Countdown: There are 30 days to the 2013 municipal elections, 114 days until the start of the 2014 Legislature, 389 days until the 2014 midterm elections and 826 days until the 2016 Iowa Caucuses.
- Sen. Mike Lee’s efforts to stop Obamacare with a government shutdown is dividing pundits over whether it’s genius or foolhardy [Tribune].
- A new poll says most Utahns don’t think it’s worth shutting down the government to fight Obamacare [Deseret News].
- Utah unemployment claims jump 500% since the federal shutdown [Deseret News].
- Workers at Hill Air Force Base hail a decision by the Pentagon to call them back to work despite the shutdown [Tribune].
- The Ogden-Clearfield area is being hit hard by the shutdown because it’s one of the areas most dependent on federal jobs [Standard-Examiner].
- A group of Utahns rally in Salt Lake City to blame the shutdown on the Tea Party [Tribune].
- Donna McAleer, who lost to Congressman Rob Bishop in 2012, will again challenge for the 1st Congressional District seat [Tribune].
- The Utah House investigation into Attorney General John Swallow issues another subpoena [Tribune].
- Sen. Todd Weiler wants to make the AG’s office appointed rather than elected [City Weekly].
- LaVarr Webb and Frank Pignanelli set odds for who might replace Lt. Gov. Greg Bell [Deseret News].
- Security at the NSA’s data center at Camp Williams will not allow reporters to use video cameras anywhere on the property [Tribune].
- Mike Daniels, former mayor of Pleasant Grove, is launching a write-in campaign to regain that office [Holly on the Hill].
- There aren’t very many candidates in Morgan City’s municipal elections this year [Standard-Examiner].
- Most of the big donors to Count My Vote didn’t attend the neighborhood caucuses in 2012 [Tribune].
- Republican Marco Diaz says Utahns should work to improve the caucus system instead of getting rid of it altogether [Tribune].
- Utah Latinos rally to urge Congress to pass immigration reform [Tribune].
- SLC Mayor Ralph Becker wants to reduce pollution by offering residents discount transit passes [Tribune].
- Sen. Jim Dabakis urges Gov. Gary Herbert to make a decision about expanding Medicaid [Utah Policy].