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| 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 - May 12, 2020Good Tuesday morning from Salt Lake CityTICK TOCK49 days to the 2020 Utah primary elections (6/30/2020)175 Days to the 2020 election (11/3/2020)253 days to inauguration day (01/20/2021)258 days to the start of the 2021 Utah Legislature (1/25/2021)Here are the stories you need to pay attention to this morning:Utah is paying more than $5 million to develop a contact tracing app, but another firm offered the state a similar tool for free. Dr. Anthony Fauci will warn of "needless destruction and death" from prematurely reopening the economy. The Supreme Court will hear arguments as President Trump seeks to shield his personal financial records from Congress.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 newsletter.Today At Utah PolicyDays after entering into a multi-million dollar contract to develop a contact tracing app, another company offered similar technology to Utah officials for freeBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Last month, Gov. Gary Herbert announced to great fanfare that they had partnered with a Utah high-tech company to produce a contact tracing app to help track and slow the spread of the novel coronavirus. The partnership could cost the state more than $2.75 million for development and deployment. However, another company approached state officials offering an app for contact tracing with some of the same functions to Utah officials for free.Analysis: Sean Reyes in good position ahead of June primary matchup with David Leavitt By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes is in good shape, both before GOP voters and financially, as he heads toward a June 30 primary with Utah County GOP Attorney David Leavitt.Utah hits 150,000 new unemployment filings in seven weeks By Utah Foundation Utah employment numbers are bleak, but not as bleak as the national numbers. OTHER UTAH HEADLINESDeseret News Lee Benson: Solving the virus and earthquake, Magna-style House Democratic majority PAC set to spend $900,000 on Utah ads to tout McAdams Utah gun rights advocate loses appeal to block Trump administration bump stock ban At least 166 homeless have tested positive for COVID-19 in Salt Lake County New rules for Salt Lake City e-scooters still parked as council, administration spar over approach Will record deficits to combat coronavirus usher in new era of government spending?Salt Lake Tribune Zion to reopen Wednesday followed by Arches and Canyonlands - but after Memorial Day Utah reaches a coronavirus milestone: More people have beaten the virus than currently have it Utah was once lauded for solving homelessness - the reality was far more complicated Landfill near the Great Salt Lake is underwater financially Hackers, COVID-19 and foreign disinformation create challenges for Utah elections this year Gov. Herbert signs bill requiring him to consult with legislative leaders during emergencies Utah to test nursing home staffers but will stop short of White House push to test residents, tooOther Utah Reps. John Curtis, Chris Stewart will serve on all-Republican 'China Task Force' (Daily Herald) House hopeful Gibson worries about misuse of police probe in fighting its release (Standard-Examiner)NATIONAL HEADLINESStark warningDr. Anthony Fauci plans to testify before a Senate committee on Tuesday that states prematurely reopening their economies will cause "needless suffering and death" [New York Times]. Blockbuster SCOTUS caseThe Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on Tuesday from President Trump's lawyers who are seeking to block subpoenas for his personal financial records from Congress and state investigators [Politico]. White House outbreakThe White House is ordering staffers to wear masks at work unless they are sitting at their desks, which is an abrupt reversal after two aides tested positive for coronavirus. However, President Trump said he would not wear a mask [NBC News]. More coronavirus aidHouse Democrats are working on a proposal for a massive coronavirus stimulus package that could eclipse the $2 trillion bill passed in late March [CNN]. Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell and President Trump are trying to slow-walk new aid packages, but they're running into pressure to act as the economy continues to worsen [Bloomberg]. EconomyHope for a quick economic recovery are beginning to fade as economists now predict it could take until next year for a return to pre-pandemic levels [Wall Street Journal]. Boeing's CEO predicts one major airline will go out of business this year as air travel is grinding to a halt [Bloomberg]. Some furloughs are starting to turn into permanent layoffs [Quartz]. Elon Musk says he will reopen his Tesla plant in California in defiance of local restrictions. Musk dared local officials to arrest him [Bloomberg]. Obamagate?President Trump has accused former President Obama of committing crimes but refused to specify what crimes he was referring to at a press conference Monday [Axios]. Not truePresident Trump falsely claimed Monday that the US has "prevailed" over the coronavirus pandemic as the number of deaths crested above 80,000. He also repeated the falsehood that testing is widely available [New York Times]. Virus responseThe World Health Organization says the number of coronavirus cases has jumped in countries that have eased their lockdown [CNBC]. Even if researchers are able to develop a vaccine against the coronavirus, there may not be enough available to end the pandemic [Washington Post]. The White House deliberately buried a document from the Centers for Disease Control that offered advice for states that wanted to lift coronavirus restrictions [AP]. A planned visit by Trump to a Pennsylvania factor that produces PPE was scrapped amid health concerns [Washington Post]. Media relations 101President Trump abruptly ended a press conference on Monday after a testy exchange with two female reporters [CNN]. 2020President Trump is reportedly eyeing a campaign shakeup as polls show him badly trailing Joe Biden in several swing states [Vanity Fair]. Republicans are growing increasingly worried that President Trump's erratic response to the coronavirus crisis could cost them some down-ballot races [PBS]. Democrats are beginning to take steps toward holding a virtual convention in August [New York Times]. BUSINESS HEADLINESUtah farmers and ranchers impacted by COVID-19 crisis now eligible for SBA loans (Deseret News) Shoppers return to City Creek mall for the first time since March (Deseret News) What economic recovery looks like from the view of a business owner (Deseret News) Boyer wants to expand BDO, but first needs approval to nearly double building heights (Standard-Examiner)Policy NewsUtah Economic Task Force town hall: Implementing moderate-risk guidelines in your businessThe Utah Economic Task Force will host a virtual town hall on Tuesday, May 12, 2020 at 4:00 p.m. MST to discuss how to implement moderate-risk guidelines in your business as laid out in Utah Leads Together 2.0, as well as provide a glimpse at next steps for Utah's tourism industry.Utah Department of Veterans & Military Affairs launches statewide Happiness for Heroes Initiative; Requests public participation The Utah Department of Veterans & Military Affairs, in partnership with Avalon Healthcare, launched the Happiness for Heroes campaign, which is designed to share messages of support and hope to residents of Utah's four Veterans' nursing homes. More National HeadlinesDurham moving 'full-throttle' on Russia probe review, top federal prosecutors involved (FOX News) Transcripts Prove Trump-Russia Investigation 'Was All Phony the Whole Time' Says Devin Nunes (PJ Media) CNN's Brian Stelter Melts Down Over Conservative Media Exposing Russiagate Conspiracies (Federalist) Did the Cell Phones in the Wuhan Institute of Virology Go Dark for 17 Days? (National Review) The Real Center of the Pandemic (City-Journal) The Indefensible Cult of Cuomo (Commentary) We know everything and nothing about Covid (Spectator) Timeline of FBI's FISA Abuse in Trump Campaign Investigation (Epoch Times) 'View' Insists Jailed Salon Owner 'Apologize' for Reopening; Blames Her for Rise in Texas COVID cases (NewsBusters) Brian Stelter: 'It is racist' for Trump to tell Asian-American reporter to 'ask China' about coronavirus deaths (Washington Examiner) Why Did Obama Tell The FBI To Hide Its Activities From The Trump Administration? (Federalist)ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY1932 - The body of the kidnapped son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh was found in a wooded area of Hopewell, N.J. 1937 - Britain's King George VI was crowned at Westminster Abbey. 1949 - The Soviet Union announced an end to the Berlin blockade. 2002 - Former President Jimmy Carter began a visit to Cuba. He was the first president, in or out of office, to visit the island since communists took over in 1959. Wise WordsLife's Purpose"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."Jackie Robinson Lighter SideDeranged"That's right - the C.D.C. wrote a plan for safely reopening the economy and the Trump administration covered it up. Basically, they did to the C.D.C. plan what Dr. Fauci does to his face during Trump's briefings.[as Trump]'Oh, that's a good idea, Fauci. I didn't know you could use your hand as a mask. Jared - Jared, get me a patent for hand masks. That way the next time Fauci does it, he'll have to pay me.'"- SETH MEYERS Listen to us on_Apple Podcasts Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. |
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