There are 96 days until the 2012 election and 179 days until the start of the 2013 legislative session.

Some of the Republican party's biggest names are coming to Utah this month to stump and raise money for Mia Love [Utah Policy, Tribune].

The Outdoor Industry Association blasts Utah's policy on public lands following a face-to-face meeting with Gov. Gary Herbert. They also say if changes aren't made, they may pull their twice-a-year trade show from Salt Lake City [Tribune, Deseret News, Standard-Examiner, KSL].

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Peter Cooke says his military background would let him defend Hill Air Force Base from closure better than Herbert [Tribune, KUTV]. Cooke's press conference on the future of the base was chased off of Hill AFB twice before being held at an abandoned gas station down the road [Standard-Examiner].

Backers of an ethics initiative that failed to make the November ballot say they will fight on [Tribune]. 

A Legislative audit blasts the UTOPIA fiber optic network for wasting money [Tribune, Deseret News, Standard-Examiner].

Another audit concludes the state spends more per student on education for inmates than other adult education programs [Tribune]. 

Utah's prosecutions of Medicaid fraud are much more effective than those in other states [Tribune].

Demand for dual-immersion language programs in Utah schools is rising [Tribune]. 

Utah's economy is showing signs of slowing down [Tribune]. 

The Utah State School Board is set to discuss Common Core educational standards [Tribune].