Situational Analysis | October 7, 2021

It's Thursday and snow is in the forecast for next week along the Wasatch Front. I'm not sure I'm ready for that.

It's also National Frappé Day. Frappés typically are blended drinks made with either coffee or espresso and topped with whipped cream. A Frappé may also refer to: A frozen fruit-flavored dessert made with shaved ice, a milkshake or any blended frozen beverage, including a more savory drink made with clam juice. Frozen clam juice. Mmmm.

Be in the Know

A federal judge has ordered Texas to suspend the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S. In his 113-page order, Judge Robert L. Pitman wrote "This Court will not sanction one more day of this offensive deprivation of such an important right." The state of Texas has already notified the court of its intent to appeal the ruling.

There was an active shooter near Zion National Park yesterday. It started with a fight at the Dairy Queen in Hurricane, continued as the suspect drove off toward Zion, shooting at vehicles along the way. He made it to Rockville, crashed, then ran into a residential neighborhood where he begin shooting at law enforcement for a second time. The suspect was eventually taken into custody and transported to St. George Regional Hospital with a gunshot wound.

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Divisions Over Redistricting

As the official census data is finally released, Utah leaders take on the difficult task of drawing new political boundaries. State Sen. Scott Sandall, Commissioner Karen Hale, of the Utah Independent Redistricting Commission, and Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute Director Natalie Gochnour join host Jason Perry on "The Hinckley Report," this Friday at 7:30 p.m.

Utah Headlines

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COVID Corner

Education

Utah has more school nurses than ever - but the workload has grown, too (KUTV)

Draper elementary school implementing 'Test to Stay' due to rising COVID-19 cases (KUTV)

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Policy News

Utah First Lady Abby Cox and Real Salt Lake to host state’s largest-ever Special Olympics Utah Unified Soccer tournament and festival

Utah First Lady Abby Cox’s initiative, Show Up, is focused on supporting the growth of the Special Olympics Unified Sports program across Utah schools. In support of this mission, the First Lady is joining with Special Olympics Utah, Real Salt Lake and the Utah High School Activities Association to host the State Unified Sports Soccer Championship this Saturday at Rio Tinto stadium. More than 20 teams from around the state will compete for the Unified Soccer state title. (Read More)

DEQ celebrates 30th anniversary at Utah State Capitol

On Thursday Oct. 7, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) will celebrate its 30th anniversary at the Utah State Capitol.

DEQ became a government agency on July 1, 1991 after consolidating five environmental health bureaus housed in the Utah Department of Health. In his 1990 State of the State address, former Governor Norm Bangerter declared that “a healthy environment is essential to Utah’s future. To be short-sighted in our management of the environment is to shortchange the next generation. In order to highlight the importance of this issue and in the interest of expediting the resolution of the many environmental issues facing the state, I am requesting the creation of a Department of Environmental Quality.” (Read More)

Leitner-Poma of America to open facility in Utah

The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (Go Utah) is pleased to announce that Leitner-Poma of America (LPOA) and its affiliates plan to expand operations in Utah, bringing up to 118 high-paying jobs to the state in the next 10 years. LPOA and affiliates plan to develop a campus that will house several of its brands to provide Utah clients with manufacturing, service, parts and sales/administration functions in their own backyard.

LPOA and affiliates offer a complete line of cable transport systems including surface lifts, chairlifts, gondolas, MiniMetro urban transport, trams, inclined elevators and industrial trams. LPOA has installed aerial and surface systems worldwide and has established its position as a market leader. (Read More)

Brandless is expanding in Utah

The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (Go Utah) is pleased to announce that Brandless, Inc. will expand in Lindon, Utah, bringing up to 1,033 new high-paying jobs in the next 10 years.

“With millions of customers, thousands of new product requests, hundreds of products and categories and dozens of marketplace partners, we needed to anchor Brandless in a place with the talent pool, innovation infrastructure, and additional resources to support our rapid growth trajectory,” said Brandless CEO Cydni Tetro. “With this location, we can accelerate towards our mission of democratizing access to better-for-you products and empowering everyone to be a force for good.” (Read More)

Udo to expand its Utah headquarters

The Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity (Go Utah) is pleased to announce that Udo, LLC. plans to expand its Farmington, Utah headquarters, adding up to 300 new high-paying Utah jobs in the next five years.

Udo is a Software as a Service (SaaS) communication company that focuses on video communication. Initially, this software will be used to improve healthcare coordination and continuity. Udo’s initial launch product is UdoCare. UdoCare is a smartphone application used by patients to communicate primarily through video to their medical providers, collaborators, and family members. (Read More)

Sen. Lee says inflation “turbocharged by Congress spending money”

In new research, Joint Economic Committee Republicans, led by Ranking Member Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), present evidence that rising prices have resulted from both transitory inflation and more lasting inflation caused by government stimulus. If Congress continues to push government spending to new heights, inflation likely worsens.

Prices today are rising at their fastest pace in decades and American concern about inflation is growing. Yet over a year after the recession officially ended, Congress continues to pursue massive new government spending measures—including a $3.5 trillion budget resolution, the single largest spending package in history. (Read More)

Rep. Moore’s statement on Section 529 of the NDAA

Congressman Blake Moore issued the following statement on Section 529 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022.

“I share the concerns of many over the inclusion of the majority’s overreaching provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2022." (Read More)

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On This Day In History

From History.com

Wise Words

“The very serious function of racism … is distraction. It keeps you from doing your work.”

-Toni Morrison

Lighter Side

“The whistle-blower, Frances Haugen, claimed, among other things, that Facebook prioritizes angry posts — they get the most traction. Zuckerberg rejected those claims in an angry post.”

— JIMMY KIMMEL

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