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Political Cornflakes: Republicans have called it ‘zany,' but the Democrats’ Green New Deal is technologically feasible. Its political prospects are another question.

FILE - In this June 1, 2017 file photo, protesters gather outside the White House in Washington to protest President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw the Unites States from the Paris climate change accord. Environmental activists are ramping up a pressure campaign aimed at stoking Democratic support for an ambitious environmental plan known as the Green New Deal ahead of the 2020 presidential race. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Congressional Republicans have called it “zany." President Donald Trump has mocked it as a “high school term paper that got a low mark.” But the goals of the Democrats’ far-reaching Green New Deal to tackle climate change and economic inequity are within the realm of technological possibility, agree several energy experts and economists (though not within the 10-year timeframe the plan sets out). The bigger challenge is finding money and political will. [NYTimes]

Happy Friday.

Topping the news: Advocates for a bill to ban conversion therapy — a widely discredited practice that attempts to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity — gathered to rally for the proposal at the Utah State Capitol, where some discussed their own experiences undergoing the methodology. [Trib] [Fox13] [DNews]

-> After a multi-session attempt to give Utah’s hate crimes law some teeth, a bill that would do so has cleared a legislative committee. But its sponsor says it’s “not a done deal” and that the measure could still face hurdles in the full Senate. [Trib] [Fox13] [DNews]

-> During a town hall meeting on Thursday that focused mainly on Utah Sen. Mitt Romney’s stance on Trump’s actions and policies, the senator said he would have never accepted a meeting with a Russian during his own presidential campaign in 2012, a mistake he said Trump made in 2016. [Trib] [Fox13] [DNews]

-> The new Democratic and Navajo majority on the San Juan County commission voted on Tuesday to reverse positions the body had previously taken on Bears Ears National Monument. [Trib]

Tweets of the day: From @Lisa_Fine “Uh oh now I’m worried that mueller is finishing his report, replacing my previous concern that he was not finishing his report.”

-> From @SimonMaloy: “Roger Stone Sentenced To 40 Years For “Mobert Reuller” Tweet”

Behind the Headlines: Tribune senior managing editor Matt Canham, reporter Taylor Stevens, and columnist George Pyle join KCPW’s Roger McDonough talk about the week’s top stories, including the proposal to ban so-called conversion therapy in Utah. Every Friday at 9 a.m., stream “Behind the Headlines” at kcpw.org, or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast. Join the live conversation by calling (801) 355-TALK.

Friday quiz: Last week, 92 percent of you knew Orrin Hatch supporters want $2 million to build a center in his name, but only 29 percent knew that Identity Evropa, a hate group, held an anti-immigration rally at the University of Utah. Think you kept up with the news this week? Take our quiz to find out. A new one will post every Friday morning. You can find previous quizzes here. If you’re using The Salt Lake Tribune mobile app, click here. [Trib]

Happy birthday: On Saturday to Ivan DuBois, who served chief of staff at former Rep Mia Love’s office, and former state Rep Craig Frank, and on Sunday to Dennis May with KTMP AM & FM Heber City.

In other news: Many Utahns who expected to see a larger tax refund thanks to the 2017 Republican income tax restructuring have found themselves instead receiving less than in previous years or even owing more money. [Trib]

-> Following in the footsteps of Lehi, Cedar Hills became the second Utah city to pass an ordinance setting the age limit for buying tobacco at 21, up from the state’s current limit of 19. [Trib]

-> At the state level, a bill that would increase Utah’s age limit for the legal purchase of tobacco to 21 has encountered a surprising opponent: the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. [Trib] [DNews]

-> A bill aimed at cracking down on escorts operating without a license in Utah, which the measure’s sponsor believes will help reduce prostitution, passed through House. [Trib]

-> A bill is on its way to the Senate would help cities enforce their anti idling ordinances by allowing citations to be issued after a single warning instead of three. [Trib]

-> A junior at West High School was honored on the floor of the Utah Senate for rushing to provide CPR and save the life of a motorist whose car rolled over during a crash on Tuesday. [Trib] [DNews]

-> The Unified Police Department is considering discontinuing use of body cameras due to high costs. Outfitting all officers would cost more than $400,000 per year. [Trib]

-> The latest in a slew of lawsuits involving two brothers from a polygamist sect in Utah called the pair “nonparty co-conspirators” in a racketeering and fraud scheme that allegedly caused an airline in Turkey to shut down after an unsuccessful coup on the country’s president. [Trib]

-> Tribune columnist Robert Gehrke discusses the reluctance of county jails to provide data on deaths of Utah inmates while in custody and the moves legislators are making to gain access to that information. [Trib]

-> Pat Bagley illustrates Trump’s handling of nuclear secrets. [Trib]

Nationally: An investigative analyst for the Internal Revenue Service has been charged with illegally leaking the financial statements of president Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen. [WaPost]

-> A federal judge presiding over the case of longtime Trump associate Roger Stone has mandated a gag order after Stone posted a threatening picture of her Instagram. The order prohibits him from publicly discussing the charges he faces of lying to Congress and witness tampering. [Politico] [NYTimes]

-> North Carolina officials declared the state’s Ninth Congressional District election invalid and that the contest will be repeated after an inquiry into election fraud produced evidence that a Republican candidate’s campaign had financed an illegal voter-turnout effort. [NYTimes]

-> Special counsel Robert Mueller is expected to deliver the results of his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election to the Justice Department within weeks. Once the report is submitted, it’s not clear how much of it will become public or when. [NYTimes]

-> Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Send us a note to cornflakes@sltrib.com.

-- Taylor Stevens and Christina Giardinelli

twitter.com/tstevensmedia; twitter.com/C_Giardinelli