The government shut down for 5½ hours. A British newspaper reports that a Utah lawmaker stepped down because he paid an escort for sex. Karl Rove says President Donald Trump is not the worst this country has seen.

Happy Friday. Five and a half hours. That’s how long the government shutdown lasted early this morning. And it’s the second time in less than a month. Check out this play-by-play of how it happened. [USAToday]

Topping the news: The ex-wives of former White House official Rob Porter said their LDS bishops were of no help when they shared accounts of Porter’s alleged abuse. [Trib]

-> A British newspaper reported that recently resigned state Rep. Jon Stanard twice paid a call girl for sex. [Trib] [DNews] [KUTV] [Fox13] [KSL]

-> New documents suggests that state Rep. Norm Thurston — who was punished for making an inappropriate comment to a woman working at the Capitol — has a history of workplace misconduct. [Trib]

-> Republican strategist Karl Rove suggested that political discourse in the past has been more “nasty and mean and vicious” than what President Donald Trump has tweeted. [Trib]

Tweets of the day: From @seungminkim: “This will be the dumbest shutdown ever.”

-> From @pattonoswalt: “Everyone in the armed forces should claim they have bone spurs and do the parade riding golf carts.”

-> From @TheDiLLon1: “Robert Mueller gonna bring Quincy Jones in and really crack this investigation open.”

Happy Birthday: On Sunday to former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt.

Behind the Headlines: Tribune Washington bureau chief Thomas Burr, health, education and environment editor Tony Semerad, senior managing editor Matt Canham and columnist Robert Gehrke join KCPW’s Roger McDonough to talk about the week’s top stories, including the resignation of St. George Republican Rep. Jon Stanard and a tax break for EnergySolutions. Each Friday morning, stream “Behind the Headlines” online at kcpw.org or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast.

In other news: Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke will make another visit to Utah on Friday and is expected to make a “major conservation announcement.” [DNews] [KSL]

-> The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nomination of controversial candidate Howard Nielson Jr. for Utah’s federal court. [Trib]

-> The world is gathering for the Winter Olympics in Korea, but many are still uneasy due to ongoing political tensions. [Trib]



-> Lawmakers dropped the LDS Church-supported bill that would change Utah’s law about recording conversations. [Trib] [DNews]

-> The House narrowly rejected a bill that would have forced candidates to choose collecting signatures or participating in convention to get on the primary ballot — but not both. [Trib] [DNews]

-> The House also voted down a bill that would require teens accused of killing on-duty police officers to be tried as adults. [Trib]

-> The Senate, too, voted to reduce the number of days that it is legal to do fireworks from 14 to eight. [Trib]

-> Despite some lawmakers appearing uncomfortable about the decision, a bill that would make it clear that it’s legal for mothers to breastfeed in public advanced on Thursday. [Trib]

-> “Rosie’s bill” would require law enforcement agencies to share data with the state on any unsolved homicides or missing persons cases that have remained open for longer than three years. [Trib]

-> Proposed legislation would ensure that police officers could not have arrest or ticket quotas. [Trib] [KUTV]

-> A new bill would delay Utah’s new stricter drunken driving law until December 2022. [Trib] [DNews]

-> Pat Bagley depicts the new Republican pet. [Trib]

-> Robert Gehrke believes lawmakers should step aside and let the public decide when it comes to this year’s ballot measures. [Trib]

-> Michelle Quist argues that gender in politics is not a zero-sum game. [Trib]

Nationally: Stock prices are fluctuating as the market continues its downward spiral. [NYTimes] [WaPost]

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