The UtahPolicy.com daily newsletter gets you up to speed on the top local and national news about politics and public policy. Send news tips or feedback to bschott@utahpolicy.com, or message us on Twitter. Situational awareness - February 14, 2020Good morning from Salt Lake City and Happy Valentine's Day!TICK TOCKThere are 19 working days remaining in the 2020 Utah Legislature8 days to the Nevada Democratic caucuses (2/22/2022)15 days to the South Carolina Democratic primary (2/29/2020)18 days to the Utah presidential primaries (3/3/2020)27 days to the final day of the 2020 Utah Legislature (3/12/2020)137 days to the 2020 Utah primary elections (6/30/2020)263 Days to the 2020 election (11/3/2020)346 days to the start of the 2021 Utah Legislature (1/25/2021)Here are the stories you need to pay attention to this morning:
FRIDAY TRIVIAThis week's question comes from Natalie Gordon, who delves into her family history: Which one of Natalie's great-great-grandfathers served on the Provo City Council, was the first person in Utah County to operate a printing press, and was the Utah Territorial Superintendent of Schools? He also served as Provo Auditor and Recorder, Utah County Clerk, Chief Clerk of the Territorial Legislature, and the recorder at the St. George Temple. If you think you can name Natalie's ancestor, send your guesses to me at mailbag@utahpolicy.com. The THIRD person with the correct answer gets to ask next week's question. GOOD LUCK! PROGRAMMING NOTEUtahPolicy.com will not publish a daily newsletter on Monday, Feb. 17 because of the President's Day holiday. We will return to your inboxes, computers and devices on Tuesday the 18th. Thanks for subscribing to Utah's must-read daily political news rundown.If you know of friends or colleagues who would benefit from our daily news roundup, please encourage them to sign up for our emails.Today At Utah PolicyHalf of Utah voters say the state is on the wrong trackBy Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor Utah voters are unhappy with their political leadership, most say the state is going in the wrong direction. Herbert threatens to veto bill undoing changes to Utah's candidate nominating process By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor A bill that would effectively undo Utah's dual-path nominating process for candidates is facing a likely veto from Gov. Gary Herbert if passes. Bloomberg is pouring cash into Utah ahead of Super Tuesday vote By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg is dumping truckloads of money into the state ahead of the March Super Tuesday primary. OTHER UTAH HEADLINESDeseret News
Salt Lake Tribune
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NATIONAL HEADLINESBarr bothered by Trump's tweetsAttorney General William Barr says President Donald Trump's tweets about the Justice Department "make it impossible" for him to do his job. Barr also says Trump never asked him to intervene in a criminal case [ABC News]. Other prosecutors in the Justice Department have discussed leaving their jobs following Barr's intervention in the case involving longtime Trump ally Roger Stone [CNN]. War powersThe Senate voted to approve a resolution limiting President Trump's ability to use military power against Iran without their permission. The measure will likely face a veto by Trump [Bloomberg]. And Mexico will pay for it!The Trump administration will divert another $3.8 billion from the Pentagon toward the construction of the wall on the southern border [New York Times]. What a time to be alive!Democratic presidential hopeful Michael Bloomberg and President Trump trade schoolyard insults on Twitter [Washington Post]. ReturningFormer Trump aide Hope Hicks is returning to the White House as an adviser [Bloomberg]. Cha-ching!President Trump will headline a $580,600-per-couple fundraiser in Palm Beach [Washington Post]. Oof!Michael Bloomberg's campaign was knocked off stride Thursday after comments he made in 2008, blaming economic redlining for the financial crash, resurfaced. His Democratic rivals pounced on the comments [AP]. ERAThe House passed a bill to repeal the 1982 deadline for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment [Politico]. Climate changeHouse Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is facing a backlash from his own party after unveiling a modest GOP plan to combat climate change [Politico]. Temperatures in Antarctica soared to near 70 degrees on Thursday, the highest ever recorded on the continent [Washington Post]. BUSINESS HEADLINES
Policy NewsCasual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors ReportOutdoors Report--Salt Lake Tribune: Zion National Park shouldn't start a reservation system, say Utah's members of Congress More National Headlines
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY1778 - The U.S. flag is formally recognized by a foreign naval vessel for the first time when French Admiral Toussaint-Guillaume Picquet de la Motte renders a nine-gun salute to the USS Ranger, commanded by John Paul Jones. 1849 - James Polk becomes the first sitting U.S. President to have his photograph taken. 1859 - Oregon is admitted as the 33rd state. 1876 - Alexander Graham Bell filed an application for a patent for the telephone. It was officially issued on March 7, 1876. 1899 - Voting machines are approved by Congress for use in federal elections. 1903 - The U.S. Department of Commerce and Labor is established. It would later be split into the Department of Commerce and the Department of Labor. 1912 - Arizona is admitted as the 48th state. 1920 - The League of Women Voters is founded in Chicago. 1929 - The "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" too place in Chicago. Seven people, six of them rivals of Al Capone's gang, were murdered. 1980 - Walter Cronkite announced his retirement from the "CBS Evening News." 2005 - YouTube is launched by a group of college students. 2018 - Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting: 17 people are killed and 15 others are injured in one of the deadliest school massacres in history. Wise WordsGratitude "If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants."Isaac Newton Lighter SideDo Anything "Trump showed off a copy of USA Today, with the headline, 'Acquitted.' Trump was like,[as Trump]'Now I can do anything I want. I even stole this USA Today from a Holiday Inn.'"- JIMMY FALLON Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. |