| Nikki Haley coming to Utah; it's day 36 of 45 for the Utah legislature and bills are still being released, 912 so far. .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 | Feb. 21, 2024 It's Wednesday and National Sticky Bun Day. Three things to watch: - HB560 Licensing Amendments by Rep. Karianne Lisonbee would repeal the section of law passed last year forbidding abortions anywhere but the hospital. According to the sponsor, this would make it easier for Utah's trigger law to be ruled on by the Utah Supreme Court. The bill passed committee last night and has been placed at the top of the 3rd Reading Calendar.
- HB531 Laser Pointer Amendments by Rep. Steve Eliason makes it illegal to aim a laser pointer at an aircraft or its occupants. If the laser pointer causes the plane to crash, itâs a third-degree felony. This bill will be heard in the House Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Committee at 8 a.m.
- HB202 Student Athlete Amendments by Rep Jordan Teuscher is the bill that enacts provisions related to the use of a college athleteâs âname, image or likenessâ and exempts NIL agreements from the Government Records Access and Management Act. This bill has passed the House and will be heard in the Senate Education Committee at 4 p.m.
On the Hill Today, Day 36 of 45 | | |
Utah Headlines Legislative session Business and Labor - Utahâs dream of MLB stadium will cost taxpayers at least $900M, raise hotel taxes, according to new bill (Salt Lake Tribune)
Government Operations - Legislators punt on adding renter, advocate to housing affordability panel (KSL TV)
Health and Human Services - Bill to 'simplify' lawsuit over Utah's abortion trigger ban passes House committee (KSL)
- A bill to sell the Utah State Hospital gets rewritten to expand mental health crisis care (Fox13)
Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice - 'We have to get this one right,' lawmaker says of Utah school safety bill (KSL)
- âYou canât teach dead kidsâ: Parkland parents urge Utah lawmakers to pass school safety legislation (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Utah officials want to hide their calendars from the public. A new bill will do just that. (Salt Lake Tribune)
Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment - Do mineral extraction companies on the Great Salt Lake need more oversight? (Deseret News)
- Salt Lake County Council votes to oppose proposed mining bill at state capitol (KUTV)
Other Utah News Election news - Nikki Haley to visit Utah ahead of Super Tuesday (Deseret News)
- What the heck is a presidential preference poll? And other questions, answered (Deseret News)
- Is the presidential primary process broken? Former Utah Gov. Gary Herbert thinks so (Deseret News)
- Brent Orrin Hatch: Stop the illegal immigration industrial complex (Deseret News)
- GOP activist says Utah Education Board's Cline still has Republican support (KUTV)
Business - Ogdenâs dinosaur park to expand, creating challenges for other nearby organizations (KSL TV)
Crime/Courts - Jodi Hildebrandt and Ruby Franke sentenced to 4 consecutive terms in prison (Deseret News)
- Former Cache County election coordinator faces felony charge over 2023 election (Cache Valley Daily)
Culture - Utah family opens school for teens in Mexico (KSL TV)
Education - University of Utah highlights positive impacts of equity, diversity and inclusion programs (KSL)
Environment - Hundreds are set to descend on Tahiti for Olympic surfing. Can locals protect their way of life? (AP)
Health - A pacemaker for the brain helped a woman with crippling depression. It may soon be available widely (AP)
Housing - A couch is not a home. Voices of America's homelessness crisis (New York Times)
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National Headlines General - Tinder, Hinge sued over for âmanipulativeâ and âaddictiveâ features (Deseret News)
- TikTok is becoming the main news source for Gen Z (Deseret News)
- Trump faces some half a billion dollars in legal penalties. How will he pay them? (NPR)
- Shock, anger, confusion grip Alabama after court ruling on embryos (Washington Post)
- Denver communities of color bear the brunt of cityâs air pollution: Study (The Hill)
Political news - Sen. Mike Lee and other Republicans push for Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to be put on trial after impeachment (Deseret News)
- The Supreme Court cases to watch over the next 2 months (Deseret News)
- US Supreme Court considers challenge to EPA's 'Good Neighbor' ozone rule (Reuters)
- Supreme Court rejects challenge to diversity efforts at top high school (Wall Street Journal)
- Biden administration cancels $1.2B in student loans with new repayment plan (Washington Post)
- DOJ filing says FBI informant told investigators he got Hunter Biden dirt from Russian officials (The Hill)
Election news - Nikki Haley hasnât yet won a GOP contest. But sheâs vowing to keep fighting Donald Trump (AP)
- Trump and allies plotting militarized mass deportations, detention camps (Washington Post)
Ukraine ðºð¦ - Ukraine outnumbered, outgunned, ground down by relentless Russia (Reuters)
- Ukraine's military spy chief says Russia will struggle to keep up the fight (Wall Street Journal)
- As Putin threatens, despair and hedging in Europe (New York Times)
- Navalnyâs mother sues for release of body; mourners face military draft (Washington Post)
- Putin flexes as Ukraine battles US gridlock (The Hill)
Israel ð®ð± World news - The widow and aides of assassinated Haitian President Jovenel Moïse are indicted in his killing (AP)
- In Latin America, guards don't control prisons. Gangs do. (New York Times)
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Number of the Day 
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 | News Releases Business community asks Utah legislature to support Gov. Coxâs homelessness appropriation budget requests The Salt Lake Chamber and business leaders are strongly urging the Utah legislature to support Governor Coxâs comprehensive homelessness appropriation budget requests. The budget, which supports Utahâs comprehensive statewide Plan to Address Homelessness was developed in collaboration with state agencies and the support of hundreds of community leaders, including the Utah Impact Partnership. (Read More)
Salt Lake County awarded prestigious financial reporting honor Salt Lake County is proud to announce a landmark achievement in financial transparency and accountability. The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA), the gold standard for government accountability, has honored Salt Lake County with the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022. This is a testament to Salt Lake County's commitment to maintaining the highest standards of governmental accounting and financial reporting. (Read More)
Mayor Wilson, SLCo Council call for Natalie Cline resignation Today, the Salt Lake County Council approved a bipartisan resolution calling for Utah State Board of Education Member Natalie Cline to resign. âI stand with The Salt Lake County Council in calling for the immediate resignation of Board Member Natalie Cline from the Utah State Board of Education. We also extend our steadfast support to the young athlete targeted, her family, her teammates, and all within our community who have been affected... Salt Lake County has zero tolerance for bullying or misinformation. We are dedicated to fostering an environment where every student can thrive, free from fear and harassment.â (Read More) | | |
Tweet of the Day 
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Upcoming - Feb. 21 â Women in Leadership Executive Speaker Series: Women Focused Organizations, 11:30 am-12:30 pm,Register here
- Feb. 22 â Understanding Utahâs Caucus-Convention System, with GOP Chair Rob Axson and Dem. Chair Diane Lewis, sponsored by Utah Women Run, 6:00-7:30 p.m., Register here
- Mar. 1 â Legislative session ends
- Mar. 5 â Caucus night
- Mar. 20 â Utah Foundation Annual Lunch, 11:45 am-1:30 pm; Grand America, Purchase tickets here
- Apr. 20 â United Utah Partyconvention
- Apr. 27 â State GOP and Democratic Conventions
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On This Day In History - 1732 - George Washington is born in Virginia.
- 1819 - The U.S. acquires Spanish Florida.
- 1876 - Zitkála-Šá is born. A writer and Sioux Indian activist, she spent much of her adult life in Utah. She was instrumental in lobbying for citizenship rights for Native Americans and founded the National Council of American Indians. She is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
- 1898 - Frazier Baker was a Black teacher who was appointed postmaster of Lake City, South Carolina in 1897. On Feb. 22, an angry mob set his house on fire and when Frazier opened the door, he was gunned down. His youngest daughter also died.
- 1980 - U.S. hockey team beats the Soviets in the âMiracle on Ice.â
- 1997 - Dolly the Sheep is cloned.
- 2014 - âEl Chapo,â the worldâs most-wanted drug kingpin, is captured in Mexico.
- 2021 - The US hits 500,000 lives lost to COVID-19.
Quote of the Day "The first time you stand up for right and it is refused you, shall you quit? Then you do not believe in it. We must continue speaking and claiming our human rights to live on this earth."
âZitkála-Šá
On the Punny Side What do you call a zombie who cooks stir fry? Dead Man Wok-ing. | | |
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