Paul Pelosi attacked with a hammer; Russia weaponizes food exports, attacks civilian infrastructure; and free Halloween food!
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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 | Oct. 31, 2022

Happy Halloween, 🎃 or All Hallow's Eve. When I lived in France as a Jr. High student many moons ago they did not celebrate Halloween, but All Saint's Day on November 1 was a federal holiday - no school!

Be in the Know

  • Paul Pelosi, Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband, was attacked in his home at 2:30 am on Friday by a man wielding a hammer, carrying zip ties and shouting "Where's Nancy?!" Paul Pelosi underwent surgery for a skull fracture and is expected to recover. Nancy Pelosi says their children and grandchildren are ‘heartbroken and traumatized.’ Utah leaders responded condemning the violent attack, as did DC politicians who also worry that existing security is not enough to meet rising threats. 

  • Russia’s foreign ministry announced Saturday the Kremlin had, for an “indefinite period,” suspended a United-Nations brokered deal that allowed grain and other agricultural products to leave Ukrainian ports, claiming Russia couldn’t guarantee ships’ safety. US Secretary of State Blinken said that Russia was weaponizing food. “Any act by Russia to disrupt these critical grain exports is essentially a statement that people and families around the world should pay more for food or go hungry." 

Rapid Roundup

 

The Hinckley Report, PBS Utah’s weekly political roundtable, airs Fridays at 7 p.m. Hosted by Jason Perry and produced in partnership with the Hinckley Institute of Politics on the University of Utah campus, the program provides insight and analysis of the most pressing political issues facing our state.

 

Utah Headlines

General

  • Utah? More like Boo! tah. Our people’s love for the silly autumnal celebration of the spooky explained (Deseret News)
  • Utah domestic violence shelter in need of community donations (KSL)
  • UDOT to begin enforcing carpool lane rules on new I-15 express lanes (KSL)
  • Beaver County officials, volunteers find missing 3-year-old boy (ABC4)
  • Over 700 bison driven to corrals for annual checkup on Antelope Island (KUTV)
  • Norwegian man wins first at Ironman World Championship in St. George (KUTV)
  • Identity, togetherness take center stage at the LDS Church’s premier Latino showcase. “Luz de las Naciones” returns to the Conference Center this Saturday after two years of isolation (Salt Lake Tribune)

Elections

  • Debate between Burgess Owens, Darlene McDonald might be a first for Utah. Here’s why. (Deseret News)
  • What Burgess Owens and Darlene McDonald said about critical race theory and elections during their only midterm debate (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Utah is way behind its 2020 and 2018 pace in processing mail-in ballots (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • What you need to know about election deadlines and security (ABC4)
  • The IUP Panel on what’s at stake on election day (ABC4)
  • The 2022 Rep. Jim Dunnigan and Democrat Lynette Wendel rematch is set in a new district (KUER)

Politics

  • "The Balance of Power" with host Jason Perry and guests Holly Richardson, Saige Miller and Max Roth (Hinckley Report)
  • This Utah sheriff hastily resigned this month, leaving a county scrambling. The move left the already small department with even fewer deputies and prompted county officials to change its hiring policy. (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • A sexual assault survivor is sharing her story in an attempt to stop her lawmaker sister’s abortion bill. Republican state Rep. Kera Birkeland is proposing a bill that would keep clinics from offering abortions to rape victims who can’t provide a law enforcement-generated case number. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Business

  • Utah ranks first in rate of self-employed women (KSL)
  • Amazon stock plunges 14% after poor prediction for holiday quarter (Deseret News)
  • Utah’s top bosses share the ‘secrets’ of their success (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Housing shortage is getting so bad in Utah, employers are starting to step up. For example, Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab is building affordable duplexes for its workers. (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Julie Johnson named new United Way of Northern Utah CEO, the first woman to hold the position (Standard-Examiner)
  • These Utah companies lead the way in communication, benefits, leadership, innovation and more. The ninth Top Workplaces survey honors the best of the best. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Education

  • Local author Shannon Hale decries banning, suppressing and demonizing of books (Deseret News)
  • Lead levels in drinking water now being tested in every school across Utah (Fox13)

Environment

  • What’s a Utah inversion and why is the air so icky? (KUER)
  • A Washington Post reporter drove more than 400 miles along the drought-stricken Mississippi River. Here’s what he found. (Washington Post)

Family

  • Why this Utah couple’s new app isn’t your average social media platform - it's great for families wanting to keep in touch! (Deseret News)

Health

  • New study points the way toward relief from frequent nightmares. A study showed that hearing a musical chord while imagining a happier ending to a dream led to fewer nightmares (Deseret News)
  • U.S. cancer death rates are continuing to fall, according to a new report (Deseret News)
  • Utah mental health experts address when to seek help, treatments for depression (KSL)
  • Benjamin Shelton: Look at licensing reform to ease Utah’s mental health crisis (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Innovative tools help detect breast cancer (Fox13)

National Headlines

General

  • New footage from Uvalde school shooting reveals cops talking about potentially getting shot (Deseret News)
  • Perspective: I thought a lot about America’s religious diversity. Then I heard a Muslim call to prayer in the blue notes of jazz. There are remarkable stories of faith in American history that involve Muslims, African Americans and others (Deseret News)
  • Katie Ledecky breaks the world record for the 1,500-meter race by nearly 10 seconds (NPR)
  • Opening statements in criminal case against Trump's company set for Monday (Reuters)
  • Higher interest rates fuel losses at the federal reserve (Wall Street Journal)
  • Musk’s inner circle worked through weekend to cement Twitter layoff plans. The first round will target 25% of the workforce (Washington Post)
  • Men exonerated in Malcolm X killing to receive $36 million (Politico)

Elections

  • In Arizona, voter intimidation alleged as tensions run high ahead of Election Day (Deseret News)
  • Debunking a rumor of election fraud by a Latter-day Saint congregation in Tucson, Arizona (Deseret News)
  • National legislative elections to watch in the 2022 midterms (Deseret News)
  • Midterm momentum grows for Republican House gains, while Senate remains tight (Wall Street Journal)
  • Poll workers train for conflict: ‘A little nervous? I am.’ (AP)
  • Liberal Rhode Island could send Republican to US House (AP)
  • Senate control hinges on neck-and-neck races, Times/Siena poll finds. The contests are close in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada and Pennsylvania. Many voters want Republicans to flip the Senate, but prefer the Democrat in their state. (New York State)
  • Economy, abortion, crime top voters’ concerns before midterms: Gallup (The Hill)
  • Arizona Republican attorney general: Election fraud claims are ‘horse—‘ (The Hill)

Politics

  • GOP bracing for Trump indictment soon after Election Day (The Hill)
  • Musk tweets link to an unfounded conspiracy theory about Paul Pelosi (AP)

Ukraine 🇺🇦 

  • Russia launches barrage of strikes across Ukraine, targeting civilian infrastructure (Wall Street Journal)
  • Russian strikes hit Ukraine, most of Kyiv without water (AP)
  • World food supplies at risk as Russia withdraws from Black Sea deal (Reuters)

World News

  • Breaking News: Brazil has ousted President Jair Bolsonaro, rebuking the far-right incumbent and electing Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, a former leftist leader known as Lula. (New York Times)
  • Nearly 150 dead in South Korea Halloween incident. The deaths were caused by a surge of people trying to push through a narrow street after a Halloween party in downtown Seoul (Deseret News)
 

News Releases

Dignity Index rates campaign social media

The Dignity Index has released ratings of campaign social media. The ratings include high and low scores for both candidates in the U.S. Senate race. When we were in the early stages of testing of the Dignity Index, a Republican woman from rural Utah said, “We want to be able to stand up for what we believe in – without getting attacked and without attacking.” That’s a good test.  For the Dignity Index to become helpful, it has to be clear to everyone that the Index is entirely compatible with saying what you believe in, standing up for justice, and holding people accountable. (Read More)


Romney celebrates 30th anniversary of Central Utah Project Completion Act

U.S. Senator Romney (R-UT) released the following statement on the 30th anniversary of the Central Utah Project Completion Act (CUPCA), the state of Utah’s largest and most comprehensive federal water resource development project. During negotiations of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Senator Romney helped secure $50 million in funding for CUPCA to accelerate key water resource projects, which will provide water for municipal use, mitigation, hydroelectric power, fish and wildlife, and conservation. (Read More)


Salt Lake Chamber and State of Utah host second annual Utah’s Business Diversity Summit

The Salt Lake Chamber and the State of Utah held Utah’s Business Diversity Summit, part of the One Utah Summit Series, to share best practices with business and community leaders on how to build more welcoming, diverse and inclusive workplaces. This marks the second year the Summit has been held to instill diversity and inclusion values into the community through a business lens. 

“When diversity of ideas are brought to the table, our communities and business climate can only be strengthened,” said Derek Miller, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber. “While hosting this Summit for a second year is an exciting milestone, it has taken many steps to get here, and progress is still needed. Thankfully, we are moving in the right direction. By each of us making intentional changes, we can move towards a future where everyone has access to opportunity and where inclusion is the norm.” (Read More)


United Utah Party election night watch party November 8

What: The United Utah Party is hosting an election night watch party. This is an opportunity for UUP candidates, party members, and friends to celebrate the end of the election season with food and dance. We will be supporting and congratulating our candidates, volunteers, and supporters for all their hard work this election. 

Where: Utah State Capitol Rotunda, 350 State St, Salt Lake City, UT 84103

When: Tuesday, November 8, 2022. 6 pm to 10 pm (Read More)


Utah Democratic Party election night watch party

WHEN: Tuesday, November 8th, 7:00 pm

WHERE: The Sheraton Salt Lake City Hotel (150 W 500 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84101)

WHO: Candidates, elected officials, volunteers, supporters


Number of the Day

Number of the Day, Oct 31, 2022

 

Tweet of the Day 

Screen Shot 2022-10-31 at 7.01.10 AM

 

Upcoming

  • General election â€“ Nov 8
  • Hacks to Help Women Maximize Income and Minimize Expenses —Nov. 9, Noon-1:00pm; Virtual, Register here
  • UWLP Book Club: How Women Rise By Sally Helgesen & Marshall Goldsmith — Nov. 10, 12:00pm-1:00pm or 7:30pm-8:30pm; Virtual, Register here
  • Advancing Religious Freedom in a Divided America with Judge Thomas Griffith, hosted by Sutherland Institute and the Int'l Center for Law and Religion Studies— Nov. 15, 9:30 am - noon, More info here
  • Biases, Barriers, & Barricades for Utah Women: A Solutions-Based Workshop with UWLP and the Policy Project, Nov. 15, 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, Sandy, Register here
  • Utah Foundation’s 2022 Annual Luncheon â€” Nov. 16, noon, Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek, Register here
  • Utah Economic Outlook and Public Policy Summit with the Salt Lake Chamber — Jan. 12, 2023, Salt Lake City Marriott, 8 am - noon, Register here
 

On This Day In History

  • 1517 - Reformation Day - Martin Luther posts 95 theses
  • 1838 - A mob of about 200 attacks a Mormon camp in Missouri, killing 20 men, women and children
  • 1860 - Juliette Gordon Low is born. The American activist was the founder of the Girl Scouts of America.
  • 1926 - Harry Houdini [Erich Weisz], magician, dies of gangrene and peritonitis from an appendix that ruptured after a student punched him twice hard in the stomach
  • 1978 - The Pregnancy Discrimination Act becomes law which prohibits employers from discriminating against pregnant women
  • 1984 - Indira Gandhi, Prime Minister of India (1966-77, 1980-84), is assassinated by two of her bodyguards at 66
  • 2020 - Sir Sean Connery dies at age 90

Wise Words

"I just think the most difficult thing to displace is privilege."

—Sean Connery


The Punny Side

What do you called two witches that share the same apartment?

Broom-mates.

 

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