Utahns drowning in credit card debt; Eagle Mtn hit by scammer; Utah's top haunted places; some of Queen Elizabeth's funniest moments | | | 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 | Sept 13, 2022 It's Tuesday and the forecast is calling for cooler, wet weather - hooray! It's also National Celiac Disease Awareness Day, an auto-immune disease affecting an estimated 2 million people in the US. Be in the Know US inflation slowed the the second month in a row, but is still high compared to last year. Consumer prices were up 8.3% in August, down from an 8.5% jump in July and a forty-year high of 9.1% in June. Rising food and housing costs were off-set by falling gas prices. However, inflationary pressures on the Federal Reserve mean increasing interest rates. Another jump is expected next week. Rapid Roundup Eagle Mountain lost nearly $1.13M in organized cybercrime; the top 5 haunted places in Utah that you can visit; some of Queen Elizabeth's funniest moments; and how to show your friends you love them. | | |
| | | The Hinckley Report, PBS Utahâs weekly political roundtable, airs Fridays at 7PM. Hosted by Jason Perry and produced in partnership with the Hinckley Institute of Politics on the University of Utah campus, the program provides insight and analysis of the most pressing political issues facing our state. | | |
Utah Headlines General âIncredibly sacredâ: The No One Dies Alone program sends volunteers to sit with dying people whose family isnât in the hospital with them. (Salt Lake Tribune) When Ken Jennings and Brandon Sanderson were roommates. For a few months in the early aughts, the two nerds lived in the same duplex on their rise to stardom (Deseret News) âA group of players that really didnât believe in each otherâ: Jazz knew they had to âresetâ team this summer (Deseret News) Utah State coach Blake Anderson calls out fans for âembarrassingâ booing of QB Logan Bonner (Salt Lake Tribune) Youth football referee punched over call in Layton shares message (KSL TV) Professional bull rider 'Ouncie Mitchell' shot, killed at Salt Lake apartment after domestic dispute (KSL) Politics Sen. Mike Lee has the support of all Republican senators â except one: Mitt Romney (Deseret News) New state director responds to Utah Dems' lawsuit to get him off ballot (KSL) Utah's governor signs letter to President Biden opposing student loan forgiveness (Fox13) Business Welcome to the Maven District, a growing space for women-owned businesses (Salt Lake Tribune) The economics behind 'quiet quitting' â and what we should call it instead (NPR) Education How Utahâs 10 weirdest high school mascots got their names (Deseret News) This man was named Utah Teacher of the Year â 32 years after his dad won top honor (Deseret News) Utahâs new Teacher of the Year instills grit, confidence that lasts long after graduation. Chad Warnick, a teacher at Delta Technical Center in Millard School District, says hands-on instruction is the best way to help students reach their potential. (Salt Lake Tribune) The largest decline of reading scores in 30 years happened during the pandemic, new study finds (Deseret News) Need skills? Need a job? Utah college launches a new way to help students get both â quickly. With a big hospital coming to West Valley City, for instance, newly minted Salt Lake Technical College aims to prep students for work in health care. (Salt Lake Tribune) Environment Which states are most polluted? Only 4 states are worse than Utah, which comes in 46th for air quality. (Deseret News) Here are the largest fires burning in Utah and the West right now (Deseret News) Big Cottonwood Canyon trails no longer open to public after Forest Service agreement collapses (Salt Lake Tribune) 100 years after compact, Colorado River nearing crisis point (Salt Lake Tribune) As the Great Salt Lake fades away, so do its islands (Standard-Examiner) Lake Effect: A pipeline from the Gulf of California to Great Salt Lake? (UPR) Family The biggest weapon of mass distraction in marriage? Your cellphone (Deseret News) Housing Utahâs $55 million for affordable housing is a start, but only goes so far (KUER) Health Report highlights gaps, risks of suicide for Utah women, girls (KSL) National Headlines General 60-year-old JFK speech on going to the moon still powerful as NASA declares âMars is callingâ (Deseret News) Soaring electricity bills are the latest inflation flashpoint (NPR) Exclusive: Medical journals broaden inquiry into potential heart research misconduct (Reuters) Instagram stumbles in push to mimic TikTok, internal documents show (Wall Street Journal) Politics Some states have âclean slateâ laws to expunge minor criminal records. What about the feds? (Deseret News) GOP could have a winner in the New York governorâs race (Deseret News) Democracy, are you OK? The U.K. has had four prime ministers in six years. Israel is about to have its fifth election in four years. Many in the U.S. still deny the 2020 election result. What is going on? What recent history tells us about the state of politics. (NPR) Trumpâs PAC faces scrutiny amid intensifying legal probes (AP) Justice Dept. issues 40 subpoenas in a week, expanding its Jan. 6 inquiry (New York Times) Ukraine ðºð¦ Putinâs Russia struggles for response to Ukrainian blitz (AP) Ukraine piles pressure on retreating Russian troops (AP) Ukraine pushes to retake all land from Russia, calls for Western arms (Reuters) Ukraine consolidates gains in Northeast (Wall Street Journal) Intelligence points to potential turning point in Ukraine war (Washington Post) Faced with war losses, Russian propagandists retreat to anger and patriotism (Washington Post) Ukrainian counteroffensive thwarted Russiaâs annexation plans. In liberated towns and villages, occupation officials were already imposing Russian school curriculum (Washington Post) | | |
Guest opinion: Utahns are drowning in credit card debt. Itâs time for Congress to step up by Symone Hearst Utah is home to some of the highest rates of credit card debt in the nation, landing among the top 20 states in terms of the amount of credit debt carried by residents, according to a new report. The WalletHub survey found Utahns carry an average of $2,225 in credit debt. A separate report, meanwhile, showed the stateâs average consumer debt is well over the national average at $114,293. Inflation isnât the only factor driving these higher costs. A recent $1.2 billion increase in credit card swipe fees imposed by Visa and Mastercard is likely to increase the price of everything, from baby diapers to gas at the pump. These hidden fees jumped 25 percent last year to a record $137.8 billion for credit and debit cards combined, more than double the amount over the past decade. For retailers, swipe fees are typically the most expensive operating cost after labor. An increase in these fees forces merchants like convenience or grocery store owners to raise prices in order to cover higher overhead costs. Because swipe fees are based on a percentage of the total transaction, Visa, Mastercard, and big banks are making a killing off of inflationary prices. Last month, Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced bipartisan legislation to address this issue by bringing competition to the payments marketplace. The bill, named the Credit Card Competition Act, will require the largest banks in the nation to have more than one processing network for credit card transactions, allowing merchants to choose which network theyâd like to use, thus forcing them to compete for the lowest swipe fee rate. This means Visa and Mastercard will have to consider a merchantâs preference for lower feesâjust like every other business must do when it sets the price of goods. With Utahns struggling with some of the highest credit card debt in the nation and businesses suffering under record inflation, it is imperative our leaders do all they can to deliver relief. Given Senator Leeâs recent scrutiny of Visa and Mastercard, I am hopeful he will sign onto the Credit Card Competition Act to help drive down skyrocketed credit card fees. (Read More) News Releases Nomination applications open for 100 companies championing women Inspire In Utah, an initiative of the Utah Governorâs Office of Economic Opportunity (Go Utah), announced today applications are open for 100 Companies Championing Women. As part of the new Inspire In Utah initiative, 100 Companies Championing Women focuses on recognizing and highlighting the stories of 100 Utah companies that offer family-friendly policies and practices, as well as women-specific initiatives known to impact the recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing of women employees, managers, and leaders. Company representatives can nominate their organizations to be recognized and highlighted as one of the 100 Companies Championing Women by completing the following application. To apply, you should know detailed information about the policies, programs, and initiatives your company has implemented. For more information and to apply, visit inutah.org/100-companies-application. (Read More) Faith Leaders ask Governor and Legislative Leaders to find a way to fund additional housing units to reduce homelessness On Monday, September 12, 2022, faith leaders from eight different faith traditions sent a joint letter to Governor Cox, Utah Senate President Stuart Adams and the Speaker of the Utah House of Representatives and the member asking them to find a way to fund additional housing units to reduce homelessness. On Friday, September 9, the Utah Homelessness Council approved a proposal to spend $55 million to build 1,078 housing units across the state to reduce homelessness. The letter notes that this important investment was able to fund less than half of the projects that applied, âIt is our understanding that there were more than $120 million in proposals submitted for consideration and so there are several worthy projects that would make a big difference that will not be built without additional funding.â (Read More) The Utah Pedestrian Summit works to improve the pedestrian experience in Utah The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is hosting the 5th annual Utah Pedestrian Summit on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, at the Utah Valley Convention Center in Provo. This summit is an opportunity for planning, design, health, education, law enforcement, safety officials, and advocates to share experiences, opportunities and successes in improving pedestrian experience throughout Utah. The eight-hour summit will focus on a variety of topics including pedestrian safety, design, and encouragement. In-person and virtual options are available, as well as continuing education credits. Those interested in attending need to register, here. (Read More) Number of the Day | | |
Upcoming Women in the Money with Utah State Treasurer's Office â Sept. 15-16, Salt Lake Sheraton + online, Register here United Utah Party Issue Summit on Water Conservation â Sept. 17, 11-12:30, Gardner Rm of the American Fork Public Library Interim Days â Sept. 20-22, le.utah.gov ULCT Annual Convention â Oct 5-7, Salt Palace Convention Center, Register here One Utah Summit â Oct 11-13, Southern Utah University, Register here Breakfast Briefing: The New Look of Transportation in the 2020s with the Utah Foundation â Oct. 13, 8:30 am, Zions Bank Founders' Room, Register here Senate debate between Mike Lee and Evan McMullin â Oct. 17, 6 pm, at UVU Interim Days â Oct 18-20, le.utah.gov General election â Nov 8 Utah Foundationâs 2022 Annual Luncheon â Nov. 16, noon, Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek, Register here 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 | | |
On This Day In History 1818 - Lucy Good Brooks is born. Following the Civil War, the former slave founded the Friendsâ Asylum for Colored Orphans. The orphanage served African American children in the Richmond, VA area for nearly 60 years. 1857 - Milton S. Hershey is born. 1916 - Roald Dahl is born 1948 - Margaret Chase Smith is elected to the Senate. Formerly a U.S. Representative in the House, Smithâs election to the Senate made her the first woman elected to both chambers of Congress and also the first Republican woman elected to the Senate. 1993 - Israel-Palestine peace accord signed on the South Lawn of the White House 1998 - George Wallace dies at age 79 2001 - Civilian air traffic resumes in the US 2017 - UN Secretary-General António Guterres says Rohingya refugee crisis now "catastrophic" as 370,000 confirmed to have fled Myanmar 2021- Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett makes first official visit to Egypt in a decade for talks with President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in Sharm el-Sheikh Wise Words "I think probably kindness is my number one attribute in a human being. Iâll put it before any of the things like courage or bravery or generosity or anything else." â Roald Dahl The Punny Side What kind of magazines do cows read? Cattle logs. | | |
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