Dick Butkus has died at age 80; Utah Jazz scrimmaging at BYU-Hawaii; Narges Mohammadi has been awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize | | | 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 | October 6, 2023 It's Friday (already!) and today is World Smile Day. What You Need to Know Former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan was at UVU yesterday. He said the vote to remove McCarthy was a "total disgrace" and that Trump was a "scourge" on the country and the Republican party. In response to a question from a student on how to become less divisive, Ryan said voter should send "more John Curtises and fewer Matt Gaetzes" to Congress. Rapid Relevance NFL linebacker Dick Butkus has died at age 80; the Utah Jazz are scrimmaging at BYU-Hawaii; Narges Mohammadi has been awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her work against the oppression of women in Iran | | |
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Utah Headlines Political news Sen. Mike Lee introduces bill to ban taxpayer money from being used for gender transition research on youth (Deseret News) 'Unserious politics' hurting democracy and Trump is 'a scourge,' Paul Ryan tells Utah crowd (KSL) 'A total disgrace': Paul Ryan speaks on McCarthy ousting, today's politics at UVU (Daily Herald) Report: Utahâs state boards have more women than three years ago, but itâs still less than 40% (Salt Lake Tribune) Moore pulls no punches in comments about historic speaker ouster (Cache Valley Daily) We asked Utahâs congressmen whatâs next for a new Speaker of the House (KUER) Election news 5 takeaways from Salt Lake Cityâs televised mayoral debate (KSL) Former lawmaker Quinn Kotter pens fiery farewell letter â and his sister read it to Kotterâs GOP colleagues (Salt Lake Tribune) MacPherson, entangled in lawsuit involving state, elected to Utah House (KUTV) FAQ: What is ranked-choice voting, and how does it work for Utahâs elections? (ABC4) General Utah news Cam Rising didn't just injure his knee - he blew out his knee (Deseret News) $36,000 not paid yet to struggling family who cared for stolen, abandoned dog (Fox13) Business Another round of tech layoffs: Lucid cuts 7% of staff (Salt Lake Tribune) Crime Families describe fears, losses as Provo serial arsonist is sent to prison (KSL) Cedar Hills man, Ken Cromar, claims he never consented to legal proceedings is given the chance to cooperate (KSL) Glenn Beck, one of Tim Ballardâs biggest supporters, now believes he was âdupedâ by him (Salt Lake Tribune) Extradition order signed to bring Utah fugitive back from Scotland after faking his death (AP) Culture Are Utah or BYU games more fun for fans? I asked a man on an epic college football road trip (Deseret News) Video: Watch as a dad politely asks a bear to leave the family BBQ (Deseret News) Before Jonathan Roumie was cast in âThe Chosen,â he was broke and praying to God for help (Deseret News) Education Charter school enrollment grows in Utah as some schools top state rankings (Salt Lake Tribune) Grieving father advocates for mental health screenings in Utah schools (KUTV) Another swastika found at Weber State, police seeking tips to find perpetrator (ABC4) Environment 2 in 5 amphibian species are at risk of extinction due to climate change, study says (Deseret News) Suspected avian botulism outbreak kills thousands of waterfowl in Utah (KSL) Greener natural gas? A hydrogen maker unveiled in Delta, Utah could make it so (Salt Lake Tribune) ExxonMobil subsidiary penalized for violating federal requirements on Utah reservation (Salt Lake Tribune) September sizzled to records and was so much warmer than average scientists call it âmind-blowingâ (AP) Health The silent killer: Understanding causes, symptoms and preventing high blood pressure (Deseret News) Do genes determine if you can be a vegetarian for long? (Deseret News) Researchers learning how gene dysfunction contributes to autism, other brain disorders (Deseret News) Housing Are houseboats the new tiny homes? (Deseret News) Which states built the most homes - before 2023 crashed the party? Utah, Idaho rank close behind Texas (Deseret News) Would you ever live in an HOA â and do you still have a choice? 80% of new homes sold in the West in 2022 were in HOAs (Deseret News) Mayor talks transitional housing for homeless in Sandy (KSL Newsradio) | | |
National Headlines General Her research was not funded, she was demoted and later let go. She just won the Nobel Prize in Medicine (Deseret News) Team USA gymnastics won a record 7th consecutive team title at World Championships. Simone Biles led the team to gold in Antwerp, Belgium, making a splash at her first international event since the Olympics in 2021 (Deseret News) US employers added a surprisingly strong 336,000 jobs in September in a sign of economic resilience (KSL TV) Further evidence points to footprints in New Mexico being the oldest sign of humans in Americas (AP) Politics Jim Jordan, Steve Scalise ... Donald Trump? The House speaker race just got more interesting (Deseret News) Jay Evensen: What Democrats get wrong with 'tax the rich' mantra (Deseret News) Who had the shortest House Speaker term in US history? (KSL) Ex-treasurer for Rep. George Santos pleads guilty to conspiracy, tells of bogus loan and fake donors (AP) The fate of Ukraine funding lies in the balance with speaker's race (NPR) Trump endorses Jim Jordan in race for House Speaker (New York Times) Election news Former Green Party candidate Cornel West now running as an Independent (Deseret News) A weakened DeSantis returns to Florida to campaign (Politico) Ramaswamy wanted to be an RNC insider before he started bashing the institution (Politico) Ukraine ðºð¦ Russian strike that hit a shop in Ukraine kills at least 51, Ukraine officials say. Around 60 people inside the cafe when the rocket struck were attending a wake following a funeral (Deseret News) A Russian missile attack in eastern Ukraine kills a 10-year-old boy and his grandmother (AP) 'Half the village is gone': Ukraine hamlet reels after missile strike (Reuters) World Vikings had windows, another shift away from their image as barbaric Norsemen, Danish museum says (AP) | | |
| | Guest opinion: Embracing collaboration for Utahâs bright future by Derek Miller Utah has always stood as a shining example of what can be achieved when individuals work together towards common goals. From the pioneers who braved hardships to build resilient communities to the trailblazers who joined forces to drive economic progress, our stateâs history makes one thing clear: We understand the power of working hand in hand. Thanks to our dedicated community leaders and committed lawmakers, this tradition extends into our public policy work each year. Yet, despite the robust state of Utahâs economy, we recognize that we are not separate from our national economy. In the spirit of Utahâs collaborative ethos, the Salt Lake Chamberâs 2023 Federal Priorities highlight areas where cooperative effort can lead to collective prosperity nationwide..... For example, we know that responsible financial practices and market freedom are essential for sustained economic growth. What some donât realize is that irresponsible financial practices, such as an overreliance on debt, have a direct impact on real people, whether it be by increasing inflation or discouraging direct spending. So, in our federal priorities, the Chamber emphasizes the need for policies that promote prudent risk management and corporate governance, minimizing the need for financial bailouts. We work together with Utah business owners to press for policies that promote responsible and sustainable behavior in the financial industry, including prudent risk management and corporate governance. However, fiscal responsibility is not the only area that requires our collaborative focus during this upcoming session. Utah, like many other states, faces a critical shortage of skilled workers across various industries. To address this challenge, the Chamber advocates for immigration reform that increases pathways for legal immigration while addressing border security. Fixing the broken immigration system will address workforce demands, protect the national interest and allow communities and families to prosper. Lastly, permitting reform serves as an opportunity to empower businesses by simplifying the process, reducing regulatory burdens and encouraging responsible decision-making at the state and local levels. By engaging businesses, industry experts and government officials in constructive dialogue, we can streamline regulatory processes, eliminate unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles and create a more business-friendly environment. This collaborative approach empowers entrepreneurs and fuels Utahâs economic engine. (Read More) News Releases Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness releases new strategic plan The Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness announces the release of its strategic plan to ensure its continued efforts to render homelessness brief, rare and non-recurring are focused on best practice, collaboration and data. The strategic plan is a living document designed to coordinate prevention, crisis response and long-term strategies across providers and with state, county and city government efforts. Importantly, the plan is and will continue to be informed by the expertise of individuals with lived experience. The Coalitionâs plan centers on foundational pillars of addressing disparities and ensuring equity for people experiencing homelessness, implementing data-driven strategies, and collaborating across systems to ensure individuals in crisis are placed in appropriate housing and receive the services needed to stay successfully housed. (Read More) Utah Port Authority delivers on sustainability commitment with presentation of wetlands policy The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) pitched its comprehensive Wetlands Policy to their board today. The policy outlines regulations and strategies to protect and conserve wetlands within its project areas. The policy is now open for review by UIPAâs board and invites public input to ensure responsible land management and environmental preservation. (Read More) Beaver County embarks on new era of economic growth with Utah Inland Port area The Utah Inland Port Authority (UIPA) Board of Directors unanimously approved the Mineral Mountains Park Project Area resolution for Beaver County, creating Utahâs sixth inland port. The decision was made during UIPAâs board meeting held Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Milford, Utah. Known for its rich history in rail, mining and agriculture, Beaver County is uniquely positioned to harness the potential of the Mineral Mountains Project Area, leveraging its rugged geography and diverse natural resources. (Read More) Utah AG and Consumer Protection announce multistate settlement with Blackbaud Attorney General Sean Reyes and the Utah Department of Commerceâs Division of Consumer Protection announced today that Utah, along with 49 other attorneys general, has reached a settlement with software company Blackbaud for its deficient data security practices and response to a 2020 ransomware event that exposed the personal information of millions of consumers across the United States. Under the settlement, Blackbaud has agreed to overhaul its data security and breach notification practices and make a $49.5 million payment to states. Utah will receive $573,977 from the settlement. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Understanding Sexism in Utah with the Utah Women and Leadership Projectâ Oct. 10, 12:00-1:15 pm, Register here Civics Educator Conference with "Sharon Says So" â Oct. 10, UVU, More information and registration here Interim Day â Oct 10-11, le.utah.gov Martha Hughes Cannon Award with Utah Women Run â Nov 2, 6:00-8:00 pm, Nominate someone here Interim Day â Nov 14-15, le.utah.gov Celebrating 30 years of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, with the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation â Nov 16, 10 am, MST, Register here
General election â Nov. 21
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On This Day In History 1536 - William Tyndale, English translator of the New Testament, is martyred 1683 - The first Mennonites arrive in America 1890 - Official Declaration 1 banning the practice of polygamy was accepted at General Conference. 1914 - Mary Louise Smith is born. She becomes a Republican Party committeewoman and chair (1974-77), and was a pro-choice supporter of the ERA 1917 - Fannie Lou Hamer is born. She was a civil rights leader and voting rights crusader, helped organize the Mississippi Freedom Summer in 1964. 1949 - US President Harry Truman signs Mutual Defense Assistance Act (for NATO) 1961 - President Kennedy urges Americans to build bomb shelters 1973 - The Yom Kippur War brings United States and USSR to brink of conflict 1979 - Pope John Paul II is 1st Pope to visit The White House, meeting with President Jimmy Carter in Washington, D.C. 1981 - Anwar Sadat, the president of Egypt, is assassinated 2010 - Instagram is born 2018 - 2018 Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed and sworn onto the US Supreme Court Quote of the Day âSometimes it seem like to tell the truth today is to run the risk of being killed. But if I fall, Iâll fall five feet four inches forward in the fight for freedom. Iâm not backing off.â âFannie Lou Hamer On the Punny Side Did you hear about the town that legalised weed but banned alcohol? The residents were left high and dry. | | |
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