Utah expands aerial firefighting options; a Yogi Bear-themed resort in southern Utah; and your chance to rappel down an SLC skyscraper | | | 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. If you're a candidate in 2024 and want to advertise on UtahPolicy.com, contact Suzanne Benitez. | | |
Situational Analysis | May 30, 2024 It's Thursday and International Hug Your Cat Day! ð» Happy birthday to Rep. Tim Jimenez! ðð ð What you need to know The Utah Education Association is suing over the stateâs school choice program. The suit claims the voucher program violates requirements found in the Utah Constitution by diverting income tax revenues to fund private schools that are (1) not free, (2) not open to all students, and (3) not controlled and supervised by the State Board of Education. Rep. Candice Pierucci, sponsor of the original legislation said "the unionâs scarcity mentality, and unwillingness to prioritize Utah children, shows just how out of touch they are with Utah parents and students.â Rapid relevance Utah expands aerial firefighting options ahead of potentially hot, dry summer; a Yogi Bear-themed resort opens for summer in southern Utah; and June 15 is your chance to rappel down a Salt Lake City skyscraper; | | |
Utah Headlines Political news Confessions of a Black conservative (Deseret News) Rep. Moore thinks the budget fights in Congress miss the point (Deseret News) Utah sheriffs say US government needs to âdo their jobâ after visits to southern border (Daily Herald) Utah A.G. office sues Tribune reporter to keep Sean Reyesâ calendar secret (Salt Lake Tribune) Election news Vivek Ramaswamy endorses Utah congressional hopeful Colby Jenkins (Deseret News) Gov. Cox, former Gov. Herbert endorse Derek Brown for Utah AG race in new video (Deseret News) Republican state school board nominee refuses debate, accuses organizers of âbullyingâ (Salt Lake Tribune) Utah news How âGwyneth Goes Skiingâ went over in Utah (Deseret News) 'Farming with a social mission': Ex-chemical engineer hopes to change lives through urban farm (KSL) Business/Tech Ryan Smith says Utah NHL team name voting is down to 4 (KSL) Evermore Park permanently shuts its gates, new attraction in the works (ABC4) Beloved Kaysville mainstay Annieâs Diner to close this weekend (Salt Lake Tribune) Crime/Courts Jury deliberating whether Daybell orchestrated killings or was set up by new wife and her brother (KSL) Police say 78-year-old alleged kidnapper and rapist could have more victims (KSL TV) Attempted murder suspect has history of releases, downgraded, dismissed charges (KUTV) 16-year-old stabbed to death outside high school graduation in Herriman (Salt Lake Tribune) Culture âMoana 2â² trailer gives first look into a new voyage (Deseret News) âThe Chosenâ Season 4 will start streaming on Sunday (Deseret News) Education AI and budgeting are the biggest challenges for new graduates, experts say (KSL TV) Environment Rare earth minerals found in Utah, Colorado, are critical for cleaner energy sources (KSL Newsradio) Some rivers in Alaska are turning orange â why? (Deseret News) What is the future of U.S. liquified natural gas exports? (Deseret News) The newest threat to the Wasatch forests is almost invisible and really slow: The balsam woolly adelgid (Salt Lake Tribune) Are Great Salt Lake water levels and dust pollution linked? Itâs not clear, say experts and data. (Salt Lake Tribune) Family Why family vacations matter (Deseret Magazine) Online enticement grows as children are targeted at younger ages (KSL Newsradio) They sacrificed to care for family and ended up on the street (NPR) Health Fortune rates Intermountain Health top large health system (Deseret News) Alpacas in Idaho positive for bird flu (Deseret News) Babies exposed early to peanuts less apt to develop the allergy later (Deseret News) Patients turn to rationing medications after insurance denies copay assistance (Fox13) How the pandemic gave power to superbugs (NPR) Housing Clark Ivory: Utah must confront homelessness with compassion. Our new initiative does just that. (Salt Lake Tribune) | | |
National Headlines General Less than 2% of philanthropic giving goes to women and girls. Can Melinda French Gates change that? (AP) Scottie Scheffler case update: All charges against the world No. 1 golfer have been dropped (Deseret News) Florida sticks by social studies standard teaching âbenefitâ of slavery (Politico) Political news Jurors in Trumpâs hush money trial zero in on testimony of key witnesses as deliberations resume (AP) Why Trumpâs team thinks he can survive any verdict (Politico) Trump argues judge preventing him from using defense his own lawyers declined to use (The Hill) Justice Alito declines to recuse himself in Jan. 6-related cases (NPR) Wegovy could bankrupt US health system, Sanders says in new report (The Hill) Election news Trump considering an advisory role for Elon Musk if he wins a second term (Wall Street Journal) Bidenâs Black voter troubles are setting off alarm bells (Politico) McConnell sees incumbency as obstacle to GOP takeover of Senate (The Hill) Bidenâs problems with younger voters are glaring, poll finds (NPR) Ukraine ðºð¦ U.S. concerned about Ukraine strikes on Russian nuclear radar stations (Washington Post) Ukraine says Russia building up forces near Kharkiv region's north (Reuters) Israel and Gaza Israel says itâs taken control of key area of Gazaâs border with Egypt awash in smuggling tunnels (AP) Gaza conditions worse âthan ever,â USAID chief says, as Rafah invasion rages (Washington Post) World news An Iceland volcano spews red streams of lava toward an evacuated town (AP) Hong Kong court convicts 14 pro-democracy activists in the cityâs biggest national security case (AP) Mexico is about to elect its first female president. Her job: Save the nation (Wall Street Journal) | | |
| | News Releases Gov. Spencer Cox appoints Sandi Clemens to the Third District Juvenile Court Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox has appointed Sandi Clemens to serve as a juvenile court judge in the Third District. If confirmed, Clemens will fill the vacancy left by Judge Elizabeth A. Lindsleyâs retirement. Judicial appointments are subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate. Clemens has been an assistant attorney general in the Utah Attorney Generalâs Office since November 2012 and served as the Section Director for the Salt Lake Child Protection Unit from March 2020 until July 2021. She has a bachelorâs degree from Weber State University and a juris doctorate from the S.J. Quinney College of Law, where she was awarded the David T. Lewis Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Clinical Program as well as a Pro Bono Initiative Volunteer Certificate. (Read More) Utah Senate requests public comment on 3rd District Juvenile Court nominee The Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee is seeking public comment on Sandi Clemens, whom Gov. Spencer J. Cox nominated to serve as a judge in the 3rd District Juvenile Court. Those who desire to comment should contact the Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee electronically or by mail at the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel by 5:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 12, 2024. Electronic comments can be emailed to senatejudicialnominees@le.utah.gov. Written comments can be mailed to the Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee at the Utah State Capitol, Suite W210, PO Box 145210, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-5210. All statements should include the respondentâs name, telephone number and mailing address. (Read More) Utah Treasurer Marlo Oaks appoints Bong Choi to SITFO Board of Trustees Utah Treasurer Marlo M. Oaks today announced the appointment of Bong Choi to the School and Institutional Trust Funds Office (SITFO) Board of Trustees. Choi is appointed to fill the open seat concluding Jason Gullâs six-year term, which expires on June 30. When Utah became a state in 1896, Congress granted approximately seven million acres of land into 12 separate trusts for the support of state institutions, the largest being a trust for the perpetual support of public schools. In 2014, the Utah Legislature created SITFO as an independent state agency with a five-member Board of Trustees, chaired by the state treasurer, to invest the funds produced by the School and Institutional Trust Lands Administrationâs (SITLA) management of the land. Choi has decades of investment management experience, including over 25 years of experience investing on behalf of institutions and families. Since 2021, Choi has served as the Chief Investment Officer of FJ Management, a Utah-based private holding company, leading its non-operating investment platform. Prior, he held investment roles at Wetherby Asset Management, Stamos Capital Partners, Capricorn Management, Orion Partners, and The Beacon Group. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming June 5 â Farewell party for Martha Hughes Cannon (at least her statue), South steps, Utah Capitol, 5 pm - 8 pm June 6 â Bolder Way Forward 2nd Annual Summit, Zions Technology Campus, 9:00 am-2:00 pm, Register here June 18-19 â Interim Days June 25 â Primary Election Day August 14 â Hatch Foundation "Titan of Public Service" recognizing Sen. John Thune, Grand America August 20-21 â Interim Days September 17-18 â Interim Days October 15-16 â Interim Day November 19-20 â Interim Days | | |
On This Day In History 1431 - Joan of Arc is burned at the stake for receiving divine inspiration directly, rather than go through the church. Also, the English were mad she defeated them. 1539 - Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto's expedition of 10 ships and 700 men lands in Florida. 1868 - Civil War dead honored on Decoration Day. We now call it Memorial Day. 1910 - Rainbow Bridge National Monument established in Utah. 1911 - First Indy 500 race 1922 - Former President and US Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Taft dedicates the Lincoln Memorial on the Washington Mall. 1943 - The first All-American Girls Professional Baseball League games are played. 1943 - Auschwitz gets a new doctor, 32-year-old Josef Mengele, a man who will earn the nickname âthe Angel of Death.â 1994 - Ezra Taft Benson dies at age 94. Quote of the Day "The most satisfying thing in life is to have been able to give a large part of one's self to others."
âPierre Teilhard de Chardin On the Punny Side My kids put together a PowerPoint presentation explaining why we should go to the water park... It has several slides. | | |
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