Utah Policy: Masks are (mostly) gone in the US, war is looming in the Middle East

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Utah Policy Daily Newsletter

The UtahPolicy.com daily newsletter gets you up to speed on the top local and national news about politics and public policy. Send news tips or feedback to editor@utahpolicy.com

Situational Analysis - May 14, 2021

We've made it to Friday. It's National Dance Like a Chicken Day. Party party. Enjoy your weekend - gardening, perhaps? Hiking? My daughter and I will be exploring our nation's capitol.

News You Need to Know

Big, big news: Masks are gone - at least for the fully vaccinated. In Utah. the mask mandate is schools will be lifted for the last week of school. Does this mean we made it?!?! The other big, big news is that it is looking more and more like Israel and Palestine are headed to full-blown war. Utah's housing market is crazy right now. It can be a boon for home sellers - but only if they don't have to buy a new one. N%MCEPASTEBIN%

Calendar

Salt Lake Chamber Business Women's Forum Webinar: The Science Behind Being a Powerful Speaker. May 18, 11:00-1:00. Register here. Hatch Center: Justice and Mercy: Bringing greater balance to America's legal system with Senator Mike Lee. May 20, 11:00 am. Register here. Utah Democratic Party organizaing convention: June 26, 2021 250 days of the Cox-Henderson administration: September 11, 2021

Today At Utah Policy

Guest opinion: We need comprehensive, bipartisan climate legislation
By Mackey Smith & Gibson Green
The climate is changing there can be little doubt about that given overwhelming scientific evidence. Effective solutions are urgently needed to mitigate future economic and environmental harm. While President Biden campaigned on promises of sweeping climate legislation, any meaningful climate policy will need support from Congress to become law. With the Senate split between parties, serious legislation will need to pass through pragmatic Senators like Mitt Romney and Joe Manchin. Commentary: McConnell shows smart way to deal with Trump
By LaVarr Webb
Two top Republican congressional leaders, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Conference Chair Elizabeth Cheney both strongly criticized former Pres. Donald Trump over his role in the riot at the U.S. Capitol last Jan. 6, and for his refusal to accept the 2020 election outcome. Neither has backed off that criticism.

Utah Headlines

General

Why BYU, other church schools rejected tens of millions in COVID-19 relief (Deseret News) Palestinian natives, supporters in Utah speak out as Middle East conflicts escalate (Deseret News) 'Massive' cockfighting ring in Orem uncovered, thousands of chickens found in home (KUTV) Nic Dunn: A culture of mental fitness must be led by example (Deseret News) Post-Traumatic Growth: How To Find Meaning, Resilience & Strength In Adversity (KSL)

Politics

Sen. Mike Lee says continued federal COVID-19 aid is 'throwing gasoline on the fire' of inflation (Salt Lake Tribune)

COVID Corner

Masks out forever? Governor says schools can drop mandate during last week of classes (Deseret News) Parents, teachers weigh in on mask mandate ending in schools (Fox 13) What are Utah restaurants and bars doing now that mask mandates are gone? (Salt Lake Tribune) What Sen. Mike Lee says now about his maskless Rose Garden hug: "The hug was probably not a wise thing at that moment." (Deseret News) Andy Larsen: Where the CDC went wrong on COVID-19 spread, masks and vaccination benefits (Salt Lake Tribune) Fully Vaccinated People Can Stop Wearing Masks Indoors And Outdoors, CDC Says (NPR) Modi Declared Victory, Then Covid Struck Back With a Vengeance (Wall Street Journal) Just 12 People Are Behind Most Vaccine Hoaxes On Social Media, Research Shows (NPR) We Did It, Fam: Fully Vaccinated People Can Now Ditch Their Masks And Start Returning To Normal (Buzzfeed) Some Of The Funniest Tweets About The CDC Saying Vaccinated People Don't Need To Wear A Mask Anymore (Buzzfeed) Is it now reasonable to discuss the end of the pandemic? Yes, but with caveats. (Washington Post) Are they experimental? Can they alter DNA? Experts tackle lingering coronavirus vaccine fears. (Washington Post)

Economic Development

Project to build FrontRunner station in Utah's fastest-growing community gets underway (Deseret News) Could a tiny Utah town's expansion dreams get snuffed out by its own residents? Hideout Town Council and its developer will host public informational sessions ahead of the June 22 referendum vote. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Economy

Utah unemployment trending down, some counties struggling due to decline in tourism, oil demand (Fox13)

Education

DeLaina Tonks: The pandemic has caused a learning recession. Here's how we get out of it (Deseret News) Which Utah school districts will follow 'last week' no mask direction? (Fox13)

Elections

Long-time Poplar Grove resident and west-side advocate Dennis Faris selected to fill vacancy on Salt Lake City Council (Deseret News, Salt Lake Tribune) Arizona still feels red as voters embrace a conservative shade of blue (Deseret News)

Environment

What The History Of The Antiquities Act Could Mean For The Future Of Bears Ears (KUER)

Family

Why birthrates are dropping and how that poses a worldwide challenge (Deseret News) Summer activities and in-person camps planned for National Ability Center (ABC4)

Housing

A whopping 8 out of 10 Utahns are concerned about the crushing housing market (Deseret News) 'It's insane. It's crazy. It's unprecedented': Inside Utah's place in the West's raging housing market (Deseret News) Where are Americans moving to? In the West the in-migration is coming to Heber City (Deseret News)

National Headlines

General

Removing Masks Becomes the First Bipartisan Activity of Biden's Washington (New York Times) 'If you don't marry, come over': JFK love letters to Swedish mistress fetch $88K (CNN)

Political

Marjorie Taylor Greene accused of 'verbal assault' on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (BBC)

Economy

What do Republicans want on the economy? They're not sure anymore (NBC) America's vanishing workforce: There were a record 8.1 million job openings available going into April. (Politico)

Liz Cheney

What Voters in Wyoming Say About Liz Cheney's Lonely Stand (New York Times) House Republicans expected to vote to make Elise Stefanik conference chair after Cheney ouster (CNN)

International

Spy Agencies Seek New Afghan Allies as U.S. Withdraws (New York Times)

Israeli/Palestinian Conflict

Lies on Social Media Inflame Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (New York TImes) Heavy artillery fire on Gaza escalates violence as clashes between Arabs and Jews rock Israeli cities (CNN) Israel launches more strikes on Gaza as fears of a ground invasion grow (CNN) Israel-Gaza violence: Rockets and shelling continue as people flee (BBC) Despite U.S. envoy's visit, Israel not ready for de-escalation in Gaza (Axios)

Policy News

Lee, Good Introduce Resolution Recognizing "National Pregnancy Center Week"
Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced a resolution designating the week of November 8 as "National Pregnancy Center Week" and recognizing the vital work of pregnancy centers across the United States. The resolution is co-sponsored by 17 of his colleagues, and Rep. Bob Good (R-VA) has sponsored companion legislation in the House. Rep. Stewart's Suicide Prevention Act Passes in the House
Congressman Chris Stewart (R-UT) and Doris Matsui's (D-AZ) Suicide Prevention Act passed the House. After passage of the bipartisan bill, Rep. Stewart released the following statement:Romney, Curtis Condemn Attempted Land Grab
U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Congressman John Curtis (R-UT) today introduced the bicameral Shawnee Wilderness Area Designation Act of 2021, legislation to lock up 289,000 acres of land in Illinois and make it part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. The bill comes in response to legislation introduced by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) this week that betrays an agreement to designate nearly one million acres in Emery County for multiple use, which was made as part of the Natural Resources Management Act, the public lands package signed into law in 2019. Senator Romney and former Congressman Rob Bishop (R-UT) first introduced the Shawnee Wilderness Area Designation Act last Congress. Sen. Romney: We Can't Look Away from China's Existential Threat
When President James Garfield was shot in 1881, the wound should not have been fatal. Doctors who rushed to examine the president probed first with unwashed fingers and then with unsterilized instruments. Years before, Joseph Lister had discovered that sterilization could prevent fatal infection. But the doctors attending Garfield either hadn't read Lister's work or ignored it, and sepsis and infection ultimately set in.C.W. Urban breaks ground on master planned community in Daybreak
C.W. Urban, an innovative Utah home builder, will host a groundbreaking for its newest project, thePEARL at North Shore on Friday, May 14, 2021 at 10:00 am at the construction site located at 4647 South Jordan Parkway in South Jordan, Utah.

Business Headlines

Someone bought Banksy art for $12.9 million ... using cryptocurrency (Deseret News) Victim of 'Elon Musk' Bitcoin scam loses home deposit (BBC) Dogecoin rallies on Elon Musk tweet, anticipated Coinbase listing (CNBC) McDonald's raising hourly wages at company-owned restaurants (Axios) Rumor: Apple to Announce Third-Generation AirPods and HiFi Apple Music Tier on May 18 (Mac Rumors) The Gateses' Public Split Spotlights a Secretive Fortune (New York Times) He's a Dogecoin Millionaire. And He's Not Selling. (New York Times) PSA: You can probably try Gmail's new integrated Chat now (The Verge) World's largest crypto exchange Binance is reportedly under investigation (The Verge) Gig-economy jobs and how to manage the irregular income (Washington Post)

On This Day In History

(From History.com)

1796 - Early smallpox vaccine is tested by English country doctor, Edward Jenner. 1804 - Lewis and Clark depart to explore the Northwest with a Black slave known only as York. 1890 - Margaret Naumburg is born. She became a progressive educator and early pioneer of art therapy. 1944 - George Lucas is born. 1948 - State of Israel proclaimed, establishing the first Jewish state in 2000 years. 1955 - The Warsaw Pact is formed with the Soviet Union and seven of its European satellites. 1984 - Mark Zuckerberg is born. 1985 - Philadelphia police drop a satchel bomb, a demolition device typically used in combat, on a home that was the headquarters for the Black liberation group, MOVE. Eleven people were killed, including 5 children, 61 homes were destroyed and more than 250 were left homeless. 1998 - Frank Sinatra dies at age 82.