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Morning must reads for Monday, July 10, 2017

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Good Monday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 191st day of the year. There are 174 days remaining in 2017. Today is the 168th day of Donald Trump’s presidency.

Utahns think journalists make up anonymous sources. Utah’s “ag gag” law is struck down by a judge. Donald Trump Jr. met with a Russian lawyer during the campaign because she offered damaging information on Hillary Clinton.

The clock:

  • 15 days until ballots for the August primary are mailed to voters (7/25/2017)
  • 36 days until the 2017 Utah primary election (8/15/2017)
  • 120 days until the 2017 election (11/7/2017)
  • 196 days until the opening day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (1/22/2018)
  • 241 days until the final day of the 2018 Utah Legislature (3/8/2018)
  • 484 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
  • 1,212 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

Today’s political TL; DR –

  • NEW POLL: 45% of Utahns say journalists who use anonymous sources in their reporting make those sources up [Utah Policy].
  • Our “Political Insiders” think Gordon Hayward‘s decision to leave the Utah Jazz will damage Tanner Ainge‘s campaign for the special election in Utah’s 3rd Congressional District [Utah Policy].
  • On the latest edition of the “Beg to Differ” podcast, Bryan Schott and guest host John Dougall interview congressional candidate Tanner Ainge [Utah Policy].
  • A federal judge strikes down Utah’s “ag gag” law. The statute prohibited the unauthorized filming of agricultural operations [Tribune].
  • Utah offered $5.6 million dollars to Amazon to build a fulfillment center in Salt Lake City. However, other cities did not offer such a hefty tax incentive to land Amazon facilities [Tribune]. Utah will also not disclose publicly whether Amazon is meeting certain benchmarks [Tribune].
  • The three candidates vying for the GOP nomination in November’s special congressional election will debate twice before the August 15 primary [Tribune].
  • The Senate Republican health care bill would increase the number of uninsured in Utah by 72% by 2022 [Tribune].
  • Karmen Sanone, the girlfriend/fiancee of troubled Salt Lake County Recorder Gary Ott, says Ott’s family sought guardianship over him simply because they want his money [Deseret News].
  • The state is opposing the United Utah Party’s bid to get on the November special election ballot [Deseret News].
  • Former Utah legislator Kim Burningham dies at the age of 80. Burningham was an advocate for public education [Deseret News, Tribune].
  • Salt Lake County leaders are exploring whether to separate the roles of County Sheriff and Unified Police Department Chief [Deseret News].
  • An analyst tells Salt Lake County leaders that they may not need to expand the county jail system if they commit to criminal justice reforms [Tribune].
  • The ACLU files suit against the state over whether disabled adults should have legal representation if their parents petition a court to become their legal guardian [Utah Policy, Deseret News].

National headlines:

  • Bombshell! Donald Trump Jr. and two other Trump associates met with a Kremlin-connected lawyer during the 2016 campaign because she offered damaging information about Hillary Clinton. Trump Jr. initially said the meeting was about adoption policy, but changed his story. This is the first indication that some people connected with the Trump campaign were willing to work with the Russians during the presidential election [New York Times].
  • Lawmakers in Washington were dumbfounded by President Donald Trump‘s suggestion that he may form an “impenetrable Cyber Security unit” with Russian President Vladimir Putin [Washington Post].
  • The Senate gets back to work Monday under pressure to deliver on an Obamacare repeal plan. However, the prospects for passing a health care bill are growing dimmer [Wall Street Journal]. Even Republicans are voicing growing doubts that they’ll be able to get anything done on health care [Reuters].
  • U.S. cities are upping their defenses against possible terrorist attacks using vehicles to mow down pedestrian [Washington Post].

On this day in history:

  • 1850 – Vice President Millard Fillmore became president following the death of Zachary Taylor.
  • 1890 – Wyoming became the 44th state.
  • 1940 – The Battle of Britain began during World War II as Nazi forces attacked southern England by air.
  • 1985 – Coca-Cola Co., bowing to pressure from irate customers after the introduction of New Coke, said it would resume selling its old formula.