How to Sound Smart About Utah Politics – June 24, 2014

Investigators seize 10,000 cash from the home of John Swallow. The LDS Church excommunicates the founder of Ordain Women. Predictions for Tuesday’s primary elections.

 

Countdown:

  • Today is primary election day in Utah
  • 133 days until the 2014 midterm elections
  • 216 days to the opening day of the 2015 legislature
  • 497 days until the 2015 elections
  • 573 days to the 2016 Iowa Caucuses (tentative)
  • 868 days until the 2016 presidential election

Tuesday’s top news stories:

  • Unsealed search warrants say investigators seized $10,000 in cash plus computers and other electronic devices from the home of former Attorney General John Swallow [Tribune, Deseret News].
  • The LDS Church excommunicates Kate Kelly, founder of Ordain Women, for apostasy [Tribune, Deseret News].
  • Bob Bernick makes his predictions for Tuesday’s primary [Utah Policy].
  • Democratic Attorney General candidate Charles Stormont must take leave from his job in order to run for office against his boss, Republican Attorney General Sean Reyes [Tribune].
  • Gun lobbyist Clark Aposhian’s pleads no contest to disorderly conduct [Deseret News, Tribune].
  • Rep. Chris Stewart sponsors a bill to ban government agencies from forming their own paramilitary units [Tribune].
  • The BLM approves the roundup of 140 wild horses to help reduce their numbers [Tribune].

On this day in history:

  • 1509 – Henry VII was crowned king of England.
  • 1908 – Former President Grover Cleveland died in New Jersey.
  • 1940 – France signed an armistice with Italy during World War II.
  • 1948 – Communist forces began the blockade of West Berlin, prompting the United States to organize an airlift to bring supplies.
  • 2004 – Federal investigators questioned President George W. Bush in connection with the leak of a CIA operative’s name.
  • 2009 – After disappearing for several days, South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford admitted that he had secretly flown to Argentina to visit his mistress..
  • 2011 – New York State legalized same-sex marriage.

Tuesday’s World Cup schedule:

  • Italy vs. Uruguay (10:00 am, ESPN)
  • Costa Rica vs. England (10:00 am, ESPN)
  • Japan vs. Colombia (2:00 pm, ESPN)
  • Greece vs. Ivory Coast (2:00 pm, ESPN)