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Utah Policy Daily Newsletter

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 - April 6, 2020

Good Monday morning from Salt Lake City

TICK TOCK

19 days to the Utah Republican and Democratic state conventions (4/25/2020)

85 days to the 2020 Utah primary elections (6/30/2020)

211 Days to the 2020 election (11/3/2020)

289 days to inauguration day (01/20/2021)

294 days to the start of the 2021 Utah Legislature (1/25/2021)

Here are the stories you need to pay attention to this morning:

Trump warns Americans to prepare for a difficult week ahead. Utah lawmakers may not wait for Gov. Herbert to call a special session to deal with Coronavirus. Poll shows Utahns are worried about the impact coronavirus will have on them.

TRIVIA WINNER

This week's question was a real head-scratcher!

Only Ken Roberts knew that John Hudson was the young Englishman selected by Howard Stansbury to be the official artist during the 1849-1851 exploration of the Great Salt Lake.

As our winner, Roberts gets to ask this Friday's question.

Great job!

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Today At Utah Policy

Poll shows Utahns are worried about impact coronavirus will have on them
By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor
As may be expected, the coronavirus pandemic has impacted Utahns' lives in major ways -- from buying extra food to working from home to canceling travel plans, to name but a few of the daily changes, a new UtahPolicy.com/2News poll finds.Lawmakers mulling calling themselves into special session to fix budget problems from coronavirus pandemic
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Gov. Gary Herbert said last week he would call Utah lawmakers into a special session by the end of April so they address the worsening economy from the coronavirus pandemic. It may happen sooner than that.Romney warns Trump to comply with coronavirus relief oversight
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Sen. Mitt Romney sent a letter to President Donald Trump on Friday calling on him to comply with the oversight measures Congress put in the $2.2 trillion coronavirus relief package that they passed last week.Bernick and Schott on politics podcast - 'Zooming without pants'
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick discuss the latest Utah political headlines.

OTHER UTAH HEADLINES

Deseret News

Pignanelli & Webb: Utahns show how to respond to the crisis of a lifetime Op-ed: Utah's business leaders have spoken about coronavirus impact. Here are some possible solutions Utah's State School Board considers more rule waivers to address school dismissals necessitated by COVID-19 pandemic Southern Utah man warned after disobeying quarantine orders, police say Utah congressman backs COVID-19 commission if focus is on making improvements rather than assigning blame As Utah COVID-19 cases jump past 1,200, governor warns those 'not complying' with directives Mitt Romney tells Utah businesses coronavirus' economic downturn will go down in history DMV officials announce extended hours as long lines and six-hour waits plague patrons Utah County Attorney David Leavitt tests positive for COVID-19, hopes diagnosis will convince others to follow health advice Democratic candidates for governor hit hard by effects of pandemic on campaigning Utahns can try redrawing state's congressional districts Volatile oil market shakes up Utah producers amid global oversupply

Salt Lake Tribune

Other

Romney, Leavitt offer pandemic advice to small business owners (Daily Herald) Utah County Attorney David Leavitt tests positive for COVID-19 (Daily Herald) Central Ogden census response rates among the lowest along the Wasatch Front (Standard-Examiner) As pandemic effects slam Utah nonprofits, demand for their services is booming (Standard-Examiner) Summit County economic experts share bleak predictions including estimated job loss of nearly 10,000 (Park Record)

NATIONAL HEADLINES

"Hardest, saddest week of most Americans' lives"

President Donald Trump and his administration is advising Americans to steel themselves for an agonizing week ahead as the country is nearing a peak in the coronavirus pandemic [Bloomberg].

Wasted time

A damning report says the Trump administration squandered nearly two months to prepare for the coronavirus pandemic, waiting until mid-march to place bulk orders for masks and other equipment needed by frontline healthcare workers [AP].

Denial and dysfunction in the White House caused the Trump administration to ignore and downplay the threat from the coronavirus until it was too late [Washington Post].

Brawl over coronavirus drug

President Trump's top trade adviser Peter Navarro got into a heated debate over the weekend in the White House Situation Room after Dr. Anthony Fauci questioned the science over the use of an unproven malaria drug to treat coronavirus [Axios].

President Trump keeps promoting the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat the virus, despite the lack of evidence about its efficacy [New York Times].

Controversial celebrity doctor Mehmet Oz has been advising senior Trump administration officials on coronavirus-related matters [Daily Beast].

Light at the end of the tunnel?

President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence say they're starting to see signs the outbreak of the coronavirus in the U.S. may be stabilizing [Bloomberg].

When will sports return?

Experts say Americans should brace for empty stadiums and arenas this fall [Washington Post].

California Gov. Gavin Newsome says he does not believe the NFL will start on time in his state this year [Sports Illustrated].

Post-impeachment purge

President Trump abruptly fired Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson who told Congress about the whistleblower complaint that led to his impeachment [CNN].

Atkinson says he was fired by Trump because he did his job properly [Politico].

BUSINESS HEADLINES

Op-ed: Utah's business leaders have spoken about coronavirus impact. Here are some possible solutions (Deseret News) Hurry up and wait: Federal program for COVID-19 impacted small businesses off to rough start (Deseret News) Mitt Romney tells Utah businesses coronavirus' economic downturn will go down in history (Deseret News) Romney, Leavitt offer pandemic advice to small business owners (Daily Herald) Summit County economic experts share bleak predictions including estimated job loss of nearly 10,000 (Park Record) A. Scott Anderson: Paycheck Protection Program can quickly help small businesses (Deseret News)

Policy News

Economic Response Task Force empowers working groups to support recovery
Governor Gary Herbert's Economic Task Force shared its critical priorities for week three, as subject matter experts from multiple industry groups, corporations, and academia assembled into working groups to implement the task force's guiding plan -- Utah Leads Together -- introduced March 24, 2020. Utah Attorney General's office to help law enforcement by distributing protective gear donations of personal protective equipment in a private/public partnership
The Utah Attorney General's Office is partnering with a growing list of private companies to collect and distribute masks, gloves, hand sanitizer etc. to rescue and law enforcement agencies who are running out. Most of those receiving the masks are in rural communities in northern, central and southern Utah.CYBER24 episode 76: Utah's rapid transition to remote work
Over the past week, national leaders have asked businesses to allow employees to work from home and Utah added a big earthquake to the mix. Utah banks ready to approve Small Business Administration loans
Utah lenders announced that they stand ready to approve U.S. Small Business Administration-backed loans thanks to the passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act during the bi-weekly virtual Town Hall for the Utah Economic Response Task Force. The CARES Act legislation is designed to help small business owners cover their payroll and other basic business expenses.

More National Headlines

Evaluating the Biden veepstakes (National Journal) The Real Coronavirus Chronology Shows Trump Was On Top Of It While Biden Was Mocking The Danger (Federalist) The Media Owe Senator Tom Cotton an Apology (National Review) Questioning coronavirus origins is not a conspiracy (Spectator) 'When you talk to God': ABC anchor uses Pence's faith to question federal response to coronavirus (Washington Examiner) Joe Biden Is Racking Up Pinocchios Briskly During The Pandemic (Hot Air) China should be sued for $6.5 trillion for coronavirus damages says top UK think tank (Sydney Morning Herald) Americans are driving less because of the coronavirus. That's hurting red-light camera revenue. (Business Insider) Bill Gates Says Virus Death Toll May Not Reach Experts' Worst Case (Bloomberg) Communist China Was Always One Lab Accident Away From Becoming a Supervillain (PJ Media) ABC Asks Biden to Blame Virus Deaths on Trump, Ignores Sexual Assault Claim (NewsBusters)

ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY

1712 - The New York Slave Revolt of 1712 begins near Broadway.

1808 - John Jacob Astor incorporates the American Fur Company that would eventually make him America's first millionaire.

1830 - Church of Christ, the original church of the Latter Day Saint movement, is organized by Joseph Smith and others at either Fayette or Manchester, New York.

1841 - President John Tyler is sworn in, two days after having become President upon William Henry Harrison's death.

1862 - The Battle of Shiloh begins: In Tennessee, forces under Union General Ulysses S. Grant meet Confederate troops led by General Albert Sidney Johnston.

1893 - The Salt Lake Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is dedicated by Wilford Woodruff.

1896 - The first modern Olympics formally opened in Athens, Greece.

1909 - Robert Peary and Matthew Henson reach the North Pole.

1917 - The United States declares war on Germany in World War I.

1968 - Federal troops and National Guardsmen were deployed in Washington, Chicago, and Detroit as rioting continued over the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Wise Words

COVID-19

"We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."Winston Churchill