Utah Policy: No federal vaccine passport, 9 vying for County Commission spot and genocide in Ethiopia

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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 - April 7, 2021

It's Wednesday already. Today is National No Housework Day. I'll take it.

There are nine Republicans running to replace Tanner Ainge on the three-member Utah County Commission. They are: Amelia Powers Gardner, Steve White, Rod Mann, Chris Herrod, Christopher Forbush, Ethan Allen, Robert Stevens, Howard Stone and Walter Parcell. Voting by Utah County GOP central committee members will conclude April 24th.

5 things you need to know

Did you know that an octupus can leave big red welts if it slaps you? Australian Lance Karlson found that out the hard way. No federal vaccine passport, says White House press secretary Jen Psaki. That doesn't mean that other countries won't require proof of vaccination to enter (as some already do). Speaking of bystander intervention, passersby stopped a rape because they acted. Florida Congressman Alcee Hastings died yesterday. Flags at all state facilities in Utah are at half staff in his memory. The keto diet may help you avoid Alzheimer's. No, really. A new study out of BYU found growing evidence the brains in humans with Alzheimer's disease can't use glucose well. But they can use ketones.

Countdown

7 days until the end of the Cox/Henderson administration's first 100 days (04/14/2021)
17 days until the United Utah Party Organizing Convention (04/24/2021)
23 days until the Biden/Harris administration's first 100 days are up (04/30/2021)
24 days until the in-person Utah GOP Organizing Convention (05/01/2021)
157 days until half-way through the Cox/Henderson's administration's 500-day plan (09/11/2021)

Today At Utah Policy

'Ethnic cleansing' in Ethiopia
By Holly Richardson
Trigger warning for violence, including sexual violence. This is a tough topic. Since November, an "ethnic cleansing" is underway in the northern region of Ethiopia when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who ironically received the Nobel Peace Prize, launched a major military operation against the ruling party in the area, the Tigray People's Liberation Front. This "cleansing" hits close to home for our family, as two of our children were adopted from that area almost 20 years ago. Our hearts are broken. Tweets of the day
By Holly Richardson
Lingering COVID effects impact at least one-third of survivors, Utah interim committees named, Paris Hilton was in Utah again yesterday, recreating internment camp art and a boost for women entering or re-entering the workforce.Salt Lake Chamber: 6 ways Utah employers can build workforce resilience, prevent suicide and foster mental fitness
By SL Chamber
Originally published on KSL.comFor large and small businesses alike, happy employees are just good business. Unfortunately, mental health in the United States has been steadily worsening for many years-even prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Mental Health America, 19% of adults experienced a mental illness in 2017-2018, with suicide ideation among adults ever increasing.

Utah Headlines

Deseret News

Utah reps say Delta, Coca-Cola, MLB bending to 'misinformed' political pressure over Georgia voting law - Utah GOP Reps. Chris Stewart and Blake Moore issued a joint statement saying they are "disappointed in the large corporations that have bent to misinformed political pressure over Georgia's recent voting law. We believe the statements and decisions made by several corporations were based on a fictitious narrative, not facts." Paris Hilton returns to Utah for ceremonial bill signing to regulate troubled-teen centers - Hilton, Breaking Code Silence advocacy group now turns eye to federal reforms What JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon and Jon Huntsman Jr. see coming in the post-pandemic economy - Utah businesses are taking advantage of opportunities to win broader swaths of their respective markets. By leaning all the way into this generational opportunity, Hansen said, Utah is poised to further solidify its positions as not just the crossroads of the West, but the crossroads of the world. Utah trucking company owner admits to bribing FedEx manager, lying to get PPP loan - Hubert Ivan Ugarte, 52, of Draper, paid a FedEx senior manager in the Salt Lake City hub $490,000 to obtain preferential treatment for delivery routes he would not have qualified for under the shipping company's policies. The rise of electric vehicles is disrupting life in a small Western community - A proposed lithium mine in rural northern Nevada has created unlikely alliances as efforts to address climate change clash with the impacts of mining. Can we replace cancel culture with 'accountability culture'? - While cancellation is a swift and relentless blacklisting, accountability allows public figures to own up to their mistakes and vow to do better

Salt Lake Tribune

Weber County Commission declares 'Second Amendment sanctuary' - Commissioners also praise several commenters for sharing conspiracy theories about federal and local government at Tuesday public meeting. Utah's minority political parties welcome Oaks' talk disputing belief that Latter-day Saints should be Republicans - Church leader said in General Conference that 'we should never assert that a faithful Latter-day Saint cannot belong to a particular party or vote for a particular candidate.' Thousands of Utah women left the workplace during COVID-19 pandemic, new report shows - Women are feeling burned out as they quit jobs due to caregiving responsibilities and stress, according to new data New Utah law blocks vaccine passports if you're on a college campus or at a state government building - Private businesses are free to require vaccinations.

Other

Hill Airforce base prepares to create new diversity office (ABC4) - Officials say the new office will combine Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Employment, Disability Program Management, and Resource Advocacy under one director. ONLY ON ABC4: Paris Hilton joins panel conversation to discuss using voice for change (ABC4) - "I knew I needed to use my platform and my voice to make change," Hilton explains. 'Cold' podcast launches new season focused on Joyce Lynn Yost murder case (KSL) - Joyce Lynn Yost disappeared from her apartment here on an August weekend in 1985. She is believed to be dead, killed by a man who was intent on keeping her from testifying against him in a criminal trial. Her body has never been found. Crowned: 2 Utah men (both in the dental field) all smiles after winning ESPN bracket challenges (KSL) - When Baylor beat Gonzaga, it put Chris Jacobsen alone at the top of ESPN's bracket challenge, out of 14.7 million entries. Andy Johnson, who lives in Monroe, won the ESPN women's bracket challenge.

COVID Corner

Utah gets $30 million to help vaccinate communities of color (Salt Lake Tribune) - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding aims to close the coronavirus inoculation gap. More than 1.5 million COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered in Utah (Salt Lake Tribune) - Almost 580,000 are fully vaccinated Why does poll show 'dramatic' surge in optimism among Utahns about COVID-19? (Deseret News) - Jason Perry, director of the University of Utah's Hinckley Institute of Politics credited the state's increased vaccinations against the virus and decreasing case counts for the upbeat attitude. What you need to know about your coronavirus vaccine cards and the future of passports (Deseret News) - Once individuals are fully vaccinated, health care professional recommend copying the vaccine card and storing it somewhere safe in case it is needed as proof of inoculation COVID: Brazil has more than 4,000 deaths in 24 hours for first time (BBC) - President Jair Bolsonaro continues to oppose any lockdown measures to curb the outbreak. Young people are driving the latest Covid-19 surge, especially in Michigan (NBC) - "We're seeing more and more young people get into serious trouble," Dr. Anthony Fauci said. Scientists Race To Develop Next Generation Of COVID Vaccines (NPR) - The three COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are safe and effective and were made in record time. But they aren't ideal. Biden moves deadline for all US adults to be eligible for Covid vaccine to April 19 (CNN) - With all states having opened eligibility to the public or at least having announced when they plan to do so, Biden announced that every adult in the country will be eligible to be vaccinated by April 19, instead of his original deadline of May 1. Five states account for nearly 44 percent of new US COVID-19 cases (The Hill) - New York, Michigan, Florida, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

National Headlines

China flanks Taiwan with military exercises in air and sea (CNN) - Analysts called it a warning to the self-ruled island and its supporter, the United States. GOP's Trump obsession is giving Biden an opening (CNN) - As President Joe Biden sells a popular Covid-19 rescue plan, highlights a quickening national vaccine effort, positions himself to benefit from an economic growth spurt after the pandemic and tackles economic inequity in American society, the GOP seems to be acting out the temperament of the last President. Matt Gaetz, Loyal for Years to Trump, Is Said to Have Sought a Blanket Pardon (New York Times) - The congressman was at the time under investigation over whether he violated sex trafficking laws. Gaetz fought revenge porn bill, saying ex-lovers can use photos as they see fit, sponsor says (Washington Post) - When Florida legislators passed a bill aimed at preventing people from sharing sexually explicit photos of their ex-partners online, then-state Rep. Matt Gaetz cast one of just two House votes against it. Amid federal probe, Matt Gaetz will speak to conservative women's group at Trump golf course (Washington Post) - "We know firsthand what it is like to be treated unfairly by the main stream media," Amy Kremer, the group's chairwoman, said in a statement to The Washington Post that defended Gaetz as "innocent until proven guilty." Expert Witness in Derek Chauvin Trial Says His 'Force Was Excessive' (New York Times) - Prosecution witnesses testified that Mr. Chauvin's restraint of George Floyd did not follow his training or standard police tactics; the defense's questioning spotlighted the difficulty of real-time decisions. Pence launches conservative political group (The Hill) - Pence launched Advancing American Freedom, which he said would defend conservative values while opposing the Biden administration's agenda. Authorities: Navy medic shoots 2, is shot to death on base (Politico) - The two people who were critically wounded by the shooter were airlifted to a hospital, the Frederick police chief said. POLITICO Playbook: The question that's about to dominate politics (Politico) - What is infrastructure? Hastings' death narrows Dem majority, sets off race for his seat (Politico) - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will schedule a special election to fill the vacancy created by Hastings' passing. Leaders of Russia and China tighten their grips, grow closer (AP) - Even as they consolidate political control at home, sometimes with harsh measures, they're working together more substantively than ever in a growing challenge to the West and the world's other superpower, the United States, which elects its leader every four years.

Policy News

Market-based climate solutions gaining momentum in Utah
Over 100 Utah business, policy, and community leaders convened on March 24, 2021 for a briefing hosted by the Utah Climate and Clean Air Compact exploring market-based solutions to climate and air quality. The briefing featured former Republican Congressman Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania and representatives from the bipartisan Climate Leadership Council who are the lead authors of the "Baker-Shultz" Carbon Dividends Plan. The Plan is a market-based climate solution gaining traction nationally that would put a price on greenhouse gas emissions and refund all of the proceeds to American families.Utah and western local officials call for the swift restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments
Utah and Western Local Officials Call for the Swift Restoration of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National MonumentsWith Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland visiting Utah this week as part of the Biden administration's review of Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments as outlined in the executive order President Biden signed on his first day in office, The Mountain Pact network of local elected officials released the following statements: Reps. Stewart and Moore issue statement on corporate responses to Georgia voting law
Today, Congressmen Chris Stewart (UT-02) and Blake Moore (UT-01) released the following statement on corporate responses to Georgia's recent voting law."As members of Congress, it is our honor and privilege to protect Americans' freedom of speech. Diversity of thought is what drives our democracy and allows our nation to be the most free and inclusive in the world. Private citizens and corporations alike enjoy the ability to make decisions based on their convictions-a right we will always fight to uphold. Rep. Moore Joins Reps. Smucker & Bacon in introducing the Improving Adoption Outcomes & Affordability Act
Reps. Lloyd Smucker (PA-11), Don Bacon (NE-2), and Blake Moore (UT-1) are announcing the introduction of the Improving Adoption Outcomes & Affordability Act of 2021, H.R. 2375.The Improving Adoption Outcomes and Affordability Act would authorize the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) to award grants to state or local governments, public or private adoption agencies, and faith-based organizations for the purpose of enhancing medical support services and mental health resources for mothers considering adoption.GOED announces 2021 impacted small business catalyst grant
To help support Utah's small businesses, nonprofits, and organizations, $15 million is designated for the 2021 Impacted Small Business Catalyst Grant. The program, managed by the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED), begins accepting applications on April 20, 2021, at 9 a.m. (MDT).

Business Headlines

401GO announces nearly $1 million seed investment (Utah Business) - Utah-based 401GO is the first company to offer a fully automated 401(k) plan setup process to help people save for the future with affordable and accessible retirement plans Nightingale College appoints two new vice presidents (Utah Business) - Nightingale College, a national leader in distance learning nursing education programs, today announced two new vice presidents: Marianne Palacios is the new VP, Collaborator Experience the College's human resources function and Tyler Asman is the new VP, Operational Effectiveness. Global growth hopes keep shares near record high (Reuters) - World stocks took a well-earned rest near record highs on Wednesday, as an International Monetary Fund forecast of the strongest global growth since the 1970's this year and steady bond and FX markets kept risk appetite buoyant. Amazon CEO Bezos, stung by wide criticism, endorses U.S. corporate tax hike (Reuters) - "We support the Biden Administration's focus on making bold investments in American infrastructure," Bezos said. UPS Buying Electric Cargo Copters For Speedier, Greener Deliveries (Forbes) - UPS plans to buy up to 150 small electric aircraft from startup BETA Technologies that the delivery giant thinks can help get goods to customers in small and mid-size markets faster and with less carbon emissions. Canva Reaches $15 Billion Valuation, Making Cofounders Melanie Perkins And Cliff Obrecht Billionaires (Forbes) - Less than a year after securing a $6 billion valuation amid a pandemic usage boost, design unicorn Canva has more than doubled the valuation for its design software tools - making two of its cofounders billionaires in the process.

On This Day In History

(From History.com)

1805 - Lewis and Clark begin their journey to the Pacific Ocean, accompanied by Sacagawea and her two-month old baby, Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau. 1860 - First Pony Express comes to Utah. 1890 - Marjory Stoneman Douglas is born. She was a writer, suffragist, women's rights advocate, environmentalist and championed the culture of first Americans. She also created "Friends of the Everglades" with a million acres established in 1978 as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness Area. She lived to be 108. 1891 - Martha Eliot is born. She became a pediatrician who researched and proved the beneficial effects of cod liver oil and sunbaths to prevent rickets. She wrote provisions for dependent and crippled children in the 1935 Social Security Act, and was the only woman to sign the constitution of the new World Health Organization in 1947. 1954 - President Eisenhower delivers his Cold War "domino theory" speech, when he suggested the fall of French Indochina to the communists could create a "domino effect" in Southeast Asia. This theory dominated US thinking about Vietnam for at least the next decade. 1961 - Thurl Bailey is born. 1987 - The National Museum of Women in the Arts opens in Washington, D.C. It is the first museum devoted to women artists. 2003 - US troops capture Baghdad.