Isaac Wilson returning to Utah; a top Russian general is killed in Moscow bombing; and a 7.3 earthquake in Vanuatu causes widespread damage | | | 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 | Dec. 17, 2024 It's Tuesday and National Maple Syrup Day! Now we just need candy, candy canes and candy corn. Mmm. What you need to know Sen.-elect John Curtis is a pragmatist, a consensus-builder and dealmaker. He enters the Senate as one of the most effective lawmakers in the U.S. House, having passed nearly dozen bills in a time when many lawmakers pass none and brings his ability to engage allies and build strategic alliances to a Senate mired in extreme partisanship. He also takes his job to approve - or not - presidential nominees seriously and says simply rubber-stamping nominees is "not the role of the Senate." He will be sworn in Jan. 3. Rapid Relevance Isaac Wilson returning to Utah; a top Russian general is killed in a Moscow bombing, Ukraine claims credit; and a 7.3 earthquake in Vanuatu causes widespread damage. | | |
Utah Headlines Political news Mitt Romney's American theology (The Dispatch) As he exits, Romney hopes the GOP will someday return to its pre-Trump roots (KUER) Cox signs letter in support of Trump's pick to lead Homeland Security (KSL) Justice Gorsuch denies Phil Lyman's emergency request to prevent election certification (KSL) Gillibrand makes a last-minute White House push for womenâs rights constitutional amendment (KSL TV) Summit County adopts $91M budget, adds raise for elected officials (Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City unveils final design for future of Pioneer Park (KSL) Utah Utahâs Olympics organizing committee wonât be in place until next year. Hereâs why (Deseret News) Hill Air Force Base confirms reports of drones over Davis County airspace (KUTV) Holiday season âWe canât stop Christmasâ: United Way sees spike in increase of Utah County families seeking holiday assistance (Daily Herald) The original lyrics of âHave Yourself a Merry Little Christmasâ were extremely depressing (ABC4) View from here: The season of hope (Deseret News) Will there be shipping delays this holiday season? Hereâs what you should know (Deseret News) Kearns 2nd grader shares the Christmas spirit by giving to her Native community (KSL) Lighting Utah one Christmas bulb at a time is a full-time job (Fox13) The holiday balancing act (St. George News) Are you catching holiday blues instead of cheer? Here are some ways to find peace (AP) Weber County's K-9 pups receive presents and love at their Christmas Party (KSL) Santa & Mrs. Claus visit babies & parents in Draper hospital's NICU (Fox13) Biz/Tech Hereâs how Utah earned its No. 1 ranking for innovation (Deseret News) In-N-Out Burger releases new 3D Christmas sweater (KSL) Amazon manipulated injury data to make warehouses appear safer, a Senate probe finds (NPR) Crime/Courts SLC police officer faces 13 felonies charging him with sexually assaulting woman during date (KSL) Man accused of Washington County storage unit thefts linked to at least 80 more burglaries (KUTV) Culture 5 inspirational stories that gave us hope this week (Deseret News) It's hygge season: How to embrace the Danish lifestyle of rest and coziness (NPR) 2024 was the year of Mormon women (Washington Post) Education Southern Utah schools will now have access to free 24/7 online tutoring (ABC4) Wisconsin shooting comes days after Utah teacher protest over school security (Fox13) Parents lobby Alpine School District officials to keep schools on brink of shutdown open (KUTV) Environment New money to help Zion National Park, a U.S. favorite (Deseret News) Year-long carp hunt contest aims to remove carp from Utah Lake: âWe want carp goneâ (ABC4) Over 100 electric school buses to hit Utah roads in effort to clear state air (Fox13) Family Itâs time to talk about pornography, scholars say, including one from BYU (New York Times) Health New Utah research finds a link between ozone pollution and child development (KUER) | | |
National Headlines General Teacher and a teenage student killed in a shooting at a Christian school in Wisconsin (AP) Wisconsin school shooting was reported by a 2nd-grader, police say (AP) Police identify Wisconsin school shooting suspect as a 15-year-old female student (NPR) 2nd grader called 911 amid Mondayâs school shooting, Madison police chief announces (Deseret News) Jay Evensen: The murder of Brian Thompson was not praiseworthy (Deseret News) Christmas, end of 2024 could break one last travel record, AAA says (Deseret News) Federal Reserve is likely to slow its rate cuts with inflation pressures still elevated (AP) Black student enrollment at Harvard Law drops by more than half (New York Times) Political news Judge rejects Trumpâs bid to toss hush money conviction because of Supreme Court immunity ruling (AP) Pete Hegseth to release woman from nondisclosure agreement amid sexual misconduct allegations (Deseret News) The polio vaccine, Eric Adams and more media lawsuits: Donald Trumpâs freewheeling Mar-a-Lago press conference (Politico) Steve Bannon floats an unconstitutional candidate: Trump in 2028 (Politico) Bipartisan bill to avert government shutdown appears to hit snags (Washington Post) Ukraine ðºð¦ Ukrainian troops say inexperienced North Koreans are making easy targets (Washington Post) Israel and Gaza Negotiators say Israel and Hamas are inching toward a ceasefire deal. This is what it may look like (AP) World news Germanyâs Scholz loses a confidence vote, setting up an early election in February (AP) Syriaâs ousted leader Assad says he wanted to keep fighting but Russian allies evacuated him (AP) Assad's fall upends the Middle East's largest drug empire (Wall Street Journal) Women held as sex slaves in Sudan's South Kordofan, Human Rights Watch says (Reuters) | | |
| | News Releases Romney reflects on 25-year career in public service As he prepares to leave the Senate, U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) sat down with CNNâs Jake Tapper for a wide-ranging interview on his 25-year career in public service. Romney reflected upon the integral role his faith and family have played on his career, his proudest moments, and the great challenges we face as a country. (Read More) Chelsea and Casey Baugh donate $5 million to UVUâs Entrepreneurship Institute Successful local entrepreneurs Chelsea and Casey Baugh announced a $5 million donation to Utah Valley Universityâs Entrepreneurship Institute, which will be named in their honor, further enhancing UVUâs strong reputation as a leader in entrepreneurial education. The Baugh gift marks a significant milestone in the universityâs EverGREEN comprehensive fundraising campaign for the future of UVU. (Read More) Salt Lake Countyâs Assertive Community Treatment Teams expand to support more people experiencing severe mental illness Salt Lake County recently added a new Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team that will serve an additional 100 individuals dealing with serious mental illness and expanded another ACT team from its capacity of 50 consumers to 100. With this expansion, Salt Lake County now has five ACT teams, each with a capacity of 100, serving some of our most vulnerable county residents. (Read More) Utah ranks #1 among U.S. states for innovation capacity and outcomes Utahâs broad innovation ecosystem ranks high among U.S. states across various measures. A new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, co-led by the Economic Development Corporation of Utah (EDCUtah), shows the characteristics contributing to Utahâs success include the stateâs higher education institutions, a well-trained workforce, social infrastructure, collaboration among innovation ecosystem actors, and a culture of innovation. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Dec. 18 â Advanced Screening of Lost Treasure: Handel's Messiah in Bethlehem, Jordan Commons Megaplex, 12:00 pm, Price of admission: Canned goods for the Utah Food Bank, RSVP here Jan. 9 â Whatâs Up Down South Economic Summit. St. George. Register here Jan. 10 â Rural Utah Data Symposium. St. George. Register here Jan 14 â Utah Taxpayers Association Legislative Outlook Conference, 9 am - 12:00 pm, Little America Hotel, Register here Jan. 21 â Utah legislative session begins Mar. 7 â Utah legislative session ends | | |
On This Day In History 1760 - Deborah Sampson is born. During the Revolutionary War, Sampson disguised herself as a man using the name Robert Shurtliff and enlisted in the Continental Army. She is one of a handful of women who also received a military pension at that time. 1777 - France formally recognizes the United States as an independent nation 1903 - Orville and Wilbur Wright make the first successful airplane flight near Kitty Hawk, NC. 1900 - Mary Cartwright is born. The British mathematician was a leading contributor to chaos theory. 1913 - Mary Kenneth Keller is born. After taking her vows from the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1940, Sister Mary Kenneth attended DePaul University in Chicago. She studied mathematics and further pursued an education in computer science. On June 7, 1965, she became the first woman in the United States to receive a Ph.D. in computer science. 1933 - The NFL hosts its first Championship Game. The Chicago Bears defeat the New York Giants 23-21. 1936 - Pope Francis is born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is the 266th Bishop of Rome and head of the worldwide Catholic Church. 1944 - US approves the end to the internment of Japanese Americans 1963 - The Clean Air Act becomes law 1989 - The Simpsons debuts on Fox. 1991 - Boris Yeltsin announces the Soviet Union will cease to exist by New Yearâs Eve 1993 - Judith Rodin is named president of the University of Pennsylvania, the first woman to head an Ivy League institution Quote of the Day âLetâs commit to being the allies and forging the alliances that history demanded back then â and upon which the future of America depends, now â in our families, in the workplace, in our communities, at the ballot box, and in the halls of power.â âSen.-elect John Curtis On the Punny Side What kind of motorcycle does Santa like to ride? A Holly Davidson! | | |
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