Women in UT leadership roles increasing; praise for Utahâs 2034 Winter Games bid; & connecting employers w mental health recovery candidates | | | 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 | June 5, 2024 It's Wednesday and National Veggie Burger Day! Come say goodbye to Martha today, south steps of the Capitol, 5-8 pm ð ð What you need to know Candidates for Utahâs 3rd Congressional District laid out their positions on the Trump verdict, aid for Ukraine and Americaâs support of Israel during a debate in Sandy on Tuesday. Stewart Peay, Case Lawrence, John Dougall, J.R. Bird and Mike Kennedy are all vying for the Republican nomination. Republican primary voters will send one candidate forward after the primary election on June 25. Rapid relevance Women in state leadership roles increasing in Utah; more praise for Utahâs 2034 Winter Games bid; and a Utah program connects employers with mental health recovery candidates. | | |
| | Looking for balance in Utahâs redrock country: the motorized vehicle dilemma Much of what makes Utahâs redrock country so special is at risk from a dramatic increase in off-road vehicles. There is work underway to strike a balance between ensuring access to trailheads, overlooks, and recreation opportunities, while protecting our wildest places. Learn more. | | |
Utah Headlines Political news The border crisis reaches Utah schools, says Rep. Burgess Owens (Deseret News) We need better disagreement to solve our nationâs problems, Gov. Cox says on 'Good Morning America' (Deseret News) A teen's advocacy leads to a law allowing youth access to addiction recovery (UPR) Election news Sen. Mike Lee wants to remake the Republican Party. Will it backfire? (Deseret News) GOP Congressional primary guide: Fresh rep gets early challenge from colonel (St. George News) ABC4.com and Utahâs CW 30 to air live debates ahead of primary election (ABC4) For 4th-term Rep. John Curtis, running for Senate is a whole new ballgame (KSL) Utah news Man dies after being injured in fight following Lehi road rage incident (KUTV) Series of public information meetings center on planned FrontRunner South extension to Payson (Fox13) A former legislator and a biotech executive join Tribuneâs board of directors (Salt Lake Tribune) Business/Tech Elon Muskâs X updates policy to officially allow porn postings (Deseret News) What are the struggles and stereotypes Gen Z faces entering the workforce? (Deseret News) Judge forces SEC to drop Utah crypto case, pay $1.8M fees due to 'deeply troubling' misconduct (KSL) Crime/Courts Man convicted of killing Provo police officer Shinners sentenced to life without parole (Daily Herald) Education Calling faith critical to higher education, educators launch new Commission on Faith-based Universities (Deseret News) Utah teacher working to help international student stay in the US (KSL Newsradio) School's out, but school lunch is still on at many Utah schools (KUTV) Environment Utah Lake volunteers get their hands dirty at planting party at 'the Danny DeVito of lakes' (KSL) Family How people celebrate fathers around the world (Deseret News) Kids bored if you don't overplan during the summer? That's totally fine! (Fox13) Health Does faith drive suicide in Utah? What the data says (Deseret News) Over half the adults in the U.S. will have cardiovascular disease by 2050, research shows. Hereâs how to prevent it (Deseret News) Why stroke risk is increasing in younger people (Deseret News) Childbirth deadlier for Americans, especially Black women, study finds (Washington Post) Housing Steve Waldrip: Utahâs housing preservation fund is built for impact and partnership (Deseret News) Salt Lake County Council approves accessory dwelling unit ordinance changes (KSL) Salt Lake City to bring family-size housing units to former police HQ (Salt Lake Tribune) Nostalgic Redwood Drive-in may come down in favor of new housing (KUTV) | | |
National Headlines General 3 boys under age 10 discovered a T. rex fossil in North Dakota. Hereâs what happened (Deseret News) Judge cuts Bayer $2.25 billion Roundup verdict to $400 million (Reuters) Texas court asked to reverse pardon in Black Lives Matter protest killing (Reuters) AI is imitating the dead and dying, raising new questions about grieving (AP) Father of Alaska woman killed in murder-for-hire plot dies during memorial ride marking her death (AP) Hunter Biden's ex-wife to testify about drug use at trial (Reuters) D-Day 102-year-old WWII vet dies en route to France for D-Day commemoration (Stars and Stripes) Sharing the stories of American veterans (American Veterans Center) Two groups from Utah performing in Normandy, France for 80th anniversary of D-Day (KSL TV) With Utah-made fireproof flags, parachutists honor WWII soldiers with D-Day anniversary jump (ABC4) D-Day at 80: Scenes from the anniversary commemorations (Reuters) Biden will mark D-Day anniversary in France as Western alliances face threats at home and abroad (AP) As their time runs short, D-Day veterans try to keep their memories alive for others (NPR) In France, D-Day evokes both the joys of liberation and the pain of Normandyâs 20,000 civilian dead (AP) The D-Day battle France chose to forget. Until now. (New York Times) Political news Checking in on Trumpâs relationship with Christian leaders. Hereâs how faith leaders responded to Trump being found guilty (Deseret News) What you need to know about Bidenâs border executive order (Deseret News) Sen. Mike Lee attends El Salvador presidentâs inauguration (Deseret News) Trump makes his TikTok debut (Deseret News) Trump again suggests political opponents may face prosecution, too (Washington Post) GOP plans aggressive âweaponizationâ investigations in wake of Trump conviction (Washington Post) Election news Swing state Senate candidates react to Trumpâs verdict (Deseret News) Montana US Sen. Jon Tester to face GOP newcomer Tim Sheehy in election key to Senate control (AP) Andy Kim upended New Jersey politics. Now heâs on track to become a senator (NPR) âHorrible mistakeâ: GOP senators urge RNC to back off Hogan (Politico) Ukraine ðºð¦ As Ukraine's summer starts with blackouts, worries over winter begins (New York Times) Israel and Gaza In a West Bank refugee camp, Israelâs raids fuel the militancy it tries to stamp out (AP) Israel steps up military offensive in Gaza amid renewed truce efforts (Reuters) World news Mexicoâs Jewish president-elect thanked her husband, Jesús. It led to a debate about religion (Deseret News) Portugal to use golden visa scheme to help migrants, build affordable homes (Reuters) Gunman opens fire at U.S. Embassy in Lebanon and is shot by army (Washington Post) | | |
| | News Releases Fundraiser for Celeste Maloy raises more than $180,000 A fundraiser for Congresswoman Celeste Maloy on Tuesday night was headlined by Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and raised more than $180,000. Among those in attendance were House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, House Majority Whip Tom Emmer, Rep. John Curtis, Rep. Burgess Owens, Rep. Jim Jordan, Rep. Ashley Hinson, Rep. Chuck Edwards, Rep. Max Miller, Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks, former Rep. Chris Stewart, Cole Rojewski, Shirley Hoogstra, Lindley Kratovil Sherer, Devan Patel, Kaitlynn Glover, Gene Schaerr, Marcus Faust, Raley Wright, Bill Simmons, Kristina Dunklin, Tania Hanna, Kathleen Sgamma, Brian Somers, and Jim Barker. Democrats say Utah Rep doubling down on false DEI claims On May 29, Representative Karianne Lisonbee doubled down on her false claim that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) programs are harmful to Utah students. In a podcast with Senator John Johnson, Lisonbee claimed that HB 261, the DEI ban passed by Republican legislators this year, was necessary to increase beneficial educational outcomes. Lisonbee also co-opted the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to support her counterfactual argument. There is no substantive evidence for Lisonbeeâs claims. In fact, DEI programs at Utah universities have been shown to improve outcomes for minority students. Utah Valley Universityâs DEI programs resulted in increases in retention rates for women students (6% increase), Latino students (10% increase), Pacific Islanders (23% increase), and Veterans (37%). The University of Utah Health Departmentâs DEI programs resulted in a 40% makeup of family medicine residents from diverse backgrounds, when it had been 0 in 2017. SLCC achieved its goal of having its student body reflect the demographics of Salt Lake County, and enrolled the highest number of Latinos out of any university in the state. (Read More) Owens blasts border crisis Higher Education and Workforce Development Chair Burgess Owens (UT-04) participated in a Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Hearing titled âThe Consequences of Bidenâs Border Chaos for K-12 Schools.â During the hearing, Rep. Owens denounced the impact of President Bidenâs border crisis on Utah schools and the American K-12 education system. (Read/Watch More) Mayor Wilson supports more funding to break up drug cartels, get fentanyl off the streets Mayor Jenny Wilson is requesting the allocation of $390,000 from the recent opioid settlement to bolster law enforcementâs ability to dismantle drug cartels and keep dangerous drugs off the streets. The Mayorâs initiative would restore two dedicated officers to the DEA Metro Narcotics Task Force, which were previously cut. These new positions will prioritize education, community engagement and prevention efforts, collaborating with residents, educators, and organizations to raise awareness about the dangers of opioid misuse and overdoses. (Read More) RMU celebrates opening of new health clinics with ribbon-cutting ceremony Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMU) marked the completion of Building 3, the new home of the RMU Health Clinics and advanced academic and research facilities, today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The RMU Health Clinics feature six community clinics, five on campus : the RMU Eye Institute, the RMU Center for Communication Disorders (CCD), the RMU Counseling Clinic, RMU Physical and Occupational Therapy Clinic, and the RMU Electrophysiology Clinic. The RMU Community Rehabilitation Center (CRC), will continue to operate its pro-bono physical therapy clinic at 587 S. State Street in Provo. (Read More) Utah consumer sentiment steady in May Utahâs consumer sentiment increased by 1.8% in May (from 76.3 in April to 77.7), according to the Kem C. Gardner Policy Instituteâs Survey of Utah Consumer Sentiment. This monthly change is not statistically significant. A similar survey by the University of Michigan found that sentiment fell 10.5% among Americans as a whole during the same time (from 77.2 to 69.1). (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 1883 - John Maynard Keynes is born. He was the English economist whose ideas changed the theory and practice of modern macroeconomics 1933 - FDR takes the US off the gold standard 1947 - US Secretary of State George Marshall outlines the âMarshall Planâ to rebuild Europe. 1955 - Martin Luther King, Jr. receives his doctoral degree 1967 - Six-Day War begins between Israel and its neighboring states of Egypt, Jordan and Syria. 1968 - Robert F. Kennedy shot 1973 - Doris A. Davis elected mayor of Compton, California, the first Black woman to govern a metropolitan city 1976 - Teton Dam burst 1987 - Dr. Mae C Jemison becomes the first Black woman astronaut 2002 - Elizabeth Smart is kidnapped 2004 - Ronald Reagan dies at age 93 Quote of the Day "At the core, the American citizen soldiers knew the difference between right and wrong, and they didn't want to live in a world in which wrong prevailed. So they fought, and won, and we, all of us, living and yet to be born, must be forever profoundly grateful."
âStephen Ambrose, speaking on D-Day On the Punny Side Me: âI took my wife to the Caribbean last month.â Friend: âJamaica?â Me: âNah, she wanted to go.â | | |
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