Utah Headlines

Legislative session

Education

• Lawmakers tap brakes on call for universal free school meals for Utah kids (Deseret News)
• A ban on MAGA and Pride flags? GOP lawmakers say yes for cities, counties and classrooms (Deseret News)

Government Operations

• This constitutional amendment would change how Utah publishes constitutional amendments (Deseret News)
• How Utahns dispute public records cases will change dramatically under new bill (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Bill could make the public criminally liable for bureaucratic mistakes (Salt Lake Tribune)

Health and Human Services

• Lively debate erupts over fluoride in drinking water systems (Deseret News)
• Utah bill to expand breast cancer coverage put on hold (KSL Newsradio)

Law Enforcement

• Lawmakers look to crack down on organized crime, online sexual extortion (KSL)
• Some DUI convicts in Utah may have 'no alcohol sale' stamped on ID under new bill (KSL)
• State 'Rapid Response Team' could police Salt Lake City (KUTV)
• Utah lawmakers tweak bill for deportations, shifting focus from all misdemeanors to violent crimes (St. George News)

Revenue and Taxation

• Lawmakers want to make it easier to donate to Utah Food Bank. Here’s how (Deseret News)

Other Utah News

Politics

• Utah, Wyoming lawmakers push to undo Biden-era rule allowing U.S. Forest Service to enforce state laws (Deseret News) 
• Senate confirms RFK Jr. Sens. Mike Lee and John Curtis voted aye (Deseret News)
• Sen. Mike Lee wants to make it easier for Trump to cut the size and cost of government (Deseret News)

Valentine's Day

• 15 of the best Valentine’s Day dinner deals (Deseret News)
• Iconic Valentine’s Day TV episodes that will steal your heart (Deseret News)
• Perspective: Virtual valentines and simulated soulmates won’t give you what you really need (Deseret News)
• Photo gallery: A busy behind the scenes look at Harmons floral department (Deseret News)
• UTA to celebrate Valentine's Day with TRAX Love Train (KSL)

Utah

• Salt Lake County Library exceeds 12.5 million books checked out in 2024 (West Jordan Journal)
• Family finds dynamite while cleaning out relative’s Pleasant Grove home (KSL TV)

Biz/Tech

• Igloo recalls 1 million coolers after fingertip amputation injuries (KSL Newsradio)

Crime/Courts

• Rubicon seeks permanent dismissal of charges, accuses state of ‘prosecutorial misconduct’ (Deseret News)
• Weber County deputy on administrative leave after arrest for domestic incident (KSL TV)

Culture

• ‘This Little Light of Mine’ and other hymns added to Church of Jesus Christ hymn book (Deseret News)
• X Games coming to Salt Lake City as it celebrates 30th anniversary (KSL)

Education

• University of Utah appoints its first-ever ‘AI czar’ (Deseret News)
• High school students learn on the job building a home in St. George (Fox13)
• This dean will be Utah State University’s interim president after Cantwell’s surprise departure (Salt Lake Tribune)

Environment

• The battle for Utah’s public lands (Deseret News) 

Family

• Opinion: Lighting the way for bereaved children — a call to action from Utah to the nation (Deseret News)

Health

•  Can a blood test predict this pregnancy complication? (Deseret News)
• This is what happens to the body when HIV drugs are stopped for millions of people (AP)

Housing

•  Utah lawmakers say no to ‘preemption,’ halt 2 housing bills aimed at allowing smaller homes (Daily Herald)

National Headlines

General

• End inflation on Day 1? (Deseret News)
• Swallowed by a whale!

Political news

• Kif Augustine-Adams, John Fee, Frederick Mark Gedicks, Lisa Grow, Carolina Núñez, Michalyn Steele and Lucy Williams: Eliminating birthright citizenship bypasses the Constitution and legal precedent (Deseret News)
• Federal judge blocks executive order on transgender minors (Deseret News)
• Bristling at ‘Gulf of Mexico’ name change on maps, Mexico says it might sue Google (AP)
• White House blocks AP reporter from Trump-Modi news conference because of Gulf of Mexico fight (AP)
• Exclusive: Trump’s foreign aid freeze stops anti-fentanyl work in Mexico (Reuters)
• Thousands fired in US government as Trump, Musk purge federal workers (Reuters)
• Trump administration directs agency heads to fire most probationary staff (Washington Post)
• Trump wants states to clean up forests to stop wildfires. But his administration cut off funds (AP)
• Hegseth team invites far-right activist and conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec on overseas trip (Washington Post)
• Trump Says He’ll Rework Global Trading Relations With ‘Reciprocal’ Tariffs (New York Times)
• Fox host: Musk needs to be transparent about ‘billions’ in government contract (The Hill)
• House Republicans strike last-minute deal to advance massive spending bill (Deseret News)

Ukraine and Russia

• Russia rejoices at Trump-Putin call (AP)
• Trump’s Russia-Ukraine moves unnerve Senate GOP (The Hill)

Israel and Gaza

• Yemen's Houthis say they will attack if US, Israel try to displace Gazans (Reuters)
• Freed Israeli hostages tell families of torture while held by Hamas (Washington Post)

World News

• Dozens hurt in suspected car ramming attack in Munich before German election and hours before international leaders including U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy were due to arrive for the Munich Security Conference.(Reuters)

Number of the Day 

News Releases

Sen. Lee, Rep. Comer, introduce a bill to fast-track Pres. Trump’s reorganization plans

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-KY) today introduced the Reorganizing Government Act of 2025. This legislation ensures Congress takes an up or down vote on government-wide reorganization plans submitted to Congress by President Donald Trump to streamline government operations and better serve the American people. (Read More)

Utah’s population reached 3,506,838 on July 1, 2024

July 1, 2024 estimates produced by the Utah Population Committee indicate Utah’s population reached 3,506,838, an increase of 50,392 residents since July 1, 2023. These estimates reflect a post-COVID-19 era and moderately high growth from the last few years.

“In 2024, Utah experienced a slight deceleration in population growth for the second year in a row, with net migration and natural increase almost equally driving growth,” said Emily Harris, Senior Demographer at the Gardner Institute. “Utah’s recent shift from natural increase to net migration as the primary source of growth represents a continuation of COVID-19 trends, though this year’s data shows a slowing of that initial post-pandemic pattern.” (Read More)

Utah State Bar opposes legislation

The Utah State Bar sent an email Thursday calling upon lawyers to contact lawmakers regarding several proposed bills that impact the role of the judiciary. Many Bar licensees have expressed concern that the bills may be unconstitutional because they remove powers from the judicial branch of government and undermine the fundamental principle of separation of powers. (Read More)

Lee introduces Healthy SNAP Act, stopping tax dollars from subsidizing junk food

Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) has introduced the Healthy SNAP Act. The bill would exclude soft drinks, candy, ice cream, and prepared desserts from being purchased with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The bill also requires the Secretary of Agriculture to ensure that eligible food promotes the health of SNAP recipients and reflects nutrition science, public health concerns, and cultural eating patterns. Rep. Josh Brecheen (R-OK) has introduced the bill in the House of Representatives. (Read More)

Tweet of the Day

Upcoming

• Feb 20 â€” BioHive Live, 9:00 am - 3:00 pm, Hale Centre Theater, Sandy, Register here
• Mar 7 â€” Utah legislative session ends
• Apr 24 — Giant in Our City with the Salt Lake Chamber, 6:00-9:00 pm, Register here

On This Day In History 

• 270 - St. Valentine is beheaded in Rome.
• 1779 - Captain Cook killed in Hawaii.
• 1803 - Chief Justice John Marshall declares that any act of Congress that conflicts with the US Constitution is void.
• 1847 - The impressive Anna Howard Shaw is born. She was licensed as a Methodist Protestant minister in 1880, graduated as M.D. in 1886, was an organizer with the Massachusetts Woman Suffrage Association, lectured in every state, beloved president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (1904-15) and awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for her work during World War I. She died the year before the 19th Amendment was ratified.
• 1870 - Seraph Young cast a ballot in the Salt Lake City election, becoming the first woman in the nation to vote. 
• 1884 - Future President Theodore Roosevelt’s wife and mother die only hours apart.
• 1870 - Esther Morris appointed US' first female Justice of the Peace in South Pass City, Wyoming, after previous justice, R.S. Barr, resigned to protest passage of Wyoming Territory's women's suffrage. Way to go, Wyoming!
• 1929 - Penicillin is discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming.
• 1931 - The original Dracula film starring Bela Lugosi is released. How romantic.
• 1971 - Richard Nixon installs secret taping system in the White House.
• 1978 - 1st “micro on a chip” patented by Texas Instruments.
• 1990 - The “Pale Blue Dot” photo of Earth is taken from Voyager 1, 3.7 billion miles away from the sun.
• 2018 - Teenage gunman kills 17, injures 17 at Parkland, FL high school.

Quote of the Day

“I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.”

—Elizabeth Barrett Browning

On the Punny Side

My friend keeps saying "cheer up man it could be worse, you could be stuck underground in a hole full of water."

I know he means well.

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