| DPS campaign aims to curb impaired driving; SLC man gives smiles through free haircuts; Azerbaijan Airlines flight crashed in Kazakhstan .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. 26, 2024 It's Thursday and the first day of Kwanzaa. Today focuses on Umoja, or unity. What you need to know - Utah's two senators have their committee assignments: Sen. Mike Lee chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and sit on sit on the Senate Judiciary, Foreign Relations and Budget committees. Incoming Sen.-elect John Curtis will serve on the Senate Committees on Commerce, Environment and Public Works, Foreign Relations, and Small Business.
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Utah Headlines Political news - The Utah bros that made Trump viral (Deseret News)
- Utah sues 2 largest pharmacy benefit managers in U.S. for alleged roles in opioid epidemic (KSL)
- Poll: Utahns back Trump on immigration, economy, foreign policy (Deseret News)
- Lawmakers disapprove of federal decision to endorse southern Utah highway alternative (KSL)
- Sen. Mike Lee: 3 bills that are âbig wins for Utahâ pass Senate and House (Deseret News)
- Utah, Government Funding, and a Divided Congress (Hinckley Report)
Utah - A Utah fast-food lover fulfills a dream: âSummiting the eight Crownsâ (Salt Lake Tribune)
- This year, Utah finally got another Winter Games. Here are 10 more Olympic moments from 2024 worth remembering (Deseret News)
- Man saves brother swept up, buried by avalanche with just fingers sticking out of snow (KUTV)
- Meet the Utah town where electric bills can run $700 a month (Fox13)
- UServeUtah celebrates 30th anniversary laying groundwork to remain No. 1 in volunteerism (Daily Herald)
Biz/Tech - âWeâre super excitedâ: Trader Joeâs to open store in Riverdale (KSL Newsradio)
- Inside the âQualtrics-ificationâ of Utah: Why state and local agencies are paying the tech giant big taxpayer bucks (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Pacca bag and go: St. George couple redefines travel gear for families (St. George News)
Holiday season - Editorial Board: Christmas is stronger than war and hate (Deseret News)
- Challenges â and opportunities â created by a unique overlap between Hanukkah and Christmas (Deseret News)
- Christmas musicâs power to inspire, soothe and heal (Deseret News)
- Salt Lake City Mission feeds those in need during holiday season (KUTV)
Crime/Courts - Man accused of stealing credit cards at Orem Temple (KSL TV)
- A Black firefighter is suing a southern Utah fire district, alleging he was fired due to racial discrimination (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Judge orders legal fees paid to Utah newspaper that defended libel suit (Fox13)
Culture - 2024 was the year of sequels. What does it mean for the movie industry going forward? (Deseret News)
- âSugar is loveâ: How sweet treats have become embedded in Utah culture (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Fry sauce is unquestionably a Utah thing, even with its questionable origin (KUER)
Education - DJ Bracken: No more lunch debt (Deseret News)
- Pre-K jumpstart: State-funded Waterford Upstart building confidence in Utah kids by building reading, math skills (Deseret News)
- UHOPE's mission: 'Protecting, promoting and preserving home-based education options for Utah families' (Deseret News)
- Weber State University plans to open its first-ever field station at Yellowstone National Park (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Utah universities see more students making use of the campus food pantry (KUER)
- Ogden High School administrator named UASSP principal of the year (Standard-Examiner)
Environment - China banned sale of these minerals to the U.S. It matters to all of us (Deseret News)
- EPA: Methane emissions are down in drilling basins (Deseret News)
- 2024 was a turbulent year on the Colorado River (KUER)
Family - In Utah, one in 40 pregnant women faces intimate partner violence (KUER)
Health - Childbirth in America is no holiday (Deseret News)
- FDA escalates Costco egg recall to highest possible alert level (Fox13)
- When kindness becomes a habit, it improves our health (NPR)
Housing - Here's how you can afford your own home in Utah (Deseret News)
- Ogden leaders OK Forest Service building purchase, envision using it for affordable housing (KSL)
- Voices: In Utah, the need for accessible housing is just as great as affordable housing (Salt Lake Tribune)
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National Headlines General - Dead body found in wheel well of United plane from Chicago to Maui (AP)
- Stunning photos show lava erupting from Hawaiiâs Kilauea volcano (AP)
- Baby mammoth preserved for 50,000 years is unveiled in Russiaâs Siberia (AP)
- Seeing America by train: What itâs really like to travel cross-country by rail. (Washington Post)
Political news - Biden, Trump send different Christmas messages. Biden urges unity and reflection in Christmas video, Trump shares politically focused posts, aims at China,'Radical Left' (Reuters)
- 4 findings from the Matt Gaetz ethics report (Deseret News)
- 100-plus cities in the U.S. banned homeless camping this year. But will it work? (NPR)
- Americans are exhausted by political news. TV ratings and a new AP-NORC poll show theyâre tuning out (AP)
- Trumpâs top border adviser says he will bring back family detention (Washington Post)
- After backing Trump, low-income voters hope he doesnât slash their benefits (Washington Post)
- Trump, GOP zero in on Liz Cheney as potential target (The Hill)
Ukraine ðºð¦ - Russia targets Ukrainian energy infrastructure on Christmas Day (AP)
- Far from the front lines, Ukrainians fight a war to preserve their culture (NPR)
Israel and Gaza - Gaza medics say Israeli strike kills five journalists (Reuters)
- A baby froze to death overnight in Gaza as Israel and Hamas trade accusations of ceasefire delays (AP)
- An Israeli soldier who died 417 days after his Oct. 7 wounds has become a symbol of sacrifice (AP)
World news - Thousands mark 20 years after deadly Indian Ocean tsunami (Reuters)
- A survivor of the worst gang attack on Haitian journalists says colleagues were cut down by bullets (AP)
- In Hama, survivors of the Assad familyâs first massacre can finally speak (Washington Post)
- The war in Sudan killed her dreams. To survive, she treated its fighters. (New York Times)
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Number of the Day 
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 | News Releases Nominees announced for Sixth District Court vacancy The Sixth District Judicial Nominating Commission has selected nominees for a vacancy on the Sixth District Court. This position results from the retirement of Judge Marvin D. Bagley, September 30, 2024. The nominees for the vacancy are: Kent Burggraaf; Arek Butler; Von Christiansen; Bud Powell; and Robert Van Dyke. Written comments can be submitted to the Sixth District Judicial Nominating Commission at judicialvacancies@utah.gov or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330. The deadline for written comments is noon Dec. 31, 2024. (Read More)
Kersten Swinyard steps into role as SLCo Economic Development Director Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson has appointed Kersten Swinyard as the Economic Development director for the Salt Lake County Office of Regional Development. Swinyard brings a proven record of leadership, expertise, and commitment to advancing regional economic growth. Swinyard steps into this role after three years in Salt Lake Countyâs Economic Development division. As senior economic development manager, she evaluated development finance project proposals for alignment with policy goals, financing gaps, and real estate market integration. She managed performance tracking for over 80 active Tax Increment Financing (TIF) projects and promoted policy and legislative advancements to strengthen the Countyâs role in these place-based investments. She also oversaw an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-funded assessment grant and two revolving loan funds to support brownfields property remediation, bringing more than five million dollars in additional EPA funding to the County. (Read More)
Sen.-elect John Curtis announces committee assignments for 119th Congress Last week, Senator-elect John Curtis (R-UT) announced committee assignments for the 119th Congress. Curtis will serve on the Senate Committees on Commerce, Environment and Public Works, Foreign Relations, and Small Business.
âTackling inflation, unlocking American energy, combatting global instability, and supporting small businesses are priorities Utahns have asked me to address,â said Senator-elect Curtis. âIâm ready to get things done.â (Read More) | | |
Tweet of the Day  | | |
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 - 1917 - U.S. government takes over control of nationâs railroads
- 1974 - US government allows girls into Little League
- 1966 - The first Kwanzaa is celebrated
- 1972 - Former President Harry S. Truman dies in Independence, Missouri
- 1982 - TIME's Man of the Year is a computer
- 1985 - World-renowned primatologist Dian Fossey is found murdered in Rwanda
- 2004 - A 9.3 magnitude earthquake creates a tsunami that devastates the Indian Ocean coast, killing some 230,000 people.
- 2021 - Bishop Desmond Tutu dies
Quote of the Day If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality. âDesmond Tutu
On the Punny Side Me: It doesn't have a tail, so I'm pretty sure it's a hamster. Tech support: âsigh. Fine. Right click on your hamster...â | | |
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