|  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 28, 2020Good morning from Salt Lake City and TGIF!TICK TOCKThere are 10 working days remaining in the 2020 Utah LegislatureThe South Carolina Democratic primary is tomorrow (2/29/2020)4 days to the Utah presidential primaries (3/3/2020)13 days to the final day of the 2020 Utah Legislature (3/12/2020)25 days to the statewide neighborhood caucus meetings (3/24/2020)57 days to the Utah Republican and Democratic state conventions (4/25/2020)123 days to the 2020 Utah primary elections (6/30/2020)249 Days to the 2020 election (11/3/2020)332 days to the start of the 2021 Utah Legislature (1/25/2021)Here are the stories you need to pay attention to this morning:
TRIVIA TIMEThis week's question comes from Natalie Gordon. Who was the first African American district court judge in Utah? What governor appointed him/her? Send your answers to mailbag@utahpolicy.com. We will pick a winner at random from the correct answers who will get to ask next week's question. Good luck! MARCH POLITICAL MADNESSIt's almost time for our third-annual "Utah political bracket" contest where we pit the 64 top Utah politicos against each other in our own version of March madness. Will last year's winner, Greg Hughes, triumph again, or will another claim the championship belt? If you would like to be part of our selection committee to set the field of 64, send me an email at bschott@utahpolicy.com. 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 Policy Bill to undercut signature-gathering path for candidates is dead this yearBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor A bill to undermine the SB54 compromise by creating a convention-only path to the primary ballot is dead for the 2020 legislative session.  'This is a good compromise.' Lawmakers and Better Boundaries discuss changes to Prop. 4By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Lawmakers and Better Boundaries took the wraps off their grand bargain to make changes to the voter-approved Prop. 4 on Thursday, with both sides heaping praise on the deal to create an independent redistricting commission.  Herbert casts doubt on tax cut this yearBy Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor The chances that Utahns will see a tax cut or rebate from this Legislature dimmed a bit Thursday, when GOP Gov. Gary Herbert told reports, "I don't know" if tax relief is coming now.  Guest opinion: Utah Legislature grapples with civics educationBy Christine Cooke Utah's discussion about civics education continues. OTHER UTAH HEADLINESDeseret News
Salt Lake Tribune
Other
NATIONAL HEADLINESFree fallingThe Dow Jones dropped nearly 1,200 points on Thursday as fears about the spread of the coronavirus hit markets hard [CNN]. Global stocks plunged further on Friday following the drop on Wall Street [AP]. The Trump administration is facing a significant test as the spread of the virus is threatening economic growth [New York Times]. The world economy may be heading for its worst performance since the financial crisis in 2009 [Bloomberg]. The U.S. economy grew 2.1% in Q4, but the coronavirus will likely depress growth in the coming year [AP]. Yikes!A whistleblower says officials at the Department of Health and Human Services sent more than a dozen workers to receive the first Americans exposed to the coronavirus without proper training or protective gear [Washington Post]. Putting a lid on itThe White House is clamping down on messaging about the virus from government health officials, directing them to coordinate all public statements with Vice President Mike Pence's office [New York Times]. Congress is nearing a bipartisan plan to provide emergency funding for coronavirus response [NPR]. Shares of Clorox hit a record high because of the spread of the coronavirus [Bloomberg]. Hmmm...President Donald Trump said Thursday the virus will "disappear" eventually "like a miracle" [CNN]. 2020 electionPete Buttigieg still leads in pledged delegates following a partial recount of the Iowa caucus results. Bernie Sanders' campaign is challenging the results [Politico]. One of the nation's largest labor unions will spend $150 million to help defeat President Trump in 2020 [AP]. Only 35 percent of Americans say they are confident their vote will be counted accurately in the November election [AP]. ImmigrationThe Trump administration plans to triple fees for some immigration court filings [CNN]. A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from shifting funds for a military project to border wall construction [CNN]. Everybody has a podcastHillary Clinton is launching a program in late spring, just in time for the 2020 election [Politico]. "I can't even"Officials at the EPA were flabbergasted by President Trump's rant about toilets that must be flushed a dozen times [NBC News]. BUSINESS HEADLINES
Policy NewsCasual Friday: Weekend Events & Outdoors ReportOutdoors Report--Salt Lake Tribune: Moab's Slickrock Trail spared from energy leasing as BLM withdraws plans--  Join WTC Utah for a luncheon with the Ambassador from Saudi ArabiaWorld Trade Center Utah, in partnership with the Governor's Office of Economic Development and the Salt Lake Chamber, invites you to a luncheon welcoming Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the United States. Lunch will be provided. More National Headlines
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY1885 - The American Telephone and Telegraph Co. was incorporated in New York as a subsidiary of American Bell Telephone. 1935 - DuPont scientist Wallace Carothers invents nylon. 1940 - Basketball is televised for the first time. A game between Fordham University and the University of Pittsburgh from Madison Square Garden is aired. 1983 - The final episode of M*A*S*H airs, with almost 106 million viewers. 1993 - Federal agents attempting to serve warrants on the Branch Davidian religious cult's compound near Waco, Texas, were met with gunfire, marking the start of a month-and-a-half-long standoff. 2013 - Pope Benedict XVI resigns as the pope of the Catholic Church, becoming the first pope to do so since Pope Gregory XII in 1415. Wise WordsPick a Side "Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right."Abraham Lincoln Lighter SideBiden and South Carolina Biden is currently leading with black voters at 27%, according to Politico, with Bloomberg second. "Now that sounds surprising, but Bloomberg has been out there in the African American community, shaking hands and frisking babies," [Stephen] Colbert said. Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. |
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