Situational Analysis | April 14, 2022

Today is Maundy Thursday, the day that Christians remember the Last Supper of Jesus Christ. 

Be in the Know

1.  The Russian warship Moskva has been seriously damaged in the Black Sea, resulting in its crew abandoning ship. Ukraine claims responsibility while Russia acknowledges there was a fire onboard that set off ammunitions, but it was of "unknown origin." It is a major blow to Russia and a big morale boost for Ukraine. This is the warship at the center of the attack on Snake Island when Ukrainian border guards created an instant meme with their response to demands to surrender.

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Utah Headlines

General

• As Ramadan, Passover and Easter converge, an interfaith trolley rolls out. The rare alignment of major Christian, Muslim and Jewish holidays is fueling a flurry of interfaith celebrations across the nation this month (Deseret News)
• 10 people were shot on the subway in New York City. Here’s how UTA is keeping riders safe in Utah (Deseret News)
• How gas prices are impacting Utah and what, if anything, can be done (KSL)
• Salt Lake Christian Center provides free groceries as inflation creates greater need (KSL TV)
• Southern Utah to get second 'receiving center' in state for people in crisis (KUTV)
• Historic Black church continues sharing its legacy in Salt Lake City (KUTV)
• BYU study shows public praise can improve lives of essential workers (Daily Herald)
• Salt Lake City’s winter shelter is closing. Plans for more programs like it are still in the works (KUER)
• Here's what's getting more expensive at the grocery store (KSL)

Politics

• Which Utah Republican congressmen, senator already face primary elections? (Deseret News)
• Dustin Gettel: I’m a Democrat and I’m rallying behind Evan McMullin (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Salt Lake County Council votes to spend $20 million on affordable housing options (Fox13)

Education

• St. George Masonic Lodge provides bikes for elementary students to encourage reading (KUTV)
• Homeschooling surge continues despite schools reopening (AP)

Environment

• EPA rejects Utah’s claim that its ozone pollution comes from Asia (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Yes, it snowed, but drought persists. Here’s how Salt Lake City wants you to save water. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Have You Seen This? When music makes a Utah tumbleweed invasion epic (KSL)
• ‘Less water doesn’t mean no water’ in Washington County even if Lake Powell Pipeline doesn’t happen (St. George News)
• Expanding drought leaves western US scrambling for water (AP)
• East and Horn of Africa prep for worst drought in decades (AP)
• Flooding kills at least 259 in South Africa (NPR)

Family

• Meet the first baby who underwent surgery in Utah while still in her mother’s uterus (Salt Lake Tribune)
• The pandemic made me a better worker and dad. Until it didn't. (Deseret News)
• Advocates concerned by recent domestic violence cases in the state (ABC4)

Utah/Ukraine Connection

• Utah man returns home after helping refugees flee to Poland (KSL TV)
• Woman fleeing Ukraine recounts 4 days stuck at U.S. border (KUTV)
• BYU alum opens doors to Italian castle for Ukrainian refugees (Fox13)

COVID Corner

• Why a federal report says testing wastewater for COVID-19 in Utah, other states has limitations (Deseret News)

National Headlines

General

• Video shows Black man Patrick Lyoya shot in head by white Michigan police officer (AP)
• Talk of race, sex in schools divides Americans: AP-NORC poll (AP)
• Through child marriage or paid adoption, Afghan girls bear brunt of crisis (Washington Post)
• Supply Chain Hurdles Will Outlast Pandemic, White House Says (New York Times)
• As youth mental illness soars, US task force recommends screening children as young as age 8 for anxiety (ABC News)
• Elon Musk launches hostile takeover bid of Twitter (Washington Post)

Politics

• After voting in Virginia, Mark Meadows is removed as a North Carolina registered voter (NPR)
• Biden administration unveils steps to boost equity in govt (AP)
• White House, truckers blast Texas as inspections snarl traffic (Washington Post)
• What the White House's actions on medical debt could mean for consumers (NPR)
• The Memo: Democrats face nightmare scenario, ‘biblical disaster’ (The Hill)
• Trumpworld scrambles to contain Oz endorsement fallout (Politico)
• Virginia GOP official resigns after he called for Pentagon chief to be lynched (The Hill)

Ukraine

• U.S. weighs sending top-level official to meet Zelenskyy in Kyiv (Politico)
• Ukrainians have arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border by the thousands (NPR)
• Ukraine says it struck Russia’s top warship in Black Sea in missile attack (Washington Post)
• U.S. gives Ukraine $800 million more in military aid, adds heavy weapons (Reuters)
• Russia warns of nuclear deployment if Sweden and Finland join NATO (Reuters)
• Putin tells Europe: You cannot ditch Russian gas but we’re turning east (Reuters)
• Ukrainian lawmaker: Rape ‘happening systematically’ in areas occupied by Russia (The Hill)
• Investigators from almost a dozen countries combed towns and graves in Ukraine for evidence of war crimes, and an investigation by an international organization detailed what it said were “clear patterns” of human rights violations by Russian forces. (New York Times)

News Releases

Granite Education Foundation receives new Executive Director

Granite Education Foundation – a community-based organization that brings together businesses and community leaders in support of Granite School District students – has named their new director in Jadee Talbot, an experienced educator and leader.

Talbot was appointed by the Granite School District Board of Education during the April 12 board meeting. (Read More)

Number of the Day

Tweet of the Day

Upcoming

• United Utah Party State Convention - April 16, 10 am, West High, SLC
• 2022 Midyear Conference, Utah League of Cities and Towns - April 20-22, St. George Register here
• GOP Convention, April 23, 10 am, Mt. America Expo Center
• Dem Convention, Apr 23, 8 am, Cottonwood High School
• Ballots are mailed â€“ June 7
• Primary election day â€“ June 28
• General election â€“ Nov 8

On This Day In History

• 1775 - The first American abolition society is founded in Philadelphia.

• 1818 - Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language is printed.

• 1865 - John Wilkes Booth shoots Abraham Lincoln in the head. 

• 1866 - Anne Sullivan Macy is born today. She was Helen Keller’s teacher. 

• 1912 - The RMS Titanic hits an iceberg at 11:40 pm, sinks a few hours later

• 1935 - ‘Black Sunday’ Dust Bowl storm strikes, kicking up millions of tons of dirt.

• 1975 - Operation ‘Baby Lift’ concludes after flying 2,600 South Vietnamese orphans to the US.1983 - Ronald Reagan signs $165 billion Social Security rescue.

• 1988 - Soviets agree to withdraw from Afghanistan

• 1995 - Burl Ives dies at age 85

• 2003 - The Human Genome Project is completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to an accuracy of 99.99%.

• 2021 - Bernie Madoff dies in prison of natural causes at age 82

Wise Words

“In a world where perfectionism, pleasing, and proving are used as armor to protect our egos and our feelings, it takes a lot of courage to show up and be all in when we can’t control the outcome."

— Brené Brown, Atlas of the Heart

Lighter Side

“Really? really? Out of 10,000 cameras in the subway system the only three that weren’t working are the ones that could have helped? Really? That is a crazy stroke of bad luck if it were true.” 

— TREVOR NOAH

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