Good Wednesday morning from Salt Lake City. It's "National Ballpoint Pen Day," celebrating the invention of the writing instrument on this day in 1943.
Becker discusses the sexual harassment suit filed against Salt Lake City. Democrats are still waiting to hear from Rep. Justin Miller over allegations he stole money from Mayor Ben McAdams. The Salt Lake County Council approves building new offices for the district attorney.
Countdown:
- Days to the 2015 Utah municipal primary elections – 62
- Days to the 2015 election – 146
- Days to the 2016 Iowa Caucus (tentative) – 223
- Days to the opening day of the 2016 Utah Legislature – 230
- Days to the 2016 New Hampshire Primary – 231
- Days to the 2016 Utah primary election – 385
- Days until the 2016 presidential election – 518
Wednesday's top-10 headlines:
- Sen. Lindsay Graham, who is a bachelor, says he would have a "rotating first lady" if he wins the presidency [Politico].
- Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker discusses his re-election bid and addresses the sexual harassment lawsuit currently rocking the Salt Lake City Police Department [Utah Policy].
- Utah Democrats are growing impatient waiting for Rep. Justin Miller to respond to allegations he stole thousands of dollars from Mayor Ben McAdams' re-election campaign [Tribune].
- The Salt Lake County Council signs off on constructing two new offices for the district attorney at a cost of $65 million [Tribune, Deseret News].
- Massage parlors in 3 counties were raided as part of a crackdown on human trafficking and prostitution from the Attorney General's office [Tribune, Deseret News, Fox 13, ABC 4].
- Utah school districts are contemplating tax increases to help pay, in part, for charter schools [Tribune].
- Democrats will gather in Park City this weekend for their annual convention [Tribune].
- Salt Lake City takes another step forward with plans to redevelop the Rio Grande area of downtown [Tribune].
- Garfield County officials are grappling with rapidly declining numbers of students in their schools [Deseret News].
- It's not your imagination. Utah gas prices are among the highest in the nation [Tribune].
On this day in history:
- 1692 – Bridget Bishop was found guilty of the practice of witchcraft and hanged in Salem Village in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. She was the first colonist executed during the Salem witch trials.
- 1935 – Alcoholics Anonymous was founded in Akron, Ohio.
- 1964 – The U.S. Senate voted to limit further debate on a proposed civil rights bill, shutting off a filibuster by Southern lawmakers.
- 2007 – The final episode of "The Sopranos" aired on HBO.
- 2014 – Rep. Eric Cantor, R-Va., the U.S. House majority leader, was defeated by Tea Party challenger David Brat, a college economics professor, in one of the most stunning primary election upsets in congressional history.
