Countdown: Â There are 35 days to the 2013 municipal elections, 119 days until the start of the 2014 Legislature, 394 days until the 2014 midterm elections and 831 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses.
- Fingerpointing about the shutdown is rampant in Washington [Tribune].
- Sens. Mike Lee and Ted Cruz offer a plan to re-open parts of the federal government which was rejected by the Senate [Tribune].
- Sen. Lee says he won’t back down from his fight against Obamacare, but he’s worried about the effects the shutdown might have on Utahns [Deseret News].
- Rep. Jason Chaffetz says he will forego his paycheck while the federal government is closed [Tribune].
- The Salt Lake County Council moves to keep the WIC program running even though federal money won’t be forthcoming until the government re-opens [Tribune].
- Utah Republicans and Democrats both decry the federal shutdown [Tribune].
- Shuttering the federal government is hitting workers in Utah [Deseret News].
- Employees at Hill Air Force Base demonstrate against being furloughed due to the shutdown [Deseret News].
- Utanhs seeking health insurance overwhelm the healthcare exchanges on the first day they’re open [Tribune].
- Rep. Stuart Red and Rep. Kraig Powell want to raise Utah’s smoking age from 19 to 21 [Tribune].
- The Utah GOP is nearly $100,000 in debt and is asking for financial help from the county parties [Tribune].
- The “Count My Vote” group says about 1/4 of current state lawmakers privately support their efforts [Utah Policy].
- SLC Police Chief Chris Burbank says an alternative immigration bill backed by U.S. House Republicans would do more harm than good [Tribune].
- Provo City officials approve a new ordinance requiring tow companies to provide photo proof that drivers parked illegally [Fox 13].
- Salt Lake City wins a lawsuit over who owns the land beneath Lake Martha in Big Cottonwood Canyon [Tribune].
- The manager of the Ogden-Hinckley Airport was fired and replaced by former Senator and Ogden Police Chief John Greiner [Standard-Examiner].
