Stewart signing off the Daily Show. Senate Republicans can't reach a consensus on Medicaid expansion. Utahns favor professional development for teachers.
Countdown:
- Days to the final day of the 2015 Utah Legislature – 29
- Days to the 2015 Utah municipal primary elections – 181
- Days to the 2015 election – 265
- Days to the 2016 Iowa Caucus (tentative) – 341
- Days to the opening day of the 2016 Utah Legislature – 348
- Days to the 2016 Utah presidential primary – 503
- Days until the 2016 presidential election – 636
Wednesday's top-10 headlines:
- Jon Stewart announces he is leaving the Daily Show sometime this year [New York Times].
- Senate Republicans caucus behind closed doors to consider Medicaid expansion but are unable to come to a consensus [Utah Policy, Tribune, Deseret News].
- Poll shows Utahns favor professional development training for teachers [Utah Policy].
- Rep. Curt Oda says he will withdraw his bill to allow anyone to carry a concealed weapon without a permit after cutting a deal with Gov. Gary Herbert who vetoed similar legislation in 2013 [Tribune].
- The Utah House unanimously approves a bill making it clear that a person who is unconscious cannot consent to sex [Tribune].
- Sen. Orrin Hatch says Congress should give President Barack Obama more flexibility to fight ISIS and other organizations [Tribune].
- Gov. Herbert signs an executive order to increase protections for the greater sage grouse [Utah Policy, Deseret News, Tribune].
- Same-sex marriage advocate Derek Kitchen announces his candidacy for the Salt Lake City Council [Tribune, Deseret News].
- LDS Church critic John Dehlin has been excommunicated [Tribune, Deseret News].
- NBC News suspends anchor Brian Williams for six months [Daily Beast].
On this day in history:
- 1937 – A sit-down strike against General Motors ended with the company agreeing to recognize the United Automobile Workers Union.
- 1975 – Margaret Thatcher became the first woman to head a major party in Britain when she was elected leader of the Conservative Party.
- 1990 – South African black activist Nelson Mandela was freed after 27 years in captivity.
- 2011 – Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak resigned in the face of massive protests.
