(Rick Bowmer | AP file photo) Stephen Graham, president and CEO of Standard of Liberty, speaks during a hearing Thursday, September 26, 2019 in Salt Lake City. LGBTQ people who say they suffered shame and suicidal thoughts after receiving gay conversion therapy urged Utah state officials to approve a proposed rule banning psychologists in Utah from the already banned practice in 18 states. Opponents who spoke at the hearing countered that the rule should be tabled because they argue it will prevent parents from getting help for their children with “unwanted” homosexual feelings.
In an interview with The Atlantic, Utah Senator Mitt Romney revealed he uses a secret Twitter account to keep tabs on political conversations. His pseudonym? Pierre Delecto. [Trib]
Happy monday!
At the head of the news: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints suggests that a proposal to ban “conversion therapy” for minors would put a muzzle on therapists trying to help young people; advocates argue it would simply ban a widely discredited practice that harms members of the LGBTQ community. [Trib]
-> A new tax reform proposal aims to reduce state income tax and increase tax breaks for children and dependents while adding new sales taxes. [Trib] [KUER] [Fox13]
-> Utah’s payday loan industry is suffering, with one in four stores closing in the past three years. [Trib]
-> Despite last minute calls, Legacy Parkway will see a new 65 mph speed limit and the end of the truck ban on January 1. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
Tweets of the day: Of @UTJolley: “It’s time we taxed yoga. Namaste that, hippies.
-> From @dandrezner: “I may be just a simple political scientist from a small town, but I think the quid pro quo can happen without saying the words ‘quid pro quo’. “
-> From @HeerJeet: “Elevator pitch: A heist film where the crooks bear the names of Pierre Delecto, Carlos Danger, John Baron, Reinhold Niebuhr.”
Happy birthday: Former United States Representative Chris Cannon, David Magleby of BYU and most recently former State Representative Douglas Aagard.
Also in the news: A representative of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association said on Friday that Utah sits at a “sweet spot” between consumer access to beer, wine and spirits while considering health concerns and drinkers. minors. [Trib] [DNews] [Fox13]
-> Zipline operators at Provo Canyon Adventures won their land use battle with the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy in the Utah Supreme Court last week. [Trib]
-> Utah gun sale rates per 1,000 adults have increased 80.4% over the past decade, ranking 16th in estimated gun sales in the country in 2018. [DNews]
-> After a two-year stint as US Ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman Jr. looks back on his diplomatic experience, getting to know Russian President Vladimir Putin and his next steps in Utah. [KUER]
-> Texas Democrat and presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke said religious groups should lose their tax exemption if they oppose same-sex marriage. Ben McAdams of Utah disagrees. [DNews]
-> With the cold winter months on the way, Salt Lake City area homeless shelters are appealing for donations as more people ask for help. [Trib] [KUER]
-> A group of designers have created logos for over 20 Salt Lake City neighborhoods, from Rose Park to Sugar House. [Trib]
-> A new Veterans Resource Center opening in North Logan next month will provide connections for those in need of housing, employment and health care. [DNews]
Nationally: Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney again tried unsuccessfully to explain his comments on Ukraine, denying his remarks were evidence of a quid pro quo. [NYTimes] [AP]
-> Following accusations from rivals that she is not being candid about how she funds Medicare for All, 2020 presidential candidate and Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren said on Sunday that she plans to roll out a plan with more details in the coming weeks. [Politico] [CNN] [NYTimes]
-> President Donald Trump has reversed his decision to host the next G7 summit at Trump National in Doral, Florida, after facing a bipartisan backlash to the plan. [CNN] [NYTimes]
-> After lackluster debate performances, a recent delay in fundraising and attacks from Trump, presidential candidate Joe Biden faces growing anxiety about his candidacy for the post of commander-in-chief. [AP]
-> At his “Bernie’s Back” rally in New York, Senator Bernie Sanders received a glowing endorsement from New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. [CNN]
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– Taylor stevens and Clara Hatcher
