Fentanyl sales - and overdose deaths - are surging in Utah, as elsewhere; 10,000 forced abortions in Nigeria; Mike Leach dead at 61 | | | 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 | Dec. 13, 2022 It's Tuesday and National Cocoa Day. My husband is allergic to chocolate. I'm sad for him. If you do indulge, here are some of the best places in Utah to get hot chocolate. Be in the Know No more TikTok on state-owned phones. Utah Governor Spencer Cos issued an executive order yesterday, effective immediately, that prohibits state agencies or agency employees from downloading the app, or visiting the website on state-owned phones, computers, laptops and tablets. "China's access to data collected by TikTok presents a threat to our cybersecurity," Cox said.. "As a result, we've deleted our TikTok account and ordered the same on all state-owned devices. We must protect Utahns and make sure that the people of Utah can trust the state's security systems."
A story in today's Washington Post tracks the source of fentanyl in what they call "Mormon country" - St. George, Utah. Synthetic drugs have made their way here, just as they have in other rural and suburban areas. In Utah, fentanyl overdose deaths have increased 300% in just three years. The first time undercover agents purchased meth from a suspected Mexican cartel operation, it came in a five-pound tub of sour cream. The investigation became "Operation Sour Cream."
10,000 forced abortions â the unacknowledged story of the ârescuedâ women in Nigeria. They are 'rescued' from Boko Haram, but if they are pregnant, in thousands of documented cases, they are then forced to have abortions without their consent or prior knowledge. The Nigerian military denies the reports, in spite of eye witness testimony.
The Iranian government publicly executed 23-year-old Majid Rahnavard this week for his involvement in anti-regime demonstrations that have rocked the country since September. His "official" crime: "waging war against God." The executionâby hanging from a craneâwas the second such killing of a protest leader by the Iranian regime in recent weeks. At least 500 have been killed during the protests and some 15,000 imprisoned for protesting. Rapid Roundup Elon Musk booed as he takes the stage at Dave Chappelle's comedy show; Bob Barker turned 99 yesterday and Dick Van Dyke turns 97 today; US inflation eased in November (finally!); couples who combine their finances are the happiest; and Mike Leach, Mississippi State coach behind the âAir Raidâ offense, died last night at 61. Holiday Service Opportunities If you know of opportunities I've missed, please send them to me for inclusion here 'Light the World' giving machines Meals on Wheels (year-round) Sub for Santa Just Serve - a plenitude of opportunities await Angel Trees Quarters for Christmas The link between happiness and charitable giving (Deseret News) | | |
| | Together, We Can Better Support Women in Business 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 'Everybody started panicking': Passenger describes bus crash that injured 23 (KSL) Oregon woman killed in tubing accident at Deer Valley (KSL) Tooele Cityâs fire department gets first female firefighter (KSL Newsradio) Politics Great Salt Lake Collaborative offers internships for 2023 Legislative Session (KSL TV) Iron County to hold meeting to address ballot mail-out issues from recent election (Fox13) Utahâs Bonneville Shoreline Trail bill advances out of U.S. House on a unanimous vote. Rep. Curtisâs bill proposes to redraw wilderness boundaries to enable bike riding on the proposed trail alignments in Salt Lake and Utah counties. (Salt Lake Tribune) Business Utah tech layoffs continue, as yet another company valued over $1B sheds hundreds of workers two weeks before Christmas. Pluralsight becomes at least the fourth Utah âunicornâ to cut employees in recent weeks. (Salt Lake Tribune) After rapid pandemic expansion, Amazon delays opening new Weber County warehouse (KSL TV) Culture Youâre not alone in not understanding your Gen Z colleaguesâ your guide to Gen Z slang (Deseret News) Education Working to make âCollege educatedâ and âNative Americanâ the norm (Deseret News) Rocky Mountain University announces new president to succeed founder: Cameron Martin (Daily Herald) College Republican president says students want a greater voice at USU (Cache Valley Daily) Uneven growth in the Alpine School District prompts a look at school boundaries (KUER) Environment Illegal pot grows are making forests high on water contamination (Deseret News) Infinite, clean energy? Scientists set to announce fusion breakthrough (Deseret News) The U.S. reaches a fusion power milestone. Will it be enough to save the planet? (NPR) Nonprofit asks skiers to dispose of environmentally unfriendly ski wax (KSL Newsradio) The âpower of aridityâ is bringing Glen Canyon Dam to its knees (KUER) Drilling crews to flood Utahâs Lila Canyon coal mine fire with foam, water from boreholes drilled into part of mine that has burned since Sept. 20. (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah has a lot to do if itâs going to move away from coal-fired power (KUER) Health CRISPR gene-editing may boost cancer immunotherapy, new study finds (NPR) Why heart disease in women is so often missed or dismissed (New York Times) National Headlines General Treasury Secretary Yellen predicts âmuch lower inflationâ by the end of 2023 (Deseret News) Orion capsule back after 25-day journey as NASA inches closer to moon landing (Deseret News) Ken Niumatalolo reveals how abruptly he was fired at Navy. It was in the locker room, after the game and it blindsided him. (Deseret News) What the reaction to the âTwitter filesâ reveals about the media (Deseret News) Bankman-Fried, disgraced former CEO of FTX crypto exchange, arrested in Bahamas (NPR) Elon Muskâs Twitter disbands Trust and Safety Council (Wall Street Journal) Politics Prosecutor: Oath Keepers saw Jan. 6 as 'first battle' in war (AP) The asset bubble thatâs quietly popping. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and other Fed policymakers meet this week to raise borrowing costs again in a fight against the highest inflation in four decades that they're not close to winning. (Politico) Republicans fear Trump civil war could cost them in 2024 (The Hill) Ukraine ðºð¦ The supply chain that keeps tech flowing to Russia (Reuters) Paris hosts a vast gathering to coordinate urgent aid for Ukraine. (New York Times) Cornered in Ukraine, Putin ditches annual news conference (AP) Ukraine: Doctors from occupied city open hospital in Kyiv (AP) World News Baliâs water crisis threatens local culture, UNESCO sites (AP) Despite soaring deaths in Somalia, monitor says itâs not yet a famine. Some object. (New York Times) | | |
News Releases Gov. Spencer Cox orders TikTok ban on state-owned devices Gov. Spencer J. Cox has issued an executive order to prohibit the use of TikTok on all state-owned electronic devices. This order will take effect immediately. The order states that agency or agency employees may not, on any state-owned electronic device, download or use the TikTok application or visit any TikTok website. The executive order applies to all state executive branch agencies. âState-owned electronic deviceâ includes a state-owned mobile phone, laptop, tablet, or other electronic device. (Read More) Gov. Cox nominates Coral Sanchez to Third District Court Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has named Coral Sanchez to fill the Third District Court vacancy left by Judge Su Chonâs retirement. Sanchezâs nomination requires confirmation by the Utah Senate. âCoral Sanchez brings a wealth of experience to the bench,â Gov. Cox said. âThe people of Utah will benefit from her expertise and we appreciate her interest in serving our community in this new role.â (Read More) Wilford Clyde to be honored as 44th Giant in Our City The Salt Lake Chamber today announced that Wilford Clyde, Chair of Clyde Companies, Inc., will be honored as the 44th Giant in our City. The award recognizes those with exceptional and distinguished service, as well as extraordinary professional achievement, and is widely known as the most prestigious business award given in Utah. âWe could not be more excited for Wilford to be honored as the next âGiant in our City,ââ said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance. âHis leadership, business acumen and stewardship are exceptional. At his core, Wilford is a builder, not only of highways, bridges and dams, but of communities. He serves on numerous boards and donates his time and resources to help secure our future. Wilford is a true leader and an example anyone can aspire to.â (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 1818 - Mary Todd Lincoln is born. 1903 - Ella Baker is born. An organizer, she tried to develop local leaders for civil rights campaigns but found male leaders in the NAACP quite unwilling to delegate power. 1916 - Soldiers perish in avalanches in the Italian Alps, an estimated 10,000 over several days beginning Dec. 13 1920 - George P. Shultz is born. An American economist and businessman, he also became the 60th Secretary of State 1964 - In El Paso, Texas, President Lyndon B. Johnson & Mexican President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz set off an explosion diverting Rio Grande, to reshape US-Mexico border 1990 - South African President F. W. de Klerk meets with Nelson Mandela to talk of end of apartheid 1993 - Susan A. Maxman becomes first woman president of the American Institute of Architects in its 135 year history 2000 - Al Gore concedes the presidential election to George W. Bush. 2003 - Saddam Hussein captured in a hole in the ground close to his hometown of Tikrit 2019 - 16-year-old climate activist Greta Thunberg named Time's Person of the Year Wise Words "Hope is not passive. Hope is not blah, blah, blah. Hope is telling the truth. Hope is taking action. And hope always comes from the people.â âGreta Thunberg On the Punny Side What do you call an elf who runs away from Santa's workshop? A rebel without a Claus. | | |
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