It's World Press Freedom Day; the shooter in Texas has been found and arrested; elephants are leaving Hogle Zoo and a huge mudslide in LCC | Thank you to our sponsor AARP |
| | | 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 | May 3, 2023 It's Wednesday and World Press Freedom Day. The number of journalists killed in 2022 was up almost 50% from 2021, and global risks are increasing as journalists do their work. What You Need to Know 3rd District Court Judge Andrew Stone placed a hold on the new Utah law that would have required all abortions to be performed in hospitals starting today. The decision allows the stateâs four clinics to continue providing abortions while Judge Andrew Stone takes more time to weigh the merits of a lawsuit filed by the Planned Parenthood Association of Utah, which argued the law would âfunctionally eliminateâ abortion access by limiting the procedure to hospitals.
The suspect accused of killing 5 people in Texas was captured hiding under laundry after a 4-day manhunt. Five separate 911 calls were made in the 10-20 minutes between neighbors asking the suspect to stop shooting so close to their home and when he entered their home and began killing people. The wife of the suspect was also arrested this morning. Rapid Roundup Elephants leaving Hogle Zoo; a mudslide that is 4' deep and 100' wide closed Little Cottonwood Canyon; late-night TV shows go dark as writers strike for better pay; mock crash at Juab High makes impactful message about distracted driving; and a Utah man loses his bride when they were hit by a drunk driver on their wedding night. | | |
| | Thank you to Utahâs leaders for tax relief on Social Security benefits. For too long, state taxes have reduced the hard-earned Social Security benefits Utah seniors count on. But now, Governor Cox and Utah legislators have passed tax relief that will reduce state taxes on Social Security. AARP Utah fought hard for this new law to make sure our seniors keep more of what theyâve earned. Click here to learn more & thank our leaders. | | |
Utah Headlines Political news Gov. Cox answers the question: What makes Utah the best state in the country, according to U.S. News and World Report? (Deseret News) 'We are not helpless': Utah Gov. Spencer Cox hopeful for Utah, worried for nation (KSL) Opposition group files initiative in new attempt to halt new Utah state flag (Fox13) Utah Department of Corrections director to retire (Fox13) Salt Lake City Council approves new process, regulations for homeless resource centers (KSL) Erin Mendenhall proposes $445M budget with new plans for Great Salt Lake, e-bikes and air quality (Salt Lake Tribune) From mushrooms to school vouchers, here is how Utahâs newest laws will change the state (Salt Lake Tribune) General Utah news 80 years later, descendants and survivors remember those who died at Topaz, Utah (KUER) Utah says porn sites must verify users are adults. Hereâs how one of the biggest sites responded (Deseret News) The narrative is Utah leads the nation in pornography consumption. But data tell a different story (Deseret News) Why this online travel guide ranks Utahâs âMighty 5' poorly among 63 national parks (Deseret News) Editorial Board: Could AI destroy the planet (Deseret News) Ute Tribe sues cattle farm over alleged water theft (KSL) âItâs been a long time comingâ: historic Black church getting an upgrade in Salt Lake City (Salt Lake Tribune) Business Utah business groups among hundreds calling for immigration overhaul (KSL) Breeze Airways celebrates second anniversary with June sales on selected flights from Provo (Fox13) Education In Utah, major educational gaps exist for incarcerated people. Hereâs whatâs being done (KSL) Fear Factory pays off 2 elementary schools' lunch balances (KSL) Record-breaking enrollment at U of U this fall (ABC4) Longtime USU professor arrested for allegedly stealing from university (Cache Valley Daily) It's not just math and reading: US history scores for 8th graders plunge (New York Times) Schools ended universal free lunch. Now meal debt is soaring (NPR) Environment Brian Moench: This Utah spring, itâs what weâre not hearing thatâs the problem. Global bird populations have plummeted 30% (Salt Lake Tribune) Flooding turns backyards into swamps in Weber County (Fox13) How will especially wet winter and spring impact wildfire season? (Fox13) Hyrum Dam might be too outdated to handle record runoff water, officials say (KSL) Family Half of parents think childrenâs mental health worse due to social media, survey finds (The Hill) Health The Mediterranean diet does more than lower risk of diabetes (Deseret News) Air pollution can negatively impact your heart, reports say (Deseret News) Expanded protections for nursing mothers went into full effect last week, giving more U.S. workers the right to break time and a private space to pump breast milk. (New York Times) | | |
National Headlines General Oklahoma woman: Sex offender controlled my daughterâs family (AP) Religious violence can feel like a faraway problem. Itâs not. (Deseret News) How a former youth pastor ended up on the FBIâs âMost Wantedâ list (Deseret News) Vermont becomes first state to waive residency requirement for medical aid in dying (Vermont Public Radio) Tiny dolls appeared in mailbox with a note: âWeâve decided to live hereâ (Washington Post) Amid anti-trans bills targeting youth, Dwyane Wade takes a stand for his daughter (NPR) Job openings near two-year low as layoffs jump (Wall Street Journal) Politics U.S. senators reintroduce bill mirroring Utahâs efforts to regulate teen social media use (Deseret News) Why foreign companies on U.S. farmland are facing new scrutiny (Deseret News) Biden sending 1,500 troops for Mexico border migrant surge (AP) Voter turnout for the 2022 elections was the 2nd highest for midterms since 2000 (NPR) Failed secretary of state candidate and election-denier Jim Marchant joins Nevada Senate race (Politico) Overhaul of Supreme Court ethics runs into GOP opposition (AP) Ukraine ðºð¦ Zelensky says White House told him nothing about Discord intelligence leaks (Washington Post) Officials: US to send Ukraine $300 million in military aid (AP) Russian government says Kremlin hit by Ukraine rones (Wall Street Journal) World Sudan's warring generals extend theoretical truce but keep fighting (Reuters) U.N. struggling to strike balance in Afghanistan amid humanitarian crisis (Washington Post) Showtime! UK readies pomp for King Charles IIIâs coronation (AP) | | |
News Releases Utah ranks #1 best state overall by U.S. News and World Report Utah has been named the No. 1 best state overall for 2023 by U.S. News and World Report. The study analyzed more than 70 metrics in eight categories: health care, education, economy, infrastructure, opportunity, fiscal stability, natural environment, and crime and corrections. Utahâs success was showcased as it measured in the top 15 in six of the eight categories, with No. 1 in economy and fiscal stability. (Read More) Salt Lake County provides over $25 million in support to affordable housing Today, Salt Lake County provided funding to 17 projects that will build critically needed affordable housing within the County. This funding assures that more than 1,500 affordable units will be preserved and/or newly constructed by the end of 2026. The funding was made possible through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). (Read More) Utah Valley University to honor more than 8,517 graduates at 2023 commencement Utah Valley Universityâs (UVU) 2023 commencement and convocation ceremonies, honoring 8,517 students receiving a total of 9,629 degrees and certificates, will take place on Thursday, May 4, at 6:30 p.m. in the UCCU Center on UVUâs Orem Campus. Eighty-seven percent of the graduates are from Utah. (Read More) Romney leads Senate hearing on State Department budget request U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy, along with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), the Subcommitteeâs Chair, today led a hearing to consider the State Departmentâs FY 2024 Budget Request for East Asia and the Pacific. The 2022 NDAA included legislation from Romney requiring the Administration to create a grand China strategy. During todayâs hearing, he urged witnesses to follow through on creating a strategy that is more comprehensive than principles that have been publicly outlined by officials, as well as bipartisan and lasting in nature. (Read More) Peter Reichard joins Sutherland as Chief Development Officer Sutherland Institute is pleased to announce the addition of former Utah Foundation president Peter Reichard as Chief Development Officer. In this role, Reichard will oversee development efforts crucial to Sutherlandâs expanding research, content and influence. (Read More) Churchill Junior High Schoolâs $15,800 donation is largest of any Utah public school participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring Campaign It was a day of screams and celebrations on the east bench of the Wasatch Front, Friday, April 21, 2023. Students of Millcreekâs Churchill Junior High capped off âCharger Weekâ with an assembly to celebrate raising nearly $16,000 for Tackle Hungerâs Souper Bowl of Caring last February. Proceeds from the three-week long event benefit the Granite Education Foundation (GEF), a community organization involved in a myriad of community programs, including providing for school food banks and families in the Granite School District. (Read More) Sen. Lee dismantles the leftâs intimidation campaign against the Supreme Court Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) delivered a powerful speech during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, lamenting the baseless attacks against Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. In his remarks, Sen. Lee said, âThe Left simply cannot accept the fact that one of our greatest American success storiesâthat of a humble citizen who rose from poverty in the segregated South to become not only one of the Supreme Courtâs longest-serving justices, but also one of the most influential jurists our country has ever knownâis the story of a Black man who happens to be a conservative.â (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Mount Liberty College Spring Youth Seminar on The Virginian â May 6, 9 am-7 pm, Register Here Taxes Now Conference with the Utah Taxpayers Association â May 8, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, Grand America Hotel, Register here Below the Belt screening and discussion (a film on endometriosis) â May 10, 7 pm, UVU Noorda Theater, Register here YWCA Leader Luncheon featuring Dr. Bernice A. King â May 12, 11:30-2:00, Grand America. Register here Interim Day â May 16-17, Utah State Capitol, le.utah.gov Utah Democratic Convention â May 19-20, SUU (More information here) Intellectual Property Rights webinar with the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation â June 1, 10:00 am, Register here Interim Day â June 13-14, Utah State Capitol, le.utah.gov | | |
On This Day In History 1469 - Italian philosopher and writer Niccolo Machiavelli is born. 1894 - Phyllis Greenacres is born. She became a psychoanalyst, interested in physical maturation and psychological development in children, which led to a study of gifted infants. 1898 - Golda Meir is born. She became the first (and only) female prime minister of Israel. 1915 - John McCrae writes the poem âIn Flanders Fields.â 1971 - The Nixon administration arrests 13,000 anti-war protesters in 3 days 1980 - Cari Lightner, age 13, is hit and killed by a drunk driver. Her mom, Candy Lightner, founded Mothers Against Drunk Drivers in Cariâs honor. 1992 - Exxon executive is murdered four days after being kidnapped from his driveway in New Jersey. 2007 - Three-year-old Madeleine McCann goes missing in Portugal. She has never been found. A formal suspect was named on April 22, 2022. Quote of the Day "Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press, and that cannot be limited without being lost." âThomas Jefferson On the Punny Side If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring? Pilgrims. | | |
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