 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 bschott@utahpolicy.com, or message us on Twitter. Situational awareness - March 24, 2020Good Tuesday morning from Salt Lake CityTICK TOCK32 days to the Utah Republican and Democratic state conventions (4/25/2020)98 days to the 2020 Utah primary elections (6/30/2020)224 Days to the 2020 election (11/3/2020)302 days to inauguration day [01/20/2021)307 days to the start of the 2021 Utah Legislature (1/25/2021)Here are the stories you need to pay attention to this morning:
Thanks for subscribing to Utah's must-read daily political news rundown.If you know of friends or colleagues who would benefit from our daily news roundup, please encourage them to sign up for our emails. Today At Utah Policy Gov. Gary Herbert's office has no plans to change signature gathering requirements for candidates despite coronavirus outbreak. Some are mulling a lawsuit to force a changeBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Although Gov. Gary Herbert has asked Utahns to limit contact during the coronavirus pandemic, several political campaigns are still working to get enough signatures to secure a spot on the June primary ballot. Despite the guidelines to stop the spread of the virus, Herbert's office says they don't have any plans at present to modify the number of signatures candidates are required to secure.  Utah extends K-12 school closure to May 1By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Gov. Gary R. Herbert, State Superintendent Syd Dickson, and Acting Commissioner of Technical Education Jared Haines announced today that Utah's K-12 public schools will extend their dismissal through Friday, May 1st, and that Utah's technical colleges will suspend teaching from Monday, March 30 until Friday, May 1. These entities will continue to evaluate the situation to make a determination about the remaining school year. OTHER UTAH HEADLINESDeseret News
Salt Lake Tribune
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NATIONAL HEADLINESCoronavirus deal closeTreasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer say they are "very close" to a deal on a nearly $2 trillion economic stimulus package to combat coronavirus [Politico]. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi unveiled her own $2.5 trillion stimulus bill to help shape the Senate discussions [Bloomberg]. If the Senate approves the coronavirus package, the House may attempt to pass the deal by unanimous consent, so House members would not have to return to Washington for a vote [Politico]. Re-open for businessPresident Donald Trump said Monday he intends to restart the American economy in a matter of weeks, not months, which is counter to what medical experts say is needed. He also claimed without evidence that keeping businesses closed would result in more deaths than the coronavirus pandemic [AP]. Coronavirus warningU.S. intelligence agencies were warning about a likely pandemic from the coronavirus in January and February while President Donald Trump and lawmakers were downplaying the threat [Washington Post]. Economic falloutAnalysts are warning the American economy could quickly slip into a depression rather than a recession [Politico]. The Federal Reserve will buy unlimited amounts of debt to keep the economy from collapsing because of the coronavirus pandemic [New York Times]. Major airlines are bracing for a shutdown of all domestic flights in the U.S. [Wall Street Journal]. A House panel says the Postal Service could be insolvent by June unless Congress steps in with billions of dollars of aid [Politico]. The real estate market is beginning to cool down because of the virus, although many sellers are not pulling listings [Forbes]. Human tollThe United States reported more than 100 deaths in a single day from the coronavirus on Monday [Washington Post]. California officials warn they are short 17,000 hospital beds needed to treat victims of the virus [New York Times]. An Arizona man died after ingesting chloroquine phosphate because he believed it would protect him from the coronavirus. His wife has been hospitalized. President Trump has touted the potential benefits of the substance in treating the virus [NBC News]. Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Monday that "lots of" grandparents would be willing to die in order to save the economy for their grandchildren [Axios]. Death penaltyColorado abolished the death penalty on Monday, becoming the 22nd state to do so [New York Times]. Olympic gamesIOC member Dick Pound says the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be postponed because of the coronavirus [USA Today]. BUSINESS HEADLINES
Policy News Romney announces resource to keep Utahns informed on coronavirusSenator Mitt Romney (R-UT) announced the launch of a new webpage designed to keep Utahns informed during the coronavirus pandemic.  Rep. Curtis sends letter to Treasury Department advocating for small business reliefRepresentative John Curtis (R-UT) sent a letter to United States Department of the Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin asking for relief for small businesses who are obligated to make paid leave payments to employees under the newly signed Families First Coronavirus Response Act.  Romney introduces COVID-19 Graduate Relief ActWith students across the country graduating amid an economic downturn as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) introduced the COVID-19 Graduate Relief Act, legislation that would make students graduating this year eligible for a deferment of their federal loans for up to three years. Division of Consumer Protection aggressively pursuing price gouging complaints Since receiving an influx of reports of price gouging over the weekend, investigators with the Division of Consumer Protection are aggressively pursuing reports of price gouging in the State of Utah. More National Headlines
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY1664 Theologian and colonist Roger Williams is granted a charter to colonize Rhode Island. 1832 Mormon Prophet Joseph Smith is beaten, tarred and feathered in Ohio. 1925 KSL-AM in Salt Lake City begins radio transmissions. 1953 U.S. performs nuclear test at Nevada Test Site. 1958 Elvis Presley joins the Army. 1989 Exxon Valdez runs aground and leaks 11 million gallons of crude oil in Alaska's Prince William Sound. Wise WordsCharacter "If a man has not discovered something that he will die for, he isn't fit to live."Martin Luther King, Jr. Lighter SideCritics "I would understand if Trump made mistakes, right, if this whole thing was off the cuff. But how is it possible to get so many things wrong in a prewritten speech? This is crazy! Watching an Oval address shouldn't be a game of Two Truths and a Lie."- TREVOR NOAH Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. |
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