Trail Mix with Jenney Ree; GOP Senator Lindsey Graham wants a national abortion ban, McConnell says its up to the states;
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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 | Sept 14, 2022

It's a lovely fall Wednesday morning and it's National Parents Day Off. Hahahaha. 😂 😂 

Be in the Know

  • The US House of Representatives on Tuesday approved by voice vote legislation eliminating the statute of limitations for victims of child sex abuse to file civil claims, sending the bill—which passed the Senate unanimously in March—to the White House for President Biden’s signature. There is currently no statute of limitations for criminal child sex abuse charges, but minors who suffer must file federal civil claims before they turn 28 years old or before 10 years have passed since the abuse occurred.
  • GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham introduced legislation on Tuesday that would institute a federal ban on doctors performing abortions after 15 weeks of gestation, stunning his Senate GOP colleagues. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell indicated he wouldn’t bring the legislation up for a vote if Republicans retake the Senate, telling reporters he thinks most Republicans “prefer that this be dealt with at the state level.” 

Rapid Roundup

Trail Mix

Director Jenny Rees, who oversees the Department of Government Operations, joins me to share her trail from her first job (ear piercing/jewelry sales), to phlebotomy to tech to elected office and now director over nine divisions in state government. She's also not a big trail mix fan - except for one part.

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The Hinckley Report, PBS Utah’s weekly political roundtable, airs Fridays at 7PM. Hosted by Jason Perry and produced in partnership with the Hinckley Institute of Politics on the University of Utah campus, the program provides insight and analysis of the most pressing political issues facing our state.

 

Utah Headlines

General

  • Doomsday Mom: A timeline of the Lori Vallow-Chad Daybell murder case (Deseret News)
  • Why do Utahns like funeral potatoes, fry sauce and green Jell-O? (Deseret News)
  • FBI raids home in Colorado City after 3 girls found inside trailer on freeway (Fox13)
  • Utah Honor Flight: Dozens of veterans taken to DC for experience of a lifetime (Fox13)

Politics

  • Cox, GOP governors: Student loan forgiveness ‘rewards rich, punishes poor’ (Deseret News)
  • Federal judge won’t stop ballot printing while Democrats make case against Joel Ferry in Utah House race (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Ogden forum expected to draw Senate hopeful McMullin, 14 other candidates (Standard-Examiner)
  • Cache County sees an increase in election-related records requests (UPR)
  • Romney is still undecided on the Senate’s same-sex marriage equality vote (KUER)

Business

  • Walmart, Target urge lawmakers to pass bill taking aim at Visa, Mastercard fees (Wall Street Journal)
  • New Riverton businesses signal growing economy, highlight demand for workers (Fox13)

Education

  • Chronic absenteeism leads to rise in F grades in most of Utah's largest school districts (KSL)
  • How well did Utah’s colleges, universities rate according to US News rankings? (Deseret News)
  • Electronic sign at University of Utah breached, displayed pornography for 2 days (KSL)
  • Draper middle school teacher heading to stratosphere through prestigious NASA program (Fox13)
  • What a West Point economics class revealed about remote learning during COVID-19 (Deseret News)

Environment

  • Great Salt Lake a sovereign entity ‘worthy of legal rights,’ group says (Standard-Examiner)
  • Younger generations could be the key to reaching older Republicans on climate change (KUER)
  • What’s the drought solution right under our noses? Graywater (Deseret News)

Family

  • Similac is back in production. Does that mean the baby formula shortage is over? (Not yet) (Deseret News)

Housing

  • Elected officials announce winter overflow shelter efforts, housing solutions as crisis persists (KSL)
  • West Jordan neighborhood at wit’s end over ‘infestation’ of skunks, raccoons (KSL TV)
  • Mendenhall proposes $6 million to build 400 new housing units for Salt Lake homeless (KSL TV)
  • When winter shelters close, SLC mayor plans to have 400 more beds ready (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Local leaders strive to fund units to house Salt Lake City's homeless (Fox13)
  • These housing markets are ‘significantly overvalued,’ may see prices fall up to 20%, Moody’s says (Deseret News)

Health

  • Is it too soon to get a flu shot? 3 things you need to know (Deseret News)
  • UVU prepares to host suicide prevention conference (Daily Herald)

National Headlines

General

  • No region is 'immune' as the number of people in 'modern slavery' climbs to 50 million (NPR)
  • Driven by consumers, US inflation grows more persistent (AP)
  • World shares fall, tracking Wall St dismay over price data (AP)
  • Stocks plummet. Dow drops nearly 1,300 points after worrying inflation data (NPR)
  • U.S. mortgage interest rates top 6% for first time since 2008 (Reuters)
  •  

Politics

  • This BYU grad could be special master in Mar-a-Lago search case. Retired Judge Thomas Griffith among DOJ picks to conduct independent review of seized documents (Deseret News)
  • GOP’s Graham unveils nationwide abortion ban after 15 weeks (AP)
  • Moderates fleeing U.S. House, setting stage for more Washington gridlock (Reuters)
  • Graham creates unwelcome political problem for McConnell, GOP (The Hill)
  • DOJ seeks to call Trump bluff on declassification claims (The Hill)
  • Railroad strike threatens fragile economy as midterms loom (Politico)
  • Congress prepares to act on rail strike amid fears of ‘economic catastrophe’ (The Hill)

Ukraine 🇺🇦 

  • Devastated Ukrainian village emerges from Russian occupation (AP)
  • As war began, Putin rejected a Ukraine peace deal recommended by aide (Reuters)
  • Zelenskiy pays surprise visit to recaptured town of Izium in northeast Ukraine (Reuters)
  • Rapid loss of territory in Ukraine reveals spent Russian military. Troop and logistics issues plus equipment losses could limit Vladimir Putin to defending the territory he already holds (Washington Post)
  • Putin, tone deaf and isolated, pursues war ‘goals’ and refuses to lose (Washington Post)
  • Here’s what Russian soldiers left behind when they withdrew from Izyum (Washington Post)
  • Putin official in charge of developing Russia’s arctic resources has become the 7th recent mysterious death by “falling off a boat.” (The Sun)
  • The curtain protecting the dignity of Russia’s military has been pulled back (KSL Newsradio)

World News

  • Crowds flock to London to see queen’s coffin procession (AP)
  • How the U.K. plans to keep world leaders safe as they arrive for the queen's funeral (NPR)
  • Understanding the symbolism in the queen’s funeral processions (Washington Post)
  • Headlines about the royal beekeeper informing the Queen's bees of her death puzzled many people over the weekend. But the tradition of "telling the bees" goes back centuries — and is thought to have potentially grave consequences if not followed. (New York Times)
  • The lines for public viewing of Queen Elizabeth's coffin are expected to stretch for miles - 10 miles or more (New York Times)
  • What King Charles III’s reign means for religion (Deseret News)
  • China’s Xi visits Kazakhstan ahead of summit with Putin (AP)
  • Russia Secretly Gave $300 Million to Political Parties and Officials Worldwide, U.S. Says (New York Times)
 

News Releases

Utahns’ well-being drops in 2022

Today, the Utah Foundation released The 2022 Utah Personal Quality of Life Index: Is the Well-Being of Utahns in Decline?

The report focuses on personal quality of life – based on a survey where Utahns rate their well-being on a series of seven factors. In this report, the Utah Foundation: compares 2022 data with the 2018 iteration of the survey; analyzes responses by population group; compares Utahns’ personal quality of life with their community quality of life; and suggests targeted ways that policymakers might improve quality of life for Utahns.

In 2022, the Personal Quality of Life Index stands at 76 out of a possible 100 points. This is a decrease from 82 points in 2018. (Read More)


Number of the Day

Number of the Day, Sept 14, 2022
 

Tweet of the Day

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Upcoming

  • Women in the Money with Utah State Treasurer's Office — Sept. 15-16, Salt Lake Sheraton + online, Register here
  • United Utah Party Issue Summit on Water Conservation — Sept. 17, 11-12:30, Gardner Rm of the American Fork Public Library
  • Interim Days — Sept. 20-22, le.utah.gov
  • ULCT Annual Convention — Oct 5-7, Salt Palace Convention Center, Register here
  • One Utah Summit — Oct 11-13, Southern Utah University, Register here
  • Breakfast Briefing: The New Look of Transportation in the 2020s with the Utah Foundation — Oct. 13, 8:30 am, Zions Bank Founders' Room, Register here
  • Senate debate between Mike Lee and Evan McMullin — Oct. 17, 6 pm, at UVU
  • Interim Days — Oct 18-20, le.utah.gov
  • General election â€“ Nov 8
  • Utah Foundation’s 2022 Annual Luncheon â€” Nov. 16, noon, Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek, Register here
  • Utah Economic Outlook and Public Policy Summit with the Salt Lake Chamber — Jan. 12, 2023, Salt Lake City Marriott, 8 am - noon, Register here
 

On This Day In History

  • 1741 - George Frideric Handel finishes his "Messiah" oratorio after working on it non-stop for 23 days.
  • 1814 - Francis Scott Key writes the words to A Star Spangled Banner
  • 1830 - Emily Edson Briggs is born. She became the first woman White House correspondent during Lincoln’s administration and the first president of the Women’s National Press Association (1882).
  • 1901 - President William McKinley dies of infection from gunshot wounds
  • 1901 - Theodore Roosevelt is sworn in as the youngest man to serve as US President, at age 42.
  • 1921 - Constance Baker Motley is born. She became the first Black woman appointed federal judge in 1966.
  • 1936 - First prefrontal lobotomy in America performed by Walter Freeman and James W. Watts at George Washington University Hospital in Washington D.C.
  • 1956 - IBM introduces the RAMAC 305, 1st commercial computer with a hard drive that uses magnetic disk storage, weighs over a ton
  • 1964 - Helen Keller receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom along with 4 other women: Dr. Lena Edwards, Lynn Fontainne, Dr. Helen Taussig, and Leontyne Price
  • 1982 - Hollywood star and real-life princess Grace Kelly dies of injuries sustained in a car accident

Wise Words

“I would like to be remembered as someone who accomplished useful deeds, and who was a kind and loving person. I would like to leave the memory of a human with a correct attitude and who did her best to help others.”

—Grace Kelly


The Punny Side

What is a vampire’s favorite fruit?

A neck-tarine.

 

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