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| 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 24, 2020Good Friday morning from Salt Lake CityTICK TOCKThe Utah Republican and Democratic state conventions are tomorrow (4/25/2020)67 days to the 2020 Utah primary elections (6/30/2020)193 Days to the 2020 election (11/3/2020)271 days to inauguration day (01/20/2021)276 days to the start of the 2021 Utah Legislature (1/25/2021)Here are the stories you need to pay attention to this morning:President Trump stunned many when he suggested sunlight or injecting disinfectants could cure the coronavirus. Utah lawmakers allocate more than $4 billion in coronavirus aid. Experts say unemployment could be more than 20 percent.FRIDAY TRIVIAToday's bit of paronomasia comes from Kari Malkovitch. "What makes Utah's state capital uniquely different from any other state capital in the United States?" If you think you know the answer (I've already given you a hint), send your guesses to me at mailbag@utahpolicy.com. The winner will be randomly selected from the correct answers. Good luck! 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 PolicyLawmakers allocate more than $4 billion in coronavirus relief funds during special sessionBy Bryan Schott and Bob Bernick Utah lawmakers allocated billions of dollars in federal COVID-19 relief funds during Thursday afternoon's special session, most of it going toward the state's unemployment insurance fund. But, they're preparing for the economic pain that's sure to come.Lawmakers seek to shield businesses from some COVID-19-related lawsuits By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor Lawmakers want businesses to re-open amid the coronavirus pandemic without fear of being sued if their customers or workers catch the virus.Lawmakers reach compromise with the governor on bill requiring notification of emergency actions By Bob Bernick, Contributing Editor A Utah governor would have to tell lawmakers about any emergency order he or she issues during a pandemic 24 hours before it takes effect, under an agreement reached between GOP Gov. Gary Herbert and Republican legislative leaders. OTHER UTAH HEADLINESDeseret News A. Scott Anderson: Banks are working 24/7 to support Utahns and their businesses Ralph Hancock: The coronavirus is exposing our world of pleasure. Is there hope it still has a soul? Jay Evensen: Oil crisis should be a warning to Utah: Let go of the gas tax Watchdog group files FEC complaint against GOP challenger to Rep. Chris Stewart Utah COVID-19 commission recommends relaxing restrictions amid still daily increase in cases Navajo Nation joins lawsuit against federal government over coronavirus relief funding distribution Who is President Donald Trump endorsing in Utah? Utah bought $800K in controversial drugs weeks ago but health officials didn't know Congress approves half-trillion in new COVID-19 emergency funding, but how much Utahns will get remains unclear Legislature passes bill requiring governor give it 24 hours notice before issuing emergency orders How do Utahns plan to spend their coronavirus stimulus checks? New poll has answersSalt Lake Tribune Derek Miller: Planning our way back to work in Utah Why did Kane County pull out of the Lake Powell pipeline? Turns out, it doesn't need more water. Surgeries in Utah are back on despite the coronavirus, but some patients will still have to wait Utah's unemployment claims continue to surge as self-employed and gig workers are added With Utah Latinos suffering COVID-19 disproportionately, Gov. Gary Herbert creates a multicultural advisory panel State regulators require reclamation of San Juan County copper mine by September 2021 Utah is giving homeless services $19 million to focus on emergency shelter Utah Legislature moves to shield businesses from coronavirus lawsuits 4th District GOP candidates agree: President Trump is great, Rep. Ben McAdams is badOther Utah House, Senate pass bill to remove sales tax exemption on rail fuel (Daily Herald) Utah lawmakers OK bill to prevent some COVID-19 lawsuits against businesses (Daily Herald) Resurrected train tax to fund rail crossing overpasses clears Utah House (Standard-Examiner) Weber County hopefuls for Utah House, Senate posts face scrutiny by GOP delegates (Standard-Examiner)NATIONAL HEADLINESBad medicinePresident Donald Trump stunned many when he asked his medical experts to study if sunlight or injecting disinfectants could kill viruses [BBC]. The company that makes Lysol and other disinfecting products issued a statement on Thursday pleading with Americans not to inject their products into the human body [Bloomberg]. Unemployment could already be 20 percentMore than 4 million people applied for jobless benefits last week, pushing the five-week total to more than 26 million. Experts say U.S. unemployment is already around 20 percent and could go higher [Bloomberg]. Financial falloutState and local governments are being walloped by the economic downturn from the coronavirus, and many are cutting budgets and staff [CNN]. New home sales plunge 15.4 percent in March [AP]. The Gap is running out of money and stopped paying rent for their stores in April [CNN]. Nursing homes are asking states for immunity from COVID-19-related civil suits after more than 10,000 residents have died from the virus nationwide [NPR]. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin is considering the creation of a government lending program for struggling U.S. oil companies [Bloomberg]. Food supply breakingFarmers in America are starting to destroy their pigs after several processing plants have closed amid the coronavirus pandemic [Bloomberg]. Trump stewingPresident Donald Trump is reportedly bingeing on cable news and junk food while growing increasingly upset with how he is being portrayed in news coverage during the pandemic [New York Times]. Flood the zoneSeveral of President Trump's political employees pressured U.S. health officials to "flood" New York and New Jersey with millions of doses of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for coronavirus [Vanity Fair]. Hmmm...Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden predicted Thursday that President Trump will try to push back the presidential election in November. "Mark my words, I think he is gonna...come up with some rationale why it can't be held," he said [Daily Beast]. Pressuring the Postal ServiceThe Treasury Department is considering taking control over some key operations of the U.S. Postal Service as part of a $10 billion bailout loan for the financially strapped agency [Washington Post]. BUSINESS HEADLINESDavis, Weber and Morgan counties want some restaurants and businesses to open as soon as May 1 (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah businesses ready to rush for a share of new federal coronavirus aid (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah governor advised to start lifting economic restrictions, no formal timetable set (Salt Lake Tribune) Silicon Slopes companies ink big dollar contracts for coronavirus testing in Utah, Iowa. Nebraska is next. (Salt Lake Tribune) Davis, Weber, Morgan counties to open businesses on May 1, officials announce (Deseret News) Weber, Davis, Morgan counties to ease coronavirus restrictions on businesses (Standard-Examiner) Park City business group drafts months-long plan to reignite Main Street (Park Record) Utah's Cotopaxi finding ways to survive, help its community thrive amid COVID-19 (Deseret News)Policy NewsNews release: Volunteers help Utah businesses navigate federal resources to mitigate COVID-19The flood of new programs and resources from D.C. are critical for small business owners to understand, but with the volume and number of changes, that is easier said than done. One volunteer organization in Utah is making a difference for those who need financial assistance to keep their businesses and pay their employees.Utahns Against Hunger surveys food pantries, identifies critical needs In response to increased demand for emergency food because of the economic downturn and stay-at-home order, Utahns Against Hunger surveyed pantries across the state of Utah. During the month of April, UAH heard from 77 organizations of the more than 120 organizations with a food pantry, representing approximately 95 pantry sites. More National HeadlinesFormer NSC Chief Of Staff: John Brennan Buried Evidence That Putin Actually Favored Hillary In 2016 (Daily Caller) Dossier Author Testified His Emails Were 'Wiped,' He No Longer Has Documents Related To Primary Source (Daily Caller) Usama bin Laden wanted to kill Obama so 'totally unprepared' Biden would be president, declassified docs show (FOX News) Blame Game (City-Journal) The data is in - stop the panic and end the total isolation (The Hill) 'Country before my party': Trump-supporting Georgia Democrat won't resign after 'outcry from the people' (Washington Examiner) How Public Transit Makes The Nation More Vulnerable To Disasters Like COVID-19 (Federalist) Earth Day at 50 (RealClearEnergy) Vindictive Detroit Democrats to Censure Lawmaker for Saying Trump Saved Her Life (PJ Media) Trumping Poverty (City-Journal) Biden Flip-Flops on Fracking, Now Says He Won't Put 1.7 Million Workers Out of a Job (PJ Media)ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY1704 - The first regular newspaper in British Colonial America, The Boston News-Letter, is published. 1800 - The U.S. Library of Congress is established when President John Adams signed legislation to appropriate $5,000 to purchase "such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress." 1967 - Vietnam War: American General William Westmoreland says in a news conference that the enemy had "gained support in the United States that gives him hope that he can win politically that which he cannot win militarily." 1980 - Operation Eagle Claw, the attempt to rescue 52 U.S. embassy staff held captive in Tehran, ends with the death of eight servicemen when a helicopter crashed into a transport aircraft. 1990 - The Hubble Space Telescope is launched from the Space Shuttle Discovery. 2005 - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger is inaugurated as the 265th Pope of the Catholic Church taking the name Pope Benedict XVI. Wise WordsMiracles"Miracles are a retelling in small letters of the very same story which is written across the whole world in letters too large for some of us to see."C. S. Lewis Lighter SideMasks"Big news in New York, where yesterday the governor announced an executive order that requires everyone in the state to wear a mask in public when not social distancing. It's a big change for all New Yorkers, except Jets fans."- STEPHEN COLBERT, alongside a photo of Jets fans covering their faces Listen to us on_Apple Podcasts Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. |
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