News Releases
Election filing period adjustments
S.B. 170 Election Schedule Amendments fulfills requests from leaders of the Utah Republican Party, the Utah Democratic Party and county clerks to eliminate confusion and facilitate a more clear and transparent election process.
Under current law and party-selected caucus night dates, this year the candidate filing period falls in the middle of the caucus. Caucus attendees may not know who is running for each office when they meet on Tuesday, which could cause confusion. At the partiesâ request, S.B. 170 moves this yearâs election filing period from March 7-11 to February 28-March 4. (Read More)
Sen. Romney talks China, Russia, Olympics, & more during Washington Post Live
U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) today joined Washington Post columnist David Ignatius for a wide-ranging discussion about the growing threats from Russia and China, the upcoming Beijing Olympics and the diplomatic boycott, and the rise of authoritarianism around the world. (Read/Watch More)
Salt Lake County receives $2 million to help dozens of more families stay in their homes
Salt Lake Countyâs Green & Healthy Homes Program is receiving a new $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
The funds will allow the Salt Lake County program to help 130 additional families and individuals during the next three and half years. Salt Lake County was one of 60 agencies chosen nationally to receive funding to make low-income familiesâ homes safer and healthier. (Read More)
Utah Foundation: New, final report in Middle Housing series provides solutions
The Utah Foundation released the fourth part of its new study, Is the Middle Missing? A Guide to Expanding Options for Utah Homebuyers and Renters. âObstacles and Opportunitiesâ explores opportunities to open the way for new middle housing options.
âMissing Middle Housingâ is a term that encompasses a variety of multi-unit housing buildings that are house-scale, facilitate neighborhood walkability, accommodate changing demographics and preferences, and are available to people with a range of incomes. Middle housing offers the potential to increase the supply of housing, but at a scale that is not objectionable to most neighbors and in a manner that can improve upon neighborhoods. There are obstacles to increasing this type of housing, though they are not insurmountable. (Read More)
Representatives Blake Moore and Annie Kuster introduce resolution in support of BridgeUSA programs
Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT) and Annie Kuster (D-NH) introduced a resolution expressing congressional support for BridgeUSA programsâformerly the Exchange Visitor J-1 Visa Programâwhich are vital to the economy and national interests of the United States. Across the nation, and in states like Utah and New Hampshire, participants in these programs fill vital workforce needs, strengthen Americaâs tourism industry and cultural diversity, and advance our important diplomatic efforts domestically and abroad. Approximately 300,000 participants from over 200 counties and territories visit the United States on a J-1 cultural exchange visa each year. (Read More)
Guest Opinion: Donât get rid of the death penalty
by William and Lorie Fowlke
We respectfully disagree with a growing position of eliminating the death penalty. We hear repeated, decades-old arguments that the death penalty costs too much, traumatizes victims, is not a deterrent, and is irreversible. While we appreciate that people have taken time to study these issues the last few months, we have worked in the justice system for several decades and know that these arguments, while persuasive to some, fail closer scrutiny.
The victims. Murder always involves two sets of victims, the one(s) killed and the grieving loved ones. A defense attorneyâs number trial strategy in any criminal case is delay. They know the further removed the trial is from the crime, the less people care. Delay and ongoing appeals wear down victimsâ resolve to âsee justice done.â Studies are available on all sides. Words like closure, retribution, and even justice, do not make the remaining victims whole, because nothing can. Proponents of abolishing the death penalty reference the case of Ron Lafferty to support their position. In the law there is the saying that âbad facts make bad law.â Ron Lafferty was one of the longest-serving condemned inmates in the country and sat on death row for 34 years. An anomaly should not be the basis for policy change. Instead, change policy to streamline the process.
Other victims feel differently. The families of Brelynne âBreezyâ Otteson and Riley Powell were âshocked, angered, and disappointedâ and believed the âUtah County Justice system is brokenâ when they learned Utah County Attorney David Leavitt refuses to seek the death penalty for Jared Baum, an extremely violent career criminal tragically prematurely released from Federal Prison and charged with their murder.
Decent and reasonable people, including our government leaders, expect decency. The key to this issue is understanding the predator mentality, the âbully,â who represents the antithesis of decency. Moving these people to another location does not change them; it just presents a new hunting ground. Bullies only respect and respond to superior strength. True evil does exist and sometimes we must be strong enough to stamp it out in order to protect the rest of us. (Read More)
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