| Gov. Cox calls special session; 5th Annual Utah Treasure Hunt kicks of w $25,000 up for grabs; & a cold front blowing through Utah this week .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. If you're a candidate in 2024 and want to advertise on UtahPolicy.com, contact Suzanne Benitez. | | |
Situational Analysis | June 17, 2024 It's Monday and National Eat Your Vegetables Day. 𥦠Eid Mubarak to all our friends celebrating today. Happy birthday to Rep. Candice Pierucci! ð ð ð What you need to know - Utah leads the nation in at least a dozen ways. Those include educational excellence, a robust infrastructure, economic strength, financial independence and fiscal stability, poverty, upward mobility and economic equality, overall health and health care, charitable giving and volunteerism, religious adherence and faith, prioritizing marriage, children and family, low numbers of alcoholism, drug use and related consequences, overall happiness and well-being, and social capital and community cooperation.
Rapid relevance On the Hill Today | | |
 | Speak Up for the San Rafael Swell The San Rafael Swell is a treasured place to seek peace and quiet. But the Bureau of Land Management is under extraordinary pressure to expand damaging off-road vehicle use across on these remarkable public lands. Visit SUWA.org to speak up for the Swell. | | |
Utah Headlines Political news - Rep. Burgess Owens advocates for rural transit expansion in Utah (Deseret News)
- Gov. Cox says Denver mayor sending migrants to Utah without notification (Deseret News)
Election news - We sat down with 7 Republican voters to talk about their choice to replace Mitt Romney. Hereâs what they said (Deseret News)
- âI donât like him, but I love his policies.' Inside a focus group with Donald Trumpâs reluctant Utah supporters (Deseret News)
- Rep. Blake Moore endorsed Derek Brown for Utah attorney general (Deseret News)
- Itâs mainstream vs. extreme MAGA in GOP primary races (Deseret News)
- John Curtis outpacing rivals in fundraising ahead of Utah GOP U.S. Senate primary (Salt Lake Tribune)
Utah news - Bruce Bastian, co-founder of WordPerfect and longtime LGBTQ+ philanthropist, dies at age 76 (Fox13)
- He died for freedom. Sheâs making sure heâs not forgotten (Deseret News)
- Sunday Edition: Lloyd Newell (KSL TV)
- Utah Medical Examinerâs Office still falling short of national standards for autopsy completion time (Fox13)
- South Ogden parent discouraged after daughter barred from playing in youth baseball game; officials cite new law (Standard-Examiner)
- 12 ways Utah is leading the nation, according to the data (Deseret News)
- When Utah therapists lose their licenses, some turn to life coaching instead (Salt Lake Tribune)
Olympic news - Advancing Utahâs 2034 Winter Olympics bid an âeasy decision,â IOC president says. (Deseret News)
- June is the month when Olympic dreams die (New York Times)
Business/Tech - The Larry H. Miller Company just bought the Water Gardens movie theater in Pleasant Grove (Deseret News)
- âInside Out 2â hits $155 million in U.S. for yearâs biggest opening weekend (Wall Street Journal)
Crime/Courts - Man arrested for allegedly kidnapping a 13-year-old and running over her brother with a car (KSL TV)
Culture - Sail Fest returns after five years at Great Salt Lake State Park (KSL Newsradio)
Education - Reimagining early education (Deseret News)
- No more taking phones from students: Granger High School considering new policy this fall (KSL)
- High school sports in Utah can cost thousands of dollars. Hereâs how much some parents are paying (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Feds investigate after Park City parent says school district discriminated against disabled son (Salt Lake Tribune)
Environment - Angry GOP senators lash out at BLM director over land policies (Deseret News)
- âDoes my heart goodâ: A peek into wildlife rehabilitation in Southern Utah (St. George News)
- Shareholders in California construction company oppose Parleys quarry (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Little Twist Fire est. at 2.5K acres; expected to ramp up as humidity drops, winds pick up (KUTV)
- 7 ways to enjoy Bryce Canyon as it enters its second century (KSL Newsradio)
- Wildlife are losing habitat at the Great Salt Lake. A nonprofit is working to build some back. (Salt Lake Tribune)
Family Health - Do you know who to call or what to expect when someone dies? (Deseret News)
- Are the kids all right? The new debate over therapy (Deseret News)
- Federal report suggests ways to improve infant formula safety oversight (Deseret News)
- People with HIV are aging, and the challenges are piling up (NPR)
- Older women are being significantly shortchanged by medical research (Washington Post)
- U.S. Surgeon General calls for warning labels on social-media platforms (Wall Street Journal)
- Half of the U.S. military bases nationwide are in 'health care deserts' (NPR)
Housing - Salt Lake City among least affordable for first-time home buyers (Deseret News)
- Are parking lots holding back affordable housing? (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Utahâs next steps for homeless: State still working to site new 800-bed shelter (Daily Herald)
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National Headlines General - Micro communities for the homeless sprout in US cities eager for small, quick and cheap solutions (AP)
- Despite strong labor market, new college graduates struggle to find employment (Washington Post)
- How Harriet Tubman relied on nature to bring the enslaved to freedom (Washington Post)
- Maine accepting designs for a new state flag (New York Times)
Political news - Perspective: Our divided nation needs the Supreme Court to be a unifying force (Deseret News)
- Social Security on the brink (Deseret News)
- Supreme Court puts the ball in Congressâ court with new gun control ruling (Deseret News)
- A major disinformation research team's future is uncertain after political attacks (NPR)
Election news - Indiana Republicans rejected Sen. Mike Braunâs choice for lieutenant governor, instead nominating a far-right pastor (AP)
- Hereâs what the Christian right wants from a second Trump term (Washington Post)
- In a divided nation, an infrastructure develops to find common ground (New York Times)
- Rubioâs name rises toward top of Trumpâs VP shortlist (The Hill)
- A little more than half of Black voters back Biden in 2 swing states: Poll (The Hill)
- New $50 million Biden ad campaign targets Trump felony convictions (Reuters)
Ukraine ðºð¦ - Ukraine summit strives for consensus, way forward uncertain (Reuters)
- Ukraine shows shell-blasted Kharkiv stadium seats to remind Euro 2024 of war (Reuters)
Israel and Gaza - With Rafah crossing closed by Israel, Gazans have no way out (Washington Post)
- Netanyahu disbands his inner war cabinet (Reuters)
World news - French protesters turn out to oppose far-right shift ahead of snap election (NPR)
- Russia sets hearing as it moves toward secret trial of falsely accused WSJ reporter (Wall Street Journal)
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Number of the Day 
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 | News Releases Gov. Cox calls Utah Legislature into special session Gov. Spencer Cox is calling the Utah Legislature into a special session to address several matters of urgent state business. The special session will be held on Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 4 p.m. (Read More)
Blake Moore on the NDAA for FY25 âAs the Member of Congress representing Hill Air Force Base (HAFB) and the northern Utah defense community, I was grateful to vote for H.R. 8070, the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. This bill provides a 19.5% base pay increase for our junior uniformed airmen at HAFB, strengthens our armed forces through investments in advanced technology, and sustains military readiness and deterrence that sends a message of strength to American adversaries like China, Russia, and Iran. This bill supports our defense efforts while saving taxpayers $30 billion by cutting inefficient programs, obsolete weapons systems, and unnecessary bureaucracy at the Pentagon." (Read More)
Curtis amendments enhance military spending bill, pass House Representative John Curtis (R-UT) voted in favor of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The bill includes two of Curtisâ amendments, one dealing with Iranâs military capabilities and another protecting allies in the Middle East. (Read More)
Call for respectful handling of asylum seekers and federal bipartisan immigration reform The president of the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators and Utah House Democratic Leader, Representative Angela Romero, released the following statement: â(Friday), news broke about migrants being redirected from Colorado to Utah to continue their legal asylum application process. We want to provide clarity on the story and situation. Asylum seekers have a legal right to be in the U.S. under immigration law. Those entering Utah are at various stages within the legal asylum-seeking process that they started at the U.S. border. Amidst the debates and policies regarding immigration, itâs crucial to remember that asylum seekers are real people, including many children, who have endured incredibly harsh conditions and arrived here with hopes and dreams of a better life. Congress had the opportunity to introduce bipartisan legislation that would have resolved this crisis by introducing new migrant policies. Although not a perfect bill, it would have addressed the issues weâre dealing with today. However, Congress has not acted, leaving state and local governments to handle the situation on their own. We urge our governor, the state legislature, and the entire Utah congressional delegation to leverage this opportunity and ask Congress to bring the bill to a vote." (Read More)
Sen. Luz Escamilla calls for accurate communication regarding current immigration crisis Utah Senate Democratic Leader Senator Luz Escamilla released the following statement: âWe are witnessing an increase in inaccurate information regarding our current immigration situation, a significant issue facing our state and nation. It is crucial that we approach this complex topic with accurate terminology. Elected officials have the responsibility and should have respect for their constituencies by not perpetuating the spread of false or inaccurate information... Referring to people as âillegalâ is incorrect, dehumanizing, and fosters a narrative that their very existence is criminal. These terms perpetuate harmful misconceptions. Asylum-seeking families arriving at our borders are fleeing extreme danger and are legally entitled to apply for protection under U.S. immigration law. This rhetoric contradicts Utahâs values and our own history of welcoming families seeking refuge from persecution, such as the pioneers. We must rise above divisive rhetoric and instead engage in constructive dialogue that reflect the Utah wayâ. (Read More)
Owens leads effort to modernize higher education Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee Chairman Burgess Owens (UT-04) introduced the Ensuring Distance Education Act to modernize the Higher Education Act, reflect the evolving landscape of higher education, and better serve Americaâs students. (Read More) | | |
Tweet of the Day  | | |
Upcoming - June 18-19 â Interim Days
- June 25 â Primary Election Day
- August 14 â Hatch Foundation "Titan of Public Service" recognizing Sen. John Thune, Grand America
- August 20-21 â Interim Days
- September 17-18 â Interim Days
- October 15-16 â Interim Day
- November 19-20 â Interim Days
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On This Day In History - 1579 - Sir Francis Drake claims California for England
- 1631 - Mumtaz Mahal dies during childbirth. Her husband, Mughal emperor Shah Jahan I, then spends more than 20 years building her tomb, the Taj Mahal.
- 1775 - Battle of Bunker Hill begins
- 1865 - Susan La Flesche Picotte is born. She became the first Native American physician in 1889.
- 1873 - Susan B. Anthonyâs trial starts for illegally voting in Rochester, New York, on November 5, 1872
- 1885 - Statue of Liberty arrives in New York Harbor
- 1903 - Ruth Wakefield is born. She created the Toll House chocolate chip cookie. My kids think today should be a national holiday.
- 1930 - Pres, Herbert Hoover signed the Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which boosted U.S. tariffs to historically high levels, prompting foreign retaliation.
- 1963 - U.S. Supreme Court, in Abington (Pa.) School District v. Schempp, struck down, 8-1, rules requiring the recitation of the Lordâs Prayer or reading of Biblical verses in public schools.
- 1994 - O.J. Simpson leads LAPD on a low-speed chase
- 2021 - US Supreme Court, in a 7-2 ruling, leaves the entire Affordable Care Act intact
Quote of the Day "Our nation is asking to hear your voice because (primaries are) coming and so is your choice. Do not throw away your shot.â
â Lin-Manuel Miranda
On the Punny Side Why do you call a clumsy flower? A whoopsi-daisy. | | |
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