Happy birthday to Rep. Nelson Abbott; adoption revisions; transgender inmates; & professional licensing for deployed service members today | | | 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 | Jan. 30, 2024 It's Tuesday and National Yodel for Your Neighbor Day! We are one-third of the way through the legislative session and that means two-a-days for floor time start today. Also, a very happy birthday to Rep. Nelson Abbott! ð ðð Three things to watch today: SB147 Adoption Revisions, by Sen. Chris Wilson decreases the time required for adoption finalization, requires the Department of Health and Human Services to provide pregnancy support services, and clarifies additional requirements for obtaining consent from unmarried birth fathers. This bill will be heard in the Senate Health and Human Services Committee HB316 Inmate Assignment Amendments, sponsored by Rep. Karianne Lisonbee, addresses housing for transgender inmates. Except for very limited circumstances, this bill prohibits an inmate assigned male at birth from living with inmates assigned female at birth and vice-versa. This bill will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee. SB143 Military Occupational Licensing Renewal Amendments, by Sen. Heidi Balderree, would waive fees and any penalties for an expired professional license that lapsed while a service member was deployed. It also grants returning service members a 180 day extension to complete any required continuing education. This bill will be heard in Senate Business and Labor. On the Hill Today, Day 15 of 45 8:00 am: Executive Offices and Criminal Justice Appropriations; Higher Education Appropriations; Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environmental Quality Appropriations 11:00-11:50 am: Senate floor time 11:00-11:50 am: House floor time
2:00-3:30 pm: Senate floor time 2:00-3:30 pm: House floor time 3:40 pm: House Government Operations; House Judiciary; House Political Subdivisions; House Revenue and Taxation; Senate Business and Labor; Senate Education; Senate Health and Human Services | | |
| | Construction Underway, Scheduled Operation: 2025 The Intermountain Power Project's transformational âIPP Renewedâ project is under construction and on track for mid-2025 start-up. The project includes new natural gas-fueled electricity generating units that will also utilize "green" hydrogen for long-term, dispatchable storage of renewable energy. There are currently 600 workers on site in Millard County, with 1200 expected during peak construction. Click here to watch construction unfold. For more information, visit www.ipprenewed.com | | |
Utah Headlines Legislative session Utah Senate declares âthis is the placeâ for NHL hockey team (Deseret News) Why Utah Democrats keep trying to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment year after year (KSL) Utah legislative preview 2024: 5 bills affecting home & family life (Studio 5 with Brooke Walker) Criminal Justice Utah House committee votes unanimously for mandatory prison time in DUI homicides (KSL TV) Parental alienation: Mothers who reported abuse say Utahâs family court system is failing their kids (KSL TV) Rather than require clergy to report abuse, Utah could open the door to the option (KUER) Education Payroll deduction of teachersâ, public employeesâ union dues would continue under bill endorsed by House committee (Deseret News) Utah teachers want to remove unruly kids from class more easily. Opponents say it could harm students. (Salt Lake Tribune) Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment Does being a good environmental steward require coal production? Utahâs newest caucus says âyesâ (Deseret News) Lawmakers propose to keep Utah running on coal and natural gas (KSL Newsradio) Utah legislators advance bills to keep coal burning, but you may pay more for power (Salt Lake Tribune) Health care professionals ask policymakers to save Great Salt Lake (UPR) Transportation Utah lawmaker requests funding for west side bus service (KSL Newsradio) Other Utah News Election news Poll: Trump widens lead in Utah (Deseret News) Public policy institute reports 'utmost confidence in the security of Utah's elections' (KSL) Political news Itâs been 2 months since Celeste Maloy was sworn into Congress. Hereâs what sheâs been up to (Deseret News) Utah news Opinion: The Utah Inland Port Authorityâs vision for sustainable economic opportunities (Deseret News) Record number of travelers passed through Salt Lake airport last year (Deseret News) Tim Ballard to speak at conservative CPAC conference amid sexual assault investigations (Salt Lake Tribune) Business/Technology The $400,000 job that doesnât require a college degree (Wall Street Journal) âI am about to get laid offâ: Some tech workers are filming their layoffs and sharing them on social media. (New York Times) Crime/Courts Professor sues University of Utah for reverse discrimination (KSL Newsradio) Utah County âritualisticâ sex abuse prosecution in limbo after judge questions political ties and conflict of interest (Salt Lake Tribune) Culture Hannah Neeleman, a Utah homemaker with a huge social media following, goes to Las Vegas with her two-week-old newborn in tow, to compete for Mrs. World. (New York Times) Gen Z really loves âThe Chosen,â creator Dallas Jenkins says (Deseret News) The rise of the 'man camp' (Deseret News) As Sundance films head to mainstream audiences, themes of family emerge in award winners (KSL TV) Family Report shows childcare costs can be more expensive that college tuition (KSL Newsradio) Health Brain drain: How nasal and lymphatic drainage discovery could help end Alzheimerâs (Deseret News) Weighing the risks of caffeine: How much caffeine is safe and how to know when youâve had too much (Deseret News) Housing Utah needs 37,000 more homes â are smaller homes and lots the answer? (Deseret News) Research shows more people moving out of Salt Lake area due to affordability (KUTV) | | |
National Headlines General Why so many Americans need more sleep in winter (Deseret News) Prisoners in the US are part of a hidden workforce linked to hundreds of popular food brands (AP) Amelia Earhart's long-lost plane possibly spotted in the Pacific by exploration team (NPR) A paintingâs journey through the criminal underworld ends 54 years later. In Utah. (Washington Post) Is American journalism headed toward an 'extinction-level' event? (The Atlantic) Political news House Republicans poised to torpedo GOPâs best chance in years to pass border bill because of opposition from Trump (The Hill) Carroll says Trump is ânothing,â âwe donât need to be afraid of himâ (The Hill) Trump can't be dictator on 'Day One' - or in a second term. Here's why. (Politico) Biden faces treacherous political choices in answering deadly attack (Washington Post) Election news Boebert finishes fifth in straw poll of new district (The Hill) 'Unless you're a purist, we don't want you voting.' The Nevada GOP wanted to ensure a Trump win. They wound up making the state irrelevant. (Politico) Ukraine ðºð¦ As Ukraine plows through artillery shells, one plan to send more fizzles (Wall Street Journal) Israel ð®ð± Hamas studies new Gaza ceasefire proposal (Reuters) Israeli undercover forces dressed as women and medics storm West Bank hospital, killing 3 militants (AP) World news French farmers block roads with tractors, press government for action (Reuters) Millions urgently need food in Ethiopiaâs Tigray region despite the resumption of aid deliveries (AP) | | |
| | Guest opinion: America is exceptional, and itâs our duty to keep it that way. by Yemi Arunsi There is much at stake in 2024, and contrary to popular belief, it transcends elections; itâs about salvaging the heart of our nation. Growing up in Nigeria, I had a front-row seat to the tumult that plagues so many countries. I vividly recall violent military coupsâthe streets ablaze with rioting and bloodshed. But being a New York native born to immigrant parents, I knew there was a better way. The âshining city upon a hillâ wasnât a cliché, it was a haven where I could escape chaos and be amongst the best and the brightest, the brave and the free. Yet I often find myself wondering aloud, âIs this the same America that is so relentlessly criticized by our own citizens?â I canât turn on the TV or scroll through social media without seeing a wealthy celebrity or athlete lamenting about how terrible our nation is and how we must atone for our existence. They paint a picture of a country full of warmongering, racism, and hyper-capitalism. Day in and day out, they needlessly feed into this narrativeâand they couldnât be more wrong. America may be a work in progress, but I can assure you, she truly is exceptional... Yes, we have our challenges. There is divisiveness across every race, religion, socioeconomic status, and political party. Even in our nationâs capital, lawmakers arenât immune to hostility, as was evident in the events of the past year. But Iâd argue that we donât need a modification of our values to fix our problemsâwe need a return to them... As the late John McCain once said, âOur shared values define us more than our differences. And acknowledging those shared values can see us through our challenges today if we have the wisdom to trust in them again.â (Read More) News Releases Gov. Cox, President Adams, Speaker Schultz issue statement on NHL Gov. Spencer Cox, President J. Stuart Adams and Speaker Mike Schultz issued the following joint statement: âToday, Gov. Spencer Cox, Senate President J. Stuart Adams and House Speaker Mike Schultz met with National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman. Utah has the foundation of being the next major sports and entertainment destination in the United States. With the fastest growing economy, youngest population in the country and a long history as a premier winter sports destination, Utah is excited about the prospect of being the new home to an NHL franchise.â Utah Senate and House Majority caucuses focus on energy policy Utahâs all-of-the-above approach to energy has provided reliable, affordable and sustainable power for decades. Investing in the stateâs energy capabilities is a top priority this session for the Utah Senate and House Majority Caucuses. With onerous federal regulations and policies, lawmakers are committed to fighting back and passing policies that ensure Utahâs current and future needs are met. âOur goal is to build a stronger and more sustainable energy sector for generations to come,â President J. Stuart Adams. âAffordable energy has been a key component of Utahâs economic success and must continue to be a priority. Our state has everything it needs to achieve energy independence: abundant natural resources, innovative industries, cutting-edge research from our esteemed universities, businesses willing to invest and a determined spirit. Utahns deserve to have energy that is reliable and affordable.â (Read More) Curtis introduces bill to stop taxpayer funding to UN Representative John Curtis (R-UT) introduced the Determining Excessive Funding for the United Nations for Dereliction (DEFUND) Act to force the State Department to rank United Nations (UN) agencies on how vital U.S. involvement is to our interests. The introduction of this bill comes on the heels of a probe into employees of the UNâs United Nations agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) involvement in the Oct. 7th attack on Israel resulting in the largest loss of life of Jews since the Holocaust. (Read More) Utah Innovation Fund invests $700k in local healthcare, life sciences startups As part of a new partnership, 3Helix, Rebel Medicine, and Inherent Biosciences were recently awarded a collective $700K in funding by the Utah Innovation Fund, a state-backed venture capital fund. 3Helix and Rebel Medicine come from the University of Utah â with 3Helix a part of the Uâs startup portfolio â and Inherent Biosciences is a joint development with BYU and the U of U. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Jan. 31 â Utah County Safe Child Community Training, Cascade Elementary School, 7:00 pm, Register here Feb. 5 â Women in Leadership Executive Speaker Series: Healthcare, 11:30 am-12:30 pm, Register here Feb. 6 â Cache County Safe Child Parent and Community Training, Riverwoods Conference Center, 7:00 pm, Register here Feb. 7 â Women in Leadership Executive Series: Finance, 11:30 am-12:30 pm,Register here Feb. 8 â Women in Leadership Executive Speaker Series: Traditional Industries, 2:00-3:00 pm,Register here Feb. 21 â Women in Leadership Executive Speaker Series: Women Focused Organizations, 11:30 am-12:30 pm,Register here Feb. 22 â Understanding Utahâs Caucus-Convention System, with GOP Chair Rob Axson and Dem. Chair Diane Lewis, sponsored by Utah Women Run, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Register here Mar. 1 â Legislative session ends Mar. 5 â Caucus night Mar. 20 â Utah Foundation Annual Lunch, 11:45 am-1:30 pm; Grand America, Purchase tickets here Apr. 20 â United Utah Partyconvention Apr. 27 â State GOP and Democratic Conventions | | |
On This Day In History 1781 - Maryland becomes the 13th and final state to ratify the Articles of Confederation, almost 3 years after the official deadline. 1815 - The burned U.S. Library of Congress is re-established with Thomas Jeffersonâs 6,500 volumes. 1835 - Andrew Jackson narrowly escaped assassination, the first attempted assassination on a U.S. President. 1913 - Ida B. Wells forms the Alpha Suffrage Club 1933 - Hitler named chancellor of Germany. 1948 - Mahatma Gandhi is assassinated. 1956 - Martin Luther King, Jr.âs home is bombed. 1972 - âBloody Sundayâ in Northern Ireland when 27 unarmed civilians are shot by the British Army during a civil rights march. 14 die. 1973 - Jury finds Watergate defendants Liddy and McCord guilty on all counts. 1976 - George H. W. Bush becomes 11th director of CIA 1982 - The first computer virus is released. âElk Clonerâ was created by Richard Skrenta as a practical joke. 2020 - The World Health Organization declares COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern at a meeting in Geneva. Quote of the Day âThe way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.â
â Ida B. Wells On the Punny Side What sits on the bottom of the cold Arctic Ocean and shakes? A nervous wreck | | |
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