 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 14, 2020Good Thursday morning from Salt Lake CityTICK TOCK47 days to the 2020 Utah primary elections (6/30/2020)173 Days to the 2020 election (11/3/2020)251 days to inauguration day (01/20/2021)256 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 Policy Legislative leaders confront grim budget picture because of COVID-19By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor No pay raises for state workers, public education teachers, or college professors; no funding increases for state programs; no growth in social services.  Utah will soon start doling out hundreds of millions in federal aid to Utah cities and countiesBy Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor Utah cities and counties will soon start getting $562 million, allocated by the state based on populations of each entity, that comes from the federal coronavirus relief act -- CARES -- a top state budget committee heard Wednesday.  Lawmakers planning on budget special session in June and another on policy in JulyBy Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Utah lawmakers have been told to plan for a special session in June to address changes to the budget because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but any policy changes will take place in a second special session after Independence Day. OTHER UTAH HEADLINESDeseret News
Salt Lake Tribune
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NATIONAL HEADLINESYikes!Dr. Rick Bright, who was ousted as director of the federal office tasked with developing treatments for COVID-19, will testify before a House committee Thursday that the US will face "unprecedented illness and fatalities" and the country is facing the "darkest winter in modern history" without a clear plan for battling another coronavirus outbreak later this year [CNN]. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned of the threat of a prolonged recession and lasting economic damage without more fiscal stimulus from Congress [AP]. Woah!The Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned the state's stay-at-home order, ruling it "unlawful" and "unenforceable." The state's GOP-led legislature sued Democratic Gov. Tony Evers over the restrictions [Washington Post]. Trump vs. FauciDr. Anthony Fauci warned against reopening schools and businesses too quickly. President Trump called Fauci's statement "unacceptable" [CNN]. Republicans in Congress are feuding over Fauci, debating whether to praise him or condemn him as an obstacle to President Trump's efforts to restart the economy [Bloomberg]. Virus latestA new study shows that coronavirus can be passed between people just by speaking. Droplets can hang in the air for more than 8 minutes in confined environments [USA Today]. The World Health Organization is warning COVID-19 "may never go away," and that it could take years to build global immunity without a vaccine [AP]. EconomyGrocery prices spiked 2.8 percent in April, the biggest increase since 1974 [CNN]. Roughly 27 million Americans have lost their employer-provided health insurance [Axios]. Uber will require all drivers and riders to wear masks [CNBC]. FacepalmPresident Trump reportedly worried testing too many people for COVID-19 would spook the stock market. One advisor said trying to advise the president is like "bringing fruits to the volcano...You're trying to appease a great force that is impervious to reason" [Financial Times]. Hmmm...The FBI seized the cellphone belonging to Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina on Wednesday as part of an investigation into suspicious stock trades he made as the coronavirus struck the US [Los Angeles Times]. Michael FlynnA federal judge is looking into whether President Trump's former national security adviser can be held in contempt of court for perjuring himself. The judge also asked a retired federal judge to argue against the Justice Department's request to dismiss charges against Flynn [CNN]. Special electionRepublican Mike Garcia won a special election to flip a congressional seat in California from Democratic control. But, Garcia and his Democratic opponent will face off again in November [WaPo]. BUSINESS HEADLINES
Policy NewsUtah Inland Port Authority and Rocky Mountain Power announce cooperation agreementThe Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) and Rocky Mountain Power have signed a Joint Clean Energy Cooperation Statement to create a sustainable energy supply within the UIPA jurisdictional area. More National Headlines
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY1787 - In Philadelphia, delegates convene a Constitutional Convention to write a new Constitution for the United States; George Washington presides. 1796 - Edward Jenner administers the first smallpox inoculation. 1800 - The process of moving the U.S. capital from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. begins. 1804 - The Lewis and Clark Expedition departs from Camp Dubois. 1878 - The last witchcraft trial held in the United States begins in Salem, Massachusetts, after Lucretia Brown accused Daniel Spofford of attempting to harm her through his mental powers. 1948 - Israel is declared to be an independent state, and a provisional government is established. Immediately after the decision, Israel is attacked by the neighboring Arab states, triggering the 1984 Arab-Israeli War. 1973 - Skylab, the United States' first space station, is launched. Wise WordsStart by Doing "Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible."Francis of Assisi Lighter SideCovid Task Force "That's right, for Trump, the priority right now isn't to try to stop the pandemic; it's to open up the country no matter what. I mean, how can you get rid of the task force fighting the pandemic while the pandemic is still growing? That makes no sense. Can you imagine if they stopped after 'Fast and Furious 6?' How would we know how much more furious they get?"- TREVOR NOAH Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. |
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