Utah Headlines

Legislative session

• The 45-day session has begun. Here’s how you can follow and be involved (Deseret News)
• Senate Pres. Adams warns Utah could be the next ‘Petri dish of America.’ Adams said the Legislature will draft another constitutional amendment to expand their power to change citizen initiatives
  (Deseret News)
• Preserving the ‘Utah Dream’: Legislative leaders outline bold plans on nuclear energy and higher ed (Deseret News)
• 8 issues Democratic lawmakers will focus on this session (Deseret News)
• Transgender issues reemerge as a focus of Utah lawmakers for 4th year in a row (KSL)
• New “Transparency Room” debuts at Utah Capitol building during first day of legislative session (KSL TV)
• A few massive changes Utah could see from the 2025 legislative session (Salt Lake Tribune)

Business and Labor

• ‘No better than working at 7-Eleven’: Unions oppose bill to end collective bargaining for Utah public employees (Salt Lake Tribune) 

Education

• Around 1,000 students rally for school choice at Utah Capitol (KSL)

Judiciary

• Tensions rise as Utah court faces criticism from legislators (Deseret News)

Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice

• Utah lawmaker focusing on school safety this legislative session (KSL Newsradio)

Public Utilities, Energy and Technology

• A nuclear-powered future? Utah leaders look to fund energy boom during 2025 legislative session. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Other Utah News

Politics

• Trump sets in motion his plans to shrink the federal government. Sen. Lee says he should have power to fire anyone (Deseret News)
• ‘I don’t think it’s constitutional’: Gov. Cox questions Trump’s executive orders on TikTok, birthright citizenship (Salt Lake Tribune)
• John Curtis: Pioneer values at the border: Compassion meets the rule of law (The Hill)

Utah news

• ‘American Primeval’ left this historian confused and frustrated. Here’s why (Deseret News)

Biz/Tech

• Freshly minted Trump, Melania crypto coins raise billions for first couple (Deseret News)
• Study finds Utah ranks as third best state to start a business (KUTV)
• Trump announces private-sector $500B investment in AI infrastructure (Reuters)

Crime

• Man arrested in Utah in connection with Honolulu 1977 cold case (KSL TV)
• Davis school district employee faces 32 felonies in child sex abuse investigation (KSL TV)

Education

• Elder Gary E. Stevenson calls on BYU students to ‘wave flags demonstrating Christlike behavior,’ including being peacemakers (Deseret News)
• West High School principal announces resignation after being placed on leave (KUTV)
• Brad Mortensen: Many higher education institutions have earned the criticism directed at them. Weber State isn’t one of them. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Environment

• Hill Air Force Base could get small nuclear reactor as soon as 2028 (Deseret News)
• PacifiCorp extends the life of Utah coal-powered plants — indefinitely (St. George News)

Family

• You're right. Parents do have a favorite child, BYU study finds (KSL)

Health

• Study ties Ozempic-like drugs to dozens of benefits and risks (Deseret News)

Housing

• Editorial Board: Homelessness is a statewide problem in need of local solutions (Deseret News)
• Frosty temps hit northern Utah. Is there extra help for the homeless? (Salt Lake Tribune)
• What swapping crops for houses means for Utah’s water and agriculture future (KUER)

National Headlines

General

• TSA announces enforcement date for Real ID requirement for domestic travel (Deseret News)
• Border Patrol agent killed in Vermont worked at the Pentagon during 9/11, family says (AP)

Political news

• Faith leaders weigh in as Trump puts pause on refugee resettlement (Deseret News)
• Trump administration directs all federal diversity, equity and inclusion staff be put on leave (AP)
• Pete Hegseth’s former sister-in-law alleges abuse against second wife in affidavit to Senate (AP)
• Trump fires female US Coast Guard chief, official cites DEI focus (Reuters)
• Trump administration strips schools, churches of immigration enforcement protections (NPR)
• At National Prayer Service, an Episcopal has a plea to Trump: ‘Have mercy’ (Washington Post)
• GOP member wants bishop ‘added to deportation list’ after Trump prayer service (The Hill)

Ukraine and Russia

• Putin’s torturers couldn’t break these Ukrainian prisoners (Wall Street Journal)
• Putin’s ‘not doing so well,’ says Trump in unusually critical remarks on Kremlin leader (CNN)

Israel and Gaza

• Aid is rushing into Gaza while the cease-fire holds (Wall Street Journal)
• Bereaved Gazans dig out bodies from city ruins, give them graves (Reuters)

Other world news

• 'Be serious', says Panama president on Trump 'invasion' question (Reuters)

Number of the Day 

News Releases

Maloy introduces legislation to boost geothermal energy

Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (UT-02) introduced the Geothermal Energy Opportunity Act. This legislation would expedite the approval process for geothermal projects by establishing a deadline for the Department of the Interior to process applications related to geothermal leases. (Read More)

Curtis, Stefanik discuss countering China’s influence

During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the nomination of U.S. Representative Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to be the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) highlighted efforts to counter China’s influence in international organizations, particularly regarding Taiwan’s status and participation in the United Nations (UN).  (Read More)

Tweet of the Day

Upcoming

• Jan 23 - Designing Corporate Women’s Networks, Initiatives, and Leadership Programs with UWLP, 12:00-3:00 pm, Register here
• Jan 23 â€” State of the State address, 6:30 pm
• Jan 27 â€” The Impact of Women’s Health on Work and Life with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here
• Jan 29 â€” A Conversation with Pat Jones on Women's Leadership with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here
• Feb 3 â€” Building Bridges: Leading as Women in Local Government with the Utah Women and Leadership Project, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here
• Feb 5 â€” Women and Policy, Strategy, Politics, and Change with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here
• Feb 10 â€” Gail Miller: Making a Difference with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here
• Feb 11 — "Heart on the Hill" Day with the American Heart Association, 9:30 am - 12:00 pm, Copper Room in the Senate Building
• Feb 12 â€” Navigating the 2025 Tax Reconciliation Bill webinar with the Hatch Center, 10:00 am - 11:00 am, MST, Register here
• Feb 12 â€” Crossing the Divide: Making an Impact in Career and Community with UWLP, 11:30 am - 12:30 pm, Register here
• Feb 20 â€” BioHive Live, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Hale Centre Theater, Sandy, Register here
• Mar. 7 â€” Utah legislative session ends

On This Day In History 

• 1871 - Justina Laurena Carter Ford is born. Shortly after earning her medical degree from Hering Medical School in Chicago, Ford became the first African American woman to obtain a medical license in Colorado. However, since all the hospitals in Denver denied her privileges, she opened her own practice.
• 1946 - President Harry Truman signs a directive creating the Central Intelligence Group, the predecessor to today’s CIA.
• 1970 - First commercial Boeing 747 flight goes from New York City to London in 6 ½ hours.
• 1973 - Former U.S. President Lyndon Johnson dies at age 64.
• 1973 - The U.S. Supreme Court rules in Roe v. Wade.
• 1984 - Apple’s iconic “1984” commercial airs during Super Bowl XVIII.
• 1987 - Pennsylvania politician R. Budd Dwyer calls a press conference, then shoots and kills himself on live TV. That’s messed up.
• 1997 - The United States Senate confirmed Madeleine Albright as the first female Secretary of State. 
• 1998 - Ted Kaczynski pleads guilty to a 17-year stretch of package bombings.
• 2005 - Donald Trump marries Melania Knauss.
• 2016 - Winter storm strands 500 motorists for 24 hours on the New Jersey Turnpike.

Quote of the Day

“This was how twentieth-century Fascism began: with a magnetic leader exploiting widespread dissatisfaction by promising all things.”
― Madeleine K. Albright

On the Punny Side

A co-worker said to me, “Could you be any more annoying?"

So the next day I wore tap shoes to work.

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