Round two of voting on the House speaker, Jim Jordan feeling confident, he says, but others are doubtful; Hogle Zoo's elephants are gone | | | 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 | October 18, 2023 It's Wednesday and National Ken Day. Remember - you are Kenough. What You Need to Know A missile hit a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday, apparently killing hundreds of civilians. However, further video shows damage to a parking lot, with no buildings collapsed. Hamas blamed the destruction on an Israeli airstrike and the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) asserted that the blast was caused by a rocket misfired by Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a militant group associated with Hamas. They offered additional evidence of their claim with video footage and radar information. President Joe Biden told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this morning, âBased on what I have seen, it was done by the other team, not you.â Fury over the blast swept through the Middle East last night, with massive protests throughout the region. This morning, Hamas said they do not plan to release the nearly 200 Israeli hostages.
Rep. Jim Jordan did not receive enough votes to become Speaker of the House yesterday. All of Utah's congressmen voted for Jordan. However, his path to Speaker looks exceedingly difficult. Multiple sources say that some members of Congress who voted yes on the first round won't vote for him on subsequent rounds but Jordan says he has flipped some holdouts and feels confident he will win today. Today, David Joyce is expected to file a motion to elect Patrick McHenry as a permanent speaker pro tem. former speakers Newt Gingrich and John Boehner endorsed McHenryâs candidacy Tuesday night. Utah Senator Mike Lee supports Jordan, while Sen. Romney does not. Another vote is scheduled for 11 am EDT. Rapid Relevance Krispy Kreme is celebrating Halloween by selling a dozen donuts for $2; Hogle Zoo's elephants are off to their new home; Utah womenâs basketball team ranked #5 in nation; and Britney Spears shares that she had an abortion while dating Justin Timberlake. | | |
| | BLM Releases Plan that finally protects Labyrinth Canyon After years of prioritizing off-road vehicles, a recent decision from the Bureau of Land Management brings balance to this special place. Travel plans are an opportunity to develop reasonable, balanced, and forward-thinking blueprints that ensure public access while preserving the backcountry and minimizing damage. Learn more at suwa.org | | |
Utah Headlines Political news Robert Griffiths: It's better in the middle (Deseret News) Sen. Mitt Romney met with actor Richard Gere on Tibet (Deseret News) Utah Sens. Mike Lee, Mitt Romney weigh in on House speaker vote (Deseret News) Rep. Burgess Owens sponsors bill to block Palestinians from immigrating to the U.S. (Deseret News) Rep. Curtis on U.S. House Speaker race: âItâs a stinky job that I canât imagine anybody wantsâ (ABC4) Can Mormon Women for Ethical Government strike the right balance? (Deseret News) Election news Vandalism spree mars what some St. George observers are calling the ugliest election ever (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Republicans loan themselves millions in U.S. Senate race to replace Mitt Romney (Salt Lake Tribune) General Utah news âYear of the Mustangâ: One manâs mission to remind us of the plight â and power â of the wild horse (Deseret News) Dozens gather in prayer to support Israel, Utah's Jewish community (KSL) Man dead, woman critically injured in midair collision above flight park (KSL TV) Utahns on LDS-centered tour of Israel making it home safe (Fox13) Business Artist Greg Olsen is taking a major turn in his career â with help from Deseret Book (Deseret News) Crime Salt Lake County reveals 16,000 domestic violence cases filed within last 7 years (KUTV) Culture The sad truth about sharing religious content online. You could get unfollowed for posting about your faith, according to Pew research (Deseret News) Holly Richardson: How Swedish death cleaning can help you declutter your family history documents (Deseret News) Education Fall enrollment at Utahâs public colleges, universities up 1.8% over 2022 (Deseret News) University of Utah announces another year of record-breaking student enrollment (KSL TV) Environment From tires to pristine: How Ogden recaptured its river (Deseret News) Where are the deer? Utah wildlife leaders update deer population status before the hunt (KSL) Utah proposes new rules on lithium extraction to protect the Great Salt Lake (Fox13) Health Researchers bioengineer skin, bioprint cartilage to fix ear malformation (Deseret News) Utahns love pickleball and may be healthier for it, study finds (Salt Lake Tribune) How safe are Utah hospitals? Hereâs what federal data shows. (Salt Lake Tribune) | | |
National Headlines General Did you know that Staples can help you get approved for TSA PreCheck in stores? (Deseret News) Report: Young driver fatality rates have fallen sharply in the US, helped by education, technology (AP) Prosecutors seek to recharge Alec Baldwin in the 'Rust' movie shooting (NPR) Politics Biden will stress humanitarian aid, avoiding deeper conflict in Israel but is scrapping Jordan stop (AP) GOPâs Jim Jordan will try again to become House speaker, but his detractors are considering other options (AP) Trump returns to his civil fraud trial, hears an employee and an appraiser testify against him (AP) Election news The debate about the Middle East has reached Ivy League campuses. Hereâs what DeSantis and Ramaswamy say (Deseret News) Ukraine ðºð¦ Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov arrives in North Korea, Russian state media say (AP) Putin praises 'dear friend' Xi, pitches Russia's Northern Sea route (Reuters) Israel ð®ð± Biden pledges solidarity with Israelis and suggests âother teamâ to blame for Gaza hospital blast (AP) Gaza carnage spreads anger across Mideast, alarming US allies and threatening to widen conflict (AP) Israeli anger at Netanyahu erupts at hospital bedsides (Reuters) Hamas turns to social media to get its message out â and to spread fear (Washington Post) âGreat damage has been doneâ: Arab American leaders privately confront Biden administration (Politico) Egypt president rejects effort to move Palestinians to Sinai Peninsula (The Hill) World Chinaâs Xi promises open markets and billions in new investments for âBelt and Roadâ projects (AP) World Food Program appeals for $19 million to provide emergency food in quake-hit Afghanistan (AP) | | |
| | News Releases Salt Lake County announces move to improve safety and traffic flow in Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons A significant Salt Lake County long-term strategy is to increase safety and improve traffic flow for residents and visitors to the unincorporated Cottonwood Canyons. Today, a revision to Salt Lake County Ordinance 11.20.050 entitled âParking Prohibited in Specified Areasâ was passed by the County Council and will take effect November 1, 2023. Fines are increasing. (Read More) Utah State Charter School Board announces new leadership team The Utah State Charter School Board, which authorizes 91% of Utahâs public charter schools, is proud to introduce its newly appointed executive leadership team. Dr. Paul K. Kremer, hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, has assumed the role of Executive Director, while Ms. Marie Steffensen, a resident of South Jordan, Utah, has been named Associate Executive Director. (Read More) State Auditor releases limited review of the minimum school program The Office of the State Auditor (Office) released its limited review of the Minimum School Program for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022. The Office reviewed (1) the application of Minimum School Program (MSP) statutory distribution formulas and allocations to local education agencies (LEAs); and (2) MSP programs. In addition, the Office reviewed a complaint that a specific school did not comply with the School Community Council statute. (Read More) Gov. Cox appoints Ryan Peters to Fourth District Juvenile Court Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox has appointed Ryan Peters to serve on the Fourth District Juvenile Court, filling a new position created during the 2023 General Legislative Session. Petersâ nomination requires confirmation by the Utah Senate. (Read More) Utah Senate requests public comment on 4th District Juvenile Court nominee The Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee is seeking public comment on Ryan Peters, who Gov. Spencer J. Cox nominated to serve as a judge in the 4th District Juvenile Court. Those who desire to comment should contact the Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee electronically or by mail at the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel by 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 31, 2023. Electronic comments can be emailed to senatejudicialnominees@le.utah.gov. Written comments can be mailed to the Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee at the Utah State Capitol, Suite W210, PO Box 145210, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-5210. All statements should include the respondentâs name, telephone number and mailing address. (Read More) Weber State surpasses 30,000 students, sets record for Hispanic and Latino enrollment Defying the national trend that has seen a decline in college enrollment, Weber State University boasts its largest-ever student body and welcomes a record number of Hispanic and Latino students. A 2022 study by Georgetown Universityâs Center on Education and the Workforce revealed how Weber State ranks in the top 10% among 4,500 colleges nationally for the return on investment, from 10 to 40 years after graduation. Another study from Utah Foundation this year found that âWeber State University tops the list in Utah for studentsâ 10-year net present value of their education.â (Read More) UVU enrollment reaches record 44,653 students Utah Valley University (UVU) saw a 3.61% growth in enrollment, with a record 44,653 students registering for the 2023 fall semester, according to the annual report just released by the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE). Full-time equivalent (FTE) enrollment increased to 28,994, up more than 4.87%. UVU continues to educate the most Utahns among stateâs degree-granting institutions. (Read More) Gov. Cox announces executive orders about service and volunteerism Recognizing the value of volunteering and giving service, Gov. Spencer Cox announced two executive orders to promote service and volunteerism statewide. Executive Order 2023-08 will encourage each state agency to organize a department-wide service project and give employees two hours of administrative leave to participate. This order applies to the 24,000 state employees over the next year. Executive Order 2023-09 will add a community service component to businesses seeking economic development incentives from the state. Effective immediately, the Governorâs Office of Economic Opportunity will require businesses that receive any kind of future economic development support to provide at least 20 service hours per high paying job per year for the duration of the incentive. This order was issued to encourage service and volunteerism to become an ongoing corporate value for those who receive state incentives. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming UVU Conference on Mental Health â Oct. 27, 9 am - 5 pm, Register here Martha Hughes Cannon Award with Utah Women Run â Nov 2, 6:00-8:00 pm, Nominate someone here Interim Day â Nov 14-15, le.utah.gov Celebrating 30 years of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, with the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation â Nov 16, 10 am, MST, Register here
General election â Nov. 21
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On This Day In History 1648 - Boston Shoemakers establish the first American labor organization. 1767 - Mason and Dixon draw a line, dividing the colonies 1867 - The US formally takes possession of Alaska after purchasing the territory from Russia for $7.2 million, or less than two cents an acre. 1897 - Isabel Briggs Myers is born. She later teamed up with her mother Katharine Cook Brigs to develop one of the most widely used personality inventories. I'm an ENFP. 1898 - US takes control of Puerto Rico. 1968 - US Olympic Committee suspends Tommie Smith and John Carlos for giving the Black Power salute to protest racism and injustice against African-Americans during the Olympic medal ceremony. 1972 - The Clean Water Act becomes law. 1982 - Bess Truman, former First Lady (1945-53), dies in Independence, Mo at 97 2021 - General Colin Powell dies of COVID-19 complications at age 84. Quote of the Day âNever neglect small details, even to the point of being a pest. Moments of stress, confusion, and fatigue are exactly when mistakes happen.'â
âGen. Colin Powell On the Punny Side What kind of key opens the door to a haunted house? ð»
A spoo-key. | | |
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