Celeste Maloy wins race for CD2; Mayor Erin Mendenhall wins reelection; Israel and Hamas reach deal to exchange hostages; turkey prices down
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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. 22, 2023

It's Wednesday and National Cranberry Relish Day

We will be celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday and Friday and hope you will be too. 🦃 Utah Policy will be back in your inboxes Monday morning. 

What You Need to Know

  • Republican Celeste Maloy has won the special election for CD2. The Associated Press called the race less than an hour after polls closed. As of 1:00 am this morning, Maloy had 57.35%, with Democrat Kathleen Riebe at just under 34%. Riebe conceded last night.

  • Preliminary results in the Salt Lake City mayoral race show that Mayor Erin Mendenhall has won re-election. Current results have her with 59% of the vote and Rocky Anderson at 34%. 

  • Israel and Hamas have reached a deal on a temporary cease-fire and the release of 50 hostages. Qatar announced Wednesday that Hamas will release 50 hostages in exchange for what Hamas said would be 150 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Those released by both sides will be women and minors.

Rapid Relevance

  • Thanksgiving travelers to enjoy lowest gas prices since 2020; valley snow in the forecast for Friday; turkey prices down, sweet potato prices up this year; some whiplash here: Sam Altman is back as OpenAI CEO just days after being removed, along with a new board; and, finally, feel free to listen to Christmas music this weekend without anyone complaining it's too soon! (I've been listening since Halloween.) 🎄
 

Carlos Boozer is back!

Join us December 4 for an exciting evening featuring Carlos Boozer. Hear his captivating story and a lively Q&A session, as well as a memorable photo opportunity. Purchase tickets today.

 

Utah Headlines

Election news

  • Utah municipal election results: See the winners of Tuesday's mayoral, city council races (KSL)
  • Nadolski leads in Ogden mayoral race (ABC4)
  • 2023 General Election Results for Cache, Box Elder and Rich counties (Cache Valley Daily)
  • 2023 Utah County general election unofficial results (Daily Herald)
  • 2023 general election results for Iron, Washington counties (St. George News)

Holiday corner

  • Choosing hope in dark times: Abraham Lincoln set an example we can follow (Deseret News)
  • Giving thanks isn’t just a holiday tradition. It’s part of how humans evolved (AP)
  • Utah’s Giving Machines are open and ready for the 2023 holiday season (Deseret News)
  • Traveling for the holidays? Here are 6 ways to stay safe this holiday season (Deseret News)
  • Thanksgiving ’23 will be among busiest traveling holidays on record. Here’s what to expect (Deseret News)
  • Food prep tips to prepare that Thanksgiving feast safely (KSL TV)
  • Beware the deep-fried turkey (Wall Street Journal)
  • These people are responsible for the cranberry sauce you love to hate (Wall Street Journal)
  • Need some great gift ideas? The Deseret News gift guide can help (Deseret News)
  • How to get a live Christmas tree for cheap in Utah this holiday season (Fox13)

Utah news

  • Could a 300-foot statue be coming to The Point in Draper? (KUTV)
  • Gov. Cox: ‘No city on earth more prepared for an Olympics’ than Salt Lake (Deseret News)
  • Salt Lake Olympic committee members get emotional in making final pitch to International Olympic Committee (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • LeBron James' fun reaction to being older than Jazz head coach Will Hardy (KSL)

Business/Tech

  • What stores have the best Black Friday deals? (Deseret News)
  • Scott Cuthbertson: Adding more flights from D.C. to Salt Lake City is good for Utah’s economy (Salt Lake Tribune)

Crime

  • Women accusing OUR founder Tim Ballard of sexual assault speak out (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • 'Gaslighting on a global scale': 6 Tim Ballard accusers speak publicly for the first time (KSL)
  • Operation Underground Railroad training left a woman’s eye socket shattered, a lawsuit against founder Tim Ballard and OUR alleges (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Organized retail theft growing in Utah, adding to cost increases (KUTV)
  • Sandy Police release bodycam of shooting involving officers (ABC4)

Culture

  • Majority of Americans, especially women, feel overwhelmed by group texts (KSL)

Education

  • Tom Farden out as University of Utah gymnastics head coach (Deseret News)
  • Utah Tech women’s basketball coach receives suspension after investigation into misconduct allegations from more than 20 current and former players (Salt Lake Tribune)

Environment

  • Utah Lake Authority appoints interim executive director, searches for official replacement (Daily Herald)

Family

  • Focus on togetherness rather than food this Thanksgiving, says a Utah therapist (KUER)

Health

 

National Headlines

General

  • Border Patrol sending migrants to unofficial camps in California's desert, locals say (NPR)

Political news

  • Opinion: ‘Hit him again.’ Is Congress returning to 19th century violence? (Deseret News)
  • Fears of political violence are growing as the 2024 campaign heats up and conspiracy theories evolve (AP)
  • Newly released Jan. 6 footage does not show a federal agent flashing his badge while undercover (AP)
  • Iowa official’s wife found guilty on all 52 counts of voter fraud charges (The Hill)

Election news

  • GOP runs ad boosting Sinema to give their nominee a better shot at the Arizona Senate seat (Deseret News)
  • Why you should pay attention to independent presidential candidates in 2024 (Deseret News)
  • Problems mount for DeSantis as Haley rises, Trump dominates (Wall Street Journal)
  • Nikki Haley is consolidating the ‘Never Trump’ vote (Politico)

Ukraine 🇺🇦

  • Nearly half of Americans think the US is spending too much on Ukraine aid, an AP-NORC poll says (AP)
  • He proposed in a bomb shelter. They died together in a Russian strike. (Washington Post)
  • Ukraine troops face 'difficult defense' in east as bitter cold sets in - Zelenskyy (Reuters)
  • Ukraine's coal mines turn to women to solve wartime staff shortages (Reuters)
  • Ukraine heads into winter with a fragile power grid (New York Times)

Israel 🇮🇱

  • Three Americans expected to be included in Gaza hostage release-US official (Reuters)
  • Inside the secret White House effort to secure the Hamas hostage release (The Hill)

World

  • Sudan refugees detail second wave of bloody ethnic purge by Arab forces (Reuters)
 

Number of the Day 

Number of the Day, Nov. 22, 2023

 

Guest Opinion: Prioritizing health and well-being over profits

by Maryann Martindale

As healthcare providers, we took an oath to prioritize the health and well-being of our patients above all else. Unfortunately, the modern healthcare landscape often forces us to confront a disheartening paradox. While healthcare insurance companies continuously implement cost-saving measures to bolster their profits, these policies can inflict significant harm on our patients, undermining the core tenets of healthcare.

To be clear, the concept of cost-saving measures in healthcare isn’t inherently flawed. Efficiency and responsible resource allocation are important. However, when insurance-driven cost-saving measures put profits before patients, the results are undeniable and detrimental.

One great example is the practice of non-medical switching, where insurance companies mandate patients to switch from prescribed medications to cheaper alternatives. While this may save insurers money, it can wreak havoc on patients’ lives. Chronic illness management often requires a delicate balance of medication, tailored to the individual patient’s needs and responses. Disrupting this balance can lead to worsening health conditions, increased suffering, and even the development of new, avoidable medical issues...

In a society that values human life and health as a fundamental right, we must challenge insurance-driven healthcare cost-saving measures that compromise patient care. The first step towards a more ethical and patient-centered healthcare system is to shift the focus away from short-term financial gains and toward the long-term health and well-being of individuals. (Read More)


News Releases

Utah GOP announces qualified presidential candidates

The Utah Republican Party is pleased to announce that seven candidates have qualified so far for the 2024 Utah Republican Presidential Preference Poll. These candidates have shown excitement to be on our ballot and engage with voters at neighborhood caucuses on March 5, 2024. They have met the necessary requirements and qualifications, including filling out our filing form and paying the requisite filing fee. Filing closes on December 15, 2023. The candidates who have qualified so far include (in alphabetical order): 

  • Ryan Binkley
  • Doug Burgum
  • Chris Christie
  • Ron DeSantis
  • Nikki Haley
  • Vivek Ramaswamy
  • Donald Trump  (Read More)
 

Tweet of the Day

Screenshot 2023-11-22 at 7.42.37 AM

 

Upcoming

  • Jan. 16, 2024 - Legislative session begins
  • Mar. 1 - Legislative session ends 
 

On This Day In History 

  • 1718 - Blackbeard (Edward Teach) is killed off the North Carolina coast
  • 1942 - Adolf Hitler orders Rommel's Africa Korps to fight to the last man
  • 1954 - The Humane Society of the United States is established. 
  • 1963 - JFK is assassinated while traveling through Dallas, Texas in an open-top convertible. Lyndon B. Johnson is sworn in as president on Air Force One by federal judge Sarah Tilghman Hughes.
  • 1972 - First B-52 shot down over North Vietnam
  • 1984 - Fred Rogers of PBS "Mr Rogers Neighborhood" presents a sweater to Smithsonian Institution
  • 1988 - Stealth bomber shown publicly for the first time
  • 1990 - Margaret Thatcher resigns
  • 1995 - Toy Story is released
  • 2005 - Angela Merkel becomes Chancellor of Germany, the first woman to do so
  • 2016 - President Barack Obama posthumously awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to pioneering computer scientist and Navy Admiral Grace Hopper
  • 2020 - Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gives Tigrayan forces 72 hours to surrender before the military begins offensive on regional capital of Mekelle

Quote of the Day

"The root of joy is gratefulness...It is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful."
—David Steindl-Rast


On the Punny Side

What did the turkey say to the computer?
Google, google.
 

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