Happy Tuesday!
A Republican congressman from Arizona on Monday disseminated a fake image of former President Barack Obama shaking hands with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. In his tweet, Rep. Paul Gosar wrote that the “world is a better place without these guys in power.” After a reporter pointed out the image was fake, Gosar responded that “no one said this wasn’t photoshopped.” [TheHill]
Topping the news: Erin Mendenhall was sworn in as Salt Lake City’s 36th mayor, promising to make every resident, employee, commuter, nonprofit, religious and community group feel heard, respected and valued. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
-> The Utah Department of Transportation makes road safety improvements near the South Salt Lake homeless resource center, where three pedestrians have been killed in recent weeks. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
Tweets of the day: From @slcmayor: “Okay, Salt Lake City. It’s time to get to work.”
-> From @JoyceWhiteVance: “It is very hard to trust John Bolton but I would like to believe he wants to end up on the right side of history.”
-> From @andyblarsen: “I’m a very stylish person which is why I exclusively eat microwaved foods.”
Also in the news: Utah Sen. Mitt Romney says the Senate should hear from former national security adviser John Bolton. [Trib] [DNews]
-> The Utah Republican Party and Utah County GOP have settled a lawsuit by agreeing to abide by the Americans with Disabilities Act. [APviaTrib]
-> Columnist Robert Gehrke sketches a blueprint for beating newly announced gubernatorial candidate Thomas Wright. [Trib]
-> In a pre-inaugural interview, new Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall laid out her priorities, including closing gaps in the homeless services system. [Trib]
-> Utah state lawmaker Lee Perry retires from the Utah Highway Patrol after serving 31 years. [HeraldJournal]
-> A Davis County program to divert mentally ill people who are arrested into treatment instead of jail is being hailed as an example for the state. [StandEx]
-> Faced with limited budgets and rising caseloads, judges in Utah’s 3rd District Court are sharing cases among courts and assigning juvenile judges to handle first appearances for adult defendants. [Trib]
-> A new study says Utah’s suicides by drug overdose might have been underreported by a third. [APviaTrib]
-> Salt Lake City police says some protesters who have been repeatedly arrested are simply trying to provoke officers. [DNews]
-> Cartoonist Pat Bagley provides his take on the inferno that is raging in Australia. [Trib]
Nationally: Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton said he is willing to testify, if subpoenaed, at a Senate impeachment trial. [WaPost] [Politico]
-> Read Bolton’s statement. [BoltonPAC]
-> Throngs of mourners turn out in Tehran for the funeral of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed last week by a U.S. drone strike. [WaPost]
-> Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein is charged with sex crimes in Los Angeles on the day his criminal trial gets underway in Manhattan. [LATimes] [WaPost]
-> Just days after dropping out of the Democratic presidential race, Julian Castro endorses Elizabeth Warren. [Politico]
-> Vice President Mike Pence hits the campaign trail. [Politico]
-> A team of lawyers filed a lawsuit in Washington, D.C., intended to make the court there a central venue for adult men to file sex-abuse claims against the Boy Scouts of America. [FoxBusiness]
-> California officials have sued a Silicon Valley billionaire for his years-long effort to block public access to a beach he wants to keep to himself. [LATimes]
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— Bethany Rodgers and Dan Harrie
Follow @sltribpolitics
