National Notebook Day; State of Emergency extended for flooding, money appropriated; David Archuleta takes 2nd on 'Masked Singer' | | | 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 | May 18, 2023 It's Thursday and National Notebook Day. Did you know that the spiral notebook made it's debut 99 years ago? What You Need to Know Encounters between U.S. officials and migrants at the southwestern border have dropped about 56 percent since Title 42 ended last week and are now averaging about 4,400 people per day, according to Blas Nuñez-Neto, chief operating officer at U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Meanwhile, CBP officials said an eight-year-old migrant girl died in federal custody.
An estimated 109,680 Americans died from drug overdoses last year, according to a provisional count released Wednesday by the Centers for Disease Control and Preventionâthe second year in a row such deaths topped 100,000 as fentanyl overdoses continue to climb. Rapid Roundup Some 5,700 competitors from all 50 states are expected at the Ogden Marathon on Saturday, with around 15,000 visitors; a Utah man is riding his lawnmower through the state to raise money for a good cause; David Archuleta takes 2nd on âThe Masked Singer;' Today on the Hill 10:00 am: Administrative Rules Review and General Oversight | | |
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Utah Headlines Political news Utah legislature extends state of emergency for flooding (Fox13) Utah lawmakers hear good, bad news on state's massive snowmelt (KUTV) Foreign workers can â again â own firearms after Utah Legislature repeals accidental ban. The sponsor of the bill says his intent was not to prohibit gun ownership for those in Utah legally on guest-worker or student visas. (Salt Lake Tribune) Emily Bell McCormick: What I learned when I went to advocate for period products in Idaho (Salt Lake Tribune) Rep. Blake Moore wants to extend COVID-era tax break for charitable giving (Deseret News) 'A statewide task': Utah's water future will require collaboration, House speaker says. (KSL) General Utah news Are you negotiating your own debt ceiling? (Deseret News) Utah Department of Corrections has "culture of noncompliance", audit says (Fox13) Custody battle preceded murder-suicide of SLC father and son (Fox13) Utah teen headed to France to compete in international BMX competition (Fox13) American Fork Police Department adds a new therapy dog to the force (ABC4) Moab volunteer firefighter arrested after police officer poses online as 13-year-old girl (KUTV) Should Utahns get flood insurance? âNowâ is the time, Utah insurance commissioner says. (Salt Lake Tribune) Business "To deprive anyone of saying âTaco Tuesdayâ ... is like depriving the world of sunshine itself," Taco Bell asserted when petitioning to cancel the "Taco Tuesday" trademark owned by a rival (Washington Post) Retailers are being hit with a rash of thefts and in some case, closing stores and pulling out of locations because of massive losses, some tied to criminal gangs. (KUTV) In Utahâs robust influencer economy, a TikTok ban could upend hustles and day jobs (KUER) Utahâs workforce has a higher percentage of teens than any other state. Here's why (Salt Lake Tribune) Culture A Lutheran congregation in Logan is starting a garden to feed hungry families (UPR) Utah man uses âdad jokeâ humor to heal through viral social media account (ABC4) Education 3 things to know about upcoming high school graduations in Southern Utah (St. George News) Handling of sexual assault at the forefront during forum for Utah State president candidates (Salt Lake Tribune) University of Idaho seeks to buy University of Phoenix for $550 million (Deseret News) Environment Environmentalists celebrate 40-acre wetland expansion into Layton along Great Salt Lake's coast (Fox13) Rocky Mountain Power to roll out 20 fast-charging stations for Utah EVs (Salt Lake Tribune) New wetlands project near Great Salt Lake is natureâs great cleanser (Deseret News) Health Utah has the healthiest seniors in the nation (UPR) The nationâs ongoing health care worker shortage â how bad is it? (Deseret News) Housing Utah added more housing units than any other state the nation, by percentage, while a Salt Lake City suburb is among the fastest growing cities, according to new report from the U.S. Census Bureau. (KUTV) Deeply affordable housing for seniors and veterans experiencing homelessness unveiled (KSL) | | |
National Headlines General Lori Vallow Daybell indicted in Arizona on charge of attempt to kill niece's ex-husband (KUTV) The U.S. military caught Airman Jack Teixeira taking notes and conducting deep-dive searches for classified material months before he was charged with leaking a trove of secrets online, but left him in his job, a Justice Department filing shows. (New York Times) Deutsche Bank will pay $75 million to sexual abuse victims of Jeffrey Epstein who alleged the bank helped enable sex trafficking. (New York Times) When they installed the new surveillance system, local officials promised it would help tamp down a gang war menacing this forgotten steel town. But residents of Ohioâs Steubenville public housing soon learned the cameras were pointed at them (Washington Post) Concern over gun violence surges in new survey (The Hill) Politics Naysa Woomer, communications director to embattled Rep. George Santos (R-NY), has resigned earlier this evening, saying in part: "Unfortunately, you never took one point of professional advice given." (Scripps) Republicans reject Democratic resolution to expel Rep. George Santos from Congress (NPR) The Village People has sent former President Trump a cease-and-desist letter over his usage of their hit song âMacho Man.â (The Hill) Democrats warn Biden against cutting debt ceiling deal with McCarthy (The Hill) Montana bans TikTok for all residents (Politico) Trump hits DeSantis after governorâs 2 endorsed candidates lose (Politico) Ukraine ðºð¦ âTell the world whatâs been doneâ: How one grandmother survived the Bucha massacre (Deseret News) Ukraine could join ranks of âfrozenâ conflicts, U.S. officials say (Politico) Russian scientists, experts in hypersonic technology, arrested for treason (Washington Post) Ukraine rejects Russia's claims, says Patriot air defense system not destroyed (Washington Post) Russia targets Kyiv overnight in 9th attack this month (New York Times) World U.S. points to religious liberty atrocities in Russia, China and Afghanistan (Salt Lake Tribune) Formula 1 canceled this weekendâs Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix after heavy rain and deadly flooding in northern Italy made it unsafe to proceed with the race at Imola. (New York Times) The U.S. deported him. A Korean court says his adoption agency owes him. (Washington Post) Haitians fight back against gangs, drawing support â and worry (Washington Post) Cyclone Aid Stalled in Myanmar: âI Just Hope We Get Help Before We Die.â (New York Times) China, birthplace of the COVID pandemic, is laying tracks for another global health crisis (Wall Street Journal) | | |
News Releases Salt Lake Chamber honors lawmakers as 2023 Legislative Business Champions The Salt Lake Chamber presented the Legislative Business Champion awards today to legislators who passed laws on building our economic foundation and expanding prosperity for all Utahns during the 2023 General Legislative Session. This year, 68 lawmakers received the Legislative Business Champion Award. This award is given to legislators who supported at least 90% of the Salt Lake Chamberâs priorities during the 2023 Legislative Session. The title of Legislative Business Champion is directly tied to a legislatorâs support and voting record on the Salt Lake Chamberâs âPriority Votes.â During each legislative session, the Chamberâs Board of Directors designates the top priorities of the business community as âPriority Votes.â Each of these lawmakers represents a strong voice for Utahâs economy and future prosperity. (Read More) Salt Lake Chamber urges Utahâs leadership to address the national debt ceiling The Salt Lake Chamber recognizes that failing to raise the debt ceiling and to constrain federal government spending will have negative impacts on our national economy and unintended consequences on every Utah business. As such, Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Chamber, sent a letter to Utahâs Members of Congress urging them to do all they can to find a bipartisan solution that can address both problems. (Read More) Utahâs bonded indebtedness stands in sharp contrast to that of the nation The State of Utahâs bonding practices vary dramatically from the practices of the federal government. An analysis by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute shows borrowing in both the U.S. and Utah increased dramatically over several decades in nominal terms. Yet even with those higher nominal debt loads at both levels of government, major differences exist. (Read More) Moore leads legislation to boost employee ownership in small business Yesterday, Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT), alongside Reps. Dean Phillips (D-MN), Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), and Dusty Johnson (R-SD), and Sens. Van Hollen (D-MD) and Rubio (R-FL), introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to support small business owners who pursue an employee-owned business model. Their Employee Equity Investment Act (EEIA) reduces cost barriers small business owners currently face when transferring ownership to their employees, empowering them to preserve family legacies and community jobs â even after their retirement. (Read More) Lee stands with House Republicans on debt ceiling negotiations On the steps of the U.S. Capitol, Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) joined Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, Senate Conference Chairman John Barrasso, House Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, Congressman Dusty Johnson, Senate Conference Vice Chairwoman Shelley Moore Capito, and Congressman Chip Roy, along with other members of the House and Senate, for a press conference hosted by Speaker McCarthy. The conference was held amidst ongoing debt limit negotiations between the Speaker and President Joe Biden. (Read More) Moore and colleagues introduce legislation to encourage charitable giving Today, Representatives Blake Moore (UT-01), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Michelle Steel (CA-45), and Chris Pappas (NH-01) introduced the Charitable Act to empower Americans to contribute to charitable causes and support local communities. In addition to a broad, nationwide coalition that touches nearly every sector of our economy, the bill is endorsed by more than 100 nonprofits in Utah. (Read More) Treasurer Oaks joins multi-state effort to defend Americansâ investment returns against politicized shareholder proposals Utah Treasurer Marlo M. Oaks joined 21 other treasurers, auditors and financial officers from a total of 19 states in letters to the nationâs largest asset managers and proxy advisory firms to determine if they are in violation of their fiduciary obligation to American workers by voting for politicized shareholder proposals. (Read More) Utah Inland Port Authority unveils new look The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) is pleased to announce the completion of a major rebranding initiative, marking an exciting chapter for the organization. UIPAâs new mission, vision and values signifies the forward momentum of the Inland Portâs new focus and serves as the guiding points for all directives moving forward. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Utah Democratic Convention â May 19-20, SUU (More information here) Northern Utah Conference to End Sexual Violence â May 31, USU Eccles Center, 8:30 am-4:00 pm, Register here Intellectual Property Rights webinar with the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation â June 1, 10:00 am, Register here Bolder Way Forward Launch â June 9, 9 am-1 pm, Zions Technology Campus, Register here Interim Days â June 13-14, Utah State Capitol, le.utah.gov | | |
On This Day In History 1860 - Abraham Lincoln is nominated for the presidency at the Republican Convention. 1896 - The US Supreme Court ruled in Plessy v. Ferguson, that âseparate but equalâ accommodations is Constitutional. It remained until the Brown v Board of Education ruling 48 years later. 1953 - Jacqueline Cochran became the first woman to break the sound barrier. 1971 - US President Richard Nixon rejects 60 demands of Congressional Black Caucus. 1973 - Jeannette Rankin, American politician, 1st woman elected to US Congress (R-Montana), women's rights advocate and pacifist, dies at 92 1980 - Mt. Saint Helens erupts 2012 - Facebook raises $16 billion in largest tech IPO in U.S. history 2022 - Amid a nationwide US baby formula shortage, President Joe Biden invokes the Defense Production Act, requiring suppliers to fulfill orders to baby formula manufacturers first Quote of the Day "We're half the people; we should be half the Congress."
âJeannette Rankin On the Punny Side How was Rome split in two? With a pair of Ceasars. | | |
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