How to Sound Smart About Utah Politics – April 1, 2014

Judges that will hear the Amendment 3 appeal named. Johnson withdraws from 4th Congressional District race. Herbert signs bill making “revenge porn” illegal.

 

Countdown:

  • 24 days until the Utah State Republican and Democratic conventions
  • 84 days until Utah’s 2014 primary elections
  • 217 days to the 2014 midterm elections
  • 300 days to the start of the 2015 Utah Legislature
  • 580 days to the 2015 elections
  • 645 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses
  • 951 days to the 2016 presidential election

Today’s Utah political news highlights:

  • The three judge panel that will hear the Amendment 3 appeal is named [Tribune].
  • Jennifer Johnson, a Republican candidate in Utah’s 4th Congressional District, withdraws from the race [Deseret News, Tribune].
  • A glitch at the state office caused some Utah Republican candidates getting incomplete delegate lists following last week’s caucus meetings, which is fueling some conspiracy theories [Tribune].
  • The race for House District 57 is heating up [Utah Policy]. 
  • Gov. Gary Herbert signs a bill making “revenge porn” illegal [Tribune].
  • The attorney for accused businessman Marc Sessions Jenson says the decision by the Attorney General’s office to charge his client with fraud was politically motivated [Tribune].
  • Utahns are frustrated by website problems on the final day to sign up for insurance under Obamacare [Standard-Examiner].
  • 17 teachers in the Ogden School District have been asked to not return next year [ABC 4].
  • The Pleasant Grove City Council has begun looking at a new building for the city’s fire and police departments [Daily Herald].
  • Neighbors around Pioneer Park are concerned by the growing number of transients in the park [Tribune].

On this day in history:

  • 1789 – The U.S. House of Representatives held its first full meeting in New York City.
  • 1853 – Cincinnati became the first U.S. city to pay its firefighters a regular salary.
  • 1933 – Nazi Germany began persecuting Jews with a boycott of Jewish-owned businesses.
  • 1945 – American forces invade Okinawa during World War II.
  • 1960 – The first weather satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral.
  • 1970 – President Richard Nixon signed a measure banning cigarette advertising on radio and TV.
  • 1976 – Apple Computer was founded.
  • 1984 – Singer Marvin Gaye was shot to death by his father.
  • 1987 – President Ronald Reagan told doctors in Philadelphia “We’ve declared AIDS public health enemy No. 1.”
  • 2008 – The Pentagon made public a legal memo that approved the use of harsh interrogation techniques against terror suspects.