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Utah Headlines

General

• Horrible tragedy. 2 siblings hit, killed on their way to school in Provo; driver also died (KSL)
• Utah FBI employee charged with sexually abusing multiple children (Fox13)
• Salt Lake County DA switches course, files charges against former Bluffdale fire chief (KUTV)
• Manti Te’o catfishing documentary: What is catfishing? How to avoid getting catfished (Deseret News)
• Alta High football player Jalen Sutton recovering after spinal cord surgery following injury last week (Deseret News)
• “... you tell your Goddaughter to stand tall, be proud and continue to be BLACK!!! We are a brotherhood and sisterhood! We have her back. This is not sports," writes LeBron James (Deseret News)
• Dick Harmon: BYU, rest of us must do better in educating about, combating racial bigotry (Deseret News)
• Black Menaces TikTok group speak out on racist BYU incident (ABC4)
• BYU students of color see ‘business as usual’ on campus following racial heckling incident (KUER)

Politics

• A group pitching a proposal to build a pipeline from the Pacific Ocean to the Great Salt Lake met with some members of the Utah legislature and
  Governor Cox's office (Fox13)
• What Utah politicians are saying about the racist incident at a BYU volleyball game (Deseret News)
• 3 Utah 'resiliency' projects receive $109M in grants from federal government (KSL)
• Salt Lake City raises property taxes after reported increase in services demand (KSL)
• It’s time for more grace in our public discourse (Deseret News)
• Lessons in politics and empathy from one of New York’s elder statesmen, Robert Abrams: ‘If you can explain to your constituents what motivated you to vote that way ... even if they don’t agree with you, they’ll understand.’ (Deseret News)
• Senator Keith Grover wants church leaders to pass a background check before working with children (Salt Lake Tribune)

Business

• Investors in Utah’s Pluralsight get a 2nd chance to prove an executive misled them while he was selling his stock (Salt Lake Tribune)

Economy

• New federal report shows hints of easing inflation, but goods and services still mostly up (Deseret News)

Education

• Utah college helps Chicano artists preserve their culture through murals, music and more (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Parents outraged after preferred pronouns posted by Farmington Jr. High counselors (KSL TV)
• Uncertainty greets parents on first day of school in Salt Lake City (KUTV)
• 😮 Motorcyclist arrested after going 100mph through Millcreek school zone (KUTV)
• Police help Salt Lake City kids with back to school supplies in Pay-it-Forward program (Fox13)

Environment

• ‘Significant milestone’ in climate change fight: Underground carbon storage gaining traction in Wyoming, but years away in Utah (Deseret News)
• Utah expected to break many temperature records as ‘heat dome’ arrives ahead of Labor Day (St. George News)
• Utah forecast calls for scorching temps, with record-breaking heat in Salt Lake City (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Greenland ice sheet set to raise sea levels by nearly a foot, study finds (Washington Post)

Health

• How to order free COVID-19 at-home tests before program ends Friday (Deseret News)
• Monkeypox can spread to anyone, in more ways that you may think. Here’s what you need to know (Deseret News)

Housing

• Can Utah commit to reducing homelessness before hosting another Olympics? (KSL)
• Rent price hikes are slowing — but are outpacing home price increases (Deseret News)

National Headlines

General

• Mississippi’s largest city in water crisis as treatment plant fails (Washington Post)
• Known as the “Man of the Hole,” the last member of an Indigenous group was found dead this month in Brazil, marking the first recorded disappearance of an isolated tribe in the country. (New York Times)
• A man who entered a zoo enclosure to allegedly steal a rare white lion cub was mauled to death by the other lions. (Fox13)
• Data centers, backbone of the digital economy, face water scarcity and climate risk (NPR)
• The remains of Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Nyota Uhura on Star Trek) will join those of Gene Roddenberry (Star Trek creator), his wife, actor Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, as well as those of James Doohan, who played Montgomery "Scotty" Scott in the series and films on a voyage to deep space. (NPR)
• Musk cites whistleblower as new reason to exit Twitter deal (AP)
• Death in Navy SEAL training exposes a culture of brutality, cheating and drugs. The elite force’s selection course is so punishing that few make it through, and many of those who do resort to illicit tactics. (New York Times)

Politics

• 6 in 10 Republicans say Trump should be 2024 GOP nominee (The Hill)
• Republicans are signaling concern that the midterm sweep they anticipated is complicated by attention on Donald Trump's legal exposure. Few appeared on Sunday shows to defend him, and those who did indicated they'd rather talk about almost anything else. (New York Times)
• Most Trump voters see civil war as somewhat likely within a decade (Washington Post)
• Republicans scramble to tweak abortion messaging ahead of November (The Hill)
• ‘There’s enormous frustration’: Trump forces Republicans off-script… again (Politico)
• Former top DOJ official: Graham warning of ‘riots’ if Trump is prosecuted ‘incredibly irresponsible’ (The Hill)
• House conservatives prep plans to impeach Biden (The Hill)

Ukraine 🇺🇦 

• Eyes on Kherson as Ukraine claims bold move on Russians (AP)
• Ukraine aims to build on initial gains in southern offensive. Kyiv’s focus is on Kherson, the largest city to have fallen under Russian control in the early days of the war (Wall Street Journal)
• Volunteer sniper embodies Ukraine’s versatile military (AP)
• France accuses Russia of using gas supply as 'weapon of war' (Reuters)
• Ukraine war is depleting U.S. ammunition stockpiles, sparking Pentagon concern (Wall Street Journal)
• Ukraine lures Russian missiles with decoys of U.S. rocket system (Washington Post)
• Ukraine has hobbled Russia's Black Sea Fleet. Could it turn the tide of the war? (Politico)

World News

• One-third of Pakistan submerged, 1,000 dead in historic flooding (Deseret News)
• Iraqi cleric tells loyalists to leave streets after clashes (AP)

DOPL responds to op-ed on licensing ex-offenders

by Zach Whitney

Last week Utah Policy published an opinion piece claiming that Utah’s professional licensing boards discriminate against ex-offenders. This claim is baseless and ignores critical facts that show state lawmakers and the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) have made several significant efforts over the past several years to reduce barriers and open opportunities for Utahns with criminal histories.

In the 2019 general legislative session lawmakers passed HB 90, which provided an application process whereby ex-offenders can determine if their criminal history would disqualify them from licensure if all other requirements are met. This step helps ex-offenders definitively know whether they’re eligible for licensure before they spend the time and money fulfilling license requirements and going through the application process. DOPL has reviewed 24 criminal history determination applications so far this year. In addition to receiving an answer as to whether or not a person’s criminal history would disqualify them from licensure, applicants receive resources and additional information on steps they could take to potentially qualify for licensure in the future....

Additionally, in the 2020 legislative session lawmakers passed SB 201. This bill specifically requires DOPL to make individual considerations based on several factors before they’re able to deny an applicant based on their criminal history. Among these factors are the time that has elapsed since conviction, the applicant’s participation in any rehabilitation programs, and testimonials provided by the applicant. This requirement ensures applications for ex-offenders are considered case by case....

We are committed to working with lawmakers and trade associations to update licensing requirements to be relevant to today’s standards. In fact, that’s one thing the Office of Professional Licensure Review will be specifically looking at cleaning up. (Read the full response on Utah Policy)

News Releases

USU names Devin Wiser new VP for Government and External Affairs

Utah State University alumni Devin Wiser has been named vice president for government and external relations at USU. He will assume the position on Sept. 21, 2022.

As vice president, Wiser will report directly to USU President Noelle E. Cockett and comprise part of the executive leadership team. Wiser will oversee all levels of government relationships for the university, including development and implementation of federal and state legislative priorities. He will serve as USU’s external liaison by developing and communicating strategies for its campuses, centers and offices throughout the state. Additionally, Wiser will oversee USU’s Institute of Government and Politics. (Read More)

Katharine and Robert Garff to be honored with the Utah Foundation’s 2022 Insight Award

Katharine Garff and her late husband Robert will be honored with the Insight Award at Utah Foundation’s 2022 Annual Luncheon on November 16 at the Marriott City Creek Hotel. The purpose of the Insight Award is to recognize civic leaders who, through a career of service or philanthropic support, have worked with integrity to provide insights in the public policy arena with the aim of improving government.

More details, including information on Annual Luncheon tickets and sponsorships, are available here. (Read More)

South Valley Chamber announces SOURCE South Valley Small Business Summit

The South Valley Chamber of Commerce (SVCC) announced the launch of a new summit tailored to support and supercharge small businesses in Utah. Taking place on October 18, 2022 from 8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m., SOURCE is the South Valley’s Small Business Summit and is designed by small business leaders for small businesses with less than 50 employees. The event will be held at the Mountain America Expo Center in Sandy, but is open to small businesses across Utah and beyond.

Attendees and exhibitors and can register for SOURCE 2022 at Sourcesouthvalley.com (Read More)

Number of the Day

Tweet of the Day

Upcoming

• “Impulsivity, poor decisions, and what to do about it" with USU Blue Plate Research — Sept 9, 11:30 am, Gallivan Hall downtown SLC, Register here
• Women in the Money with Utah State Treasurer's Office — Sept. 15-16, Salt Lake Sheraton + online, Register here
• Interim Days — Sept. 20-22, le.utah.gov
• ULCT Annual Convention — Oct 5-7, Salt Palace Convention Center, Register here
• One Utah Summit — Oct 11-13, Southern Utah University, Register here
• Interim Days — Oct 18-20, le.utah.gov
• General election â€“ Nov 8
• Utah Economic Outlook and Public Policy Summit with the Salt Lake Chamber — Jan. 12, 2023, Salt Lake City Marriott, 8 am - noon, Register here

On This Day In History

• 1682 - William Penn leaves England to sail to the New World
• 1862 - Second Battle of Bull Run in Manassas, Virginia ends with a Confederate victory over Union forces
• 1890 - President Benjamin Harrison signed the first U.S. law requiring inspection of meat products
• 1957 - US senator Strom Thurmond speaks 24hrs 27m against civil rights
• 1966 - Constance Baker Motley is confirmed as U.S. district judge, becoming the first Black woman on the federal bench. She was also the first African American woman elected to the New York State Senate in 1964. 
• 1967 - Thurgood Marshall becomes 1st Black Supreme Court Justice
• 1983 - The astronaut, Guion S. Bluford, Jr., makes history when he became the African American to fly in space.
• 1984 - Judith A. Resnick is the second U.S. woman in space, traveling on the first flight of the space shuttle Discovery
• 2017 - Hurricane Irma forms near Cape Verde Islands, will go on to become category 5 hurricane and kill at least 102
• 2021 - America ends its longest-ever war of 20 years in Afghanistan as the last military evacuation plane flies out of Kabul

Wise Words

"When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid."

—Audre Lorde

The Punny Side

Why do seagulls fly over the sea?

Because if they flew over the bay, they'd be bagels... (h/t Bart Barker)

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