Situational Analysis | March 22, 2022

Today is Tuesday and World Water Day. ðŸ’§ Did you know that 2 billion people on the planet currently don't have access to safe water? Isn't it so amazing that we can drink water straight out of a tap in our homes? A miracle, really. 

Be in the Know

1. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said Monday that the Fed is prepared to accelerate interest rate increases to combat inflation. Powell—speaking at a Washington, D.C., gathering of the National Association of Business Economics—said, “We will take the necessary steps to ensure a return to price stability. In particular, if we conclude that it is appropriate to move more aggressively by raising the federal funds rate by more than (a quarter-point) at a meeting or meetings, we will do so.” Stock futures rose after his remarks. 
2. Russian Nobel Peace Prize winner Dmitry Muratov says he will auction off his medal to raise money for Ukrainian refugees. He also called on Russia to stop combat fire, exchange prisoners, provide humanitarian corridors and assistance, release the bodies of the dead and support refugees. The editor of a Russian independent newspaper, he is not holding back. “Russia Is Bombing Ukraine” ran in huge letters across the front an issue of the newspaper shortly after Russia began its invasion. Stories were printed side by side in Russian and Ukrainian. “We do not recognize Ukraine as an enemy or Ukrainian as the language of an enemy,” he said in a video. “And we never will.”
3. More than ten million Ukrainians have left their homes in the last 3 weeks - one-quarter of the country's population and three times the number of people in Utah. 

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Utah Headlines

General

• How religious is America? A new survey reveals some unexpected results (Deseret News)
• Noose investigated at Facebook site in Eagle Mountain; $100K reward offered for information (KSL)
• Arizona Cardinals player J.J. Watt discovers the joys of a Utah buffet (ABC4)
• Which countries are the happiest in the world? (Hint: Not the US) (Deseret News)
• Preparedness still key 2 years after Utah’s largest earthquake (KUER)
• Centerville officer uses her cruiser to stop wrong-way driver on I-15 (KUTV)
• Statue of Juanita Brooks unveiled at the St. George City Sculpture Garden (St. George News)

Politics

• Supreme Court nominee thanks family living in Park City in opening statement (KUTV)
• Susan Atkin: Voting in Republican primary is not a badge of honor but a call to duty (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Deadline to switch political parties in Utah moved up (Fox13)
• Utah will now offer driver license exams in languages other than English. A report by the Utah Department of Health listed English, Spanish, Chinese, German and Navajo as Utah’s top five most spoken languages. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Sherrie Swensen married same-sex Utahns, expanded ballot access and sees mail-in voting as key to democracy. After more than 30 years in office, she is retiring this year. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Salt Lake County councilman dismayed by all-female Utah Jazz broadcast (KUTV)

Education

• At least 7 Park City School District employees failed to report child abuse, charges allege (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Wind causes $200k in damages to elementary school (ABC4)
• Teetering enrollments are a shifting challenge for school districts across Utah (KUER)

Environment

• As gas prices rise, towns add electric car charging stations (KSL)
• Shrinking Lake Powell holds even less water than previously thought, study says (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Not a single country managed to meet the World Health Organization's air quality standard in 2021, a survey of pollution data in 6,475 cities showed, and smog even rebounded in some regions after a COVID-related dip. (Reuters)
• To save the planet, save the biggest trees (The Atlantic)

Family

• Katie Wyant-Stein: Increase Utah’s minimum wage to get healthier babies (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Our group works to help empower women in Utah’s workforce (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Even after serious allegations, here’s why shutting down a Utah teen treatment facility is no easy task (Salt Lake Tribune)
• The alarming rise of complex genetic testing in human embryo selection (Nature)

Utah/Ukraine Connection

• ‘At the end, it will all bloom into peace’: A night for Ukraine in Salt Lake City (Deseret News)

COVID Corner

• Weekend total: 343 new cases, 12 new deaths
• Utah’s weekend COVID-19 case count includes lowest single-day tally in 2 years (Salt Lake Tribune)
• New Research Shows Higher Risk of Developing Diabetes After Covid-19 Infection (Wall Street Journal)

National Headlines

General

• At least 4 injured after tornadoes pound Texas, Oklahoma; tens of thousands without power (USA Today)
• Navalny sentenced to 9 years in prison by Russian court (AP)
• Wallets, IDs but no survivors found in China Eastern crash (AP)

Politics

• Why conservative parts of the US are so angry (Yes! Magazine)
• Jackson to face questions on Day 2 of Supreme Court confirmation hearings (Washington Post)
• Ketanji Brown Jackson is making history. Some Black women leaders are wary of how she’ll be questioned (Washington Post)
• Republicans risk alienating key voters with ‘beyond the pale’ attacks on Ketanji Brown Jackson (Roll Call)
• GOP prepares to play hard ball with Ketanji Brown Jackson (The Hill)

Ukraine

• Ukrainian girl who went viral for singing ‘Let it Go’ performs at a massive concert in Poland (Deseret News)
• Latter-day Saint church members in Europe helping refugees from Ukraine (Daily Herald)
• Ukraine retakes key Kyiv suburb; battle for Mariupol rages (AP)
• Biden says Putin could use chemical, biological weapons in Ukraine (Reuters)
• Ukraine on brink of surviving war - Zelensky (BBC)
• Walls, dreams and genocide: In speeches to lawmakers around the globe, Volodymyr Zelensky invoked history to rally support. (New York Times)
• A Ukrainian victory is the only acceptable endgame (The Atlantic)
• Why can't the West admit that Ukraine is winning? (The Atlantic)
• 20 days in Mariupol: The team that documented the city's agony (AP)

Guest opinion: Change the world – 12 tips for establishing a nonprofit

by Ed Carter

Maybe volunteering has prompted you to think about starting your own nonprofit. While running a nonprofit takes a lot of time and effort, it is definitely worthwhile if you know that you’re changing lives. To help, here are some resources on every aspect of nonprofit management, from creating a budget to choosing your board members.

Starting Your Nonprofit

Maybe you’ve never been involved in nonprofit leadership before, but these resources will help you move forward with confidence.

Becoming a Great Manager

Management is just as important in the nonprofit world as it is in the corporate world. Here’s how to become a top-notch manager for your organization. 

Financial Matters

Wondering how to handle your organization’s finances? Figuring it all out can be tricky, so we’ve gathered these informative resources. 

Get the Kids Involved

Last but definitely not least, view this as a golden opportunity to help your children learn how to be compassionate members of society.

If you’re upset about a problem in your community, you can take matters into your own hands to find a solution. Building your own nonprofit from the ground up might be the answer. With the advice in these resources, you’ll be eager to put your plans into action. (Read More)

News Releases

Nominate candidates for inaugural Wasatch Innovation Network Top 100 Entrepreneurs

The Wasatch Innovation Network, a joint venture between the Salt Lake Chamber and TechBuzz News, has opened its nomination process for the inaugural Wasatch Innovation Network Top 100 Entrepreneurs (WIN 100). 

WIN100 is designed to cultivate relationships among top Founders, CEO and CTO talent. The WIN100 is a community-nominated and peer-selected organization of the top 100 tech venture entrepreneurs with ties to the state of Utah.

1. Submit nominations by April 4, 2022.
2. Provide the name, company and, if possible, email addresses and phone numbers of up to 10 individuals that are most likely to launch or lead a successful high-growth startup in the next 2-5 years as Founder/CEO/CTO
3. When the nomination phase of the selection process has been completed, an audit committee convenes to approve all nomination submissions. The nomination committee has final decision authority for all nominations. (Read More)

Senator Lee’s statement in Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Supreme Court hearing

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) spoke in the Judiciary Committee Supreme Court nomination hearing of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson this morning highlighting what he will be looking for in the hearing and in Judge Jackson’s testimony.  Senator Lee reiterated his commitment to avoid personal attacks, highlighted the importance of humility in the judicial role, and advocated for protecting the legitimacy of the Supreme Court. (Read/Watch More)

Governor signs 67 bills of the 2022 General Legislative Session

Today, Gov. Spencer J. Cox signed 67 bills. This brings the total number of signed pieces of legislation from the 2022 General Legislative Session to 121. Information on these bills can be found here.

United Utah Party to hold Caucus Night Encore event on March 23

The United Utah Party held its caucus night on March 8, with 25 in-person locations and a Zoom caucus night broadcast that attracted hundreds of attendees from around the state.  Feedback was positive from party members and guests, but many were not able to attend.  â€œWe received feedback from members of other political parties who were interested in attending our caucus meeting, but were not able to because they needed to attend their own caucus meetings,” says Hillary Stirling, UUP party chair.  â€œAnd we thought, if the interest is there, why not hold another?”

In a rare move, the United Utah Party has decided to host an additional caucus night, entirely online at https://www.unitedutah.org, on Wednesday, March 23, at 7:00 PM.  Caucus Night Encore will feature United Utah Party Congressional candidates January Walker and well-known podcaster and former KSL News Radio personality Jay Mcfarland.  We will also be joined by former presidential candidate Evan McMullin, independent candidate for U.S. Senate.  Caucus night will also offer attendees a second chance to become delegates to the United Utah State Party Convention in April by affiliating with the United Utah Party. (Read More)

Number of the Day

Tweet of the Day

Upcoming

• Breakfast briefing: Is it time to rethink how we create housing in Utah by the Utah Foundation – Mar 22, 8:30 am - 10:00 am Register here
• Dem. caucus night – Mar 22
• Caucus encore, United Utah Party - Mar 23, 7:00 pm
• Building Utah with the Utah Association of Counties â€“ Mar 23-25 Register here
• Inflection Point: US-Asia Relations with the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation â€“ Mar 30, 3:00 pm ET Register here
• Last day for a registered voter to change voter affiliation before the regular primary election â€“ Mar 31
• United Utah Party State Convention - April 16, 10 am, West High, SLC
• 2022 Midyear Conference, Utah League of Cities and Towns - April 20-22, St. George Register here
• Ballots are mailed â€“ June 7
• Primary election day â€“ June 28
• General election â€“ Nov 8

On This Day In History

• 1638 - Anne Hutchinson is banned from the Massachusetts Bay Colony for her religious teachings. She went on to help found Rhode Island.
• 1765 - Stamp Act imposed on American colonies
• 1790 - Thomas Jefferson becomes the 1st US Secretary of State under President Washington.
• 1903 - Niagara Falls runs out of water because of a drought.
• 1931 - Happy 91st birthday to William Shatner!
• 1938 - Violet Bear Allen is born. She was a Skull Valley Goshute artisan who nurtured the next generation.
• 1941 - James Stewart is inducted into the Army, becoming the first major American movie star to wear a military uniform in World War II.
• 1947 - President Truman orders loyalty checks of federal employees. 
• 1965 - Nicolae Ceausescu is elected General Secretary of the Romanian Communist Party
• 1972 - The Equal Rights Amendment is passed by Congress and sent to the states for ratification. We know how that turned out. (Hint: Still not ratified)
• 1978 - Karl "The Great" Wallenda, German acrobat (The Flying Wallendas) dies after falling off a tight-rope between two hotels in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at 73
• 1988 - US Congress overrides President Reagan's veto of sweeping civil rights bill
• 1997 - Tara Lipinski becomes the youngest women's World Figure Skating Champion. She was just 14 years and 9 months old.

Wise Words

"As long as you're able to say "yes", the opportunities keep coming, and with them, the adventures. Say "no" to fear and complacency. Keep saying "yes" and the journey will continue.”

– William Shatner

Lighter Side

“She (Ketanji Brown Jackson) doesn’t need any Republican votes to get confirmed because the vice president is the tiebreaker, which would be — that would be the G.O.P.’s ultimate nightmare: having this decided by two Black women whose names they can’t pronounce.”

— JIMMY KIMMEL

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