Countdown:
- 38 days until the start of the 2014 Legislature
- 186 days until Utah’s 2014 primary elections
- 319 days to the 2014 midterm elections
- 683 days to the 2015 elections
- 747 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
- 1054 days to the 2016 presidential election
Today’s Utah news highlights:
- The Utah House investigation into former John Swallow details destruction of data and fabrication of evidence by the former Attorney General [Utah Policy, Tribune, Deseret News].
- Could those revelations lead to charges against Swallow for obstruction of justice? [Tribune]
- Jordan Garn argues Utah’s Attorney General should be appointed, not elected [Utah Policy].
- Should retiring Congressman Jim Matheson be the Democratic nominee for Attorney General in 2014? [Standard-Examiner].
- Utah County GOP Chairman Casey Voeks is raising a few eyebrows for taking a paid position as a campaign consultant with Attorney General hopeful Bret Rawson who was not on the list of three names forwarded to Governor Herbert as possible replacements [Tribune].
- Acting Attorney General Brian Tarbet is joining the fight against patent trolls [Standard-Examiner].
- The Provo City Council approves a measure to crack down on aggressive business practices by towing companies [Deseret News].
- Cottonwood Heights residents are once again upset with the service provided by a private company the city contracted with for snow removal [KSL].
- An Australian investment company could pump some much-needed capital into the troubled UTOPIA fiber optic network [Tribune].
- A new survey says most Utahns are willing to take action to help reduce pollution and improve air quality in the state [Tribune].
- Two clean air groups are continuing their efforts to block expansion of the Holly Refinery over pollution concerns [Standard-Examiner].
- Utah’s economy is poised to see growth next year [Deseret News].
- Eagle Mountain Mayor Heather Jackson is a candidate for Utah County commissioner in 2014 [Daily Herald].
On this day in history:
- The United States purchased the Louisiana territory from France for $15 million in 1803
- South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union in 1860
- The United States invaded Panama to topple the government General Manuel Noriega in 1989
- The Vermont Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in 1999
