Ten Things You Need to Know for Wednesday – December 3, 2014
Bryan Schott
Obama may tap Carter for Defense. Republicans squabble over "Count My Vote." Becker shuts down two proposed prison sites.
Countdown:
Days until the opening day of the 2015 Utah Legislature – 54
Days to the final day of the 2015 Utah Legislature – 99
Days to the 2015 Utah municipal primary elections – 251
Days to the 2015 election – 335
Days to the 2016 Iowa Caucus (tentative) – 411
Days until the 2016 presidential election – 706
Wednesday's top-10 headlines:
President Obama reportedly has settled on Ashton Carter as the next Secretary of Defense to replace Chuck Hagel [New York Times].
The Supreme Court will hear arguments today on whether employers must make accommodations for pregnant employees [U.S. News and World Report].
Utah's Democrats switch their position on the "Count My Vote" compromise while some GOP lawmakers support the Republican lawsuit against the law [Utah Policy, Deseret News, Tribune].
LaVarr Webb pens an open letter to Republicans who back the lawsuit against the CMV compromise law [Utah Policy].
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker outlines a number of objections to a pair of potential sites for Utah's prison relocation within the city limits [Deseret News, Tribune].
Rep. Jason Chaffetz tangles with Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson over immigration [Utah Policy, Tribune].
Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox says getting lawmakers on board with Gov. Gary Herbert's Healthy Utah alternative to Medicaid expansion is going to be a difficult task [Tribune].
A number of Utah politicos are urging Congress to pass Internet sales tax legislation [Deseret News].
A judge says prosecutors must refile charges against John Swallow and Mark Shurtleff if the state wants to separate the criminal proceedings against the two men [Tribune].
The Salt Lake City Main Library is looking at a pilot program that would keep the facility open around the clock [Deseret News].
On this day in history:
1818 – Illinois became the 21st state.
1967 – Surgeons in South Africa performed the first human heart transplant.
1979 – Eleven people were killed in a crush of fans at Cincinnati's Riverfront Coliseum before a concert by The Who.
1984 – More than 4,000 people died after a cloud of gas escaped from a pesticide plant operated by Union Carbide in Bhopal, India.