Here’s a look at the news for Feb. 17.
Swallow witness chooses silence
Jeremy Johnson, a key witness in the trial of former Utah Attorney General John Swallow, refused to speak or testify on Thursday, the Deseret News reported.
Third District Judge Elizabeth Hruby-Mills asked Johnson to speak again at the trial, even though he has federal and state immunity. He answered a handful of questions about where he lives, but he refused to answer anything specifically related to Swallow, the Deseret News reported.
Johnson, who was convicted for making false statements to a bank last year and serving 11 years for doing so, said, "I believe that I’m doing the right thing by exercising my right, my Fifth Amendment right not to answer."
Hruby-Mills said she plans to invite Johnson back to the trial every morning so that he’ll testify, according to the Deseret News.
Read more about the trial here.
Outdoor Retailer Show leaving Salt Lake City
The Outdoor Retailer show will end its 20-year relationship with Utah after next year’s show, announcing on Thursday that it will no longer take bids from the Utah capital city, according to the Deseret News.
The show said Utah’s inability to undo the Bears Ears National Monument influenced their decision.
"Salt Lake City has been hospitable to Outdoor Retailer and our industry for the past 20 years, but we are in lockstep with the outdoor community and are working on finding our new home,” Marisa Nicholson, show director for Outdoor Retailer, told the Deseret News.
Paul Edwards, the governor's deputy chief of staff, said the decision pays no thanks to Salt Lake City, the Deseret News reported.
"It smacks of gross ingratitude to a community that has embraced the Outdoor Retailer show, subsidizing its success and expansion through direct investment — let alone extraordinary hospitality," he said.
Read more about the decision for the show to leave at the Deseret News.
Trump criticizes media in first press conference
President Donald Trump held his first solo press conference as president on Thursday, and he went after the media, according to BBC.
In a 76-minute conference, he said many reporters were writing “fake news” stories about his connection to Russia, BBC reported.
"Russia is fake news. This is fake news put out by the media," he said, according to BBC.
He said his White House staff is working like a “fine-tuned machine,” too.
Trump also said that he expected the media to attack him in headlines Friday morning, according to BBC.
"Tomorrow, they will say, 'Donald Trump rants and raves at the press.' I'm not ranting and raving," he said. "I'm just telling you. You know, you're dishonest people. But I'm not ranting and raving. I love this."
You can read more at BBC. The Washington Post also has an analysis of the speech (calling it 'erratic'), while USA Today compared the press conference to his campaign speeches.
Monopoly axes the thimble
Well, say goodbye to thimbles.
The longstanding board game Monopoly held a public vote in January to help eliminate some of its pieces in hopes to bring a new wave of game pieces, Time reported.
And yesterday, it was revealed that the humble thimble will no longer be included in the game, according to Time.
"We were a little bit surprised that the thimble got among the lowest votes because it's been in the game for so long," Senior Marketing VP for Hasbro Gaming Jonathan Berkowitz told CNN Money.
The internet wasn’t happy.
Jimmy Fallon hosts his own press conference
“The Tonight Show” host Jimmy Fallon hosted his own press conference, dressing up as Trump, Time reported.
"Buckle up, cause I'm coming in hot," Fallon said as Trump. "This is going to be a crazy one. Daddy came to play."
Watch below or visit the YouTube page.