Salt Lake Crawler

What you missed when you checked out this weekend . . .

Can you apologize in a time capsule? — A group of scientists say U.S. nuclear regulators should say they are sorry to Utah and generations over the horizon of time for approving the dumping of radioactive waste in shallow pits in the West Desert. It seems the pits will be under water a few hundred years out of every millennium making a mess out of what will still be Orrin Hatch's senate district.

Between a rock and the grassroots — The Utah Legislature is getting backed into a corner on ethics reform. Though a highly ignorable governor's commission is recommending civilized standards of behavior for lawmakers, what is scaring the bejabbers out of them is a citizens initiative effort that is relentless moving forward despite nearly total resistance by the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Gay rights fatigue — A new poll finds that while a slight majority of California voters supports the right of gays to marry— a much larger majority of voters opposes efforts to put the issue back on the ballot next year.

Shame on Orrin — The conservative National Review wags a finger at Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch for including faith healing in the Senate's health-care bill— not because it blurs separation of church and state, but because it's a waste of taxpayer dollars.

Mitt, Nancy & Harry — When he speaks to Republicans in Jacksonville, Fla., this week, Mitt Romney, would-be GOP presidential candidate, may face a tea party thrown by conservatives who remember he is the commissar who instituted socialism in Massachusetts under the guise of healthcare. A Jacksonville, Fla., activist calls Mitt's major achievement as Massachusetts governor the "Nancy & Harry Health Care Plan for America", after demonic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Some closure in Texas — Polygamist Sect Member Raymond Jessop, convicted of sexually assaulting a child, us up for sentencing today. He could face 20 years in prison. He still faces bigamy charges on allegations he has eight wives.

Low lifes — Federal wildlife officials are removing Utah's fat whorled pondsnail from the endangered species list. Surprisingly, Democrats have never been on the Utah list.