SandBoxBlogs: Red State "Election Year Barometer: Watch Sens. Dick Lugar & Orrin Hatch"

'scorpio0679' Diary:
"For those who have written-off the TEA party as having lost influence or worse yet, dead, will have their first real test coming up in a few weeks. Not long ago, Orrin Hatch, the long-time senator from Utah, was narrowly prevented from walking away with the GOP nomination when the TEA party prevented him from achieving 60 percent of the vote at the state’s nominating convention. He will now face challenger Dan Liljenquist in a primary election this June. Orrin Hatch is a long-time Washington insider with moderate tendencies who once stated that he wished to punch conservative activists in the mouth and that the TEA party was filled with radical libertarians.

Similarly, Dick Lugar, the 36-year incumbent senator from Indiana, has been in the TEA party’s cross-hairs for a long time. After a conference of 70 TEA party groups declared their unanimous opposition to his re-nomination, conservative Richard Mourdock declared his candidacy to take him on. The most recent indicators suggest that Lugar is at serious risk of losing in the May 8 primary. The Washington Post reports that some Lugar supporters may be bailing on him in the homestretch. Remember that Lugar is the guy that takes money from George Soros, refused to sign a letter supporting the lawsuit against Obamacare, voted to confirm both Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, and has a horrible record on gun rights.

Taking on and defeating entrenched incumbents is nothing new to the TEA party. If, as some claim, the TEA party’s day has come and gone, well-funded establishment moderates like Sens. Lugar and Hatch should easily dispatch their insurgent opponents. On the other hand, if the coming electoral season will be another TEA party bloodbath (ala Fall 2010), these two primaries may well be the warning bells....."
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SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Good for Shea"

Lakshmi Johal-Dominguez, Orem:

"Thank you, Pat Shea, for being a truth-teller ("Utah: A beehive of corruption," Opinion, April 21). Last week, I heard Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, give a legislative update, and what a noble spin he gave to the federal land-grab issue.

As a taxpayer, I want a list of the legislators and lobbyists who will make money if this "indefensible legislation" goes through. How many conflicts of interest, wrapped up in patriotism, are involved in this "fantasy claim" of state ownership of RS2477 roads?

I want a published list of the campaign contributions given in exchange for pushing this agenda. Which oil and gas companies will benefit? Which land developers and realtors will benefit? How much secret money will change hands behind closed doors?

How clever and corrupt to have us taxpayers foot the legal bill for a losing proposition! I’m with Shea — we need to get rid of the extremist poison of the connivers, the manipulators and the greedy.

We must elect responsible leaders to serve Utahns in a open and nonpartisan environment. Let’s remove those from office who think they can set up their personal financial kingdoms and "who believe that they alone know the truth of things...."  (Read more?  Click title)

SandBoxUtah: CBS "Utah: Chronic homelessness down 9 percent"

(See related stories here and here)

"SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Chronic homelessness continued to drop in Utah despite an overall increase in the homeless population, state officials said Monday.

Overall, there are an estimated 540 chronically homeless people living on Utah's streets, according to an annual population count. That is 9 percent fewer than in 2011 and the seventh year in a row that the number has dropped, said Gordon Walker, director of the Division of Housing and Community Development.

The homeless population did increase by 13 percent, from an estimated 14,351 to 16,642, which Walker said is expected during a weak economy.

But because of the continued reduction in chronic homelessness — when a person has been homeless for more than a year, or multiple times within the past five years — there is more room at housing shelters for those who are temporarily homeless.

Homeless outreach groups have conducted the annual census since 2004. Walker said they do the count on the same night in January, which provides consistency, and have a statistical model that accounts for the homeless they miss...."  (Read more?  Click title)

SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Utah governor scolds UDOT boss, but backs him "

Robert Gehrke:
"Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday he supports John Njord, although he criticized the state transportation boss over the way the high-profile reinstatement of a fired employee has been handled.

"He already knows my displeasure," Herbert said during his monthly KUED TV news conference, referring to a meeting he had Wednesday with the Utah Department of Transportation director.

Njord fired employee Denice Graham more than a year ago, accusing her of leaking information about a $1.1 billion contract to rebuild Interstate 15 through Utah County. A judge ordered her reinstated earlier this year, but Graham’s attorneys and UDOT have been at odds over her back wages...." 

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SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Huntsman stirs crowd at Envision Utah celebration "

Cathy Mckitrick:
"Jon Huntsman Jr. may not have excited the Republican base this year as he sought to become his party’s presidential nominee, but among Envision Utah colleagues Monday the popular two-term governor and former U.S. Ambassador to China enjoyed star status.

Huntsman spoke to about 280 people at the 2012 Corporate Friends Breakfast, the kick-off event to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of Envision Utah, a volunteer organization that launched in 1997 to help chart Utah’s future course. In 1999, Huntsman replaced Robert Grow to serve as the organization’s second chairman...." (Read more? Click title)

SandBoxUtah: Newsmax "Pete Sessions: Obamacare Has Cost Medicare Budget $500 Billion"

Martin Gould and John Bachman:
"The country has to accept that the Medicare budget has lost $500 billion due to President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul, and figure out a way to work around it, Republican Congressional Committee chairman Pete Sessions tells Newsmax.TV.

Unless the Supreme Court rules to overturn the law completely the money will not come back, so Republicans have to make sure the public is aware of the situation – and who is to blame – before the November elections.

“We have the responsibility as policymakers in Washington to deal with the law,” the Texas congressman said in an exclusive interview. “Now that we know the $500 billion, by law, is gone, we have to deal with that....."  (Read more?  Click title)

SandBoxUtah: Fox 13 "Four rescued from Utah Lake after canoe capsize"

Brittany Green-Miner and Zach Whitney:
"UTAH LAKE – Four people were rescued from Utah Lake Saturday afternoon after their canoe flipped.
Utah Park Rangers and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a boat in distress on Utah Lake at around 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Witnesses say a small canoe was out on the water and tipped, throwing two passengers into the 60-degree water.
“
We looked over and we see a canoe tipped over on the side,” said Michael Hoffman, who saw the boat tip. ”Police started coming and everything, so we knew it was an emergency.”

The group was near the shore of the lake and was able to get onto land, though they were in the water for about 45 minutes. One of the teens showed the beginning signs of hypothermia and was hospitalized...."
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SandBoxUtah: Salon "Beware the Romney boys"

(Photo Credit: iStockphoto/gmnicholas/Salon/Benjamin Wheelock)

Sarah Laskow:
"If Barack Obama beats Mitt Romney in November, the political prospects of the Romney boys will take a hit, as well. But if their dad wins, whatever ambitions Tagg and Josh have will get a boost. And there will still be time enough for Matt, Craig or Ben to decide to give politics a try. Given how American dynasties work, “the odds are very great that at least one of them is going to go into the family business at some time,” says Hess...." (Read more?  Click title)

SandBoxUtah: CBS News "Utah leaders back ski lift connection"

"SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce is organizing a coalition to push for a ski lift that would connect two Utah resorts if Congress goes along with a sale of national forest land.

The chamber is enlisting notable Utah figures who say it's the start of something big — the first lift connection among the cluster of Wasatch resorts. Together they could make for North America's largest skiing complex.

Jake Garn — former U.S. senator, Navy pilot and astronaut — says a gondola connecting the Canyons and Solitude resorts would allow people to ski both sides of the Wasatch mountains without driving around.

The LIFT UTAH coalition was announced Tuesday as 40 backcountry skiers and environmentalists stood outside the Salt Lake chamber to protest the development of high alpine terrain where the snow piles deep....."  (Read more?  Click title)

SandBoxUtah: Market Watch Intrepid Potash, Inc. Announces BLM Approval of the HB Solar Solution Mine Project and Commencement of Construction"

"Intrepid Potash, Inc.  announced today that on March 19, 2012, the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") issued its Record of Decision ("ROD") approving the HB Solar Solution mine near Carlsbad, New Mexico and, with the BLM's approval, Intrepid immediately commenced construction activities on the project. The ROD became final this month.

Intrepid's Executive Chairman of the Board, Bob Jornayvaz, stated, "We are very pleased to have begun construction of our HB project after more than three years of the BLM's careful review and study of the project's environmental impacts. This project is a game changer for Intrepid that will allow us to capitalize on our solution mining and solar evaporation expertise that we have developed from our current operations in Moab and Wendover, Utah. The HB Solar Solution mine will be one of the lower-cost potash mines in North America with cash costs estimated to be between $60 and $80 per ton, improving our overall cost profile and margin opportunity. We also expect the mine to increase our potash production by approximately twenty-five percent." Mr. Jornayvaz continued, "The tremendous support for the project from the Carlsbad community; local, state, and federal government; and the oil and gas operators in the area was integral to our successful navigation of the Environmental Impact Statement process required by the National Environmental Policy Act. The ROD validates that the project meets the requirements for balanced management of public lands."..."  (Read more?  Click title)

SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Utah extends public comment period for refinery expansion"

Judy Fahys:
"State regulators have again extended the public comment period for Tesoro’s proposed refinery expansion.

On Monday, the Utah Division of Air Quality said it was extending the deadline to June 7 — partly to accommodate critics who have a beef with the Salt Lake City plant’s expansion and who will be required to pursue their concerns in a new appeals system that begins May 8. The comment period was originally set to end in March...."  (Read more?  Click title)

SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "News roundup: Huntsman compares the GOP to China"

"Huntsman compares GOP to China. Hatch's political turn-around. Utah's new political rock star.

Happy Tuesday. It wasn't that long ago that Jon Huntsman ran for the Republican presidential nomination, now the former Utah governor is becoming one of the party's greatest antagonists, recently comparing it to communist China. [WaPost] [ChiTrib] [DNews]..."  (Read more Political Cornflakes?  Click title)

SandBoxUtah: Bleeding Heartland "No Romney endorsers on new Iowa GOP State Central Committee "

''desmoinesdem':
"The Iowa GOP's new State Central Committee consists of 16 people, four chosen from each of Iowa's four new Congressional districts. The only Republicans able to vote for the central committee members were delegates to yesterday's district conventions. Those delegates were previously elected at Iowa GOP county conventions in March.
 
The Iowa Republican blog asked all publicly announced candidates for the State Central Committee three questions, including "Who [sic] did you caucus for in 2012?" Kevin Hall posted a handy "voter guide" about the GOP committee candidates here.
 
It's remarkable how few people running for the State Central Committee wanted to associate themselves with the certain Republican nominee.

Hall mentioned seven candidates in IA-01, eight in IA-02, nine in IA-03, and eleven in IA-04. I don't know how many people ran for the central committee at the district conventions without publicly announcing their bids ahead of time. One of the people elected in IA-04, Kris Thiessen, was not mentioned in Hall's post...."
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SandBoxUtah: Red State "What is the Cost of EPA Interference? "

Ben Howe:
"I’ve written several posts here about the cost of EPA interference in our lives. Estimates of job losses at the hands of the supposedly well-intentioned Environmental Protection Agency are in the millions. As Lisa Jackson’s EPA continues its unrelenting war against coal, an obvious thing is going to happen: the cost of powering your home and your daily life is going to go up. In fact, it’s going to skyrocket. Don’t take it from me, take it from the man himself...."  (Read more? Click title)

SandBoxUtah: Fox 13 "Son of former Utah governor chosen as running mate"

Aaron Vaughn:
"SALT LAKE CITY — It is a name not seen on a Utah ballot for nearly four decades. A Democrat with Utah family history may provide Democrats with some new firepower on their gubernatorial ticket.


Utah governor’s candidate, and retired military general, Peter Cooke, announced Vince Rampton, the son of former Governor Cal Rampton, as his running mate. The two of them tried to send a message about Utah Democrats on Thursday.

“We have a message that is so important that without a two party system, how do you have a democracy?” asked Cooke.

With that message, Cooke introduced a man whose name recalls a time when Utah elected Democrats. Rampton’s father, Cal, served as governor for three terms. But that was a long time ago.

“For my entire lifetime, the LDS Democrat has lived in kind of a shadow world. It’s this terribly timid ‘I’m one are you one too?’” says Vince Rampton....."  (Read more?  Click title)

SandBoxUtah: Fox 13 "Republican delegate lavished with praise from candidates"

Aaron Vaughn:
"WEST JORDAN — There are 4,000 Utahns getting a lot of attention right now because they are delegates to state party conventions. And with the most contentious set of races in a long time, Republican delegates might be getting more attention than they want.


“My mailbox every day looks like I’ve forgotten to pick up my mail for a week,” says Ann Ford, who is lavished with attention as a Republican delegate...."  (Read more?  Click title)

SandBoxUtah: Talk Radio "INTERVIEW: Sean Reyes - Candidate For Attorney General"

Listen to this good interview of candidate for Utah AG Sean Reyes?  Click title.

SandBoxUtah: KSL Utah "Busted Spice operation may be part of nationwide drug ring"

(See related stories here and here)

 

Interesting to read some of the avatar comments around the State of Utah  on this bust.  There seems to be about the same ratio of pro-law enforcement to the legalize all drugs crowd to just nonsense trolls talking just to hear themselves.

 

Which is roughly what we have on the Western Slope of Colorado in commentary.  I would be curious to see what some of you who follow SandBox could do out there in trying to get a true dialogue going on one of their forums.  just sayin. 

 

Thank you to all the agencies, officers and agents who participated in this major bust. You're appreciated in both Utah and Colorado. 

 

Alex Cabrero:

"St. George — Police recovered more than $1 million worth of Spice and bath salts from a St. George warehouse earlier this week. Now investigators say the southern Utah operation could be a big part of a nationwide supply chain.

 
"This distribution center that was here in southern Utah was supplying Spice and bath salts throughout the U.S.," said Lt. David Moss, Commander of the Washington County Area Drug and Gang Task Force.
"That's just what they call it," Moss continued. "Spice is not spice you put on your food, and bath salts (are) not something you put in your bath."
 
They're really illegal drugs. Spice has a similar effect on the body as marijuana, Moss said, and bath salts act a lot like methamphetamine.
 
The warehouse was full the drug, made and distributed from inside. This week, police made five arrests on drug charges and took evidence from smoke shops in Washington and St. George.
 
KSL News left messages with the owners of those shops to get their side of the story, but they did not return our calls.
 
A worker at the Earrings and More smoke shop claims everything police took was legal.
 
"The people we arrested were the ones that were manufacturing and distributing, and are the ones that were supplying it to some of these businesses," Moss said.

Both drugs have become a big problem in southern Utah, Moss said, but part of the reason might be because the State Legislature made the drugs illegal about a year ago."

SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Utah wage growth outpaced U.S. in 2011 "

Paul Beebe:

"The latest details about Utah wages add fresh evidence that the state’s economy is healing faster than the rest of the nation — albeit modestly.

The median wage for all Utah occupations was $32,050 in 2011 — up a moderate 2.4 percent from the previous year, according to Department of Workforce Services figures.

The U.S. median wage grew at a slower pace. It rose just 1.8 percent between 2010 and last year, according to the department’s figures.

"That may be a little bit of an indicator that Utah’s economy is perking up a little bit faster than the nation’s," John Mathews, a department economist, said Thursday.

Utah’s latest median wage managed to reverse several years of declining growth. In 2007, the median in the state was 3.9 percent higher than in 2006. But as the recession settled in, growth slowed. Subsequent increases in each of the succeeding years were progressively smaller before finally bottoming out in 2010 at 1.7 percent....." (Read more?  Click title)

SandBoxUtah: Reuters "Court says Arizona can demand voter identification"

Tim Gaynor:
"A U.S appeals court on Tuesday ruled Arizona may require voters to show identification at the polls, a ruling likely to add fuel to the fiery debate about voting rights in a presidential election year.

But the court also ruled the state cannot demand that they show proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, a decision the state's attorney general said he would appeal.

That could set the stage for yet another U.S. Supreme Court showdown over a contentious Arizona law touching on citizenship issues. Next week, the high court will hear arguments over the state's effort to crack down on illegal immigration....." (Read more?  Click title)