Countdown: 5 days until early voting starts in Utah, 19 days until the 2012 election, 103 days to the start of the 2013 legislative session.

Orrin Hatch and Scott Howell meet in their only televised debate ahead of the election [Utah Policy, Tribune, Deseret News, KSL, ABC 4].

Did Lt. Gov. Greg Bell initiate an audit of DCFS at the behest of a friend from church? [City Weekly]

Even though we don’t know the outcome of November’s election yet, leadership races are already in full swing on Capitol Hill [Utah Policy].

Rep. Fred Cox proposes a bill to allow a judge to determine fault in a divorce when awarding alimony [Deseret News, ABC 4].

Former Rep. Holly Richardson is confirmed to the state records committee [Tribune].

UDOT wants to limit the number of hybrid and clean-fuel vehicles allowed to use the HOV lane [Tribune].

Rep. Steve Eliason wants to allow Utah prisoners to posthumously become organ donors [Tribune].

Lawmakers back away from a proposal to help pay for the proposed Lake Powell pipeline [Tribune].

An internal poll shows Democrat Ben McAdams with a slight lead over Mark Crockett [Tribune].

A judge sets a Feb. 15th court date for Utah’s immigration law [Tribune].