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Utah Headlines

Political news

• Utah 'educational equity' rule faces repeal as state GOP links it to critical race theory (KSL)
• Proposed bill would remove term “human sexuality” from Utah sex ed law (KSL Newsradio)
• Lawmakers propose armed security in Utah schools, incentives for teacher firearm training (Daily Herald)
• Both Sides of the Aisle: Utah's political candidates, the Iowa caucuses and college diversity statements (UPR)
• Salt Lake County has a matriarchy for the first time in its history (Salt Lake Tribune)

Election news

• Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson and Abby Cox set to endorse Nikki Haley for president (Deseret News)
• With three open council seats, this could be a game-changing year for Salt Lake County (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Lyman called out for criticizing health insurance program despite voting for it (KUTV)
• Here's who is running for elected office in Cache County in 2024 (UPR)

Utah news

• If Salt Lake City gets a big league baseball team, what should it be called? (Deseret News)
• In Utah, you don’t have to disclose your cellphone password — even if police have a search warrant (Deseret News)
• FBI says it will not tolerate hate crimes in Utah (KSL)
• Southern Utah job numbers continue to rise everywhere but Garfield County (St. George News)

Business/Tech

• Consumer debt just topped $5 trillion for the first time ever. Is there cause for worry? (Deseret News)
• Spacesuits, SpaceX, safety worries push NASA to delay moon missions (Deseret News)
• 600,000 Ram trucks to be recalled under settlement in emissions cheating scandal (NPR)
• Google lays off hundreds in Assistant, hardware, engineering teams (Reuters)

Crime/Courts

• Ex-Davis School District employee who probed discrimination cases says she faced discrimination, files lawsuit (KSL)
• Ogden man says his bank refused to stop a wire transfer scam (KSL TV)
• Ogden daycare teacher admits to abuse of child (ABC4)

Culture

• 3 travel tips for slow, relaxing vacations (Deseret News)
• Starbucks drinks are $3 on Thursday. Here’s how to get the deal (Deseret News)

Education

• Gov. Cox to public schools: Students should shelve cellphones while at school (Deseret News)
• Viewmont High opens resource center for students experiencing homelessness (KSL)

Environment

• Utah leaders should set long-term Great Salt Lake solutions ‘immediately,’ report says (Deseret News)
• You can almost eat Salt Lake City’s bad air. What hosting the Olympics would do about it. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Family

• Posting pictures of your kids online can be dangerous. Here’s what to do about it (Deseret News)
• As criticism mounts over harmful effects, Meta restricting content for teens (Deseret News)

Health

•  Breakfast: To eat or not to eat? (Deseret News)
• More teens who use marijuana are suffering from psychosis (Wall Street Journal)
• How much caffeine you should actually have - and when (Wall Street Journal)

Housing

• Much of state enters 'code blue' as homeless providers help the unsheltered during cold front (KSL)

National Headlines

General

• In his 1st interview, friend who warned officials of Maine shooter says ‘I literally spelled it out’ (AP)
• Alaska Airlines cancels all flights on the Boeing 737 Max 9 through Saturday (NPR)
• Those corny jokes on electronic highway safety signs? The feds are not amused (Wall Street Journal)
• Avalanche at popular California ski resort kills 1, injures 3 (Washington Post)

Political news

• Secretary of State Blinken meets with Palestinian Authority president to discuss the future of Gaza (Deseret News)
• Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial in New York heads to closing arguments days before the vote in Iowa (AP)
• Because of refusal to abide by rules, Trump won’t be allowed to give his own closing argument in N.Y. fraud trial (Washington Post)
• Trump lawyer goes on defense after assassination comment: ‘He didn’t kill anyone’ (The Hill)
• GOP senators slap down Trump on Jan. 6 ‘hostages’ (The Hill)
• Speaker Johnson is facing conservative pushback over the spending deal he struck with Democrats (AP)
• Conservatives tank procedural vote in revolt against Johnson’s spending deal (The Hill)

Election news

• Despite trailing Trump by 40 points, Haley and DeSantis criticize each other during GOP debate (Deseret News)
• With Chris Christie out, Nikki Haley is poised to benefit in New Hampshire (New York Times)
• Chris Christie caught on hot mic, says Nikki Haley will ‘get smoked’ (Washington Post)
• Biden campaign blasts Trump for allegedly saying he wouldn’t defend Europe if attacked (Politico)

Ukraine 🇺🇦

• Ukraine’s Zelenskyy rules out a cease-fire with Russia, saying Moscow would use it to rearm (AP)
• How Russian officials and their collaborators spirit away Ukraine’s children (Reuters)

Israel 🇮🇱

• Israelis are increasingly questioning what war in Gaza can achieve (NPR)

World news

• The US and UK say Bangladesh’s elections extending Hasina’s rule were not credible (AP)
• At World Court, South Africa accuses Israel of genocidal acts in Gaza (Reuters)

Number of the Day 

News Releases

Capitol to transform into classroom for Local Officials Day

Approximately 500 youth council members from cities across the state will gather at the Utah State Capitol and Salt Palace Event Center to learn about Utah’s political processes on January 17th. Students will meet with their legislators and local officials, participate in mock committees, and hear an address from Governor Spencer Cox. (Read More)

Gov. Cox encourages educators to remove cell phones during class time

Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox has sent letters to district and charter school leaders, school principals, school community council members and the State Board of Education sharing his concerns about the harmful effects social media has on our children and asking them to remove cell phones during class time. (Read More)

Salt Lake County approves salary increase for county employees

Salt Lake County yesterday increased the pay of many hourly lower-grade employees. This increase was supported by Mayor Jenny Wilson who emphasized the importance of living wages for dedicated employees who are committed to Salt Lake County. (Read More)

Great Salt Lake data and insights

The Great Salt Lake Strike Team, which brings together the technical expertise of Utah state government agencies and research universities, today shared data and insights to help decision-makers during the 2024 General Legislative Session. The new report, Great Salt Lake Data and Insights Summary, makes clear that no single solution will cure the lake, data and modeling investments will make a significant difference, and water shepherding is critical to raising water levels in the lake. (Read More)

United Utah Party announces 2024 candidates

The United Utah Party is proud to announce that 11 candidates have filed to run for office across the state. “The UUP and our candidates are excited to give voters a choice for citizen-focused government in Utah,” says Ladd Johnson, United Utah Party Chair. UUP candidates in 2024 include Michelle Quist for Attorney General, Vaughn Cook for CD4, Alan Wessman for Utah County Commission, and Tori Broughton for Wasatch City Council District D, in addition to seven other candidates for the Utah House of Representatives. The UUP is running more candidates than any other third-party in the state. (Read More)

Tweet of the Day

Upcoming

• Jan. 12 — Utah economic outlook & public policy summit, 8:30 am - 1:30 pm, Grand America Hotel. Register here
• Jan. 16 — Legislative session begins
• Jan 17 — Local Officials Day on the Hill
• Mar. 1 — Legislative session ends 
• Mar. 5 — Caucus night

On This Day In History 

• 1755 - Alexander Hamilton is born. He became the Founding Father with the best musical ever. 
• 1807 - Ezra Cornell is born. He founded the Western Union Telegraph Company and co-founded Cornell University.
• 1885 - Alice Paul is born. She later founded the National Women’s Party, was instrumental in the passage of the 19th Amendment in 1920 and 1923 and began the campaign for the Equal Rights Amendment.
• 1908 - Theodore Roosevelt makes the Grand Canyon a national monument.
• 1922 - Doctors give insulin to a diabetic patient for the first time.
• 1935 - Amelia Earhart makes the first solo flight from Hawaii to North America.
• 1964 - U.S. Surgeon General first announced a definitive link between cancer and smoking.
• 1989 - President Reagan gives his farewell address.
• 2010 - Miep Gies, who hid Anne Frank, dies at 100.
• 2018 - President Donald Trump calls some countries s***hole countries during an immigration meeting
• 2021 - US House Democrats introduce one article of impeachment against President Donald Trump for "incitement of insurrection" for encouraging his supporters to riot at the Capitol

Quote of the Day

"Let me offer lesson number one about America: All great change in America begins at the dinner table."

—President Ronald Reagan, in his farewell address, Jan. 11, 1989

On the Punny Side

It was so cold yesterday my computer froze…

It was my own fault though, I left too many windows open.

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