Topping the news: Congress is set today to renew a massive spending package that would renew a land conservation fund that Rep. Rob Bishop wanted to overhaul. [
Trib] Sen. Mike Lee said part of the new budget violates privacy online. [
KUTV]
-> Three Utah House members are among lawmakers calling out the Interior Department for postponing oil and gas lease sales, including one in Utah, due to what they say is pressure from environmental groups. [
DNews]
-> San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman's predecessor says he shouldn't be let off the hook when it comes to his actions because an example should be made. [
Trib] Others have compared his situation to that of a climate protestor Tim DeChristopher. [
KUER]
Tweets of the day: From
@BenWinslow: "On DABC, got really fired up saying they 'frankly don't know a Merlot from a burrito!'"
From
@pourmecoffee: "When Trump loses Iowa he is going to say a lot of mean things about corn."
Happy Birthday: Today to Holly Richardson; On Saturday to Brian Steed, chief of staff for Rep. Chris Stewart; Sunday to Amanda Rogers Thorpe; Next week to Maria Millett, Jeri Woodward, Debbie Hummel and Tim Miller. And the following week to Trib intern extraordinaire Mariah Noble, Clay White and state Rep. John Knotwell.
Tune in: Tribune reporters Lee Davidson and Matt Canham, government and politics editor Dan Harrie and sports columnist Kurt Kragthorpe join Jennifer Napier-Pearce to talk about the week's top news stories including Rep. Jason Chaffetz's message to Utah Muslims, Utah Transit Authority's service expansion and the return of the Utah/BYU rivalry. Listen to Behind the Headlines on KCPW and Utah Public Radio at 9 a.m.
Programming note: Political Cornflakes is taking a holiday break until Jan. 4. We'll return to your inboxes and computer screens then. We wish you and yours a very wonderful season.
In other news: Gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Johnson hosted another debate where Gov. Gary Herbert refused to face him. [
Fox13]
-> SLC Mayor-elect Jackie Biskupski has named David Litvack her deputy chief of staff. [
Trib] [
DNews]
-> A campaign donation from a private charter school Lincoln Fillmore, whom GOP delegates have nominated for an open state Senate seat, has generated accusations of violating campaign finance law. [
Trib]
-> The EPA has requested public input on two proposals for addressing Utah's regional haze plan, one created by the state and another with stricter rules from the federal government. [
Trib] [
DNews]
-> Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick continue their countdown of the state's top political stories of the year with No. 7: Doug Owens to challenge Mia Love again. [
UtahPolicy] The two also discuss this week in politics. [
UtahPolicy]
-> Although Utah leads the nation in job growth, it's wages are lower. [
Trib]
-> Salt Lake City officials are asking a federal judge to force the owner of Geist, a dog shot and killed by a police officer last year, to accept a $10,000 settlement. [
Trib] [
DNews] [
Fox13]
-> A Utah judge has halted the sale of Miller Motorsports Park to a Chinese company. [
Trib] [
KUTV] [
DNews] [
Fox13] [
ABC4]
-> South Salt Lake police are investigating a hate crime after someone spray painted swastikas onto a Middle Eastern restaurant. [
Trib] [
KUTV] [
Fox13] [
ABC4]
-> Muslim leaders are encouraging people to show their support for religious freedom by wearing a hijab, headscarf or other religious symbols today. [
Trib] [
KUTV] [
DNews] [
KUER]
-> A homeless persons' memorial service and candlelight vigil honors the 91 who died in 2015. [
Trib] [
KUTV] [
DNews] [
Fox13]
-> Forensic accountants are arguing over a possible Ponzi scheme. [
Trib]
-> Despite a federal judge's rejection of a request to postpone the criminal trial for Jeremy Johnson and three associates this week, his lawyer is making another run at putting it off. [
DNews]
-> A study shows Utah as the most generous state in the nation. [
KUTV]
-> A new report has pegged Utah as one of the least-prepared states in the nation in the event of an infectious disease outbreak, but state health officials say the poor ranking isn't warranted. [
DNews]
-> Pat Bagley shares his view on bloodsuckers. [
Trib]
-> Paul Rolly explains the confusion behind how much money it takes to operate Utah's charter schools. [
Trib]
Nationally: Sen. John McCain mocked GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump for receiving praise from Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling the pair "a match made in heaven." [
TheHill]
-> President Barack Obama tried to ease concerns of a terrorist attack during the holiday season, reiterating on Thursday that there are no "specific and credible" threats against the United States. [
Politico]
-> Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders picked up the most Twitter followers of any of the 2016 presidential candidates by the end of the Republican debate Tuesday night. [
Yahoo!]
-> But Sanders' campaign has also taken a hit, being disciplined after at least one of his staff members breached fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton's data. [
NYTimes]
-> The House and Senate are rushing to send a huge budget and tax deal through to Obama that would fund the entire government through September 2016 and shower tax breaks on working families, businesses and some special interests. [
AP]
Where are they?
- Rep. Jason Chaffetz votes.
- Rep. Mia Love submits votes and flies back to Utah.
- Gov. Gary Herbert heads to a meeting with Pamela Atkinson and a DUI Prevention event.
- SL Co. Mayor Ben McAdams attends the Harvard Kennedy School of Government's County Elected Executive Dialogue and Peer Exchange.
- President Barack Obama sits down for meetings at the White House, hold a news conference and departs with his family en route San Bernardino, Calif., where he and his wife visit privately with families of victims of the terrorist attack. The First Family then continues on to Hawaii.
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]
Happy Friday
