Countdown: There are 36 days to the 2013 municipal elections, 120 days until the start of the 2014 Legislature, 395 days until the 2014 midterm elections and 832 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses.
- Lawmakers in Washington couldn’t overcome partisan gridlock and shut down the federal government [Politico].
- Up to 40,000 Utahns could be furloughed because of the federal shutdown [Tribune].
- Workers at Utah’s military basis won’t know whether they are affected by the shutdown until they show up to work on Tuesday [Tribune].
- Gov. Gary Herbert has been calling a number of state senators to discuss who he might tap to replace outgoing Lt. Gov. Greg Bell [Utah Policy].
- The panel studying whether to move the Utah State Prison comes up with a process to solicit bids for the project [Tribune].
- Utah releases a second round of grades for public schools [Tribune].
- LaVarr Webb wonders why Americans dislike Congress as a whole, but continue to support their own member of Congress [Utah Policy].
- Some Utah lawmakers disagree with a policy put in place by the Utah Board of Education which bans parents who help vet the questions used on standardized tests from discussing their experiences [Tribune].
- The number of Utahns without health insurance stays steady at a tick over 13% [Tribune].
- Salt Lake City officials unveil a plan to crack down on drug use and crime around Pioneer Park while helping the homeless at the same time [Tribune].
- Whoops! West Valley City Mayoral candidate Ron Bigelow didn’t know the position actually gets a vote on every issue before the city council [Tribune].
- Operators of a medical waste incinerator in North Salt Lake deny claims they violated pollution limits [Deseret News].
- SLCC president Cynthia Bioteau is a finalist for a similar job in Florida [Tribune].
- Developers unveil a plan for a new 24-story office building in downtown Salt Lake City [Deseret News].