It's Ash Wednesday; winter storm delivers; Gov. Cox supports immigration sponsorship by states; Biden gives a strong speech in Poland | | | 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 | February 21, 2023 It's the day after Mardi Gras and that means it's Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of Lent. The big storm delivered and many school districts have moved to online learning, or delayed their start times. Salt Lake City School District, Murray School District, Granite School District, Tooele County School District, Jordan School District, Alpine School District and Canyons School District, have moved to online learning. Provo, Davis, Box Elder, Weber, Nebo, North Summit, USU's Tooele campus, North Star Academy, Pacific Heritage Academy, Canyon Rim Academy, Lehi Ascent Academy and the Layton and Ogden campuses of Northern Utah Academy for Math, Engineering and Science will have a two-hour delay. The Utah legislature has also delayed its start this morning. What You Need to Know Gov. Spencer Cox and Gov. Eric Holcomb, from Indiana, penned an op-ed for the Washington Post saying that allowing states to sponsor immigrants would solve our national immigration crisis. "The standstill on immigration hobbles both parties and, more seriously, endangers Americaâs long-term well-being," they write. They are supporters of "immigration sponsorship by the states," an approach that "would give states a dynamic means to attract new residents, both from a pool of new applicants from abroad and from the ranks of current asylum seekers."
President Biden gave a strong speech in Poland after his visit to Ukraine. âOne year ago, the world was bracing for the fall of Kyiv. Well, Iâve just come from a visit to Kyiv and I can report Kyiv stands strong. Kyiv stands proud, it stands tall and most important, it stands free,â Biden said. "President Putinâs craven lust for land and power will fail. And the Ukrainian peopleâs love for their country will prevail," he continued. He called Putin a "war criminal," a "pure thug" and accused Russia of âcrimes against humanity,â without "shame or compunction." "The defense of freedom is not the work of a day or of a year. Itâs always difficult. Itâs always important."
Today on the Hill: Medical 'magic mushrooms' will be heard in Senate Health and Human Services today; the religious school uniform bill will be heard on the Senate floor and a bill to ban schools from participating in sports if the athletic association does not collect and review athletes birth certificates will be heard in the House Judiciary committee. Rapid Roundup Yes, please! Samwise Gamgee (Ok, Sean Astin) will be speaking at RootsTech | | |
| | Together, We Can Better Support Women in Business Whether youâre a woman starting a business or looking to elevate your career, Inspire In Utah is dedicated to providing you with the resources to help on your journey. Find funding, training, and even inspirational stories in our dedicated resource center. | | |
2023 Legislative Session 35 days down, 10 days to go! Morning committee times are delayed one hour. Today 9:00-10:50 am: House committees: Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice; Natural Resources, Agriculture & Technology; Transportation; Public Utilities, Energy & Technology 9:00-10:20: Senate committees: Economic Development & Workforces Services; Government Operations & Political Subdivisions; Revenue & Taxation 11:00-12:00 pm: House floor time 10:30-11:50 am: Senate floor time 2:00-3:50 pm: House floor time 2:00-3:50 pm: Senate floor time 4:00-6:00 pm: House committees: Judiciary; Government Operations; Political Subdivisions; Revenue & Taxation 4:00-6:00 pm: Senate committees: Business & Labor; Education; Health & Human Services Tomorrow 8:00-9:50 am: House committees: Business & Labor; Education; 8:00-9:50 am: Senate committees: Judiciary, Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice; Transportation, Public Utilities, Energy & Technology 8:30 am: House Economic Development & Workforce Services; Health & Human Services 9:00 am: Senate Natural Resources 10:00-12:00: House floor time 10:00-11:50: Senate floor time 2:00-3:50 pm: House floor time 2:-3:50 pm: Senate floor time 4:00-6:00 pm: House committees: Public Utilities, Energy & Technology; Law Enforcement & Criminal Justice; Natural Resources, Agriculture, & Environment; Transportation 4:00-6:00 pm: Senate committees: Economic Development, Workforce Services; Government Operations & Poitical Subdivision; Revenue & Taxation 6:00 pm-until needed: House floor time 6:00 pm-until needed: Senate floor time Utah Headlines General Legislative News New Utah revenue estimates âflat.â Hereâs what that means for the state budget (Deseret News) 'Unabashedly conservative,' Jay Cobb, Jr, a new Utah lawmaker brings a respectful approach to legislating (KSL) Utah lawmakers take first step toward removing food tax (KUTV) Utah veterans with criminal records get second chance (Fox13) Repealing state food tax would stir âhopeâ among Utahns struggling to make ends meet (Deseret News) Will Utahâs Legislature chip in to help overwhelmed domestic violence programs? (KSL TV) Proposal would give first-time Utah homebuyers $20,000 (KSL Newsradio) Utah Senate panel approves alcohol overservice bill prompted by 13-year-old's death (KUTV) Utahâs sexual predators can expect less recreation, tougher penalties with the passing of these bills (St. George News) Utah bill aiming to ban cities from regulating fractional ownership (KPCW) Expanding homes underground may be easier under new bill (KPCW) They alleged their Utah OB-GYN sexually assaulted them. Now, their case may change state law. (Salt Lake Tribune) Bill would shield new quarries from county oversight (Salt Lake Tribune) Other political news Romney praises Biden for Ukraine trip, stays mum on re-election plans (KUTV) âLoony rightâ: Mitt Romney calls Marjorie Taylor Greeneâs call for national divorce âinsanityâ (Deseret News) Mitt Romney says Marjorie Taylor Greeneâs call for a ânational divorceâ is âinsanityâ and attention seeking. (Salt Lake Tribune) Are Jason Chaffetz or Robert OâBrien planning to run for office in Utah? Maybe. (Deseret News) Supreme Court â again â rejects Utah brothersâ effort to reinstate Donald Trump as president. The suit sought to kick President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and nearly 400 members of Congress out of office and return Trump to the White House. (Salt Lake Tribune) General Utah news Church settles case with SEC over financial reporting. Ensign Peak Advisors, Church of Jesus Christ agree to pay penalty to settle investigation (Deseret News) Jay Evensen: Shaq and Barkley think weâre boring. Who cares? Stereotypes about Utah are as immovable as the mountains, and yet the place keeps growing and prospering (Deseret News) Business United Airlines announces new family seating policy. The airline will allow families with children under age 12 to sit together at no additional charge. (Deseret News) Idaho, Utah workers led U.S. in quitting jobs, while New Yorkers largely stayed put. People were confident enough to voluntarily leave their jobs more than 4 million times a month last year, up 20% from 2019 (Wall Street Journal) Education High schoolers form JustServe clubs and reap the blessings of service (Church News) University of Utah to pay millions after the death of international student Zhifan Dong. The school has acknowledged its âshortcomings in its response to this complex situation.â The agreement will have to be approved by lawmakers. (Salt Lake Tribune) Weber State professor showcases overlooked Latina art at Salt Lake City museum (Fox13) Utah home-schoolers thrive with more resources than ever (KSL) Family Our teenage girls are suffering. Utah can lead the way in helping them (Deseret News) Health Baby formula shortage update: New recall, trio of investigations (Deseret News) Housing Utah ranks 45th in the country for affordable housing (KSL TV) | | |
National Headlines General Malcolm Xâs family to file $100M lawsuit alleging coverup of his assassination (The Hill) Politics Trump and DeSantis are holding fundraisers just a few miles apart (Deseret News) Jury in Georgia Trump inquiry recommended several indictments, forewoman says (New York Times) Will the Supreme Court undo the ârule that made the modern internetâ. The U.S. Supreme Court hears two cases this week, both related to terrorist acts, that will look closely at protections that have underpinned the evolution of the internet (Deseret News) For the first time, a Black woman will represent Virginia in Congress (NPR) Biden administration proposes new limits on asylum seekers (Wall Street Journal) Democrats protest after McCarthy grants Tucker Carlson access to Jan. 6 video (New York Times) Vivek Ramaswamy, a tech entrepreneur, announces 2024 presidential run (Washington Post) Older voters balk at Nikki Haleyâs competency test. Itâs one of her hallmark proposals since launching her campaign. Itâs also not going over universally well with a key constituency. (Politico) Poll: Biden's standing improves, while Trump slumps with Republican voters (NPR) Ukraine ðºð¦ Biden accuses Putin of atrocities and urges world to rebuke him (New York Times) Wagner owner blasts âtreasonâ of Russian military chiefs (AP) House GOP meet with Zelenskyy as far right opposes more aid (AP) A year in the trenches has hardened Ukraineâs president. Volodymyr Zelensky came into office thinking peace with Putin was possible. He now believes victory is the only answer. (Washington Post) World More deaths follow another earthquake in Turkey. More than 1 million people are now homeless (Deseret News) A former World Cup player has died after going missing in the Turkey earthquakes (Deseret News) A year later, China blames U.S. âhegemonyâ â not Russia â for war in Ukraine (Washington Post) | | |
News Releases WSU professor curates exhibit featuring Latina artists An art history professor at Weber State University is amplifying voices that are often forgotten within the art world. MarÃa del Mar González-González is curating âBeyond the Margins: An Exploration of Latina Art and Identity,â on display now through March 4 at the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art in Salt Lake City. González-González and Nancy Rivera, a featured artist and WSU alum, will offer a guided tour and gallery discussion in Spanish on Feb. 25 from 1-2 p.m. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Ditch Your Debt and Transform Your Net Worth with the Utah Women and Leadership Project â Feb. 28, 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm, Virtual, Register Here The American Imperative: Reclaiming Global Leadership Through Soft Power with Daniel Runde & Bonnie Glick, Breakfast and Panel â Mar 2, 7:45-9:30 am, Register here Legislative session ends â Mar. 3, le.utah.gov Provo Women's Day â Mar. 4, more information here. Women in International Business Conference with World Trade Center Utah â Mar. 8, 8:30 am - 2:00 pm, Register Here Teaching Your Child Consent with the Utah Women and Leadership Project â Mar. 16, 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm, Virtual, Register Here Sutherland Institute Annual Gala honoring Lowry Snow & Ian Rowe â Mar. 23, 7 pm, Hyatt Regency, More Information Here MWEG Spring Conference with keynote speaker Becky Edwards â Mar. 25, 9:00 am - 3:30 pm at UVU or virtual, Register Here Hatch Foundation Gala with special guest Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sec. Elaine Chao â April 14, 7:00 pm, Grand America, Register Here | | |
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. 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. Heard on the Hill On the Punny Side What do you get when James Bond takes a bath? Bubble 07 | | |
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