Becky Edwards announces new PAC; Governor Doug Burgum has suspended his campaign for president; and a 70-year-old woman gives birth to twins | | | 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. 5, 2023 It's Tuesday and International Volunteer Day! It's also the 29th anniversary of the signing of the Budapest Memorandum. Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons in exchange for a promise that if Ukraine should âbecome the victim of aggression,â the US, UK, Northern Ireland and Russia would come to its aid. What You Need to Know Rep. Brian King announced yesterday that he is running for governor to "offer an alternative." The current Minority Leader in the Utah House, King was first elected in 2008. He says that as governor, he would return bipartisanship and checks and balances to Utah's government. A Democrat has not won a statewide election in Utah since 1996. Rapid Relevance North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has suspended his long-shot campaign for president; a 70-year-old woman gives birth to twins following fertility treatment; and the first major storm of the season delivers massive snow totals to Utahâs mountains Today on the Hill 12:30 pm: Legislative Management Committee 2:00 pm: Executive Appropriations | | |
| | BLM Releases Plan that finally protects Labyrinth Canyon After years of prioritizing off-road vehicles, a recent decision from the Bureau of Land Management brings balance to this special place. Travel plans are an opportunity to develop reasonable, balanced, and forward-thinking blueprints that ensure public access while preserving the backcountry and minimizing damage. Learn more at suwa.org | | |
Utah Headlines Political news Becky Edwards is launching an effort to promote good political leadership (Deseret News) Gov. Spencer Cox introduces $186 million plan to combat homelessness. Cox said he wants homelessness to be ârare, brief and nonrecurring.â (Deseret News) Time to revise Utahâs Clergy law? These lawmakers think so (ABC4) Election news If Curtis doesnât run for his House seat, Chris Herrod will (Deseret News) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. files lawsuit against Utah Lt. Gov. Henderson over filing deadline for signatures (KUTV) Holiday corner Candy Cane Corner donations set to bring joy to families needing holiday lift (Fox13) Utah news Utah couple describes the magical experience of decorating the White House for Christmas (KSL) Making the case for âgood conflictâ (Deseret News) Utah gas prices sit well below national average (KUTV) Local non-profit provides tool to provide fresh water all over the world (Fox13) Business/Technology What the Alaska Airlines-Hawaiian Airlines merger means for flights in the West (Deseret News) Crime/Courts Jeremy Best appears shirtless in court; documents detail gruesome new details in murder case of his pregnant wife (KSL) Lawsuit: Brian Laundrie called parents to say Gabby Petito was 'gone' (Fox13) Education University of Utah opens Hatch Center in Washington, D.C. (At The U) As some Utah school populations dwindle, could dome schools help? (KSL Newsradio) Mathematics, reading skills in unprecedented decline in teenagers (Reuters) Environment Utah water conservation officers talk about easy ways to save water and money (KSL) Group opposed to Little Cottonwood gondola project files lawsuit (KSL TV) Mining uranium could provide clean energy and boost national security. The Havasupai Tribe says it still isnât worth the risk. (Salt Lake Tribune) Commissioner gives sneak peek at report to save Great Salt Lake (Fox13) Family Inflation, mental health, stress. What would parents like to change? (Deseret News) In a polarized nation, can public schools work for all children? (Deseret News) Do Americans still love marriage? Not as much as they used to. (Deseret News) What are parents doing â or not doing â to monitor their kidsâ social media usage? (Deseret News) For children, sharing isnât easy, but itâs an important part in their social development (KSL TV) Health Longevity researcher says heâs found the healthiest breakfast option â plus 5 more to try (Deseret News) Why is U.S. life expectancy lagging behind other nations? (Deseret News) | | |
National Headlines General Employment rate for U.S. women is at all time high, report shows (KSL Newsradio) Cause sought of explosion that leveled an Arlington, Virginia, home as police tried to serve warrant (AP) Political news How Republicans are changing on abortion, post-Dobbs (Deseret News) Report: Trump allies floated Sen. Mike Lee as possible AG (Deseret News) The Supreme Court wrestles with OxyContin makerâs bankruptcy deal, with billions of dollars at stake (AP) Supreme Court hears a case that experts say could wreak havoc on the tax code (NPR) House Republicans prepare for official vote to authorize impeachment inquiry (NPR) Election news Four Republicans will be on stage for the fourth presidential debate: Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy (AP) Strong but 'feminine': how Nikki Haley navigates gender as only woman in the GOP race (NPR) Tammy Murphy's senate run exposes concerns over New Jersey primary ballots (NPR) Liz Cheney, outspoken Trump critic, weighs third-party presidential run (Washington Post) Ukraine ðºð¦ Zelenskyy to address US senators by video as White House pushes Congress to support aid for Ukraine (AP) In Russia, some women demand return of their men from Ukraine front (Reuters) The violent homecoming of Russian convicts freed to fight in Ukraine (Wall Street Journal) Israel ð®ð± Israel strikes in and around Gazaâs second-largest city in a bloody new phase of the war (AP) Accounts of sexual violence in Hamas attack mount but justice is remote for Israel's victims (Reuters) Israel closes in on Hamas's last major Gaza bastion (Wall Street Journal) | | |
| | News Releases Utah graduation rates show consistent growth A report released by the Utah State Board of Education shows improved graduation rates across most student groups in the state. Utahâs total graduation rate for the 2023 cohort is 88.3%. Over the past five years, the stateâs graduation rate has increased steadily, with an average of 88.13%. Utahâs graduation rate has been consistently higher than the national average. (Read More) UVUâs CARE Hub food access program receives regional student affairs award The Utah Valley University CARE Hubâs student food access program received the 2023 NASPA Region V Innovative Program Award, which is given to a college or university that has developed an outstanding program that has benefited students and enhanced campus life. UVUâs CARE Hub is dedicated to helping students connect to resources that will help them address food insecurity, mental health, safety, and housing issues. Student success begins with making sure that students have their basic needs met so that they can focus on their academics. (Read More) Becky Edwards launches âGoverning Group PACâ Becky Edwards, a former Utah State Representative and U.S. Congressional candidate, announces the formation of the Governing Group PAC. This new political action committee is committed to electing leaders within the state of Utah who focus on pragmatic solutions rather than partisan conflict, with the goal of transforming the stateâs political dynamics. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Jan. 2 â Candidate filing period opens Jan. 16 â Legislative session begins Mar. 1 â Legislative session ends | | |
On This Day In History 1847 - Jefferson Davis is appointed to fill vacant US Senate seat for Mississippi 1848 - US President James K. Polk triggers Gold Rush of 1849 by confirming a gold discovery in California 1901 - Walt Disney is born 1932 - German physicist Albert Einstein granted a visa to enter America 1933 - 21st amendment is ratified; Prohibition ends 1935 - Mary McLeod Bethune creates the National Council of Negro Women 1945 - Aircraft squadron disappears in the Bermuda Triangle 1946 - US President Harry Truman creates Committee on Civil Rights 1952 - Great Smog of London: Killer fog creeps in, as still winds and cold temperatures cause pollution fueled by coal smoke to stagnate. It lasts 4 days and over 8,000 deaths are attributed to the smog. 1955 - Historic bus boycott begins in Montgomery, Alabama by Rosa Parks and other civil rights activists 1978 - U.S.S.R. and Afghanistan sign âfriendship treatyâ 1994 - The US, UK, Northern Ireland and Russia sign the Budapest Memorandum. Ukraine surrendered its nuclear weapons in exchange for a promise that if Ukraine should âbecome the victim of aggression,â all 4 countries would come to its aid. 2008 - Human remains previously found in 1991 are finally identified by Russian and American scientists as those of Tsar Nicholas II 2013 - South African president Nelson Mandela dies at 95 2018 - US state funeral for former president George H. W. Bush, eulogy by George W. Bush, attended by President Donald Trump predecessors Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter 2021 - Bob Dole, veteran of the US Senate and 3X presidential candidate dies at age 98 Quote of the Day "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."
âNelson Mandela On the Punny Side What kind of motorcycle does Santa ride? A Holly Davidson. | | |
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