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Ten Things You Need to Know for Wednesday – February 18, 2015

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Utahns want to get rid of the "Zion Curtain." Bill to delay Count My Vote compromise dies in committee. The "frail Utah" Medicaid expansion plan moves ahead on the Hill.

Countdown:

  • Days to the final day of the 2015 Utah Legislature – 22
  • Days to the 2015 Utah municipal primary elections – 174
  • Days to the 2015 election – 258
  • Days to the 2016 Iowa Caucus (tentative) – 334
  • Days to the opening day of the 2016 Utah Legislature – 341
  • Days to the 2016 Utah presidential primary – 496
  • Days until the 2016 presidential election – 629

Wednesday's top-10 headlines:

  1. A new poll shows 2/3 of Utahns want to do away with the so-called "Zion Curtain" in restaurants that serve alcohol [Utah Policy].
  2. A bill to delay the Count My Vote compromise is killed in a House committee [Utah Policy, Tribune, Deseret News].
  3. A Senate panel approves Sen. Allen Christensen's "frail Utah" Medicaid expansion plan [Deseret News, Tribune].
  4. Former Gov. Jon Huntsman says he has no plans to challenge Sen. Mike Lee in 2016 [Deseret News, Tribune].
  5. The number of free meals given to lawmakers by special interest groups has dropped dramatically this session [Tribune].
  6. The Utah Senate gives preliminary approval to a $75 million property tax hike to provide more funding for poorer school districts [Tribune].
  7. A measure making not wearing a seat belt a primary offense wins approval in the House and now heads to the Senate [Tribune, Deseret News].
  8. The House gives thumbs up to a bill that would increase the number of mail-in ballots accepted by state officials [Deseret News].
  9. The House approves a bill barring people under the age of 19 from entering smoke shops [Tribune, Deseret News].
  10. Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker has a 24-1 cash advantage over Jackie Biskupski and Luke Garrott [Utah Policy].

On this day in history:

  • 1861 – Jefferson Davis was sworn in as president of the Confederate States of America in Montgomery, Alabama.
  • 1970 – Five of the Chicago Seven defendents were found guilty of intent to incite a riot at the 1968 Democratic national convention. The convictions were later overturned.
  • 1972 – The California Supreme Court struck down the state's death penalty.
  • 2001 – Veteran FBI agent Robert Hanssen was arrested, accused of spying for Russia for more than 15 years.