There are 83 days until the 2012 election and 166 days until the start of the 2013 legislative session.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will headline Gov. Gary Herbert’s fundraiser next month [Tribune].

Democrat Peter Cooke hits Herbert on his public lands policy, calling the effort to gain control of public lands in the state “grandstanding” [Tribune, KSL].

Donna McAleer, Democratic candidate in the 1st Congressional District, embraces the party platform on same-sex marriage [Tribune].

Lawmakers say the interim head of the DABC is taking too long to implement changes [Deseret News, Fox 13].

Wildfires have cost Utah $21 million this year [Utah Policy, Tribune, Deseret News].

A local news organization says the Legislature still hasn’t turned over the redistricting documents they asked for [ABC 4].

The Salt Lake City Council is examining how to put the Move to Amend ballot initiative before voters next year [Tribune].

The nomination of a minority judicial candidate rejected by a Senate committee will go before the full Senate for a confirmation vote [Tribune, Deseret News].

The Salt Lake County Council approves $28 million in funding for a new Broadway-style theater in Salt Lake City [Tribune].

Poll workers in Utah County still haven’t been paid for the work they did during June’s primary [Daily Herald].