It's National Watermelon Day, the Senate passes the veterans burn pit bill without Utah's Senators, Nancy Pelosi visits Taiwan | | | 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 | August 3, 2022 It's Wednesday and National Watermelon Day. Besides just eating it plain, one of our favorite recipes is cubed watermelon, lime juice and fresh mint. Also delicious when adding feta cheese. ð Be in the Know Voters in Kansas resoundingly rejected a proposed amendment to their constitution that would have specified that there was no explicit right to an abortion. That change would have allowed Kansas lawmakers to pass a total abortion ban. Speaking of abortion, the Justice Department filed a lawsuit Tuesday challenging Idahoâs near-total abortion ban. The lawsuitâthe Departmentâs first abortion litigation since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade earlier this summerâalleges that the Idaho lawâs narrow life-of-the-mother exception conflicts with federal law requiring hospitals to provide life-saving treatment. The Senate voted again and passed a bill expanding health benefits for veterans exposed to toxic burn pits, sending it to President Joe Bidenâs desk. Republicans had reversed their support and stonewalled its passage last week, crediting their opposition to discretionary spending objections. Democrats and advocates accused them of withholding the money in retaliation for the Democratsâ newly-announced reconciliation spending package. Senators Lee and Romney remained no votes. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi landed in Taiwan yesterday, becoming the highest-ranking United States politician to visit the island since the 1990s. She reiterated that the US will not abandon Taiwan, even as China saber-rattles. China considers the self-governed island part of its territory and announced plans for live-fire military exercises surrounding the island once Pelosi leaves. It also announced import bans on citrus and some fish products from Taiwan. Taiwan expects increased 'psychological warfare' after Pelosi visit. Rapid Roundup Vin Scully, longtime Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster, dies at age 94, Airbnb removes â1830s slave cabinâ listing after being called out on TikTok ð®, Disneyland will be celebrating Christmas from early November to early January, Lindon teen dies after âaltercationâ between two groups, and twins in Texas were named "Stockton" and "Malone" by Utah Jazz fans. | | |
Utah Headlines General The microchip revolution: Hereâs why the U.S. will spend $280 billion to buoy this critical industry (Deseret News) While we are struggling to pay up at the pump, Big Oil companies are breaking records with historically high profits (Deseret News) Utah-based Nu Skin starts laying off employees (Salt Lake Tribune) Weber County man designs water-purifying hiking pole, pushing it to market (Standard-Examiner) Officials actively investigating alleged suspects for arson near Utah State Capitol (KUTV) Politics Editorial Board: The Inflation Reduction Act would do a lot of things â fighting inflation isnât one of them (Deseret News) What Utahns in Congress say about U.S. killing of al-Qaida leader (Deseret News) Utah Democratic Party, Salt Lake County Democratic Party employees unionize (Deseret News) Will lifting tariffs on baby formula imports solve the national shortage? Utah Sen. Mike Lee thinks itâs a start. (Salt Lake Tribune) Billings files legal complaint over House 72 election recount result, calls for hand tally (St. George News) Orem City Council votes to place new city school district on November ballot (KUTV) Education Historic NAACP, Latter-day Saint student trip begins in Ghana. âI want to know where I come from,â said one of 43 students traveling in Ghana as part of the Amos C. Brown Fellowship (Deseret News) Salt Lake City superintendent remains on leave, his dispute with school board unresolved, after tense meeting (Salt Lake Tribune) Get ready: Here is when school starts in Utah (ABC4) Environment After a man burned 60 acres trying to kill a spider, here are some other head-scratching wildfires (Deseret News) House Speaker Brad Wilson: âWe are just getting startedâ saving the Great Salt Lake (Deseret News) Saving the Great Salt Lake could cost billions, House Speaker says (Fox13) U.S. extreme weather is an economic and infrastructure problem, too (Deseret News) 7 years of plenty and then what? St. George doesnât want development to slow for want of water (Salt Lake Tribune) Like the rain? Another monsoonal 'moisture surge' is headed toward Utah this week (KSL) Family The atheist who warned the world about porn addiction (Deseret News) Housing Are we in a housing recession or not? Economists split on what exactly is happening (Deseret News) Construction yet to begin on tiny home village for Salt Lake's homeless population (KUTV) Neighbors set up new Tooele homeless center one stitch at a time (Fox13) National Headlines General The trauma....A 12-year-old girl who had been held captive was found walking along a road in rural Alabama on Monday after she escaped from a nearby home, which led the authorities to the grisly discovery of two decomposing bodies where she had been held. (New York Times) Sandy Hook parents: Alex Jones claims created âliving hellâ (AP) Gas prices have fallen nationally for 49 straight days, approach $4 a gallon (Wall Street Journal) Zawahiri appeared on his balcony. The CIA was watching â and ready to kill him. (Washington Post) Politics Arizona officials warned fake electors plan could âappear treasonousâ (New York Times) Trump loyalist wins GOP nod to oversee Arizona elections (AP) Jan. 6 witness Rusty Bowers loses to Trump-backed challenger in Arizona (The Hill) Rep. Peter Meijer narrowly loses to Trump-endorsed challenger in Michigan primary (NPR) Blake Masters, Trump pick funded by billionaire Thiel, wins Arizona Senate primary (NPR) Arizona Secretary of State Hobbs wins Democratic nomination for governor (Reuters) Two âSquadâ members survive primary challenges (The Hill) Phones of top Pentagon officials were wiped of Jan. 6 messages. The DOD is the latest part of the federal government to have deleted official phone communications relevant to investigations into the events of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol (Washington Post) Ukraine ðºð¦ Cold showers, no lights: Europe saves as Russian gas wanes (AP) First Ukraine grain ship enters Bosphorus after inspection (Reuters) About a third of Ukraineâs population has been forced from their homes by Russiaâs onslaught. (New York Times) | | |
News Releases Utah Foundation wins top awards for policy research Last week, the Utah Foundation was honored with several awards from the Governmental Research Association, a national association of governmental research professionals. The GRA presented the awards at its 109th annual conference and meeting, hosted by the Economy League of Greater Philadelphia. The Utah Foundationâs honors were as follows: Communications Category, Best Video: The Missing Middle of the Housing Market Most Distinguished Research Award, State Government Issue: Going for the Green: How Utah Can Thrive in the New Climate Economy Most Effective Education Awards, Local Government Issue: Middle Housing Study âThese awards offer hard evidence of the staffsâ determination to ensure that this is among the most effective governmental research organizations in the nation,â said Utah Foundation Chair Art Turner. âBut, more importantly, the awards highlight projects designed to serve Utahns and assist decision makers.â Utahâs multiracial resident population added most residents between 2010 and 2020 Utahâs multiracial (two or more races) resident population added the most residents and was the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group regardless of Hispanic or Latino origin between 2010 and 2020, according to a report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute. The report uses the 2020 census redistricting data to provide insights into Utahâs multiracial population, including ethnicity, youth and adult populations, and where people live. Considering race alone without ethnicity, the multiracial (two or more races) population increased by 276% since 2010 in the United States and 269% in Utah. Utahâs multiracial population growth ranked 13th fastest in the nation. This increase accounted for an additional 203,495 Utahns and drove approximately 40% of the decadeâs statewide growth. (Read More) Western Governors University celebrates its 88th commencement this weekend in Salt Lake City Western Governors University (WGU) will celebrate its 88th commencement in the universityâs 25-year history at Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City on Saturday, August 6th. A total of 1,368 graduates who have earned their bachelorâs and masterâs degrees will participate in the ceremonies. WGU is committed to serving nontraditional students, which is reflected in Saturdayâs graduating class, with approximately 55% of participants coming from one or more of the following historically underserved populations: first-generation college students, students of color, rural residents, and/or low-income earners. Graduates earned degrees in business, education, information technology, and health professions, including nursing. Many work full time and raise families while completing their programs. (Read More) Romney comments on Democratsâ reconciliation package "If you have been paying attention to the news lately, youâve see that there is a piece of legislation that is going to be done by reconciliation in Washington, called the Inflation Reduction Act. By the way, if you believe itâs going to reduce inflation, I have a bridge in Brooklyn Iâll sell you. This is not about inflation reduction, this is all about Democrats spending on things they want to spend money on. Iâm not going to support it. I donât think any Republicans are going to support it. Why is that? Well, itâs another taxing and spending bill. And specifically, there are a number of things they are going to do that I think are pretty harmful." (Read/Watch More) Romney calls on Defense Department to complete report on U.S. competition with China U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) called on Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to complete the mandatory, comprehensive reports comparing U.S. military spending with Chinese and Russian military investments required by a provision that Romney secured in the FY2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Given that China and Russia do not report their military spending in the same way the United States does, this report will help the U.S. understand the actual purchasing power of China and Russia and inform decisions regarding how we should invest in defense capabilities. (Read More) Number of the Day | | |
Upcoming Women in the Money with Utah State Treasurer's Office â Sept. 15-16, Salt Lake Sheraton + online, Register here ULCT Annual Convention â Oct 5-7, Salt Palace Convention Center, Register here General election â Nov 8 | | |
On This Day In History 1492 - Christopher Columbus sets sail for the Indies with the Niña, the Pinta and the Santa MarÃa 1882 - US Congress passes a law restricting immigration. 1905 - Maggie Kuhn is born. Forced to retire because she turned 65, she became a senior rights activist and founded the Gray Panthers. She was active in the movement until her death at age 89. 1923 - Calvin Coolidge takes the oath of office after Warren G. Hardingâs death 1934 - Adolf Hitler merges the offices of German Chancellor and President, declaring himself "Führer" (leader) 1949 - The NBA is born. 1958 - Nautilus submarine travels under North Pole 1981 - 13,000 Air Traffic Controllers (PATCO) begin their strike; US President Ronald Reagan offers ultimatum to workers: 'if they do not report for work within 48 hours, they have forfeited their jobs and will be terminated' 1984 - Mary Lou Retton scores 10 for final vault to win the individual all-round competition in Los Angeles and become first American woman to win an Olympic gymnastics medal 1992 - Jackie Joyner-Kersee wins her second Olympic gold medal for the heptathlon 1996 - âThe Macarenaâ begins its reign atop the US pop charts Wise Words "Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind - even if your voice shakes." â Maggie Kuhn The Punny Side How do you console an English teacher? There, their, theyâre | | |
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