President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee spent more than $100 million on celebrating his arrival to office a couple years ago, including $10,000 for makeup alone. The spending total is double or more what former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush raised for their first and second inaugurations. Federal prosecutors are examining donations to Trump’s inaugural committee and whether any of them were illegal, foreign contributions passed through Americans. Most of the spending from the committee was related to staff payroll and hotel chains or other vendors involved in the events surrounding Trump’s inauguration. About $1.5 million went to Trump International Hotel for services such as the use of a ballroom. [NYTimes]
Happy Tuesday.
Topping the news: Four weeks into the government’s shutdown, the executive director of the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget gave an update on the status of Utah’s national parks and other governmental operations, saying things are OK for now but won’t be indefinitely. [Trib] [DNews] [KUER]
-> As beer selection dwindles in Utah’s grocery and convenience stores, a coalition made up of small-business owners, beer distributors, brewers and grocery stores is pushing state legislators to raise the state’s 3.2 alcohol content law. [Trib]
-> House Republican leaders swiftly removed Rep. Steve King of Iowa from the Judiciary and Agriculture Committees after he said he didn’t understand why the terms “white supremacist” and “white nationalist” are offensive during an interview with The New York Times. Sen. Mitt Romney and Rep. Chris Stewart, both Republicans from Utah, have called for King’s resignation over the remarks. [NYTimes] [WaPost] [Politico] [Trib]
-> Equality Utah, an LGBTQ rights group, is urging state lawmakers to ban conversion therapy for minors in the upcoming legislative session. The group’s executive director pointed to research showing children who go through conversion therapy are more likely to attempt suicide. [Fox13] [KUER]
Tweets of the day: @SpencerJCox: “Stopped by one of our amazing state parks earlier this weekend (Snow Canyon). You’ll be happy to know they are all open and functioning normally. In fact, the last time our state government shut down was... *checks notes* Never!”
-> @aedwardslevy: “our nation has done a terrible job of protecting our Borders, and I really miss having neighborhood chain bookstores”
-> @ElizLanders: “@mkraju asks @lisamurkowski if she thinks @realDonaldTrump is working on behalf of Russia: “No, that’s like something out of crazy spy novel. But I think that questions have been raised that need to be answered.”
Happy Birthday: to former state Rep. Steven Mascaro.
In other news: In wake of the shooting that took place Sunday at Fashion Place mall, police are encouraging the public to be aware of their surroundings. Authorities say those caught in future shootings must decide whether they should run, hide or fight based off of the specifics of the situation. [Trib]
-> Police arrested two suspects in connection with the shooting that took place at Fashion Place mall Sunday. Both were 19 years old, and police believe they are involved with the “Florencia 13” gang. They were booked for felony discharge of a firearm and attempted homicide. [Trib] [KUTV] [Fox13] [KSL] [DNews] [KUER]
-> Members of the Utah National Guard share differing views on whether a southern border wall is necessary, perspectives shaped by their deployment to the Arizona-Mexico border in 2006 and 2007. [Trib]
-> Former Utah State University football star Torrey Green, who is charged with raping five women and sexually assaulting a sixth, is in his second week of trial. At the courthouse Monday, attorneys questioned the Logan police detective who first looked into complaints against Green. [Trib] [DNews]
-> A report by the Utah Department of Health has found that about six percent of adults in Utah acknowledge they used marijuana in the past month, many of them recreationally. [Trib] [Fox13]
-> Pat Bagley drew President Donald Trump and Sen. Mitch McConnell surrounded by flames, as McConnell says, “This is fine.” [Trib]
Nationally: William P. Barr, President Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general, has pledged to allow special counsel Robert Mueller to continue his investigation into Russian interference during the 2016 presidential election. Barr’s promise is aimed at calming Democrats who are afraid he might shut the investigation down at Trump’s request. [NYTimes] [Politico] [CNN] [WaPost]
-> The Federal District Court in Philadelphia rolled out a nationwide injunction to block the Trump administration from interfering with access to free birth control as guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act. [NYTimes] [Politico]
-> President Donald Trump spoke Monday at an annual convention for the American Farm Bureau Federation, as farmers are grappling with the impacts of the ongoing federal government shutdown. [Politico]
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-- Bethany Rodgers and Sahalie Donaldson
https://twitter.com/bethrodgersslt?lang=en and https://twitter.com/sahalied?lang=en
