Anonymous donor wipes out $52K in school lunch debt; ICE arrests have tripled across the West; US weekly jobless claims fall unexpectedly | | | 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 | July 11, 2025 It's Friday and National French Fry Day ð and Free Slurpee Day! Happy birthday to Gov. Spencer Cox! ððð What you need to know As summer vacation begins to wind down, thousands of Utah teachers gathered for first lady Abby Cox's "Show Up for Teachers" conference. Resiliency was an anchoring theme in the daylong conference included speakers and breakout sessions addressing evolving topics facing todayâs Utah teachers such as stress management, conflict resolution, classroom engagement, nutrition and sleep and managing finances. Rapid Relevance Anonymous donor wipes out $52K in school lunch debt for 2,000 Lehi students; ICE arrests have tripled across the West; US weekly jobless claims fall unexpectedly in latest week | | |
Utah Headlines Political news Mike Lee can't stop throwing social media grenades. His church isn't happy (Politico) Mike Kennedy, Celeste Maloy, Blake Moore & Burgess Owens: WHy we voted for Pres. Trump's 'beautiful' bill (Deseret News) Mike Lee wants Supreme Court to take case involving prayer at a high school football game (Deseret News) Steve Handy: Curtis puts conservative, commonsense values into action in budget billâs energy deal (Deseret News) Big Pharma pays up: Utah to get millions in opioid settlement (Deseret News)
Is the rest of the US catching up to Utah in terms of civic engagement? (KSL)
Municipal news Mayoral hopefuls in one of Utahâs newest cities address development, water, short-term rentals (KSL) 'It helped him realize he was not alone': Grief support center for children expands to Washington County (St. George News) Utah BYU chef wins national competition in her home state of Utah (Deseret News) After Herriman explosion, officials statewide urge residents to sign up for emergency alerts (KSL) Utah has a âgood track recordâ when it comes to disaster prep and alerts (KUER) Utahâs black and white license plate is now the stateâs most popular and itâs bringing in millions (KSL TV) Voices: Iâve seen many of my family members experience discrimination. I fear it will only get worse. (Salt Lake Tribune) 'It's scary, it's sad;' Video sparks worries over random questioning of Utah residents (Fox13) Biz/Tech Snap, crackle, sale: Nutella maker Ferrero plans to buy WK Kellogg for $3 billion (AP) A recent high-profile case of AI hallucination serves as a stark warning (NPR) This TikTok video is fake, but every word was taken from a real creator (NPR) AI kingpin Nvidia crowned as first public company with a $4 trillion valuation (AP) Crime/Courts Man pleads guilty to attempted murder, sentenced in St. George double stabbing case (KSL) Former Washington County Sheriff deputy charged with manslaughter following motorcycle accident (Fox13) Salt Lake D.A. uses Utahâs newly created âchild tortureâ law (Utah News Dispatch) Culture/Community How Utah's next Olympics will be different for a Wasatch Back community (KSL) Addiction recovery group celebrates achievements of those who sought help (KSL) Native American culture to be featured at Native Market Days in Orem (KSL) This lavender farm in northern Utah was inspired by France. Itâs throwing a festival this weekend. (Salt Lake Tribune) Education Utah teachers concerned immigration raids could impact students (KSL Newsradio) An âemblem makeoverâ? University of Utah unveils new institutional logo (Deseret News) Department of Education pauses $40M worth of grants, impacting Utah schools (KUTV) Lawmakers seek solutions as teacher misconduct complaints rise in Utah (KUTV) Since COVID, threats to local school officials have nearly tripled, research finds (NPR) Environment Deer Creek wildfire in San Juan County grows to 4,000 acres (KSL TV) Wildfire near La Sal in San Juan County prompts evacuations (KSL) Utah on track to have one of its driest, warmest years as half of state in severe drought (KSL) Officials tracking an earthquake swarm at Mount Rainier say there is no cause for concern (PBS) Faith How Utahâs faith leaders â and the LDS Church â responded to IRS allowance of political endorsements from pulpit (Salt Lake Tribune) Health Utah health experts alarmed by decrease in childhood vaccine uptake (Deseret News) Housing Hereâs the Utah city where homes are priced the highest (and it's not Park City) (Deseret News) While officials stay silent, demand for homeless services has grown in Utah County. Everyoneâs struggling with the influx. (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah County recognized for efforts in providing warmth and safety to the homeless (Daily Herald) | | |
National Headlines General Good luck canceling that gym membership â court blocks âclick to cancelâ rule (Deseret News) A Denver dino museum makes a find deep under own parking lot. Like âa hole in one from the moon.â (AP) A Texas family clung to life on their roof, capturing the terrifying flooding in photos and video (AP) Political news Judge blocks Trumpâs birthright citizenship order through class action lawsuit (Deseret News) Republicans block effort to change gambling tax in Trump policy bill (Deseret News) 6 suspended, no firings: Secret Service takes blame for Trump assassination attempt (Deseret News) Prices are now starting to rise because of tariffs. Economists say this is just the beginning (Fox13) Trump puts 35% tariff on Canada, eyes 15%-20% tariffs for others (Reuters) US State Department tells staff planned layoffs to begin soon (Reuters) As FEMA aids Texas flood victims, Noem urges eliminating US agency 'as it exists today' (Reuters) Many Liberians take offense after Trump praises their presidentâs English (AP) GOP senators question Hegseth leadership after weapons âgoof-upâ (The Hill) Trump hands Congress a âweaponâ he once warned would do âgrave damageâ to presidency (Politico) State Department is firing over 1,300 employees under Trump administration plan (Washington Post) Trump's Texas visit highlights an us-vs-them approach to disasters (Reuters) Immigration/deportation California surgical center staff demand to see warrant as ICE agents detain landscaper (AP) Surge in US concern about immigration has abated (Gallup) Ukraine/Russia 'We go on living': Kyiv embraces city routines after nights of terror (Reuters) Russian drones strike Ukraine's 2nd-largest city, damaging a maternity hospital (Washington Post) Middle East Gaza doctors cram babies into incubators as fuel shortage threatens hospitals (Reuters) Europe unveils a deal for more food and fuel for Gaza. Israeli strike kills 15 outside a clinic (AP) World news Support for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh risks collapse, UN refugee agency says (Reuters) | | |
| | | News Releases Utah secures $720 million nationwide settlement from 8 opioid drug makers Utah Attorney General Derek Brown and Utah Department of Commerce Executive Director Margaret Woolley Busse today announced approximately $720 million nationwide in settlements with eight drug makers that manufactured opioid pills and worsened the nationwide opioid crisis. Based on the overwhelming participation by states across the country, all eight defendants have agreed to proceed with a sign-on period for local governments. Utah could receive up to $8.8 million. (Read More) Lee defends religious freedom in football game prayer case U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) led an amicus brief today to protect Americans from religious discrimination by state governments. Senator Lee filed the brief to defend free speech and religious observance from infringement by government entities as part of the case Cambridge Christian School v. Florida High School Athletic Association. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Aug 7 â Titan of Public Service gala with Sen. Tom Cotton hosted by the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation at the Grand America Hotel. More Information Here Aug 12 â Municipal primary Aug 19-21 â Interim Days Nov 4 â General election February 4-7, 2026 â Summit, with Silicon Slopes and Visit Salt Lake | | |
On This Day In History 1274 - Robert the Bruce, Scottish king (1306-1329) and national hero, is born in Turnberry Castle, Ayrshire 1656 - First Quaker colonists land at Boston in the Massachusetts Bay Colony 1767 - John Quincy Adams is born 1798 - U.S. Marine Corps formally re-established by a congressional act 1804 - âThe damn fool that shot him.â Aaron Burr shoots Alexander Hamilton in an early-morning duel. 1916 - US Congress passes Federal Aid Road Act 1945 - Soviets agree to hand over power in West Berlin 1955 - Congress authorizes all US currency to say "In God We Trust" 1960 - âTo Kill a Mockingbirdâ is published. 1975 - Spencer J. Cox is born. 1977 - US Medal of Freedom awarded posthumously to Rev Martin Luther King Jr. 1988 - Mike Tyson hires Donald Trump as an advisor Quote of the Day âMockingbirds donât do one thing but make music for us to enjoy. They donât eat up peopleâs gardens, donât nest in corncribs, they donât do one thing but sing their hearts out for us. Thatâs why itâs a sin to kill a mockingbird.â
â Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird On the Punny Side Why arenât dogs good dancers? Because they have two left feet. | | |
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