Utes women upset #3 Notre Dame; BYU wins on Sat, but misses out on the Big 12 title game; and a squirrel caused 4,700 people to lose power | | | 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 | Dec. 2, 2024 It's the Monday after Thanksgiving and that means Cyber Monday! (But really - don't you do most of your shopping online anyway?) What you need to know President Joe Biden has pardoned his son, Hunter, giving him a a âfull and unconditional pardonâ for any criminal offenses committed from Jan. 1, 2014, to Dec. 1, 2024. In Sundayâs statement, Biden said he was pardoning his son because his âpolitical opponents in Congressâ helped undo the plea deal that would have kept Hunter Biden out of jail. âIt is clear that Hunter was treated differently. The charges in his cases came about only after several of my political opponents in Congress instigated them to attack me and oppose my election.â Rapid Relevance Utes women upset #3 Notre Dame; BYU wins on Saturday, but misses out on the Big 12 title game; and 4,700 people in Salt Lake City were without power on Saturday - because of a squirrel. | | |
| | The Truth About Election Security in Utah The 2024 election faced extra scrutiny from election deniers and everyday citizens. So how do you know you can trust election results? Join Utah Insight from PBS Utah to learn how voting systems work in the Beehive State and how growing distrust threatens to undermine our democratic republic. | | |
Utah Headlines Political news Utah Gov. Cox plans to help Trump deport undocumented immigrants who commit crimes (Salt Lake Tribune) Latino groups react strongly to Gov. Coxâs plans to deport undocumented immigrants who commit crimes (Salt Lake Tribune) Understanding the power of your vote in Utah's political system (Hinckley Report) Rep. Celeste Maloy says Utahâs congressional delegation âpunches above its weightâ (Deseret News) When this Salt Lake County officeholder is sworn in, sheâll make history (Salt Lake Tribune) As costs soared, a northern Utah county relied on its savings. Now, residents are fighting a hefty tax hike. (Salt Lake Tribune) Tribune editorial: New Utah attorney general offers a clean slate, and an open calendar (Salt Lake Tribune) The women of the West are making political history â and have been for 130 years (Salt Lake Tribune) Majority drinkers now make up Utah's alcohol control authority (Fox13) Ogden leaders debate deeply affordable housing project amid push for economic growth (KUER) Utah legislative leaders announce leadership, committee appointments for 2025 session (Standard-Examiner) GOP Utah lawmakers consider having more say over air quality rules (KSL) 2025 Legislature: Women, Utahns of color see more representation â but still are disproportionately left out (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Stephanie Nielson on healing: âMy whole recovery is climbing mountains every dayâ (Deseret News) Founder of Tiny Timâs Toy Shop dies, remembered for helping thousands of kids (KSL) Compassion and support: How Utah is tackling the deadly fentanyl crisis (Salt Lake Tribune) From hoops to Highland cows: The unusual origin story of Golden Hour Farm (Deseret News) Biz/Tech Online shoppers set blistering pace for 2024 holiday spending (Deseret News) Crime/Courts 'Seemed pretty legit': Utah couple warns residents about being extorted through warrant scams (KSL) Culture Volunteers prepare thousands of Thanksgiving meals for community members (Fox13) Balancing the to-do list with enjoying the Christmas season (Deseret News) Derwin Gray: Thanksgiving should be a way of life, not just a single day (Deseret News) The Festival of Trees and an army of volunteers (Deseret News) Education Opinion: Studentsâ tech skills should be nurtured, not punished (Deseret News) Will the next Elon Musk or Phil Knight emerge from Utahâs Lassonde Entrepreneur Institute? (Deseret News) Weber State student working to make health care more accessible for Native Americans (Fox13) Teachers worry about salaries and benefits as Alpine School District prepares to split (Fox13) Tribune editorial: Board overseeing state universities has a lot more to do to clean up the mess at Utah Tech (Salt Lake Tribune) Environment This Utah area sets sights on observatory for night skies (Deseret News) Utah program helping relocate beavers to restore environment (KSL TV) New data could tell us how much of Utahâs water simply disappears into the air (KUER) âWithout meritâ: Feds respond to Utahâs public land lawsuit (St. George News) Opinion: Utahâs Operation Gigawatt should be a blueprint for the country (Deseret News) Heavy inversions hit Northern Utah with smog (KSL TV) Family How high DCFS turnover, high caseloads affect Utah children facing abuse (Fox13) Health As the days get darker, here are 6 things you can do to help combat seasonal depression (Deseret News) Housing 'I have to give thanks': Utah's homeless offer their take on Thanksgiving (KSL) What do we need to change about how we address homelessness? (KSL Newsradio) | | |
National Headlines General Michigan, Ohio State players brawl after Wolverines beat No. 2 Buckeyes. Police use pepper spray (AP) Emboldened âmanosphereâ accelerates threats and demeaning language toward women after US election (AP) The price America paid for its first big immigration crackdown: The Chinese Exclusion Act (NPR) Political news Hereâs what makes Trumpâs second transition different than his first (Deseret News) Trump nominates Latter-day Saint lawyer as his trade chief (Deseret News) Trump nominates critic of COVID-19 lockdowns to reform NIH (Deseret News) Sen. Mike Lee introduces legislation to eliminate identify preferences in federal contracting (Cache Valley Daily) Charles Kushner, pardoned by Trump, is nominated by Trump as French ambassador, sparking controversy (AP) Trump threatens 100% tariffs on BRIC nations over currency plans to undermine U.S. dollar (AP) Trump picks loyalist Kash Patel to head FBI (Reuters) Patel has publicly mused about targeting journalists, government officials (Washington Post) Ukraine ðºð¦ Ukraine says war has damaged most of its civilian airports (Reuters) Zelenskyy says NATO offer for Ukraine-controlled territory could end âhot stageâ of war (AP) Germany pledges an extra $680 million to Ukraine in effort at reassurance (New York Times) Israel and Gaza World Central Kitchen workers killed by Israeli airstrike, Gaza health ministry says (NPR) US dual citizen thought to be alive in Gaza died on Oct. 7, Israel says (New York Times) World news Syrian rebels sweep into Aleppo, Russia conducts strikes in support of Assad (Reuters) Many thousands rally to oppose Georgian government after break with EU (Reuters) Chinese crypto businessman eats his controversial $6.2 million banana art piece (NPR) Guinea stadium crush kills 56 people after disputed refereeing decision (Reuters) | | |
| | News Releases Gov. Cox announces state effort to support incoming Trump administration on deporting illegal immigrants who have committed crimes and pose a threat to public safety
On Wednesday, Gov. Cox announced a targeted effort by state government to support the incoming presidential administrationâs priorities on illegal immigration. The stateâs actions will be a joint effort by the Utah Department of Public Safety and the Utah Department of Corrections to enhance coordination with federal, state and local partners to identify, incarcerate and deport more illegal immigrants who have committed crimes and pose a threat to public safety. (Read More) Utah Senate and House Democratic leaders on Governor Coxâs immigration announcement Utah Senate Democratic Leader Luz Escamilla and House Democratic Leader Angela Romero issued the following statement after Governor Cox announced state efforts to support incoming Trump administrationâs priorities on illegal immigration: âThe Governorâs announcement raises serious concerns about equating immigration with criminality and scapegoating undocumented communities. While we all want to hold criminals accountable and ensure public safety, this approach risks creating fear and misrepresenting undocumented individuals, many of whom contribute significantly to Utahâs economy, culture, and workforce. In these conversations, we must distinguish between those who commit crimes and those seeking better lives for themselves and their families. Instead of fostering fear and division, we need policies that build trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities, ensuring victims and witnesses feel safe coming forward." (Read More) Scammers impersonating Utah government officials and targeting licensed professionals The Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL) is warning licensed professionals of an alarming scam involving impersonation and intimidation tactics. Recent reports indicate that scammers are making fraudulent calls to healthcare licensees using spoofed DOPL phone numbers, posing as DOPL officials, and issuing false threats of license suspensions and criminal investigations. These tactics resemble a government impersonation scam. Those affected report the callers demonstrate knowledge of their profession and professional licensing topics. (Read More) Salt Lake Chamber announces Mary Catherine Perry as new Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs The Salt Lake Chamber announced that Mary Catherine Perry, formerly the director of policy and government affairs for The Policy Project, will lead the Chamberâs advocacy efforts as vice president of public policy and government affairs, as well as manage the policy committees that bring together Chamber members and community partners to establish strategies in key policy areas. (Read More) Speaker Mike Schultz announces committee assignments for 2025-2026 term Speaker Mike Schultz has appointed the following members to serve in extended leadership, filling the roles of Executive Appropriations Committee Chair and Vice Chair and Rules Committee Chair and Vice Chair: Executive Appropriations Committee Chair â Rep. Val Peterson Executive Appropriations Committee Vice Chair â Rep. Walt Brooks Rules Committee Chair â Rep. Jordan Teuscher Rules Committee Vice Chair â Rep. Karen Peterson House Majority Caucus Manager â Rep. Candice Pierucci (Read More) President Adams announces committee assignments for the 66th legislature President J. Stuart Adams announces Utah Senate committee appointments for the 66th Legislature (2025/26) and the appointed majority leadership team. Utah Senate Majority Leadership Team Sen. J. Stuart Adams, Senate President Sen. Kirk Cullimore, Majority Leader Sen. Chris Wilson, Majority Whip Sen. Michael McKell, Majority Assistant Whip Sen. Jerry Stevenson, Executive Appropriations chair Sen. Scott Sandall, Executive Appropriations vice-chair Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, Rules Committee chair Sen. Keith Grover, Rules Committee vice-chair Sen. Wayne A. Harper, President Pro Tempore Sen. Todd D. Weiler, Senate Parliamentarian Utah Senate Minority Leadership Team Senator Luz Escamilla, Minority Leader Sen. Karen Kwan, Minority Whip Sen. Jennifer Plumb, Minority Assistant Whip Sen. Kathleen Riebe, Minority Caucus Manager (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Dec. 3 â Promoting Civility and Dignity in Utah, with UWLP, 12:00-1:15 pm, Register here Jan. 9 â Whatâs Up Down South Economic Summit. St. George. Register here Jan. 10 â Rural Utah Data Symposium. St. George. Register here Jan 14 â Utah Taxpayers Association Legislative Outlook Conference, 9 am - 12:00 pm, Little America Hotel, Register here Jan. 21 â Utah legislative session begins Mar. 7 â Utah legislative session ends | | |
On This Day In History 1804 - Napoleon Bonaparte is crowned Emperor of France 1823 - The Monroe Doctrine is declared, a foreign policy approach opposing European colonialism in the Americas and asserting US neutrality toward future European conflicts. 1845 - US President James K. Polk announces to Congress that the United States should aggressively expand into the West, a widely held belief termed "manifest destiny" by newspaper editor John O'Sullivan 1863 - Jane Appleton Pierce, American First Lady (1853-57) and wife of Franklin Pierce, dies of tuberculosis at 57 1886 - Josephine Roche is born. A humanitarian, industrialist, Progressive Era activist, and politician, she was a big fighter for workers rights. One of her biggest accomplishments was unionizing mine workers and getting them paid an unheard of $7 dollars a day. 1899 - The US and Germany agree to divide Samoa 1942 - Physicist Enrico Fermi produces the first nuclear chain reaction 1954 - Joseph McCarthy condemned by Senate 1960 - Deb Haaland is born. She is the first Native American named to head a cabinet agency as Secretary of the Interior 1970 - The Environmental Protection Agency opens its doors 1982 - The first permanent artificial heart successfully implanted at the University of Utah in retired dentist Barney Clark. He lived 112 days with the Jarvic-7 heart 2001 - Enron files for bankruptcy 2014 - Stephen Hawking claims that Artificial Intelligence could be a "threat to mankind" and spell the end of the human race Quote of the Day "Kindness is like snowâit beautifies everything it covers." âKahlil Gibran On the Punny Side I misplaced Dwayne Johnsonâs cutting tool for the origami workshop... I canât believe I lost the Rockâs Paper Scissors. | | |
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