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 - May 28, 2020Good Thursday morning from Salt Lake CityTICK TOCK33 days to the 2020 Utah primary elections (6/30/2020)159 Days to the 2020 election (11/3/2020)237 days to inauguration day (01/20/2021)242 days to the start of the 2021 Utah Legislature (1/25/2021)Here are the stories you need to pay attention to this morning:
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 newsletter.Today At Utah PolicyPoll: Most Utahns say they would continue to stay at home to contain coronavirus spreadBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor A large majority Utahns say they would be likely to stay home for another month if public health officials recommended that course of action to control the spread of the novel coronavirus. Questions arise about moderator choice for televised gubernatorial debate By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Monday's debate featuring the Republican candidates for governor will be one of the highest-profile political events in Utah this year as the four candidates will face off ahead of the June primary vote. However, some questions about the impartiality of the event's moderator are starting to bubble to the surface. Lawmakers considering big cuts to Utah's public education budget due to COVID-19 pandemic By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor Utah's public schools could see up to a 10 percent cut in proposed funding this summer under a plan considered Wednesday by a legislative budget subcommittee -- cuts of $385 million. OTHER UTAH HEADLINESDeseret News
Salt Lake Tribune
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NATIONAL HEADLINES100,000The coronavirus has killed more than 100,000 Americans in less than four months. The nation passed that grim milestone on Wednesday [USA Today]. Experts say coronavirus may never go away, even if a vaccine is developed [Washington Post]. Trump targets TwitterPresident Trump will sign an executive order on Thursday that will penalize social media companies that show "political bias." The move comes after Twitter fact-checked two of Trump's tweets that falsely claimed mail-in voting led to voter fraud. The White House did not consult the FCC about the forthcoming order [Washington Post]. The announcement of the impending executive order came after Trump and his allied raged against Twitter for fact-checking him [Bloomberg]. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey says they will continue to point out inaccurate information about elections despite Trump's rage [Hollywood Reporter]. The move to fact-check Trump's tweets is a step many in the company have long wanted to take [New York Times]. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg says his social media platform won't move to fact-check Trump [Fox News]. Good for the goose?White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany has voted by mail 11 times in the last 10 years [Tampa Bay Times]. EconomyThe Dow rallied on Wednesday, closing above 25,000 for the first time since March [CNBC]. Disney World is targeting July 11 to reopen its Florida theme parks [CNN]. American Airlines plans to cut 30 percent of its management and administrative staff [Wall Street Journal]. These graphs show how deeply the coronavirus pandemic has changed Americans' behavior [Bloomberg]. FISA failAn effort to pass a surveillance overhaul was scrapped in the House on Wednesday evening after President Trump tweeted his opposition to the bill [Washington Post]. ChinaSecretary of State Mike Pompeo told Congress on Wednesday that Hong Kong was no longer autonomous from China. This could end the region's special trade relationship with the U.S. [CNBC]. Womp wompWednesday's manned SpaceX launch was scrapped about 15 minutes before launch due to weather. The next attempt will be Saturday afternoon [CBS News]. Must-see TVCNBC anchors Andrew Ross Sorkin and Joe Kernen brawled on Wednesday when Sorkin blasted Kernen for dismissing the severity of the coronavirus pandemic. At one point, Sorking accused Kernen of trying to help his "friend" President Donald Trump "every single morning" [CNN]. We are all soccer fans nowThe NWSL, the professional women's soccer league, announced they will hold a tournament for their member teams in Utah beginning June 27 [NWSL]. BUSINESS HEADLINES
Policy NewsZions Bancorporation to build technology campus in Midvale, Utah with a focus on sustainability and cost efficiencyZions Bancorporation, N.A. announced that it will build a 400,000-square-foot technology campus in Midvale, Utah, on the former Sharon Steel Mill Environmental Protection Agency Superfund site. Governor issues executive order releasing updated guidelines for low-risk phase in the Utah leads together plan Gov. Gary R. Herbert has issued an Executive Order updating guidelines for areas in low health risk designation under Utah's phased health guidance plan. Offset your company's international business costs with STEP Grant funding Funding is available for small Utah companies to offset international business costs! There is no need to travel internationally to take advantage of this opportunity. Public Health and Economic Emergency Commission recommends additional COVID-19 data be posted online On May 21, the Public Health and Economic Emergency Commission unanimously voted to recommend that new additional COVID-19 data be publicly posted on coronavirus.utah.gov. The data provides a nation-leading public look at how underlying conditions, demographics and other key factors interplay to create higher risks for certain individuals regarding COVID-19. More National Headlines
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY1830 - President Andrew Jackson signs the Indian Removal Act which relocates Native Americans. 1892 - John Muir organizes the Sierra Club. 1937 - Volkswagen is founded. 1972 - White House "plumbers" first break-in at the Democratic National Headquarters at Watergate Complex in Washington D.C. 1987 - Mathias Rust, an 18-year-old West German pilot, evades Soviet Union air defenses and lands a private plane in the Red Square in Moscow, Russia. 1996 - President Bill Clinton's former business partners in the Whitewater land deal, Jim and Susan McDougal and Arkansas Gov. Jim Guy Tucker, are convicted of fraud. Wise WordsStoic "Reject your sense of injury and the injury itself disappears." Marcus Aurelius Lighter SideDeranged "Oh my God, what's it going to take? Just fill it with Skittles and strap it on his face like a feed bag. [as Trump] 'Can I get a new mask? This one has only purples left.'" - STEPHEN COLBERT Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. |