Hawaii fires kill at least 96; global unhappiness remains the same; US suicide numbers at all-time high; & Snowbird kicked off Oktoberfest | | | 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 | August 14, 2023 It's Monday and Navajo Code Talkers Day. What an incredible story that is. Also, many school districts will begin classes this week. Please be extra cautious around buses ð and in school zones as we all get back into the school routine. âï¸ What You Need to Know A federal judge tossed Utah's lawsuit over Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante. Judge David Nuffer wrote that "President Bidenâs judgment in drafting and issuing the Proclamations as he sees fit is not an action reviewable by a district court." For a challenge to move forward, Utah would have had to obtain a "statutory waiver" from Congress, giving the state authority to sue the feds. It did not. Governor Spencer Cox believes the case will ultimately be decided by the US Supreme Court. Environmental and tribal groups who intervened in the lawsuit were thrilled.
The death toll in Hawaii's wildfires has risen to 96, making it the deadliest wildfire in the US in over 100 years. The toll is expected to climb as crews with dogs have covered just 3% of the search area. More than 2700 structures were destroyed in Lahaina as flames swept through the area moving more than a mile a minute. Officials in Hawaii ask tourists to stay away from Maui for at least the next several months. Rapid Relevance Saratoga Springs Temple dedicated; global unhappiness stays the same; man arrested for breaking in to Provo church and stealing chicken nuggets; and Snowbird kicked off the first weekend of its annual Oktoberfest. Too soon? | | |
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Utah Headlines Political news Editorial Board: Threats against the president are not protected speech, but questions remain in Provo killing (Deseret News) Tip from Trump's Truth Social led to FBI investigation and shootout with Provo man (Fox13) In Utah, we speak up, which is why Gov. Cox is warning parents about social media (Deseret News) Scott Howell: Reflections on President Bidenâs visit to Utah and what he said at that fundraiser in Park City (Deseret News) David Schwendiman: How Utahâs delegation let veterans down (Salt Lake Tribune) Representative Chris Stewart on his resignation and time in office (ABC4) The IUP Panel on President Bidenâs visit and the 2CD primary (ABC4) Election news Trump indictment emerges as central GOP concern at Utah special election debate (St. George News) GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy rejects Sen. Mitt Romneyâs call to back one Trump opponent (Deseret News) General Utah news âI want to write for my kidsâ: How motherhood shaped Shannon Haleâs writing career (Deseret News) Utahn headed to world championship for hot air ballooning (KSL) Missing Utah woman found dead in Alaska, husband arrested (Fox13) Child dies after propeller incident at Echo State Park (ABC4) Census data: Utah's most ethnically and racially diverse counties (KSL) Hawaii wildfires Utah firefighter shares personal impact as Maui fire ravages hometown, some friends unaccounted for (KUTV) Aerial photos show devastation of Hawaii wildfires (Deseret News) Photo Gallery: Maui inferno pictured from the ground (Deseret News) Hawaiiâs alarm system didnât warn people of the blaze. Why did it fail? (Deseret News) Donation drive at UVU brings in supplies to send to Maui (Fox13) American Red Cross of Utah sending help to Hawaii (Fox13) Utahns helping those impacted by Hawaii wildfires (Fox13) As Maui rescue continues, families and faith leaders cling to hope but tackle reality of loss (AP) Business As heat waves rage, the country struggles to keep workers safe (Deseret News) âBarbieâ has legs: Greta Gerwigâs film tops box office again and gives industry a midsummer surge (KSL TV) New Sandy liquor store breaks opening day record (Fox13) Companies that use lots of water will get a hard look as St. George booms, new economic development director says (Salt Lake Tribune) Culture Are Utah drivers really as bad as people say? (Deseret News) Why I drove from Salt Lake City to Los Angeles to listen to a Taylor Swift concert from the parking lot (Deseret News) The right to rant â and why it might be dangerous (Deseret News) Utahâs Pacific Islander community celebrates opening of âTatauâ exhibition. The exhibition, highlighting the history and culture of Samoan tattooing, will be featured at UMFA through December (Salt Lake Tribune) Education Post-SCOTUS, whatâs next for Utahns with student loans? (Deseret News) Kids got to shop with a cop in Hurricane, just in time for school (KSL Newsradio) Hundreds of new teachers welcomed to Jordan School District with celebration (Fox13) The great school supply debate (Deseret News) Environment Tracy Stone-Manning: How the BLM is ensuring the health of our public lands (Salt Lake Tribune) State scrutinizing company over lithium extraction from Great Salt Lake (Fox13) Once given a death sentence, Utahâs Pando aspen grove has âcome a long wayâ (Salt Lake Tribune) The clean energy future is roiling both friends and foes (New York Times) Family Can the government help your marriage? (Deseret News) Natalie Brown: Donât let reunions become the be all and end all of family togetherness (Salt Lake Tribune) 4 things to know about Utahâs child care challenges. Organizations are raising the alarm about cost hikes and a looming crisis with potentially âcatastrophicâ impacts. (Salt Lake Tribune) Health Suicides in the U.S. are at an all-time high. 49,449 people took their own lives in 2022, according to the CDC (Deseret News) Dimming reality: The harsh impact of gaslighting in romantic relationships (Deseret News) Extra fiber? Nestlé recalls some Toll House chocolate chip cookie dough due to wood chips (KSL) Utah researchers study effect of diabetes drug on muscle recovery (Standard-Examiner) Caring for people with fentanyl addiction often means treating terrible wounds (NPR) Ozempic settles the obesity debate: It's biology over willpower (Wall Street Journal) | | |
National Headlines General A central Kansas police force sparked a firestorm by raiding a newspaper and the publisherâs home (AP) Revealing the Smithsonian's 'racial brain collection' (Washington Post) Politics Violent threats against public officials are rising. Here's why (NPR) At the Iowa State Fair, DeSantis appears to be a second-rate attraction (Deseret News) Trumpâs Iowa state fair spectacle clouds DeSantis as former president is joined by Florida officials (AP) Sen. Joe Manchin â ally of Sen. Mitt Romney â says he may leave Dems, become independent (Deseret News) Supreme Court pushes pause on Purdue Pharma settlement (Deseret News) Independent voters now outnumber Republicans in Arizona (Deseret News) How Donald Trump tried to undo his loss in Georgia in 2020 (Washington Post) Vivek Ramaswamy says US âclimate change agendaâ is a âhoaxâ (The Hill) Ukraine ðºð¦ 7 killed in Ukraineâs Kherson region, including a 23-day-old baby girl (AP) Russia and Ukraine trade aerial attacks as Zelenskyy makes another move against corruption (AP) Ukraine reports fierce fighting, 'some success' in counteroffensive (Reuters) âWe are not human to themâ: Life for convicts in Russiaâs army (New York Times) Wagnerâs prisoner of war: A Ukrainian soldierâs 46-day nightmare. Russian mercenaries captured Ilia Mykhalchuk outside Bakhmut. They amputated his arms in a dark basement, he says, and subjected him to mind-bending psychological abuse. (Washington Post) World Kidnapped American nurse and daughter are released in Haiti, while violence rises (Deseret News) The Taliban are entrenched in Afghanistan after 2 years of rule. Women and girls pay the price (AP) Far-right libertarian wins Argentinaâs presidential primary (New York Times) | | |
| | News Releases Gov. Spencer Cox issues statement on national monuments ruling Utah Gov. Spencer Cox issued a statement following todayâs court order in the Bears Ears/Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments lawsuit: âThis case will ultimately be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court and todayâs ruling helps us get there even sooner. The clear language of the law gives the president the authority only to designate monuments that are âthe smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected.â Monument designations over a million acres are clearly outside that authority and end up ignoring local concerns and damaging the very resources we want to protect. We look forward to starting the appeals process immediately and will continue fighting this type of glaring misuse of the Antiquities Act.â Utahâs consumer sentiment continues to rise Utahâs consumer sentiment edged up in July to its highest level since February 2022 (from 76.3 in June to 77.3 in July), according to the Kem C. Gardner Instituteâs Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. A similar survey by the University of Michigan found a larger increase among Americans as a whole (from 64.4 in June to 71.6 in July). (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Municipal election filing period for cities using ranked choice voting â Aug. 8-15 Sutherland Institute Congressional Series with Sen. Mitt Romney â Aug 21, 10:00-11:30 am, Hinckley Institute, U of U Sutherland Institute Congressional Series with Rep. John Curtis â Aug 22, 9:00-10:30 am, Center for Constitutional Studies, UVU Sutherland Institute Congressional Series with Sen. Mike Lee â Aug 22, 3:00-4:30 pm, Hinckley Institute, U of U 'Titan of Public Service' gala recognizing Senator Mitch McConnell and former Transportation and Labor Secretary Elaine Chao, hosted by the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation â Aug. 22, 7 p.m., Register here Legislative Education and Mental Health Coordinating Council â Aug 23, le.utah.gov Sutherland Institute Congressional Series with Rep. Blake Moore â Aug 29, 10:00-11:30 am, Olene S. Walker Institute of Politics & Public Service, Lindquist Hall, Weber State Sutherland Institute Congressional Series with Rep. Burgess Owens â Aug 30, 12:00-1:30 pm, Hinckley Institute, U of U Municipal/Special election primary â Sept. 5 Interim Day â Sept. 18, Utah Tech University, le.utah.gov A Bolder Way Forward with the Utah Women and Leadership Project â Sept. 20, 12:00 - 1:15 pm, Virtual, Register here Interim Day â Oct 10-11, le.utah.gov Interim Day â Nov 14-15, le.utah.gov General election â Nov. 21 | | |
On This Day In History 1784 - Russians settle Alaska 1870 - David Farragut, American Admiral ("Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!"), dies at 69 1899 - Caroline Ware is born. A history professor and pioneer in the âcultural approach to History,â she was also an expert on consumer affairs and the Chair of the American Association of University Women Committee on Social Studies 1911 - Ethel Payne is born. Called âThe First Lady of the Black Press,â she was the first African American female radio and television commentator at a national news organization (CBS) in 1972. 1935 - The Social Security Act becomes law. The sweeping legislation created a pension program based on and supported by workersâ income. 1937 - After 10 years of work, the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine is completed. More than 2,000 miles of trails and paths entice hikers from all over the country, including some governors. 1945 - V-J Day, Japan surrenders unconditionally to end WW II 1986 - After a 43 year military career, Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper retires from active duty in the U.S. Navy. Known as the âgrandmother of the computer age,â Hopper was a pioneer of computer language. 1997 - Convicted Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh is formally sentenced to death by Oklahoma Court of Appeals 2018 - After a 2-yr investigation, a Pennsylvania grand jury alleges 300 "predator priests" abused over 1000 children over 30 years and Catholic leaders covered it up. 2019 - Iowa congressman Steve King says that without rape and incest "âWould there be any population of the world left if we did that?" in video for "The Des Moines Register" 2021 - It rains for the first time at Greenland ice sheets' highest point, at Summit Station research facility, above-freezing conditions create some melting for 337,000 square miles of ice Quote of the Day âA ship in port is safe, but thatâs not what ships are built for.â âRear Admiral Grace Hopper On the Punny Side I returned my lizard to the pet store as he wouldnât stop telling dad jokes. âThatâs not a lizard,â the store clerk told me. âThatâs a stand-up chameleon.â | | |
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