Politics

WASHINGTON -- Conservatives are fired up, convinced that this will be a big year, but they worry that Mitt Romney will make their task harder.

The foot soldiers of the American political right have been meeting in Washington this week, and stickers and signs touting the former Massachusetts governor -- who's still the favorite for the GOP presidential nomination -- are scarce here.

PANGUITCH -- It was the simple beauty of the sagebrush hills and the first-rate fishing that drew Vince Salvato here 15 years ago. "All I wanted was a quiet, pristine place with clean air," he said, sipping sarsaparilla inside Bronco Bobbi's curio shop in this tiny town in southern Utah. "That's why I came here."

But the tranquility has been broken by the day-and-night rumble of trucks ferrying coal from a strip mine near Bryce Canyon National Park to a power plant three hours to the north.

The gritty fuel helps satisfy the huge appetite for power more than 500 miles away in Los Angeles. But it is now stoking controversy at both ends of the transmission lines over energy policy, environmental damage and how much consumers should pay to kick the coal habit.

DENVER  -- A 20-year-old college student tried to throw glitter on Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney as he greeted supporters in Denver following Colorado's caucuses.

SALT LAKE CITY — State Rep. Brad Galvez, R-West Haven, will hold a constituent night for residents of his district at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Utah State Capitol.

OGDEN -- The Ogden Pioneer Chapter Sons of the Utah Pioneers will meet at noon Monday at Comfort Suites Inn, 2250 S. 1200 West.

Blake Whalen will speak about "Public Relations for the LDS Church."

Whalen is the general manager of The Boyer Company at Business Depot Ogden. He also is the director of the Utah Public Relations Council for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The cost of one meeting for potential members is paid for by the chapter. For other guests, there is a $12.50 charge.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Flanked by four young grandchildren, a buoyant-looking Mitt Romney strode across the tarmac here early Saturday afternoon, creating a perfectly posed American family tableau on the day that Nevadans voted for their choices to be the Republican presidential nominee.

LAS VEGAS -- Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney cruised to victory in the Nevada caucuses Saturday night, notching a second straight triumph over a field of rivals suddenly struggling to keep pace.