Fourth of July travel could break records; veterinarians provide pet safety tips; fifth season of âThe Chosenâ now the No. 1 series on Prime | | | The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. We scour the news so you don't have to! Send news tips or feedback to Holly Richardson at editor@utahpolicy.com. | | |
Situational Analysis | July 3, 2025 It's Thursday and Air Conditioning Appreciation Day ð¨ Happy birthday tomorrow to the new head of GOEO, Jefferson Moss and on Sunday to Rep, Karen Peterson! ððð Enjoy your long weekend - Utah Policy will be back in your inboxes on Monday. What you need to know The Big Beautiful Bill is expected to pass the US House this morning and will head to the president's desk for his signature. The bill, which increases the deficit, the debt and the debt ceiling, is expected to stimulate economic growth, strengthen the border and the US military. It will also cut Medicaid and food support for millions of Americans. Rapid Relevance Fourth of July travel could break records, cause delays on Utah roads; veterinarians provide pet safety tips ahead of Fourth of July; fifth season of âThe Chosenâ is now the No. 1 series on Prime Video in the U.S. | | |
| | Beyond Fun and Games Nearly half of Boomers and 36% of the Silent Generation play video games weekly â for mental sharpness, stress relief, and fun. Learn more and game on. | | |
Utah Headlines Political news Utah Sen. John Curtis plays key role in preserving green energy policies in massive tax bill (Deseret News) 'Real people': Advocates say budget bill's cuts to SNAP, Medicaid will hit vulnerable Utahns (KSL) Medicaid, SNAP cuts worry Utah advocates as the GOPâs budget bill nears passage (KUER) Three Utah bills that went into effect on July 1, 2025 (ABC4) Gov. Cox urges safety this holiday weekend while recognizing wildland firefighters (ABC4) Municipal news Seven Utah cities, towns commit to revitalizing downtown areas (KUTV) 2nd developer sues Ogden Valley water supplier over water access (KSL) America First Square continues to grow, adding Megaplex entertainment center (KSL) An Indigenous garden is sprouting in Cache Valley with native plants. Hereâs whatâs taking root. (Salt Lake Tribune) Clearfield City calls for immediate pause of outdoor watering to prevent shortages (KUTV) Utah Road tripping? Plan one of these incredible day trips from Utah (KSL) Where you can and can't discharge fireworks in Utah â and why it matters (KSL) Some trailhead and reservoir bathrooms in Utah County closed ahead of holiday weekend (KSL Newsradio) Tooele County fire department gifted fire truck to assist with wildfires (KSL) Utahâs population is getting a bit older (KSL Newsradio) A legal resident Utahn speaks out after being detained in Texas immigration detention facility for 48 days (Fox13) Biz/Tech Dismal Tesla sales report adds to Elon Muskâs week of woe (Deseret News) Why Sugar House businesses see âa light at the end of the tunnelâ (KSL) Trader Joe's to expand in Utah outside of Salt Lake City area (Fox13) Crime/Courts Bryan Kohberger pleads guilty to murders of 4 University of Idaho students (Deseret News) A Q-tip and spotless car were key evidence linking Bryan Kohberger to murders of 4 Idaho students (AP) Man convicted of killing Draper police officer now charged with stabbing fellow inmate (KSL) Former Tremonton fire chief faces new charges, accused of sexual abuse of a child (KSL TV) Teen shot, wounded in broad daylight outside West Valley City LDS church (Fox13) Culture/Community âIâm very proud to be a Utahnâ: Marie Osmond sings praises to the place she calls home (Deseret News) Barbecue is everywhere for the Fourth of July. Here's its origin story (NPR) Education U.S. News & World Report: University of Utah cracks the top 7% of âBest Global Universitiesâ (Deseret News) Utah after-school, summer programs in limbo after Trump freezes billions in funding (Fox13) Environment Utah seeing water trend that typically occurs later in the summer (Deseret News) Flash flooding caught on video in Capitol Reef National Park (Fox13) Health Doctor offers reminders about children and heat with July weather looming (KSL) Utah announces more measles cases â and most of those infected are in one county (Salt Lake Tribune) Does eating cheese give you nightmares? (Deseret News) There is no safe amount of processed meat to eat, according to new research (KSL) Housing Hereâs an advantage for landlords who welcome Fido along with new tenants (Deseret News) Utahns rounding up their liquor store purchases have raised $1.5M for homelessness (KUER) | | |
National Headlines General Fireworks warehouse explosion in Northern California (Deseret News) Political news - Trump How will Trumpâs tax bill change Medicaid? (Deseret News) Beauty is in the eye of the beholder on Trumpâs âbig, beautiful billâ (Deseret News) Trump is now more responsible for the economy than Biden, voters say (Wall Street Journal) Trump escalates attacks on Mamdani (New York Times) Immigration/deportation Trump dealt loss as judge rejects executive order claiming âinvasionâ at the border (Utah News Dispatch) Kilmar Abrego Garcia says he was beaten and subjected to psychological torture in El Salvador jail (AP) Ukraine/Russia Ukraine voices concern as US halts some missile shipments (Reuters) Middle East US contractors say their colleagues are firing live ammo as Palestinians seek food in Gaza (AP) Amnesty International says Israel and aid system use starvation to commit Gaza genocide (AP) World news Why the Dalai Lama Decided Not to Break From Tradition on His Successor (New York Times) Europe swelters in brutal heat wave (Deseret News) Ancient DNA shows genetic link between Egypt and Mesopotamia (AP) | | |
| | Guest opinion: Utah must avoid economic balkanization by Derek Miller The term balkanization has its roots in the Balkan Peninsula â a region in southeastern Europe that saw once-unified empires break apart into smaller, often warring states. Today, the term describes any situation where a once-cohesive entity fractures into disconnected parts. Itâs a history lesson packed into one word of warning â and one we should heed here in Utah. Utahâs economy has seen remarkable growth over the past two decades. From a booming tech sector to expanding strategic infrastructure and a dynamic workforce, weâve become a national model for economic success. But growth brings new pressures: rising regional competition for talent and resources, differing priorities between urban and rural areas, and multiple entities positioned as competitors rather than collaborators. These are signs of strain, not failure, but friction. Make no mistake: Utahâs success story has always been a shared one. The alignment between state, regional and private-sector leaders has given us a collaborative advantage that many states envy. But as growth accelerates, so does the tendency to fragment â each region, industry or institution pulling in its own direction. If weâre not careful, that friction can lead to fragmentation. Economic balkanization in Utah would mean a breakdown in the shared vision that has fueled our success. It would mean missed opportunities, duplicated efforts and a less resilient economy. Let me be clear â I do not believe we are in serious danger. In that same breath, I do believe now is a pivotal time in our economic history. So, whether youâre a business leader, policymaker or community advocate, be wary of these balkanization red flags: Policy silos on critical issues like water, housing and transportation Rural communities struggling to keep pace with the economic engines along the Wasatch Front Duplicated or competing economic development efforts that dilute statewide strategy (Read More) News Releases Federal government owns 64.4% of Utahâs land Utahâs federal, state, tribal, and private land ownership impacts economic development, public finance, recreation, culture, and conservation in important ways. A new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute shows that the state contains the second-highest percentage of federal land among all 50 states (64.4%). Just over one-fifth (21.1%) of land in Utah is privately owned, with the rest owned by the state (10.0%) or governed by tribal nations (4.5%). (Read More) Rio Tinto supports Milford Mining Company in restarting operation Rio Tinto Kennecott announces today a new 3-year agreement with Milford Mining Company. Under the agreement, Rio Tinto Kennecott will loan $5 million to Milford Mining Company to support Milford Miningâs restart of its Central Utah-based mining operations and the delivery of copper concentrate from Milford Mine to Kennecottâs Salt Lake City smelter. This agreement will help boost the domestic production of both copper and critical minerals. (Read More) New Constitutional Federalism Director appointed at UVU Utah Valley Universityâs (UVU) Center for Constitutional Studies (CCS) announced today the appointment of Troy Smith, Ph.D., professor of Constitutional Federalism at UVU, as the first director of the Constitutional Federalism Initiative (CFI). Sheri Smederovac will serve as program manager. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Aug 7 â Titan of Public Service gala with Sen. Tom Cotton hosted by the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation at the Grand America Hotel. More Information Here Aug 12 â Municipal primary Aug 19-21 â Interim Days Nov 4 â General election February 4-7, 2026 â Summit, with Silicon Slopes and Visit Salt Lake | | |
On This Day In History 1775 - George Washington takes command of the Continental Army 1863 - Battle of Gettysburg ends on the third day. It became the turning point in the Civil War, costing the Union 23,000 killed, wounded, or missing in action. The Confederates suffered some 25,000 casualties. Brutal. 1890 - Happy birthday, Idaho! 1916 - Henrietta "Hetty" Green, American businesswoman and financier whose wealth and miserliness saw her known as the "Witch of Wall Street", dies of a stroke at 81 1938 - President Franklin Roosevelt dedicates the Eternal Light Peace Memorial and lights the eternal flame at Gettysburg Battlefield 1962 - Jackie Robinson named to the Baseball Hall of Fame. He was the first Black ball player in the major leagues. 1988 - U.S. warship accidentally shoots down Iranian passenger jet, killing all 290 on board. Quote of the Day "Life is not a spectator sport. If you're going to spend your whole life in the grandstand just watching what goes on, in my opinion you're wasting your life." â Jackie Robinson On the Punny Side What do you call an American revolutionary who draws cartoons? A Yankee Doodler. | | |
| â Advertise With Us â Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. |
|
|
