Good Wednesday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 81st day of the year. There are 284 days remaining in 2017.
Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch hearings continue Wednesday. Passage of GOP healthcare bill is in doubt, despite Trump telling House members they may lose next election if they don’t support bill.
The clock:
- 7 days until the last day Governor Gary Herbert can sign or veto bills (3/29/2017)
- 59 days until the Utah Republican State Convention (5/20/2017)
- 87 days until the Utah Democratic State Convention at Weber State University (6/17/2017)
- 230 days until the 2017 municipal elections (11/7/2017)
- 306 days until the opening day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (1/22/2018)
- 351 days until the final day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (3/8/2018)
- 594 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
- 1,322 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)
Today’s featured stories
- Salt Lake County’s homeless shelter site list grows as opposition mounts in South Salt Lake and West Valley City (Deseret News).
- Trump tells House Republicans to vote for GOP healthcare bill or they will lose their seats (New York Times). Republican leaders are scrambling to secure votes before Thursday roll call (Politico).
- In marathon session, Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch asserts his independence and is one step closer to winning a majority vote in the Senate Judiciary Committee (Politico).
- International: Secretary of State Rex Tillerson won’t attend NATO meeting in April, but Trump will appear at NATO summit in May (Washington Post). Sen. Mike Lee is part of group criticizing billionaire leftist icon George Soros for interfering in European politics (Politico). North Korean missile explodes seconds after launch (Washington Post). Trump wants to cut billions from United Nations budget (Deseret News).
- Gov. Herbert kicks off Talent Ready Utah program, providing grants to prepare young people for jobs industry needs (Deseret News), (Utah Policy), (Tribune).
- Editorial laments Utah’s low voter turnout (Deseret News).
- Webb provides 2017 municipal election candidates with campaign to-do list (Utah Policy).
- Feminist activist is accused of creating workplace environment abusive to women (Washington Post).
- Acting chair of the National Transportation Safety Board says Utah’s .05 percent DUI law will save lives (Deseret News), but Tribune calls on governor to veto bill.
On this day in history:
- 1622 – First American Indian (Powhattan) massacre of Europeans in Jamestown, Virginia, 347 killed.
- 1765 – Stamp Act passed; first direct British tax on colonists.
- 1790 – Thomas Jefferson becomes the first U.S. Secretary of State under Pres. George Washington.
- 1882 – Edmunds Act adopted in U.S. to suppress polygamy; 1,300 men later imprisoned under the act.
- 1933 – Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt makes wine & beer with up to 3.2% alcohol legal.
- 1963 – Beatles release first album, “Please, Please Me.”
