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The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. Send news tips or feedback to editor@utahpolicy.com.

 

Situational Analysis | November 3, 2021

It's Wednesday and National Stress Awareness Day. Isn't that every day??

Today is also the 125th anniversary of Martha Hughes Cannon being elected to office, the first woman in the state. A commemorative press conference will be held at the state Capitol, by her statue outside the Supreme Court Chambers at 11:00 am. 

Be in the Know

  1. Lots of election news this morning. Big news out of Virginia as Republican Glenn Youngkin wins the governor's race, a state that Biden won by 10 points. In New Jersey, a state Biden won by 16 points, the race for governor is too close to call. Overall, Republicans had a good night and the GOP is already looking to carry the Youngkin winning game plan into the midterms.

  2. In Utah, Mayors Michelle Kaufusi of Provo and Donia Jessop of Hildale are headed to another term, while Cedar City Mayor Maile Wilson Edwards has the slimmest of leads, just 16 votes ahead of her opponent. Bountiful will be getting a new mayor as city council member Kendalyn Harris has a significant lead over the incumbent while in Park City, city council member Nann Worel leads the incumbent 56% to 30%. Tami Tran is in the lead for mayor of Kaysville, while mayoral races in Sandy and Midvale remain close. All election results are preliminary. Final results won't be official for another two weeks.

  3. The CDC formally approved the Pfizer-BioNTech's pediatric vaccine for kids ages 5 - 11, allowing providers to begin immunizing children immediately. 109,000 doses are making their way to Utah.

  4. Finally the Atlanta Braves won the World Series last night in Game 6, whomping the Houston Astros 7-0. 

 

FROM OUR SPONSOR

Covering the most pressing political issues facing our state

In partnership with the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah, PBS Utah presents "The Hinckley Report," providing insight and analysis into Utah politics. Hosted by Jason Perry, "The Hinckley Report" airs on PBS Utah Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and is also available to stream or as a podcast.

 

Utah Headlines

General

  • See which Utah companies lead the way in values, direction, innovation, benefits and more. Honorees are part of The Salt Lake Tribune’s eighth annual Top Workplaces awards program. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Politics

  • Election results (Salt Lake Tribune, Deseret News, Fox13)
  • Weber County municipal election results (Standard-Examiner)
  • Utah County elections calm and sedate — mostly (Daily Herald)
  • St. George election results: Michele Randall leads Jimmie Hughes in race for mayor (The Spectrum)
  • Iron County preliminary 2021 municipal election results (St. George News)
  • Washington County 2021 municipal election results (St. George News)
  • Logan incumbents re-elected for mayor and Municipal Council (Herald Journal)
  • Republican newcomer Glenn Youngkin has won Virginia. Here’s why that matters (Deseret News)
  • How voting Republican and distrusting immigrants relates to church-state separation (Deseret News)
  • Clerks say ranked choice voting counters worked as planned (KUTV)
  • My condiments to you: Sen. Mike Lee sends a Utah original to Apple CEO Tim Cook (Deseret News)

COVID Corner

  • 1250 new cases, 11 new deaths
  • US gives final clearance to COVID-19 shots for kids 5 to 11 (ABC4)

National Headlines

General

  • ‘My name is Cleo’: Police weep upon rescuing Australian girl abducted more than 2 weeks ago (AP)
  • Supreme Court to hear biggest gun rights case in more than a decade (NBC News)

Politics

  • A bad omen for Democrats and 4 other election night takeaways (NPR)
  • Democrat Eric Adams wins New York City mayoral election (Reuters)
  • Youngkin’s Virginia win offers midterm road map for GOP, warning for Democrats (Wall Street Journal)
  • Alvin Bragg Wins, Becoming First Black D.A. in Manhattan (New York Times)
  • Minneapolis voters reject ballot measure to dismantle police and replace with new agency (CBS News)
  • Michelle Wu, the first female mayor of Boston and the first may of color opens her victory speech with a story: "One of my sons asked me the other night if boys can be elected mayor of Boston. They have been, and they will again some day, but not tonight." (NBC10 Boston)
 

Policy News

Utah State Board of Education: School food service supply-chain disruptions being addressed

The events of the past year and half have shown many Utahns the importance of school meals in keeping our children fed and ready to learn. Through several U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) waivers and program flexibilities, school food service programs are supporting student health and academic success by ensuring access to nutritious meals every day.  School meals are available to eligible students free of charge this school year.  

What does this mean for Utah school meals? In short, reduced menu variety and meal service options, and frequent menu changes. For example, while the American appetite for chicken continues to grow each year, the chicken processing industry has been hit with their own struggles over the past year, from the unprecedented winter storms in Texas to their own labor shortages. This now means that orange chicken, a favorite lunch entree at many schools, is on the menu less frequently this school year. (Read More)


Ground broken on new Cyprus High School in Magna

Construction has commenced on the new Cyprus High School, and the Magna community and Granite School District are celebrating this momentous step in the school’s 100+ year history.

The new building is being constructed with 21st century learning in mind; having an emphasis on collaborative spaces, flexible learning environments, enhanced security, and the ability to adapt to educational needs for decades to come. 

The school is anticipated to be completed in the spring of 2025. (Read More)


Governor Cox declares November as Advanced Zero Emission Vehicle and Fuels Awareness Month

Utah kicked off the 13th annual Advanced Zero Emission Vehicle and Fuels Awareness Month with an event Monday showcasing the state’s efforts to advance development of clean transportation choices in both the private and public sectors.

Governor Spencer Cox’s official declaration was read by Thom Carter, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Energy Development. The declaration highlights the emerging portfolio of advanced fueled vehicles, both public and private, including fuels produced from Utah-sourced agricultural and municipal wastes, renewable electric, hydrogen, methane, and biofuels. (Read More)


Reps. Owens, Kustoff, and Harder introduce bipartisan NCAA Accountability Act

U.S. Reps. Burgess Owens (UT-04), David Kustoff (TN-08), and Josh Harder (CA-10) introduced the bipartisan NCAA Accountability Act to establish due process protections for universities and individuals under investigation by the NCAA for rule infractions.

“The National Collegiate Athletic Association has long wielded unchecked and unfair disciplinary power over America’s student-athletes, coaches, and universities,” said Rep. Owens. “The NCAA Accountability Act is a commonsense charge to level the playing field by eliminating favoritism and bias in college athletics through increased transparency in rule enforcement and due process protections.” (Read More)


Congressman Blake Moore’s Bear River National Heritage Area Study Act passes the House of Representatives

Today, in an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 399 to 23, the House of Representatives passed the Bear River National Heritage Area Study Act. Representative Moore introduced this legislation earlier this year in order to require the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of establishing the Bear River Heritage Area in Utah and Idaho’s historic Bear River region, allowing local communities in the Bear River area to protect important elements of their heritage and promote the area’s tourism industry. (Read More)


Day 12: Sen. Lee continues fight against Biden’s vaccine mandate

 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), for the twelfth day, spoke against President Biden’s vaccine mandate on the Senate Floor today (Nov. 2) and promoted his bill to require that the Director of the CDC be confirmed by the Senate before taking office.

S. 2734, the Restoring Trust in Public Health, is one of a series of bills introduced by Sen. Lee to combat the Biden Administration’s vaccine overreach.  Lee will continue his efforts against the mandate in coming weeks. (Read/Watch More)

 
 

Upcoming

  • Utah's Business Diversity Summit â€“ Nov 4, 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Register here
  • Utah Business Economic Summit – Nov 5, 8:00 am - 4 pm Register here
  • Common Good Awards with Envision Utah, virtual event â€“ Nov. 11, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm. Register here
  • Utah Philanthropy Day Awards – Nov. 15, 6:00 - 7:00 pm on ABC4.
  • Growth, Grit and Grace - SLC Chamber's Women & Business Conference and ATHENA awards – Nov 19, 8:00 am - 3:30 pm Register here
 

On This Day In History

From History.com

  • 1793 - Olympe de Gouges, French playwright, revolutionary and feminist (Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen), executed by guillotine at 45
  • 1868- John Willis Menard becomes the first African-American elected to a Congressional seat. The new Representative never took the seat as a result of an objection from his opponent, Caleb Hunt, who questioned Menard’s right to even hold the seat. In the end, the House left the seat vacant until the next election.
  • 1918 - Elizabeth Paschel Hoisington is born. A United States Army officer, she was one of the first two women to attain the rank of brigadier general.
  • 1957 - The Soviet Union launches the first animal into space, a dog named Laika
  • 1969 - President Nixon calls on the "great silent majority" for their support.
  • 1998 - Former wrestler Jesse “The Body” Ventura is elected governor of Minnesota
  • 2014 - One World Trade Center officially opens in New York City, on the site of the Twin Towers

Wise Words

“All citizens including women are equally admissible to all public dignities, offices and employments, according to their capacity and with no other distinction than that of their virtues and talents.”

-Olympe de Gouges


Lighter Side

President Biden addressed world leaders at the U.N. Climate Conference on Tuesday, reiterating his commitment to cut carbon emissions in half by 2030.
“And he can do it,” Jimmy Fallon said. “I mean, he cut his approval rating in half in three months.”

 

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