A year inside the most pro-Trump town in America. Herbert lauds Utahns, calls for tax reform in State of the State address. Senate committee advances bill for toll road in Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Happy Thursday. Miami is a town in the Texas panhandle where cows actually outnumber the 600 residents. It’s also the “most pro-Trump county in America” after national voting records showed it had the highest percentage -- more than 95 percent -- of Donald Trump voters. ABC News spent a year talking to residents about their thoughts on the president. [ABCNews]
Topping the news: Gov. Gary Herbert lauded Utahns who exemplify teamwork and encouraged more cooperation during his State of the State address Wednesday. [Trib] [DNews] [ABC4] [KUTV] [Fox13] [KSL]
-> Herbert also called for lawmakers to focus on tax reform. Utah Senate President Wayne Niederhauser agrees -- but an overhaul could take more time than lawmakers have during this year’s session. [Trib]
-> A bill aimed at creating a toll road through Little Cottonwood Canyon passed through the The Senate Transportation Committee Wednesday. The bill’s sponsor, Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, R-Sandy, said toll roads will help pay for highways when the gas tax becomes obsolete. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
Tweets of the day: From @Timodc: “If there really were an FBI deep state secret society aimed at taking down Donald Trump, they were astonishingly bad at it.”
-> From @pourmecoffee: “The Trump interview is going to be 50% questions, 50% Mueller making Jim Halpert faces”
-> From @sarahcpr: “Prediction: In the middle of Trump’s interview with Robert Mueller, Trump tries to fire him”
In other news: The Utah House voted Tuesday for a bill that would create tougher firework restrictions, including cutting down on the number of days Utahns can use them and hiking fines for violations. [Trib] [DNews]
-> The Utah House passed a bill Tuesday that prevents parents from being accused of neglect if they allow mature children to do things alone like traveling to school or playing at a park. If the bill becomes a law, it will be the first of its kind in the United States. [AP via Trib]
-> A Utah Senate committee approved a bill that would replace Utah’s Philo T. Farnsworth statue in the U.S. Capitol with a statue of Martha Hughes Cannon, the first woman elected to a state legislature. The statue of Cannon would join Utah’s other statue of Brigham Young. [DNews]
-> Utah religious leaders are supporting the passage of a bill that could create harsher penalties for hate crimes. [Trib] [KUTV]
-> Utah lawmakers are considering shutting down Parents Empowered, a program funded by liquor sales that encourages parents to prevent underage drinking. [Trib]
-> Riverton City Council voted Tuesday to increase Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs’ salary by 35 percent. Riverton’s mayor hasn’t had a pay increase since 2006. [Trib]
-> The Salt Lake Tribune’s political reporters and columnists placed bets on their predictions for the rest of the 2018 Utah legislative session in this week’s Trib Caucus Slack chat. [Trib]
-> Pat Bagley illustrates how laws are made. [Trib]
Nationally: President Donald Trump told reporters Wednesday that he will testify under oath as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian collusion during the 2016 presidential election. [WaPost]
-> Trump said Wednesday that he is open to creating a path to citizenship for young immigrants, also known as Dreamers, after 10 to 12 years. Dreamers were affected by his September 2017 decision to end the DACA program. [NYTimes]
-> Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York announced Tuesday that he has rescinded an offer he made to fund Trump’s proposed southern border wall, a move that may interrupt progress on an immigration deal. [NYTimes]
-> Trump left Washington on Wednesday for the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. He plans to advocate for bolstering the American economy. [NYTimes]
Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Want to sign up for our weekday email and get this sent directly to your inbox? Send us a note to cornflakes@sltrib.com.
-- Thomas Burr and Madalyn Gunnell
