Speaker Brad Wilson muses on Utahns and Pando; it's National Substitute Teacher Day; food banks need donations | | | 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 | Nov. 18, 2022 It's Friday and we have less than a week to go before Thanksgiving. Find your happy place navigating traffic this weekend, 'cause you know it will be crazy. It's also Substitute Educator Day so a big shout-out to you all. ð ð Be in the Know Nancy Pelosi will not run for Minority Leader. She has been the top leader of the House Democratic Caucus for the last 20 years. Possible replacements include, among others, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y. and Rep. Katherine M. Clark, D-Mass.
Utah Speaker of the House Brad Wilson muses on how Utahns are like Pando. 'Like Pando,' he writes, "Utah benefits greatly from deep roots that sustain a community. While other parts of the country embrace a new-normal of isolation â often not knowing their next door neighbors â Utah is a place where community, charity and service are part of the culture. Being connected to a common foundation is a tremendous advantage to life in Utah."
Today is the anniversary of the Jonestown murder/suicide. I learned that 70% of Jonestown's population was made up of Black Americans, that individuals were injected with poison and that a third of the 918 people who died were children. Guards armed with guns and crossbows had been ordered to shoot anyone who tried to leave. It was the greatest single loss of American civilian life in a deliberate act until the attacks on September 11, 2001. On that cheery note..... Rapid Roundup Target's Black Friday deals; FM100 has started playing Christmas music (I started about a month ago - never too soon!); Riverwoods in Provo will flip the switch on Christmas lights tonight; lots of things going on in this weekend, including a Utah Symphony concert with Bernadette Peters. Holiday Service Opportunities If you know of opportunities I've missed, please send them to me for inclusion here! Food banks fighting inflation to feed Utahns in need this Thanksgiving, need your donations (Fox13) KUTV Holiday Food Drive this week (KUTV) | | |
| | Inspire In Utah is an initiative to help support women entrepreneurs and women in the workplace at every level. Whether youâre a woman starting a business or looking to elevate your career, Inspire In Utah is dedicated to providing you with the resources to help on your journey. Find funding, training, and even inspirational stories in our dedicated resource center. | | |
Utah Headlines General Turkey shortage rumors overblown, but the Thanksgiving â22 bird, and trimmings, will be pricier. Persistent U.S. inflation, avian flu outbreaks and smaller turkey flocks will all help drive up the costs of 2022âs Thanksgiving dinner. But, finding a big bird, if thatâs your jam, shouldnât be a problem (Deseret News) How waiving down a stranger changed the life of a vet with hearing loss (KSL TV) Advocates share message after 3-year-old kills self with unsecured gun in Taylorsville (KSL TV) 5 things to know about Utahâs new top federal prosecutor, Trina Higgins (KSL TV) Why are Utah gas prices so high? Blame the West Coast and our growing population (KUER) Summit County public transit approves emergency buses to Salt Lake City (KPCW) Politics The test Lee and McMullin didnât know they were taking. Panel says we need to root out divisiveness, contempt not just in our politics, but in ourselves and our families (Deseret News) Utah AG joins 11-state coalition against increasing federal control over National Guard (KSL) Jeff Merchant: Utah Democratic party needs to keep Republicans on their toes. Democrats did not make a mistake in sitting out the 2022 Senate election. (Salt Lake Tribune) In a lightning-fast Zoom meeting, Utahâs liquor commission hands out its last two bar licenses (Salt Lake Tribune) State and local lawmakers rip Union Pacific over costs, delays on community projects (Fox13) Do independent and third-party candidates have a place in Utah politics? (KUER) On Message with Marty Carpenter: Winning message (UTPOL Underground) Business Intermountain takes 1st step to transform old Sears site into 'urban hospital' (KSL) Just in time for the holidays, some retail credit cards are now charging 30% or more. A series of aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve has driven up the cost of debt, and particularly so for credit card holders. Now, some store-branded cards are blowing by a once-respected ceiling of 30% APR (Deseret News) Microsoftâs solution for productivity? Playing games during meetings (Deseret News) Salt Lake City Starbucks employees join strike on company's busiest day (Fox13) Culture Utah cookie wars carry on, inside and outside of court (KSL) The French have frogs. Utahns have ⦠frog eye salad? (Deseret News) Education Perspective: How âtransformationalâ politics is hurting Gen Zâs mental health. College students need political norms and values to remain stable. Politicians are giving them the opposite of that (Deseret News) University of Utahâs new provost brings higher ed leadership, engineering chops to the job (Deseret News) Safety feature or distraction? Debate over kid-tracking watches in the classroom (KSL TV) Environment Hydrogen power will take water, but not as much as coal power
U. of U. study indicates IPP hydrogen plant would reduce water use, but legislators remain wary. (Salt Lake Tribune) James Westwater: Problems and solutions for Utahâs water crisis (Salt Lake Tribune) Page, Arizona has a front row seat to the Colorado River crisis (KUER) Family Male domestic violence victims often suffer in silence (ABC4) Housing Home sale rates are dropping faster in Salt Lake City than in any other city (KSL Newsradio) 3 charts: Hereâs what Utahâs housing market looks like today. More households canât afford to buy a home, according to a new report. (Salt Lake Tribune) Warming center â to assist overnight homeless â about to open in Logan (Cache Valley Daily) National Headlines General A veteran's legacy gives all veterans and Gold Star Families free, lifetime access to national parks (USA Today) Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell will be tried together, judge decides (Deseret News) Gabby Petitoâs parents awarded $3 million in wrongful death lawsuit (Deseret News) More Twitter workers flee after Muskâs âhardcoreâ ultimatum (AP) Elections Republican Boebertâs tight race likely headed to recount (AP) Fearing Future Losses, More Republicans Look to Move On From Trump (Wall Street Journal) Politics Why 4 U.S. senators acknowledged The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on the Senate floor. The Respect for Marriage Act aims to balance religious liberty with LGBTQ rights, the senators said (Deseret News) Congress passes limits on use of NDAs in sexual harassment cases â a win for #MeToo movement (Deseret News) US moves to shield Saudi crown prince in journalist killing (AP) Is there still room for Paul Ryanâs ideas in the Republican Party? Ryan and AEI scholars hope to convince the GOP to tackle deficits and entitlement reform. (Deseret News) Congress holds first ever hearing on a congressional seat for the Cherokee Nation (NPR) Ukraine ðºð¦ Nicholas Kristof: I went to Ukraine and saw a resolve we should learn from. Ukrainians are offering themselves as a human shield in ways that benefit the West. (New York Times) Whereâs Putin? Leader leaves bad news on Ukraine to others (AP) âI thought I was going to dieâ: Abuses widespread in Ukraine (AP) | | |
News Releases OED report on gasoline prices in Utah At the request of Gov. Spencer J. Cox, the Utah Office of Energy Development (OED) analyzed impacts on Utahâs gasoline prices and produced a report that summarizes why Utahâs gasoline prices are, on average, higher than the rest of the nation. The report, hosted on OEDâs website, outlines supply and demand intricacies and governmental involvement that affect the price at the pump. Many of the contributing factors arise in other states, but because Utahâs gasoline market is tied to those higher-priced markets, it causes Utahâs prices to increase as well. (Read More) BioHive welcomes New Executive Director Aimee Edwards BioHive, Utahâs collective of life sciences and healthcare innovation companies, today announced the appointment of Aimee Edwards as the Executive Director, effective immediately. Edwards will succeed Katelin Roberts, who has served as BioHiveâs Executive Director since its launch in 2020. Aimee Edwards brings a broad range of leadership experience in building community, branding and public policy, most recently serving as External Affairs Director at Western Governors University. In this role, she launched the universityâs first community affairs department which was vital in securing national partnerships, expanding social impact and advancing education and workforce development programs. She previously held multiple positions of increasing responsibility at the Utah Governorâs Office and Utah Governorâs Office of Economic Opportunity including leading strategic outreach, communications and marketing, and legislative strategy. (Read More) State Auditor releases limited review of Scofield Town The Office of the State Auditor released its limited review of Scofield Town (Town). The Office received a complaint alleging potential misuse of public funds and noncompliance at Scofield Town but could not substantiate that claim. State Auditor John Dougall continued to emphasize best practices for government entities, saying, âProper separation of duties, or compensating controls, help to ensure that good people continue to make good decisions and help to prevent, or detect, potential bad actors who attempt to perpetuate fraud, waste or abuse of taxpayer funds." (Read More) Romney, Risch urge President Biden to swiftly implement measure to craft grand strategy to counter China threat U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy and Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee respectively, today urged the Biden Administration to begin the process of implementing Romneyâs legislation which was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022. Romneyâs amendment requires the United States to develop a grand strategy to address the new era of geostrategic and geoeconomic competition with China. In addition to beginning to process of developing the strategy, the legislation requires the president to convene an advisory board of outside experts from the private sector, academia, and think tanks to analyze, challenge, and make recommendations for the strategy, including challenging its assumptions and approach, and make recommendations to the president in order to craft a grand strategy. (Read More) Sen. Lee introduces Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced the Biosimilar Red Tape Elimination Act to increase competition within the biological drug market and reduce consumer costs. Sen. Leeâs bill would prohibit the FDA from requiring biosimilars to undergo switching studies to receive an âinterchangeableâ designation. Eliminating this barrier would increase access to lower-cost biosimilars and save payers and consumers billions over the next five years. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Utah Economic Outlook and Public Policy Summit with the Salt Lake Chamber â Jan. 12, 2023, Salt Lake City Marriott, 8 am - noon, Register here Legislative session begins, Jan. 17, 2023, le.utah.gov | | |
On This Day In History 326 - St. Peter's Basilica is consecrated. In 1626, a much larger basilica is dedicated on the same site 1787 - Sojourner Truth is born. She was an abolitionist and womenâs rights activist 1857 - Rose Knox is born. One of Americaâs foremost businesswomen, she co-founded Knox Gelatin Co. and revolutionized the company following her husbandâs death initiating a five-day work week and two-week vacations 1872 - Suffragette Susan B. Anthony is arrested by a U.S. Deputy Marshal and charged with illegally voting 1883 - Railroads create the first time zones 1886 - Chester A. Arthur, 21st President of the United States (1881-85), dies at 57 1902 - Brooklyn toymaker Morris Michton names the teddy bear after US President Teddy Roosevelt 1910 - British suffragettes storm Parliament on Black Friday. They would not gain the right to vote for another 8 years. 1914 - Mary McDermott gave birth to triplets weighing a total of 24 pounds (10.9 kg), the heaviest set of triplets ever born. During their lifetime, she and her husband Michael would also have three sets of twins and six single babies. 1916 - Five miles of mud, a million casualties. British General Douglas Haig finally calls off the 1st Battle of the Somme in World War I after more than 1 million soldiers had been killed or wounded 1928 - Mickey Mouseâs âbirthdayâ - makes his first appearance on Steamboat Willie 1945 - Wilma Mankiller is born. She was the first female Chief of the Cherokee Nation 1949 - Vice-President Alben W. Barkley and Jane Rucker Hadley wed in St. Louis, MO. The event marks the first marriage of a vice-president while in office. 1956 - Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev says the phrase "we will bury you!" to Western ambassadors at a reception at the Polish embassy in Moscow. 1964 - J. Edgar Hoover describes Martin Luther King as "most notorious liar" 1978 - Jonestown mass murder/suicide. 918 people die 1989 - Pennsylvania is first to restrict abortions after US Supreme Court gave states the right to do so 1991 - Terry Waite released after four-year kidnapping in Lebanon 1999 - 12 die in bonfire at Texas A&M 2011 - Minecraft is released 2021 - US judge exonerates two men for the killing of Malcolm X in 1965, saying they were "wrongly convicted" Wise Words "I don't think anybody anywhere can talk about the future of their people or of an organization without talking about education. Whoever controls the education of our children controls our future." âWilma Mankiller The Punny Side Why did the chef refuse to crack an egg? He didn't want to whisk it. | | |
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