Countdown: 50 days until the 2012 election, 134 days to the start of the 2013 legislative session.

Rep. Jim Matheson has a higher favorable rating in Salt Lake County than Mitt Romney [Utah Policy].

Gov. Gary Herbert and his Democratic challenger, Peter Cooke, face off in their first debate [Utah Policy, Tribune, Deseret News, ABC 4].

Salt Lake County Mayoral Candidates Mark Crockett and Ben McAdams spar over SkiLink in their first debate ahead of November’s election [Tribune, KSL].

The race between Jim Matheson and Mia Love shows no signs of a letup as attacks on the two candidates are getting sharper [Tribune].

Claims by both Love and Matheson about public safety issues are on shaky factual ground [KUTV].

A federal court upholds the conviction of environmental activist Tim DeChristopher [Tribune, Deseret News, ABC 4].

A change passed by the Legislature last year allowed some Utah lawmakers to accept free tickets to the Utah vs. BYU football game [Tribune].

Paul Rolly says there’s a reason EnergySolutions was not called on the carpet after a legislative audit said there was little oversight of radioactive waste in Utah’s west desert - big campaign donations [Tribune].

The Utah Transit Authority refuses to information on the retirement package of former top executive John Inglish [KSL].

Some say Utah’s new online renewal system for concealed weapons permits creates an unacceptable public safety issue [Deseret News].