Wednesday to to back President Barack Obama's plan to aid Syrian rebels with training and weapons to fight against Islamic jihadists. [NYTimes][WaPost][Examiner][WSJ][Politico][LATimes]

-> Obama renewed his vow to dispel Islamist jihadists in Iraq and Syria, but added that the United States is not alone in the fight against the terrorist group and he has no intention of sending in ground troops. [Politico][NYTimes][Examiner][WSJ][LATimes]

-> Obama's approval ratings are still low and the Republican Party is gaining strength as midterm elections approach, according to a New York Times/CBS News poll. [NYTimes]

-> Apple is updating its privacy policy by making it more difficult to access user data, even when police issue a search warrant. [WaPost]

-> The NFL is receiving accolades from Capitol Hill after issuing new policy to include human growth hormone when testing for performance-enhancing drugs. [Examiner]

Where are they?

Rep. Jason Chaffetz attends a joint meeting of Congress to hear Petro Poroshenko, the president of Ukraine, conducts an afternoon hearing of an Oversight subcommittee on religious freedoms and ends his day at a fundraising dinner.

Rep. Chris Stewart also attends the joint session of Congress with Poroshenko, gives a speech to the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association and meets with the Utah Commission on Service & Volunteerism. Later he speaks at a National Association of Counties briefing regarding the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program and meets with Materion Natural Resources and county commissioners from Sevier and Washington counties.

Gov. Gary Herbert attends the sendoff for the Honor Flight, meets with Joel Coleman and Syd Dixon of Utah State Board of Education, and ends his day at KSL Studios for the "Let Me Speak to the Governor."

Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox hits the Wasatch Developmental Annual Summit and also attends the "Let Me Speak to the Governor" recording.

SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams speaks at the Green and Healthy Homes initiative annual conference and later participates in a panel discussion at the same conference.

SLC Mayor Ralph Becker attends the Wasatch Front Regional Council air quality meeting and the Blessing in a Back Pack event.

President Barack Obama participates in an ambassador credentialing ceremony, holds a bilateral meeting with President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine and attends a Democratic National Committee roundtable.

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 Mallory Jesperson Twitter.com/thomaswburr and Twitter.com/JespersonM