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Utah Business

In March, Gov. Spencer Cox signed bill HB102, expanding in-state tuition to refugees and asylum-seekers. On Tuesday, Utah Rep. Jordan Teuscher, who sponsored the bill, discussed it at the States Lay the Foundation Summit.

He called it "the most inclusive in-state tuition policy in the nation" because it includes special immigrant visa recipients, individuals granted humanitarian parole and general newcomers.

The bill requires state schools to grant refugees residency status — something that can take years to receive. This allows refugees, like Mahsa Qaderi, a young girl from Afghanistan, to qualify for in-state tuition rates.

“If I’m not approved a resident, I won’t be able to afford the expensive tuition, and my dreams (of becoming a computer programmer) will never come true. Please help me, and help other people like me, start life in the beautiful United States of America,” she said during her testimony at the Utah Senate Education Committee in February.

Utah Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney have different reactions to news of Trump indictment

When former President Donald Trump was indicted by federal prosecutors on Friday, Utah's two Republican senators gave different reactions in their statements following the news.

Sen. Mike Lee criticized the Biden administration in his statement, comparing it to the "oppressive tactics" seen in Venezuela, Bolivia and Nicaragua.

"It is an affront to our country’s glorious 246-year legacy of independence from tyranny, for the incumbent president of the United States to leverage the machinery of justice against a political rival," he said. "Such an act of absolute disrespect echoes despotism, making it fundamentally at odds with American democratic values."

In his statement, Sen. Mitt Romney said the former president "brought these charges upon himself."

"By all appearances, the Justice Department and special counsel have exercised due care, affording Mr. Trump the time and opportunity to avoid charges that would not generally have been afforded to others," he said.

Read more of what the senators had to say.

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FROM UTAH BUSINESS

Honoring Living Color

Utah Business aims to bring awareness to the changing business landscape in Utah and create a foundation upon which further recruiting efforts can be built. Are you aware of an individual who has made it their mission to attract and foster diversity and inclusion initiatives throughout the state of Utah? Make your nomination by June 16.

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He wrote a No. 1 hit for Garth Brooks. Now, this singer is competing on ‘America’s Got Talent’ (Deseret News)

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Dying with disease rather than from it: What happens when a parent has dementia? (Deseret News)

Who are the ‘joyful warriors’ of Moms for Liberty? (Deseret News)

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Jay Evensen: Will Apple’s Vision Pro be a boon or society’s doom? (Deseret News)

Here's how Utah Gov. Cox plans to get more Utahns connected to affordable, high-speed internet (KSL)

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Washington County

The U.S. and World

Texas plans a floating barrier in the Rio Grande. Here's what we know about it (NPR)

Highly recruited prep QB Isaac Wilson — Zach’s brother — on why he picked Utah over BYU, other suitors

Over two weeks ago, Corner Canyon High quarterback Isaac Wilson announced his commitment to the University of Utah over older brother Zach Wilson's alma mater BYU.

Isaac said the Utes' "great" offense and the school's proximity to home played major factors in his decision. Utah's offense even got big brother Zach's approval.

“We had Zach come down — my brother — and look over the offense that (Andy) Ludwig has, and all that,” Isaac said. “And he said it is probably one of the best and closest offenses he’s seen to the NFL that we visited. And he just loved it.”

Read more about what went into Isaac Wilson's decision.

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