Situational Analysis | June 9, 2021

It’s Wednesday and that means it’s National Strawberry Rhubarb Pie Day. Do you ever wonder who thought of putting sour, celery-like stalks into a pie?? Smart woman.

Be in the Know

Make yellow lawns great again. Gov. Cox cuts back on water usage at state facilities and bans fireworks on state lands.

In front of a full home crowd, the Jazz win in a nail-biter, 112-109. They missed 20 consecutive shots in the first quarter, Donovan Mitchell was sick, but still scored 45 points, 32 of those in the second half. Rudy Gobert showed up honoring Mark Eaton, then had a huge block to clinch the game. On to game 2.

The 9 Republican women in the Utah legislature have formed a PAC to help recruit, train and fund other Republican women running for office in the state. It’s a first of its kind and long overdue. Check out today’s “Deeper Dive” for my interview with Rep. Pierucci.

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Utah Insight: With extreme drought plaguing most of the state, what will it take to turn things around?

Watch Utah Insight on Friday at 7:30 p.m. on PBS Utah for in-depth, comprehensive discussions about issues impacting the state. Utah Insight goes deeper than a sound bite, and leaves viewers more informed and better prepared to confront issues in their communities.

Utah Headlines

General

Through pain and controversy, Utahn James Lawrence, the ‘Iron Cowboy,’ chases 100 triathlons in 100 days (Washington Post)

As tunnel project in Zion ends, bridge construction begins; visitors should expect delays (St. George News)

Members of Utah law enforcement look at relationship building as a tool for de-escalation (KUER)

Be careful out there. Rattlesnakes are on the move this time of year (Fox13)

Full-capacity Jazz games back after pandemic, providing million-dollar impact to economy (KUTV)

First came the pandemic. Then came the dream. How one Navajo photographer passed down a history of healing and brought his family closer together (Deseret News)

Politics

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox answers 6 questions about why he supports LGBTQ+ Pride. ‘Put yourself in the shoes of the people that you’re attacking,’ Gov. Spencer Cox says of intolerance (Deseret News)

Utah’s Mike Lee, Mitt Romney split over tech investment to take on China (Salt Lake Tribune)

Sen. Mike Lee says DOJ treating Capitol rioters more harshly than last summer’s protesters (Deseret News)

Is center-right Utah headed further right? (Salt Lake Tribune)

Why did Microsoft censor images of China’s ‘tank man’? Utah’s Mitt Romney wants answers. (Salt Lake Tribune)

COVID Corner

252 new cases, 3 more deaths, 5000 more fully vaccinated (Salt Lake Tribune)

Rep. Blake Moore added to list of co-sponsors for bill to help COVID-19 long haulers (KUTV)

Washington state announces cannabis giveaway in state-approved ‘joint for jabs’ vaccine campaign (Washington Post)

‘This IS INSANE’: Africa desperately short of COVID vaccine (AP)

The Wisconsin pharmacist who pled guilty to trying to spoil hundreds of vaccines is sentenced to three years in prison (New York Times)

Drought/Wildfires

Utah governor calls for reduced water usage amid drought (Standard-Examiner, Fox13)

‘We don’t waste a drop of water’: Utah farmers, ranchers try to survive drought (Fox13)

IN FOCUS Discussion: Responding to Utah’s Drought and Heat Wave (ABC4)

East Canyon Fire grows to 500 acres in conditions 'ripe for catastrophic fire' (KUTV)

Bear Fire 'growing rapidly' near Helper in Carbon County (KUTV)

As Mammoth Creek Wildfire grows, officials share how to protect your home from a wildfire (ABC4)

So your community has a wildfire evacuation plan — is it realistic? (Deseret News)

Opinion: This much should be obvious: We don’t need fireworks this year (Deseret News)

Education

Here’s what the COVID-19 pandemic taught Utah’s teacher of the year. Anyone expecting typical outcomes has “lost touch with the fact that these kids have survived the worst educational crisis we’ve seen in the century,” John Arthur believes. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Parents protest after Alpine District's decision to move special education program (KSL)

Elections

‘We certainly have work to do’ - Utah Republican women lawmakers look to change the party’s dismal record on electing women (KUER)

Mayoral races shaping up in 8 Weber County cities as filing period ends. Six of the eight feature incumbents facing challengers and two are open seats (Standard-Examiner)

Here are Utah County's municipal election candidates for mayor, city council (Daily Herald)

Environment

Family

Local Communities

National Headlines

General

How America fractured into four parts: People in the United States no longer agree on the nation’s purpose, values, history, or meaning. Is reconciliation possible? (The Atlantic)

Cicadas took on Biden’s press plane. They won. The omnipresent insects filled the engines of a flight set to accompany the president on his trip to Europe, forcing a delay and a new plane and pilot to be called in. (New York Times)

‘The unparalleled champion’: Bob Dole’s forgotten fight to get Washington to recognize the Armenian genocide (Washington Post)

IRS records show wealthiest Americans, including Bezos and Musk, paid little in income taxes as share of wealth, report says (Washington Post)

A glitch at a key Internet company caused parts of the Web to crash Tuesday. It won’t be the last time (Washington Post)

Surprise: Women and minorities are still underrepresented in corporate boardrooms; true representation is decades away (New York Times)

Politics

Senate overwhelmingly passes a bill to bolster competitiveness with China (New York Times)

Newsmax turned down embattled Republican Matt Gaetz for a job (Reuters)

With G7 summit the first stop, Biden embarks on 8-day trip to Europe (Reuters)

Sen. Manchin steadfast in opposition to voting rights bill after meeting with civil rights leaders (Washington Post)

Senate Democrats befuddled by Joe Manchin (The Hill)

Senate Republicans block bill targeting gender pay gap (Politico)

McConnell: 'The era of bipartisanship is over' (Politico)

Harris hears criticism from all sides amid difficult first trip (The Hill)

Economy

U.S. job openings reached record level this spring, led by leisure and hospitality industries (Wall Street Journal)

US trade deficit narrowed amid supply chain woes (Wall Street Journal)

Elections

Infrastructure

International

Global wealth gap likely to widen as major economies power recovery, World Bank says (Wall Street Journal)

China’s wandering elephants becoming international stars (AP)

Business Headlines

The big changes coming to your iPhone, iPad and Mac this fall (Wall Street Journal)

What will happen to Shiba Inu coin by 2025? (Deseret News)

Ferrari goes to the tech world as it taps European chip-maker executive as new CEO (AP)

World shares mixed as China reports jump in inflation (AP)

SEC chairman calls for new restrictions on executive stock-trading plans (Wall Street Journal)

Policy News

Senate passes Endless Frontier Act with measure from Sen. Romney to counter China

The Senate today passed the Endless Frontier Act with eight amendments authored by U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) aimed at developing a strategy to counter China. One of Romney’s amendments mandates a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics in light of the Chinese Communist Party’s ongoing human rights abuses, including the Uyghur genocide.

Gov. Cox appoints Amy Oliver to the Third District Court; Utah Senate asks for public input

Gov. Spencer J. Cox has appointed Amy Oliver to the Third District Court bench. The governor’s nominations are subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.
“Amy has had an exceptional professional career with both public sector and private sector experience, and, most importantly, her character is above reproach,” Gov. Cox said. “I have every confidence that she will serve with distinction on the Third District bench.”

Office of the State Auditor completes FY 2020 federal funds compliance audit

The Office of the State Auditor today released its Single Audit Report of the 2020 expenditures of federal funds by the State of Utah (State). The report documents the State's compliance with federal regulations governing the use of federal funds. The $6.740 billion in federal funds spent in fiscal year 2020 represents 25.3% of the State’s total fiscal year 2020 expenditures of $26.625 billion. Federal funds are a major source of funding for the State of Utah and increased significantly during fiscal year 2020 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic relief money sent through multiple programs, the single largest of which was the Unemployment Compensation program.

Utah Inland Port Authority signs deal with Port of Long Beach to improve goods movement

The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) and the Port of Long Beach are working together to improve the flow of cargo to and from the major California gateway and the Utah logistics system. This is UIPA’s second agreement with a West Coast international port that strengthens the connection and efficiency for goods movement, leading to better access for Utah businesses.

Return to work: COVID-19 employment policies and business best practices webinar

The Salt Lake Chamber will hold a webinar TODAY to discuss how businesses have pivoted from pre-pandemic workplace ideas to our new reality. As Utah’s economy is recovering quickly with increased vaccination numbers and decreasing viral spread, many businesses are wondering how best to adjust and meet the shifting dynamics in the workforce.

Number of the Day

Deep Dive: New Utah PAC - Republican Women Lead

By Holly Richardson

There's a new PAC in town - the Republican Women Lead Political Action Committee. All nine female Republican legislators - 8 in the House and one in the Senate - were present at Tuesday's press conference when the RWL PAC was announced.

In Utah, 25 percent of state legislators are female; however, just under 9 percent are Republican women (9 out of 104). In a supermajority Republican state, there is value in having more female conservative voices at the table. Nationally, the percentage of Republican women serving in state legislatures is 9 percent – the same today as in 1995. In comparison, Democrat women now make up 20 percent of state legislatures around the country.

The mission of the Republican Women Lead (RWL) Political Action Committee is to recruit, train, and provide financial resources to Republican women candidates. RWL is committed to supporting Republican women running for office at all levels of state government and will provide monetary support, campaign training, and mentorship to female Republican candidates. They will work to get Republican women elected in open seats and focus heavily on flipping blue districts to red. They also will be working only on the state level and will not be involved in federal races.

The PAC has a board comprised of the nine Republican women currently in the legislature, Speaker Wilson, President Adams and nine additional members with extensive political experience. They also have an advisory committee with 11 members. The Governor and Lt. Governor, are on that list and are, of course, Republican. They can and do endorse in political races.

I had a chance to sit down with Representative Pierucci to ask about the PAC. Some of the questions she answered for me included how the PAC would recruit and train, when they would begin the process for the 2022 cycle, whether or not there was a "litmus test" for how Republican a candidate might be and what happens if there is more than one Republican woman in any given race.

Take a listen:

Upcoming

Webinar: COVID-19 Return to Work best practices - June 9, 11 am -12 pm; June 10, 11 am - 12 pm – Register here

Utah Elder Abuse Awareness Day Virtual Conference – June 15 @ 10 am. Register here

Utah Democratic Party Organizing Convention – June 26

Utah Foundation Annual Luncheon with Shaylyn Romney Garrett – Sept 23 @ 12 pm – Register here

On This Day In History

From History.com

Wise Words

"There's a moment where you have to choose whether to be silent or stand up."
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