Monday evening, Jan. 27, 2020
NATION
Romney Says Witnesses “Increasingly Likely”
Utah Sen. Mitt Romney says it’s “increasingly likely” that more Republicans will call for former National Security Adviser John Bolton to testify in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. Democrats need four Republicans to vote with them in order to call witnesses. Now it seems like they may have two — Romney himself and Maine Sen. Susan Collins. Romney told reporters Monday that he doesn’t know how Bolton’s testimony would influence his impeachment vote. — Sonja Hutson
STATE
Utah’s 2020 Legislative Session Begins
Utah’s annual legislative session began Monday morning. Over the next 45 days, lawmakers will debate and pass hundreds of bills. House Speaker Brad Wilson opened the session by taking a swing at the first agenda item on everyone’s mind — the referendum that has set repeal of a new tax law in motion. Read the full story. — Nicole Nixon
NORTHERN UTAH
Bail Set In Tooele Slaying
A judge set bail at $4 million Monday for a Utah teenager who authorities say “methodically” killed his mother and three younger siblings. The bail amount was requested by prosecutors: $1 million for each victim. Colin “CJ” Haynie, 16, is charged as an adult with aggravated murder. Authorities have said they don't know the motive in the Jan. 17 killings in Tooele, though they say he told his father he wanted to kill everyone in his family except himself. — Associated Press
American Preparatory Academy Audit
Utah education officials said they will audit a charter school in Draper over its reporting of special education funding. The Salt Lake Tribune reported the Utah Board of Education said it was unable to find evidence that American Preparatory Academy properly spent its public funds. Officials said they’ll attempt to determine whether there needs to be a partial or full repayment of more than $4 million. An investigation began last spring when the school requested an annual reimbursement for money spent on special education during the 2018-19 school year. The school has denied any misappropriation. — Associated Press
REGION
BLM Grazing Overhaul Effort
The Trump administration has spent the past month announcing sweeping changes that could benefit ranchers on public lands. They include a proposal to overhaul grazing regulations for the first time in 25 years. The Bureau of Land Management says it wants to reduce red tape for ranchers grazing cattle on federal lands across the West. But environmentalists argue these potential changes mean less oversight and could lead to overgrazing and other issues. Read the full story. — Nate Hegyi, Mountain West News Bureau