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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 | Nov. 20, 2024

It's Wednesday and Universal Children's Day!

Happy birthday to State Treasurer Marlo Oaks! 🎉 🎂 🎈

What you need to know

  • Gov. Cox joined Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy at the University of Virginia, as part of the Democracy Dialogues series. Cox called this year's election an "earthquake election," while Murphy said the Democratic Party is like the end of "The Godfather;" wiped out every 10 years and they still find a way to come back. Cox also said It’s not our presidents that have made America special and made America great. In fact, you could make the argument it’s the opposite. It’s ‘We the People.’”

Rapid Relevance

On the Hill

 

Utah Headlines

Political news

  • Utah and 17 other states sue a federal agency over its regulation of cryptocurrency (Deseret News
  •  Opinion: Party realignment — permanent change or a flash in the pan? (Deseret News)
  • Sen. Mike Lee will chair Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Deseret News)
  • Court temporarily blocks certification of Wasatch County race amid disqualification controversy (KSL)
  • Utah Sen. Curtis proposes bill to unlock IRA to buy a home for yourself, or your kids (KUTV)

Utah legislature

  •  More money for Utah school safety will be a big ticket ask next year (KUER)

Municipal news

  • What Salt Lake City Public Utilities plans to do with proposed $225M bond (KSL
  • ‘Connection’ magazines publisher calls it quits amid economic pressures (KSL TV)
  • Public weighs in on rezoning part of Salt Lake City for potential MLB stadium (Fox13)
  • Utah Taxpayers Association cites Cache County for sound management, fiscal restraint (Cache Valley Daily)

Utah

  • ‘Industry icon’: C.R. England founder Gene England dies at 105 (KSL)
  • Utah nonprofit has delivered 50,000 quilts since Russia invaded Ukraine (KSL TV)
  • Utes head coach Lynne Roberts resigns to take WNBA job (Fox13)
  • Utahns spent more than 114 million hours volunteering last year; The impact experts say that made (Fox13)
  • This Utah seamstress turns wedding dresses into a grace for grieving parents (KUER)

Biz/Tech

  • Salt Lake City Airport: New technologies in use before holiday travel begins (Deseret News)
  • Canadian airline includes Salt Lake City in future ‘comprehensive’ summer plans (KSL)
  • Contractor with no license accused of pocketing hundreds of thousands (KSL)

Crime/Courts

  • Youth sports coach arrested, accused of over a dozen counts of child sex abuse (KSL TV)

Culture

  • Post Malone is going on his biggest tour yet — and it’s starting near his Utah home (Deseret News)
  • 'We're still here': Heritage month events spotlight Native American culture, contributions (KSL)

Education

  • Audit: Here's what can be done about Utah's degree-granting institutions losing students (KSL)
  • Utah college presidents should quickly start cutting ‘inefficient’ programs, state auditors say (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • At a Utah charter school, homework is for parents not kids (KSL Newsradio)
  • USU seeks to overturn loss in forfeited volleyball game against San Jose State (ABC4)
  • Provo school board adopts districtwide electronic device policy; district says it’s not meant to ‘demonize cellphones’ (Daily Herald)
  • Voices: Fear shouldn’t drive the conversation around cell phones in schools (Salt Lake Tribune)

Environment

  • The feds are chipping in to save water in Washington County (Deseret News)
  • Colorado River states are separated by a ‘giant chasm’ in negotiations (KUER)

Health

  • Want green eyes, not blue? Doctors say procedure could be risky (Deseret News)

Housing

  • Utah officials preparing for another winter with an increasing homeless population (KSL)
  • Utah renters make tens of thousands less than what they need to buy a home where they live. (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Voices: As a combat veteran, I’ve been through tough times. Being homeless during a Utah winter is what still scares me. (Salt Lake Tribune)
 

National Headlines

General

  • The dark energy pushing our universe apart may not be what it seems, scientists say (AP)
  • ‘Bomb cyclone’ kills 1 and knocks out power to over half a million homes across the northwest US (AP)
  • New Harry Potter ride at Universal Orlando will have British Ministry of Magic as setting (AP)

Political news

  • Judge overturns Wyoming’s abortion ban as policy battles continue nationwide (Deseret News)
  • Trump taps former WWE CEO Linda McMahon as education secretary (Reuters)
  • Trump picks Dr. Oz to lead Medicare and Medicaid (NPR)
  • Trump ignores transition rules. It’s a ‘hostile takeover,’ ally says. (Washington Post)
  • Johnson says there are 3 to 4 million ‘dangerous’ migrants. Not even close. The House speaker’s figure is at least three times higher than official statistics on undocumented immigrants with criminal records. (Washington Post)

Ukraine 🇺🇦

  • US shuts Kyiv embassy due to 'potential significant air attack' (Reuters)
  • Biden approves antipersonnel mines for Ukraine, undoing his own policy (Washington Post)
  • Russia intensifies assaults on an exhausted Ukraine (New York Times)

Israel and Gaza

  • Israeli strikes kill 19 in Gaza; hospital in north makes distress call (Reuters)
  • Middle East latest: US envoy holds talks in Lebanon on Israel-Hezbollah cease-fire proposal (AP)

World news

  • How a tyrannical African country freely raises money in the U.S. (Washington Post)
 

Number of the Day 

Number of the Day, Nov. 20, 2024

 

News Releases

Gov. Spencer Cox appoints Cameron Beech to the Eighth District Court

Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox has appointed Cameron Beech to the Eighth District Court, filling a vacancy created by Judge Clark McClellan’s retirement. Judicial appointments are subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.

Cameron Beech is an attorney at Campbell Williams Beech & Hall, and has practiced in the areas of medical malpractice defense, domestic law, estate planning and probate, and other general civil litigation matters. He is also Vernal City’s hearing and variance officer and a former Vernal City prosecutor. (Read More)


Utah Senate requests public comment on 8th District Court nominee

The Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee is seeking public comment on Cameron Beech. He was appointed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox to serve as a judge in the 8th District Court.

Those who desire to comment should contact the Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee electronically or by mail at the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 4, 2024. Electronic comments can be emailed to senatejudicialnominees@le.utah.gov. Written comments can be mailed to the Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee at the Utah State Capitol, Suite W210, PO Box 145210, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-5210. All statements should include the individual’s name, telephone number and mailing address. (Read More)


Utah House Democratic Caucus elects new leadership team

The Utah House Democratic Caucus announces the election of its leadership team for the 66th Legislature. The following representatives have been chosen to serve in key leadership roles:

  • House Democratic Leader – Angela Romero, House District 25
  • House Democratic Whip – Jen Dailey-Provost, House District 22
  • House Democratic Assistant Whip – Sahara Hayes, House District 32
  • House Democratic Caucus Manager – Doug Owens, House District 33 (Read More)
 

Tweet of the Day

Screenshot 2024-11-20 at 6.55.10 AM
 

Upcoming

  • Nov. 19-20 — Interim Days
  • Dec. 3 â€” Promoting Civility and Dignity in Utah, with UWLP, 12:00-1:15 pm, Register here
  • Jan. 9 — What’s Up Down South Economic Summit. St. George. Register here
  • Jan. 10 — Rural Utah Data Symposium. St. George. Register here
  • Jan 14 — Utah Taxpayers Association Legislative Outlook Conference, 9 am - 12:00 pm, Little America Hotel, Register here
  • Jan. 21 — Utah legislative session begins
  • Mar. 7 — Utah legislative session ends
 

On This Day In History

  • 1620 - Peregrine White is born, the First English child born in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
  • 1789 - New Jersey becomes the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights
  • 1820 - American whaler Essex sunk by 80-ton sperm whale. It was the inspiration for the novel Moby Dick.
  • 1866- James Haven and Charles Hettrick patent the yo-yo.
  • 1917 - Ukrainian Republic declared
  • 1942 - Joe Biden is born
  • 1945 - The Nuremberg trials begin as 24 Nazi leaders are put on trial
  • 1947 - Princess Elizabeth marries Philip Mountbatten at Westminster Abbey
  • 1959 - UN adopts Universal Declaration of Children's Rights
  • 1985 - Microsoft Windows 1.0 released
  • 2001 - President George W. Bush dedicates the US Department of Justice headquarters the Robert F. Kennedy Justice Building, on what would have been his 76th birthday

Quote of the Day

"Start with what is right rather than what is acceptable."
—Franz Kafka


On the Punny Side

I bought a lamp made from citrus fruit, but refuse to use it.

I’m trying to avoid the limelight.

 

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