Tonight on PBS Utah: Impact of National and Local Debates

With the major candidates for U.S. President and Utah Governor facing off in debates, The Hinckley Report examines how voters are responding to the political rhetoric. Journalist Ben Winslow joins political insiders Frank Pignanelli and Kate Bradshaw on the expert panel with host Jason Perry.

Utah Headlines

Political news

• Editorial Board: Opinion: Amendment D court ruling was correct. What’s the hurry? (Deseret News)
• Editorial Board: Tribune editorial: In Utah, judicial protection of democracy can only go so far (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Blake Moore questions slow budget process as almost two-thirds of taxpayers could see a tax increase next year (Deseret News)

Election news

• Utah 3rd District candidates debate bans on transgender treatments for children (Deseret News)
• Trump fundraiser set for Salt Lake City International Airport (ABC4)
• ‘Eliminated my vote’: Disabled Utahns say GOP presidential caucus disenfranchised them. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Municipal news

• Ogden leaders OK tweaks to diversity commission per HB261 but defend intent (KSL)
• Businesses threaten to leave downtown Ogden over paid parking plan (KUTV)
• Hildale City leaders say 2025 budget is balanced, focused on the future (St. George News)
• S.L. County could move offices from Utah’s capital to a former corporate headquarters (Salt Lake Tribune)

Utah

• Sundance narrows down to 3 finalists for future film festival home — and Utah made the cut (Deseret News) 
• Volunteers needed to help build beds for Utah children in need (Fox13)
• The Share Shack: Layton woman's produce-sharing project soars to new heights (Fox13)
• Utah Diaper Bank asks for help (KSL Newsradio)

Biz/Tech

• 'Working together makes us stronger': Latin American reps gather at UVU to talk trade (KSL) 
• Utah’s Hispanic entrepreneurs are underrepresented. Better resources could help (KUER)

Culture

• HGTV home renovation show is casting Utah homeowners. Here's how to apply (KSL)

Education

• How did this Utah middle school drastically reduce its high percentage of chronic absenteeism? (Deseret News)
• Utah districts struggling with cost of bullet-resistant glass or security film on schools (KUTV)
• Utah says armed school guardians will need to pass a mental health screening (KUER)
• USU future uncertain with Mountain West departures (ABC4)
• Canyons School District phases out community recycling program after inappropriate use (KSL TV)
• Navient reaches $120 million settlement for misleading student loan borrowers (NPR)

Environment

• New leases for oil, gas plummet under Biden-Harris. Will the future hold more of the same? (Deseret News)
• Helping to save the Colorado River with virtual fencing (Deseret News)

Health

• COVID lockdown may have aged teen brains, study finds (Deseret News)
• Utah Poison Control Center sees 600% increase in calls from misuse of weight loss drugs (KUTV)
• Study links wildfire pollution to psychiatric problems in children (KSL TV)

Housing

• Utah Homeless Services Board meets with officials to secure beds, services before winter (Fox13)

National Headlines

General

• TikTok faces crucial court hearing that could decide fate in US (Reuters)
• 33,000 Boeing factory workers go on strike after rejecting contract offer (AP)
• DHL sues MyPillow, alleging company founded by Mike Lindell owes $800,000 (AP)
• The disaster no major US city is prepared for (Washington Post)

Political news

• House Speaker Mike Johnson cancels stopgap funding vote amid GOP opposition (Deseret News)
• Trump complicates Speaker Johnson’s plan to avoid government shutdown (The Hill)
• Too much? Many Americans feel the need to limit their political news, AP-NORC/USAFacts poll finds (AP)
• Trump must comply with gag order in New York after appeal dismissed (NPR)
• Poll: Americans favor Supreme Court term limits, oppose more justices (Washington Post)
• Springfield bomb threat used ‘hateful’ language toward migrants, Haitians, mayor says (Washington Post)
• After Project 2025, knives are out for Heritage - on the right (Politico)

Election news

• What was missing in Tuesday’s presidential debate? The national debt (Deseret News)
• Trump says he will end all taxes on overtime if elected (Reuters)
• Former Republican AG Alberto Gonzales will support Kamala Harris (Politico)
• Harris widens lead over Trump in postdebate poll (The Hill)
• GOP pollster Frank Luntz: Debate will cost Trump the election (The Hill)

Ukraine 🇺🇦

• Exclusive: Russia produces new kamikaze drone with Chinese engine, say European intel sources (Reuters)
• Russia expels U.K. diplomats as Putin warns over Ukraine’s Western weapons (Washington Post)

Israel and Gaza

• Israel-Hamas war latest: Oct. 7 mastermind thanks Hezbollah leader for his help attacking Israel (AP)
• As war rages in Gaza, Israel’s crackdown on West Bank insurgency is killing Palestinian youths (AP)
• Gaza’s traumatized children are facing another lost year of school (Washington Post)

World news

• The Amazon’s Ashaninka tribe restored their territory. Now they aim to change the region (AP)

Number of the Day 

News Releases

Earning enough to pay for non-housing needs is of high importance to voters

The 2024 Utah Priorities Project found that “earning enough to pay for non-housing needs” is of high concern for Utahns. This is particularly the case for Utahns with lower incomes, conservatives, Republicans, unaffiliated voters, and those who are more religious or spiritual. The Utah Foundation asked voters where non-housing price increases most affected family budgets. Of nine possible choices, 70% of voters reported that grocery prices affected them the most. (Read More)

President Adams and Speaker Schultz statement on Amendment D

We are extremely disappointed by the lower court’s policymaking action from the bench. It’s disheartening that the courts – not the 1.9 million Utah voters – will determine the future policies of our state. This underscores our concerns about governance by initiative as an out-of-state interest group from Washington, DC, with seemingly unlimited funds, blocked Utah voters from voicing their opinions at the ballot box. The people who claim to advocate for greater voter engagement are the same ones who obstructed Utahns from having the opportunity to vote on this important matter. (Read More)

Utah Senate and House Democratic caucuses on Amendment D ruling

We applaud the court’s decision to invalidate Amendment D, which would undermine the rights of Utahns and the principles of democracy. The amendment’s deceptive language and misleading presentation were clear attempts to weaken the voice of the people and give more power to the Legislature. (Read More)

Utah legislature Democratic leaders on Amendment D ruling

We thank the plaintiffs for their commitment to ensuring Utahns’ voices are heard. By defending voters’ rights in court, they have played a vital role in protecting our democracy. The court found Amendment D invalid due to its deceptive language and the Legislature’s failure to publish the text as required. The Legislature’s actions aimed to override voter decisions and increase their own power. By shifting responsibility for drafting the ballot question from nonpartisan staff to the President and Speaker, they allowed themselves to omit key details that would mislead voters. (Read More)

Salt Lake Chamber to discuss trade policies in visit to Washington, D.C.

The Salt Lake Chamber, with a dedicated group of business executives and community leaders, is headed to Washington, D.C. at the end of the month to meet with members of Utah’s congressional delegation and discuss important federal priorities including regulatory overreach, trade policies and housing affordability. (Read More)

Tweet of the Day

Upcoming

• Sep. 17-18 — Interim Days
• Oct. 1 — Attorney General Debate, UT Debate Commission, 6:00 pm
• Oct. 4 — Conservative Climate Summit, 7:30 am - 3:00 pm, UVU, Register here
• Oct. 4 — Hatch Foundation hosts Civil Dialogue Symposium with Dana Perino, 2:00 pm, USU, Register here
• Oct. 7-9 — One Utah Summit, SUU, Register here
• Oct. 8 â€” CD1 Debate, UT Debate Commission, 6:00 pm
• Oct. 10 — US Senate Debate, UT Debate Commission, 6:00 pm
• Oct. 14 â€” CD2 Debate, UT Debate Commission, 6:00 pm
• Oct. 15-16 — Interim Days
• Oct. 17 — CD3 Debate, UT Debate Commission, 6:00 pm
• Oct. 24 — CD4 Debate, UT Debate Commission, 6:00 pm
• Nov. 5 — Election Day!
• Nov. 15 — Women & Business Conference & ATHENA Awards Luncheon with the Salt Lake Chamber, Grand America Hotel, Register here
• Nov. 19-20 — Interim Days
• Jan. 9 — What’s Up Down South Economic Summit. St. George. Register here
• Jan. 10 — Rural Utah Data Symposium. St. George. Register here

On This Day In History

• 1788 - The Congress of the Confederation authorized the first national election and declared New York City the temporary national capital.
• 1818 - Lucy Good Brooks is born. Following the Civil War, the former slave founded the Friends’ Asylum for Colored Orphans. The orphanage served African American children in the Richmond, VA area for nearly 60 years.
• 1940 -  The Lascaux cave paintings, estimated to be 17,000 years old, were discovered in southwestern France.
• 1948 - Margaret Chase Smith is elected to the Senate. Formerly a U.S. Representative in the House, Smith’s election to the Senate made her the first woman elected to both chambers of Congress and also the first Republican woman elected to the Senate.
• 1993 - Israel-Palestine peace accord signed on the South Lawn of the White House
• 2001 - Civilian air traffic resumes in the US
• 2021- Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett makes first official visit to Egypt in a decade for talks with President Abdul Fattah al-Sisi in Sharm el-Sheikh

Quote of the Day

It's Friday the 13th. Just warning you before you make any weekend plans for a cabin by a lake....

On the Punny Side

I woke up laughing today.
I must have slept funny.

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