| Enoch city manager offers support to WVC; latest Utah jobs report shows an increase in 30,900 jobs; NASA's new images show 'Christmas' stars .png?width=1200&upscale=true&name=Utah_Policy_Logo_Email_Full%20(1).png) | 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. 20, 2024 It's Friday and the day you've all been waiting for: Ugly Sweater Day! What you need to know - Last night, the Trump-approved Continuing Resolution which would have removed the debt ceiling for two years, failed to pass. Utah Reps John Curtis and Blake Moore voted against it, and Reps Celeste Maloy and Burgess Owens voted in favor. The debate in the House chamber got heated. At one point, Rep. Marc Molinaro, who was presiding, slammed the speakerâs gavel with such force that it broke. More than 3 dozen Republicans voted against the bill, including conservative GOP Rep. Chip Roy from Texas who castigated fellow Republicans, saying, in part: "It's embarrassing. It's shameful. To take this bill yesterday and congratulate yourself because it's shorter in pages but increases the debt by $5 trillion is asinine. I am absolutely sickened by a party that campaigns on 'fiscal responsibility' [...] This side of the aisle is unserious about actually reducing deficits." President-elect Donald Trump immediately called for Roy to be primaried, then Mike Pence weighed in and called Roy "one of the most principled conservatives in Washington, D.C." On Friday morning, Trump reiterated his desire to âget rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling. Without this, we should never make a deal.â This morning, Speaker Johnson says they have a Plan C.
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Utah Headlines Political news - Utahâs governor doubles down on support for Trump mass deportations (Deseret News)
- What will Utahâs new representative focus on as a freshman in Congress? (Deseret News)
- Utah governor says he favors improving, not eliminating mail-in voting (KSL)
- What Utah lawmakers say they learned about school shootings on trip to Georgia (KSL TV)
- Immigration and housing top Coxâs year-end news conference (KUER)
- 'A huge honor and opportunity': Congresswoman Celeste Maloy discusses House Appropriations Committee (St. George News)
- Headed into second term, Cox says it will be his last (Fox13)
Utah - Utah returns to the Top 5 in growth as US population soared in 2024 (KSL)
- 5-year-old boy with autism walks off bus unnoticed at school, found alone hours later (KUTV)
- Family of West Valley City victims speak: âOur hearts acheâ (ABC4)
- Utah mom killed with 3 kids was a refugee who fled violence in Myanmar (AP)
Holiday season - Photo gallery: A backstage pass to the âNutcrackerâ ballet (Deseret News)
- Itâs beginning to look like another record for holiday travel (AP)
- An elegy for the Christmas card (Deseret News)
Crime/Courts - Caregiver used dementia patient's credit card for Door Dash, Walmart purchases, police say (KSL)
- Police arrest Utah man after finding more than 10,000 tires were illegally dumped (KSL)
- Man charged after throwing bottle, injuring BYU cheerleading coach (Fox13)
Culture - The Tabernacle Choirâs Christmas concert brought a few surprises â and a lot of emotion (Deseret News)
Education - Utah Board of Higher Education: Leading with impact â seeking driven leaders for Utah Tech (Deseret News)
- Corner Canyon High School raising money for Utah Foster Care (KSL Newsradio)
- The University of Utah picked a trailblazing Harvard neurosurgeon to lead its health system and medical school (Salt Lake Tribune)
- School board denies book ban appeal, allows 2 books to remain on library shelves in Cache County (Cache Valley Daily)
- Utahâs college grads often lacking âdurable skillsâ to succeed in industry, claims study (Deseret News)
Environment - Millions slated for Utah outdoor recreation projects (Deseret News)
- Federal legislation signed into law to clean up mines (Deseret News)
Housing - SLC has a month to figure out homelessness or state will step in, governor warns (Salt Lake Tribune)
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National Headlines General - Oldest known complete engraving of the Ten Commandments sells for more than $5 million (Deseret News)
- Bird flu drives US egg prices to all-time highs before Christmas (Reuters)
Political news - Pentagon warns that a government shutdown will cost troops their pay over the holidays (AP)
- Trump was poised to inherit a strong economy. Then things got rocky and he added to the uncertainty (AP)
- âCo-presidentâ Elon Musk? Trump ally tests influence in spending fight (Washington Post)
- Trump stuns Washington with push to repeal debt ceiling (Washington Post)
Ukraine ðºð¦ - Russia launches massive missile strike on Kyiv after Putin challenged Ukraineâs Western allies to a missile âduelâ (Washington Post)
Israel and Gaza - Gaza ceasefire talks continue, but no apparent breakthrough (Washington Post)
World news - UN food agency says 40 million people are struggling to feed themselves in West and Central Africa (AP)
- Senior U.S. diplomats arrive in Syria to meet with governing militias (New York Times)
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 | News Releases Romney, Reed, Moran, King, Hassan introduce legislation to mitigate extreme AI risks U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Angus King (I-ME), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) today introduced first of its kind legislation that deals exclusively with safeguarding U.S. national security against extreme risksâchemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and cyber threatsâposed by future developments in advanced AI models. The bipartisan Preserving American Dominance in AI Act, crafted based on the groupâs previously-released framework,would establish the Artificial Intelligence Safety Review Office within the Department of Commerce. The Office would work with industry to defend frontier models against misuse by foreign adversaries looking to exploit the technology for nefarious purposes. (Read More)
Salt Lake Chamber launches National Civics Bee® The Salt Lake Chamber proudly announces the launch of the 2025 National Civics Bee®, an initiative aimed at encouraging more young Americans to engage in civics and contribute to their communities. Hosted in partnership with The Civic Trust® of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the competition in Utah will inspire middle schoolers to become better informed about American democracy, to engage respectfully and constructively in the community, and to build greater trust in others and institutions. (Read More) | | |
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Upcoming - Jan. 9 â Whatâs Up Down South Economic Summit. St. George. Register here
- Jan. 10 â Rural Utah Data Symposium. St. George. Register here
- Jan 14 â Utah Taxpayers Association Legislative Outlook Conference, 9 am - 12:00 pm, Little America Hotel, Register here
- Jan. 21 â Utah legislative session begins
- Mar. 7 â Utah legislative session ends
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On This Day In History - 1803 - Louisiana Purchase completed
- 1812 - Sacagawea, Shoshone interpreter for the Lewis and Clark expedition, dies at age 24.
- 1946 - Christmas classic "It's a Wonderful Life" film premieres in New York
- 1957 - Elvis Presley is drafted
- 1962 - Osmond brothers debut on Andy Williams show
- 1963 - Berlin Wall opened for the first time
- 1971 - Doctors Without Borders is founded
- 1989 - The US invades Panama to oust Manuel Noriega but donât catch him
- 1995 - NATO assumes peacekeeping duties in Bosnia
- 2012 - Intercontinental Exchange purchases the New York Stock Exchange, the largest in the world, for $8 billion
- 2019 - Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana granted US federal recognition, providing the right to certain legal and government benefits
Quote of the Day "Each man's life touches so many other lives. And when he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?" âClarence the angel in "It's a Wonderful Life"
On the Punny Side Which spice is the most festive? Christmas thyme. | | |
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