Utahâs governor says America needs a âreligious revivalâ; miracle cat survives 380-foot fall; âMonty Python and the Holy Grailâ turns 50 | | | The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. We scour the news so you don't have to! Send news tips or feedback to Holly Richardson at editor@utahpolicy.com. | | |
Situational Analysis | May 2, 2025 It's Friday and Star Wars weekend! May the Fourth be with you. And happy birthday to Sen. Todd Weiler on Sunday, May 4th. ð ð ð What you need to know The Utah Legislature decided not to override the governorâs six vetoes from the 2025 legislative session. The legislature had until May 6 to convene a veto override session. âWe respect the governorâs vetoes. Some of them I agree with, some of them I donât agree with,â House Speaker Mike Schultz said previously. Rapid Relevance Utahâs governor says America needs a âreligious revivalâ; miracle cat survives 380-foot fall; âMonty Python and the Holy Grailâ turns 50 | | |
| | Wildlife Crossings Save Moneyâand Lives Utah sees around 7,000 deer-vehicle collisions annually, costing taxpayers nearly $138 million in vehicle damage and injury each year.
Luckily, research shows that overpasses and underpasses with associated fencing can reduce those collisions by up to 90%. But first, they have to be funded. While wildlife crossings are sometimes included in larger road projects, Utah needs dedicated fundingâfunding that would accelerate the construction of projects when and where they are needed. Learn More. | | |
Utah Headlines Political news Sen. John Curtis passes first Senate legislation, attempts to undo Biden-era EPA rule (Deseret News) With Trump expected to shrink monument boundaries again, Sen. Curtis offers a compromise (Fox13) Sen. Mike Lee asked Rubio to withdraw the U.S. from an environmental treaty (Deseret News) PornHub blocked Utah 2 years ago. A lot has happened since (KUER) Municipal news Herriman wants to build a regional park. It just signed off on almost 450 new homes to make it work. (Salt Lake Tribune) LPGA Tour golfers arrive in style for Black Desert Championship in St. George (ABC4) LPGA Tour Black Desert Championship rolls out the red carpet for 'phenomenal' women golfers (St. George News) Utah The world knows him as Malalaâs father. Heâs now teamed up with a Utah-based nonprofit (Deseret News) 15-year high in motorcycle fatalities prompts Utah to offer discounted safety course (KSL) Rock climbers rescued after falling in remote area of American Fork Canyon (KSL Newsradio) Utah medical examiner narrows unidentified human remains to 30 bodies (KUTV) Biz/Tech How will tariffs and AI affect the job market in 2025? (Deseret News) South Asian SLC grocery store feeling impacts of tariffs, rising shipping costs (Fox13) Apple posts stronger-than-expected Q2 results, says majority of US iPhones sold will come from India (AP) Culture/Community Hundreds gather at vigil to honor 9-year-old hit and killed in Pleasant Grove (KSL TV) Feel inadequate? Accept Jesus Christâs offer to âwalk with me,â womenâs conference speaker says (Deseret News) Donny Osmond steals the show with surprise songs, testimony of Christ at BYU Womenâs Conference (Deseret News) Economy Immigrants, taxes, uncertainty and the Utah economy (KSL TV) Trump says itâs Bidenâs economy, but businesses and economists beg to differ (AP) Education - Higher Class of 2025: University of Utah graduates challenged to âimagine & then createâ their dream lives (Deseret News) Utah Tech University to cut Spanish, American Sign Language programs under state-imposed budget cuts (Fox13) USU UWLP releases research on Utah women and finances (Cache Valley Daily) Energy Utahns pay the lowest rates in U.S. for electricity, even as one of the stateâs coal sources decline (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah is again an energy exporter thanks to Uinta Basin crude oil (KUER) Trump mining projects hit several Western states with ten new sites (UPR) Health Anxiety and depression are on the rise in America (Deseret News) Local pharmacies and dentists are preparing for Utahâs fluoride ban (KSL Newsradio) Inpatient mental health treatment at SLC V.A. halted, but officials wonât say why (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah child psychologist says children struggling more than ever with mental health (KUTV) How substance addictions change the brain (Deseret News) The science is clear: Deep breathing can be a game changer for anyone. Elite athletes agree (New York Times) Housing Homebuilders offer bigger incentives to lure buyers (Deseret News) | | |
National Headlines General Army plans for a potential parade on Trumpâs birthday call for 6,600 soldiers, AP learns (AP) Cha-ching! Millions of dimes spill onto Texas highway after truck rolls (AP) Vatican firefighters install a chimney on the roof of the Sistine Chapel for the papal election (AP) Political news As Democrats look for new leadership, AOC emerges as Bernie 2.0 (Deseret News) Republicans move to overhaul student loans, including capping how much can be borrowed (Deseret News) Mike Waltz out as national security advisor, in as nominee for U.N. ambassador (Deseret News) These LDS women are giving lawmakers a piece of their mind â one quilt square at a time (Salt Lake Tribune/Religion News Service) These judges ruled against Trump. Then their families came under attack. (Reuters) Trump signs order that aims to cut funding to NPR, PBS (Reuters) With Waltz out, Rubio takes on two key roles after shifting to embrace Trumpâs ideals (AP) The Justice Department ended a decades-old school desegregation order. Others are expected to fall (AP) Education Department stops $1 billion in funding for school mental health (NPR) Rural communities were promised millions in disaster funds. Trump is ending it (NPR) JD Vance: What President Trump achieved in his first 100 days (Washington Post) Trump once joked about a third term. Now, he says itâs no laughing matter. (Washington Post) GOP senators wonder about Hegsethâs future amid Trump administration turmoil (The Hill) Immigration/Deportation Trump-appointed federal judge blocks use of Alien Enemies Act for Venezuelans in South Texas (NPR) Tariffs As Trump moves to apply tariffs to small parcels, some retailers give up on US (Reuters) Shein and Temu will cost more, thanks to massive tariffs going into effect (NPR) DOGE/Musk GOP balks at approving even a fraction of Muskâs DOGE cuts (Washington Post) 'He's trying to colonize this community': Inside Elon Musk's plot to take over this Texas town (Politico) Ukraine/Russia Peace in exchange for land? For many Ukrainians, it's too painful to contemplate (Reuters) Russia says it is creating 'security strip' in Ukraine's Sumy region (Reuters) Since cease-fire talks began, life in Ukraine has become more dangerous, U.N. says (New York Times) Israel, Gaza, Syria Israeli warplanes strike near Syriaâs presidential palace (Wall Street Journal) World news Russia says it will help Taliban fight Islamic State in Afghanistan (Reuters) Britainâs Latest True Crime Thriller: Who Killed the Sycamore Tree? (Wall Street Journal) | | |
| | News Releases Utahâs Energy Sector: Abundance, diversity, and technological change Utahâs energy sector continues to evolve as the forces of supply, demand, and technological change influence production and competition. The state benefits from abundant and diverse energy resources, including large reserves of conventional fossil fuels and several areas suitable for renewable resource development. A new research brief documents Utahâs record crude oil production in 2024, an exponential increase in utility-scale PV solar capacity, a return as a net energy exporter, and other details of Utahâs evolving energy landscape. (Read More) Faith and community groups raise concerns about proposed Medicaid work requirements On Thursday, May 1, 2025, the Faith and Advocacy Coalition to End Hunger and Homelessness submitted the following letter to Utahâs Department of Health and Human Services, and other state leaders, raising concerns about a proposal to add work requirements to Utahâs Medicaid Program. The letter was signed by 67 people from eleven different denominations and three different nonprofit organizations, located in areas ranging from Ogden to Park City to Springville. This proposal would require thousands of underemployed and unemployed Utahns to apply for 48 jobs within three months in order to maintain access to basic healthcare. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming May 6 â "State AG Offices and the New Administration" webinar hosted by the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, 10:00 am MDT, Register here May 12 â Utah Taxes Now Conference with the Utah Taxpayers Association, Grand America Hotel, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, Register here May 17 â Utah GOP Organizing Convention, at UVUâs UCCU Center. May 31 â Utah Democratic Party Organizing Convention, Ogden High School Aug 7 â Titan of Public Service gala with Sen. Tom Cotton hosted by the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation at the Grand America Hotel. More Information Here | | |
On This Day In History 1670 - King Charles II grants charter to Hudsonâs Bay Company 1865 - US President Andrew Johnson offers $100,000 reward for the capture of Jefferson Davis. 1915 - Clara Immerwahr, German chemist, commits suicide in protest of the âperversion of the ideals of scienceâ when chlorine gas was used to kill 5000 soldiers. It was her husband who initiated the release of the gas. 1933 - Loch Ness Monster seen for the first time, igniting the modern legend. 1957 - Senator Joseph McCarthy dies at age 48. 1963 - 2,543 Black and White civil rights demonstrators protesting segregation are arrested and jailed in Birmingham, Alabama, including 600 children. 1972 - J. Edgar Hoover dies, ending a five-decade era at the FBI. 1994 - Nelson Mandela claims victory in South Africaâs first democratic elections 2000 - President Bill Clinton announces that accurate GPS access would no longer be restricted to the United States military 2018 - Rudy Giuliani says in a Fox News interview that President Donald Trump had reimbursed Trumpâs personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, for $130,000 in hush money paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels 2022 - Draft leaked of a Supreme Court ruling throwing out Roe v. Wade Quote of the Day âIt is not our diversity which divides us; it is not our ethnicity, or religion or culture that divides us. Since we have achieved our freedom, there can only be one division amongst us: between those who cherish democracy and those who do not.â
âNelson Mandela On the Punny Side Math is hard, 15+15 is thirty⦠But 16+16 is thirty too. | | |
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