Rep. Steve Scalise withdraws from Speaker's race; heightened security for Jewish communities; "Ring of Fire" eclipse is tomorrow! | | | 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 13, 2023 It's Friday the 13th. Perfect for October. It's also National M&M Day. What You Need to Know Just before midnight, Israel gave 1.1 million civilians 24 hours to evacuate northern Gaza. The U.N. asked the Israeli military to reconsider, warning of "devastating humanitarian consequences." In an alert to Gaza residents, the IDF urged civilians to move south and distance themselves âfrom Hamas terrorists who are using you as human shields.â Hamas, meanwhile, has dismissed the order as part of a âpsychological warâ and told residents to stay put. Some Gazans have reported being forced to remain in their homes by Hamas after trying to evacuate.
Law enforcement officials in the United States and around the world are tightening security in anticipation of potential antisemitic violence, and multiple Jewish schools are planning on closing for the day or keeping their students indoors. Earlier this week, a former Hamas leader called for a global âDay of Rageâ on Friday. An Israeli diplomat was stabbed in Beijing Friday morning in what authorities are investigating as a targeted terrorist attack and a French teacher was killed after being stabbed at school. Local law enforcement officers say stepping up security is not in response to any known threat.
Republican Majority Leader Steve Scalise withdrew his name from the speaker's race on Thursday night. He won the nomination, but could not bridge the 100+ vote gap to win on the floor. âNobodyâs going to use me as an excuse to hold back our ability to get the House opened again,â Scalise said. Rep. Jim Jordan has even less support than Scalise, leaving the House mired in dysfunction. Current Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries would only need 5 Republicans to vote for him and he could become the Speaker. Rapid Relevance The "Ring of Fire" solar eclipse is tomorrow about 10:13 am and there will be viewing parties across the state; your guide to Halloween decorations, haunted houses and pumpkin patches in Utah ð»; and bone-chilling haunted attractions in Utah. | | |
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Utah Headlines Political news Rep. Blake Moore: House must elect speaker so it can aid Israel (Deseret News) Utah attorney general responds to Tim Ballard allegations (KSL) What the Utah legislature has planned to help the Great Salt Lake (KSL Newsradio) Gov. Cox says appointing, not electing, attorney general is 'a better model' (KUTV) Legislation looks to crack down on school threat hoaxes (Fox13) Election news Utah 2nd District debate candidates revealed as commission releases new poll (Deseret News) SLC mayoral race: What plans do the candidates have to conserve water? (Salt Lake Tribune) General Utah news Final beam placed on Astra Tower, which will become Utah's tallest building (KSL) It's nearly time to cut down a Christmas tree as Utah permits go on sale ð (Fox13) Business Utah aerospace association's rebrand honors industry pioneers, expanding vision (KSL) Utah was âahead of the curveâ for remote work, and still ranks high amid the return to offices (Salt Lake Tribune) Microsoft closes $69 billion Activision deal, overcoming regulators' objections (New York Times) Crime Former Vernal city attorney accused of secretly filming female employees in restroom (KSL) Neighbors find woman 'beaten in the basement,' police say (KSL) Sex offender wanted women he sued to write apology letters, admit to lying to police (KUTV) Suit continues against former Provo OB-GYN (ABC4) Culture Here are the top four gluten free pastas â plus two you should avoid (Deseret News) Military moms and moms-to-be in Utah treated to special baby shower (Fox13) Education Gen Z never learned cursive. The effects of this are more widespread than you think (Deseret News) Why are so many young students carrying guns to school? (Deseret News) Environment In many Indigenous cultures, a solar eclipse is more than a spectacle. Itâs for honoring tradition (AP) Health How this proposed change could dramatically shift U.S. marijuana policy
DEA considering recommendation to reclassify cannabis (Deseret News) Stroke predicted to kill 10 million a year by 2050, study says (Deseret News) U. Health Population Health Center provides holistic care, and is a model for the state and nation (KSL) Housing Utah, Idaho among top 10 states with most âsevereâ housing underproduction (Deseret News) | | |
National Headlines General What even is woke? How a Black colloquialism became a conservative byword (Deseret News) Politics Rep. Josh Gottheimer criticizes fellow Democrats for opposing aid to Israel (Deseret News) Some want to grant temporary House speaker more power as Republican gridlock stalls Congress (AP) McCarthy on Speakership chaos: âHow do you allow 4 percent of the conference to do this to the entire country?â (The Hill) Jeffries calls for âtraditional Republicans to break with the extremistsâ (The Hill) Menendez accused of acting as foreign agent for Egypt while helming Senate Foreign Relations Committee (Politico) Ukraine ðºð¦ Ukraine, allies push to avoid stalemate as headwinds grow (Wall Street Journal) Israel ð®ð± âOur hearts acheâ: Latter-day Saint leaders issue statement calling violence in Middle East âabhorrentâ (Deseret News) US and Qatar agree to prevent disbursal of recently unfrozen Iranian funds as Israel-Hamas war rages (AP) Hezbollah says calls for it not to intervene in war 'will have no effect' (Reuters) For Palestinians trapped in Gaza, there is no way out (Wall Street Journal) Hamas militants had detailed maps of Israeli towns, military bases and infiltration routes (Wall Street Journal) For American family trapped in Gaza as bombs fall, thereâs no way out (Washington Post) | | |
| | News Releases UVU announces new integrated mental health conference The Utah Valley University (UVU) College of Humanities and Social Sciences announced that its 2023 Conference on Mental Health will be Oct. 27 from 9 a.m. â 5 p.m. on UVUâs Orem Campus. The one-day conference will include keynote speaker and mental health advocate Sean Astin, an American film actor, director, voice artist, producer, and a New York Times best-selling author. The plenary speaker will be Nadine Burke Harris, Ph.D., an award-winning physician, researcher and public health leader. (Read More) Utahâs consumer sentiment rose in September Utahâs consumer sentiment rose 4.8% in September (from 71.5 in August to 76.3), according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Instituteâs Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. A similar survey by the University of Michigan found that sentiment slightly fell among Americans as a whole during the same time. (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 1754 - Mary Hays McCauley, aka âMolly Pitcherâ is born. She was the legendary water-carrying heroine of the American Revolution. 1775 - The Continental Navy is created, with two ships and 80 men. 1792 - White House cornerstone laid 1884 - The Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London is established as the prime meridian. 1901 - Edith Sampson is born. An attorney, she became the first Black American to be appointed as a UN delegate and the first Black woman to be elected a US circuit judge. 1925 - Margaret Thatcher is born. She served as the Prime Minister of the UK from 1979 to 1990 and was the first woman to lead a Western democracy. 1972 - Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashes in the Andes. After 72 days, 16 of the 45 who were on the flight were rescued alive. 1982 - IOC Executive Committee approves the reinstatement of Jim Thorpe's gold medals from the 1912 Olympics 1987 - 1st military use of trained dolphins (US Navy in Persian Gulf) 2010 - 33 Chilean miners rescued after 69 days underground. 2021 - William Shatner becomes the oldest person to reach space, traveling aboard Blue Origin's New Shepard rocket on a 10 minute flight Quote of the Day "We've always been a weird state, we're weirder now than ever, and our country needs some Utah weird right now." âGov. Spencer Cox, speaking at the launch of 47G On the Punny Side Did you know that Darth Vader has a daughter named Ella? Ella Vader | | |
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