Taylor Swift's Vienna concerts canceled over ISIS-related threats; wildfire smoke returning to Utah skies; Kenneth Rooks wins a silver medal | | | 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. If you're a candidate in 2024 and want to advertise on UtahPolicy.com, contact Suzanne Benitez. | | |
Situational Analysis | Aug. 8, 2024 It's Thursday and National Braiders Day. And good news! You don't need a license to braid hair in Utah anymore. What you need to know Convicted murderer Taberon Davie Honie was executed early this morning by lethal injection at the Utah State Correctional Facility. Honie was pronounced dead at 12:25 am, completely the death sentence given to him in 1999. He was the eighth person executed in Utah since the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976 and the first in Utah in 14 years. His victim, Claudia Benn, is remembered by her family as a strong matriarch committed to serving others. Rapid relevance Taylor Swift's Vienna concerts canceled over ISIS-related threats; wildfire smoke returning to Utah skies; and steeplechaser Kenneth Rooks comes from behind to win a silver medal at the Paris Olympics. On the Hill Today 11:00 am: Senate Government Operations Confirmation Committee | | |
| | Stand for Our Land Recently, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has significantly restricted access to Utah public lands and continues to restrict access. We need you to get involved. Learn how your access is being affected and voice your concerns to the BLM. Your input will help shape the future of Utah. | | |
Utah Headlines Political news San Juan County commissioners choose new county attorney (KSL TV) Salt Lake County Council supports Rio Grande Plan (KSL TV) A grassroots plan to radically change train lines through SLC just got a key endorsement (Salt Lake Tribune) Plans for the West Mountain shooting range outside of Payson have been canceled after pushback (KUER) Election news In Utah Senate race, Curtis and Gleich clash over climate solutions as environmental groups pick sides (Deseret News) Utah Bangladeshâs new leader is a friend to Utah (Deseret News) 'A beacon of hope': Midvale Family Resource Center renamed in honor of tireless educator (KSL) New Utah Treasure Hunt clues are here â and details on a side hunt for $5k (ABC4) Olympics âWhat the heck just happened?â: What Kenneth Rooks had to say following his silver medal run (Deseret News) Kenneth Rooks just shocked the world. Here are some of the best reactions (Deseret News) It is difficult to believe all the records Simone Biles broke in Paris (Deseret News) Are Olympic gold medals really made of gold? (Deseret News) Olympic champions used to win clocks. Hereâs how we settled on gold medals (NPR) How much do medalists at the Paris Olympics get paid? Some countries, including U.S., offer cash incentives, some do not (Deseret News) Gymnast wins condo and food for life after becoming his country's first male gold medalist (KUTV) Everything to know about the 2024 Olympics closing ceremony on Aug. 11 (Deseret News) The French Alps and Utah both got an Olympics in Paris. Are more dual awards coming? (Deseret News) Diving-Gibson bruised but undaunted after horror dive (Reuters) Quincy Hall gets a gold in the Olympic 400 meters with yet another US comeback on the Paris track (AP) Australians jubilant as sports-mad country bags record gold at Olympics (Reuters) A new generation of elite female runners embraces strength over thinness (NPR) Business/Tech Disney earnings could spell trouble for its theme parks (Deseret News) NASA, Boeing officials at odds over how to bring overdue astronauts back to Earth (Deseret News) Layton Hills Mall purchased by Florida-based investment firm, plans for renovation (ABC4) Crime/Courts Honie's daughter navigates complicated dance of grief and healing before execution (AP) Protesters rally against Utahâs first execution in more than a decade (Deseret News) Native American coalition condemn Honie's actions, remember victim: 'Never again' (KUTV) Lawsuit alleging Tim Ballard tried to intimidate critics is dismissed. Lawyers say they will re-file it (Salt Lake Tribune) Culture Hate paper cuts? Avoid this type of paper, scientists say (Deseret News) Aerosmith cancels tour and announces retirement due to Steven Tylerâs vocal injury. Hereâs what to know about refunds (Deseret News) Education âThe new modelâ: Ogden School District, Ogden-Weber Technical College launch new school (KSL) 'Itâs 50,000 people whose lives will never be the same,' says 2024 graduate of Western Governors University (Deseret News) SLC School District proposes $730 million school bond, skeptic thinks it's too much (KUTV) Clearfield Job Corps students concerned with conditions at dormitory (Fox13) Event helps Utah refugee students, families prepare for upcoming school year (Fox13) More US schools are taking breaks for meditation. Teachers say it helps studentsâ mental health (AP) The rollout for the updated FAFSA application has been delayed â again (NPR) Environment Study: U.S. emitting methane at 4 times rates estimated by EPA (Deseret News) Perspective: How Utahâs federal delegation can help save the Great Salt Lake (Deseret News) Utah proposes major fishing changes, adjustments to rules at 21 bodies of water (KSL) Clay Pit Fire starts near Saratoga Springs (KSL Newsradio) Health Doctors can now save very premature babies. Most hospitals donât try. (Wall Street Journal) New University of Utah Health research challenges pneumonia diagnoses (KSL Newsradio) Research indicates that even in small amounts, alcohol can shorten your life (KSL Newsradio) US abortion numbers have risen slightly since Roe was overturned, study finds (AP) Housing 30-year mortgage rate drops on weak jobs data, Fed rate-cut signal (Reuters) | | |
National Headlines General Photo gallery: Tropical storm Debby drenches the Southeast (Deseret News) 3 Taylor Swift concerts canceled after suspects arrested in alleged terrorist plot (Deseret News) Suspects in foiled plot at Taylor Swift shows hoped to kill as many people as possible: officials (AP) Plot to attack Taylor Swift show in Austria linked to Islamic State (Reuters) Judge rules against majority of claims in Black student's hair discrimination case (NPR) How Lahainaâs more than 150-year-old banyan tree is coming back to life after devastating fire (AP) âWeâre going to survive and itâs going to come back': A year after Maui wildfire, survivors press on (AP) How horses at the Spirit Horse Ranch help Maui wildfire survivors process their grief (AP) Photo gallery: Maui now and then (Deseret News) Political news New leadership on the horizon for House Freedom Caucus after current chair Rep. Bob Good loses his primary (Deseret News) Opinion: Why the reasoning behind Utah Supreme Courtâs ruling on abortion is so alarming (Deseret News) Trump praised Walzâs handling of 2020 George Floyd protests in governors call: Report (The Hill) Election news Trump talks with three voters at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally (Deseret News) Comparing Harris-Walzâs and JD Vanceâs battleground state rallies (Deseret News) Why Trump wants a task force to investigate âanti-Christian biasâ (Deseret News) Meet Minnesotaâs Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan. If the Harris/Walz ticket were to win in November, Flanagan would become the nationâs first female Native American governor (Deseret News) 'Tampon Tim' goes viral: Democrats and Republicans clash over menstrual product law (KUTV) Latter-day Saints, Democrats and Republicans, join forces to support Harris (Daily Herald) Harris, Walz test Midwest credentials at Michigan and Wisconsin rallies (Reuters) How the Harris surge scrambled Trump's battle plan (Reuters) Harris and Walz say theyâre âjoyful warriors,â narrowly avoid confrontation with Vance on tarmac (AP) Trump complains about campaign as advisers try to focus on attacking Harris (Washington Post) Harris responds to Gaza protesters at rally: âI am speaking nowâ (The Hill) Vance runs a Swift Boat attack against Walzâs military service (Politico) Majority of US adults say democracy is on the ballot but they differ on the threat: AP-NORC poll (AP) Ukraine ðºð¦ Russia battles Ukrainian troops for a third day after major incursion (Reuters) For Ukraineâs Olympic breakdancers, âshiningâ is more important than winning (NPR) Russian ally Niger cuts ties with Ukraine as rivalry spills over into Africa (BBC) Israel and Gaza Iran might be second-guessing its Israel attack (Politico) Fear stalks Israelâs communities on the front lines with Lebanon (New York Times) World news Exclusive: US to give $414 mln in humanitarian aid for Congo (Reuters) Powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake hits off southern Japan; tsunami advisory issued (AP) Nobel laureate Yunus makes emotional return to Bangladesh to lead caretaker government (Reuters) | | |
| | News Releases Utah Sen. Wayne Harper to lead NCSL Utah Sen. Wayne Harper (R) has now become the president of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) at the annual Legislative Summit in Louisville, KY. Sen. Harper previously served as vice president and president-elect for NCSL. He succeeds Rhode Island Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy (D), who served as the NCSL president from 2023-2024. NCSL, a bipartisan organization that serves the nationâs 7,386 state lawmakers and more than 30,000 legislative staff, alternates its leadership annually between the two major political parties. (Read More) Utah consumer sentiment rises in July Utahâs consumer sentiment increased by 4.9% in July (from 77.3 in June to 81.1 in July), according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Instituteâs Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. A similar survey by the University of Michigan found that sentiment fell 2.6% among Americans as a whole during the same time (from 68.2 to 66.4). Neither monthly change was statistically significant. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming August 14 â Hatch Foundation "Titan of Public Service" recognizing Sen. John Thune, Grand America, Register here August 20-21 â Interim Days September 17-18 â Interim Days October 4 â Conservative Climate Summit, 7:30 am - 3:00 pm, UVU, Register here October 4 â Hatch Foundation hosts Civil Dialogue Symposium with Dana Perino, 2:00 pm, USU, Register here October 7-9 â One Utah Summit, SUU, Register here October 15-16 â Interim Day November 15 â Women & Business Conference & ATHENA Awards Luncheon with the Salt Lake Chamber, Grand America Hotel, Register here November 19-20 â Interim Days | | |
On This Day In History 1844 - Brigham Young chosen as head of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1898 - W.K. Kellogg invents corn flakes 1914 - Ernest Shackleton's ship "Endurance" leaves Plymouth, England 1945 - President Harry S. Truman signs the United Nations Charter, making the US the first nation to complete the ratification process and join the new international organization. 1942 - German saboteurs executed in Washington 1969 - Executive order 11478 issued by President Nixon requires each federal department and agency to establish and maintain an affirmative action program of equal employment opportunity for civilian employees and applicants. 1974 - Nixon resigns 1975 - The term âglobal warmingâ appears for the first time 1992 - The original US 'Dream Team' wins the basketball gold at the Barcelona Olympics 2009 - Sonia Sotomayor is sworn in as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court 2017 - The Walt Disney Company announces plans to create its own streaming service, canceling ties with Netflix. (Hello Disney+!) 2023 - Fire in Lahaina, Maui claims more than 100 lives and almost completely destroys the town Quote of the Day "I wouldn't approach the issue of judging in the way the president does. Judges can't rely on what's in their heart. They don't determine the law. Congress makes the law. The job of a judge is to apply the law."
âJustice Sonia Sotomayor On the Punny Side I really enjoy hearing all of the national anthems played at the Olympics. I love country music. | | |
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