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Openly gay Utah politician gives reaction to Obama’s statement

SALT LAKE CITY — Mel Nimer is Utah’s first openly gay Republican to win more than 50 percent of the vote for a Utah State Senate seat in 2010.

Nimer is now in a primary for nomination to an at-large seat on the Salt Lake County Council.

Nimer talked with FOX 13 a day after President Obama announced his support of gay marriage.

“As great and wonderful as the news is, he should have made it six months ago when he made the decision,” Nimer says describing his reaction hearing Obama’s stance.

Nimer says he does not necessarily think the President’s announcement was disingenuous.

“I question it. I don’t think the guy’s lying or anything, but I question any politician that comes out with that kind of thing, the timing. It’s a game they play,” says Nimer.

Rally at Capitol Hill in support of Dream Act

Undocumented Utah residents gathered at the Utah State Capitol Thursday in support of the Dream Act.

The act would provide conditional permanent residency for students who arrived in the United States as minors and have lived in the country continuously for at least five years.

The Dream Act would require immigrants to complete two years in the military or two years in college. They would then obtain a temporary residency for six years.

State charges dropped against man who threatened Gov.

The State of Utah has dropped charges against a man who threatened Governor Herbert in February.

52-year-old Brian Biff Baker, of Kearns, was arrested Feb. 2 after police received calls that he had been text messaging an acquaintance indicating plans to shoot and kill Governor Herbert. Baker was found several blocks from the Governor’s Mansion with a gun and ammunition and arrested.

Baker faced both federal and state charges, but the state charges were dropped Thursday in favor of federal charges, which carry a stiffer penalty. Baker is now facing federal charges of transmitting threats and possession of ammunition.

Environmentalists protest at governor’s mansion

A group of protesters gathered outside Governor Herbert’s mansion Friday in opposition of his environmental policies.

The protest occurred as governors from the states of Wyoming, Nevada and Idaho met with Herbert inside the mansion for a roundtable discussion of issues like public lands, water, responsible energy development, endangered species and transportation. The governor of Colorado canceled at the last minute and, while the governor of Nevada couldn’t come to Salt Lake City, he called into the morning session.

Protesters say they’re concerned with the management of Utah’s public lands.

Herbert, Cooke weigh in on UDOT scandal

SALT LAKE CITY – Governor Gary Herbert has no intention of disciplining his head of the Department of Transportation after it was revealed John Njord wanted to tie an employee financial settlement to a political demand.

“John Njord is an extraordinary individual, probably one of the best in America when it comes to construction of roads,” the governor told reporters gathered for his monthly news conference at the University of Utah.

The controversy surrounds Denise Graham, who was fired under allegations of leaking information about the I-15 CORE bid process and then rehired on the orders of a judge. In a proposal to grant Graham $67,000 in back pay, Njord requested she sign a letter to Utah Democrats asking them not to use her story politically.

Governor Herbert wanted it clear his employees stopped the proposal when they learned of it.

Winder, Crockett to face off in GOP primary for SL Co. Mayor nomination

SALT LAKE CITY — Republicans Mike Winder and Mark Crockett will be facing off in a primary election for Salt Lake County Mayor after neither candidate earned the required 60 percent of the delegate votes in their convention.

Nearly 1,500 GOP delegates were at the Salt Palace on Saturday to pick their party’s nominees for Salt Lake County Mayor and other seats.

Six candidates were in the running when the convention started, but by early afternoon those had been narrowed down to two: West Valley City Mayor Mike Winder and local businessman Mark Crockett, who each received 32 percent of the delegate votes. Merrill Cook, Larry Decker, Gary W. Ott and Richard Snelgrove were eliminated after the first round of voting.

Winder and Snelgrove had been front-runners coming into the convention, but some delegates changed their minds once they heard the candidates speak.

Postal workers rally to oppose bill that would limit mail service

US postal workers rallied outside the Federal Building in downtown Salt Lake City on Thursday, calling on Congress to save their jobs.

The US Senate is considering legislation that would discontinue Saturday mail delivery and front door service.

Local business owners and postal workers gathered to protest the bill. Organizers say the public can take action to help shoot the proposed legislation down.

"The public can call their Senator, they can call their Representative and tell them that you want your mail. You want front door service, you want your mail 6 days a week and you don't want them to close the Postal Service," said Chad Mortenson.

Workers at the rally say that about 220,000 jobs could be lost if the bill passes.