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The UtahPolicy.com daily newsletter gets you up to speed on the top local and national news about politics and public policy. Send news tips or feedback to lwebb@utahpolicy.com,. Situational Analysis - Dec. 17, 2020Hello Thursday! We have almost made it to the last weekend before Christmas. Are you ready?? Today isNational Wright brothers day, the day Orville Wright made the first sustained airplane flight, lasting 12 seconds and covering 120 feet. His brother Wilbur flew 852 feet later that day. TICK TOCK4 days until Winter Solstice and the Christmas Star is brightest (12/21/2020) (The double star was visible in the southwest sky about 45 minutes after sundown last night.) Today At Utah Policy Utah's infrastructure gets a grade of C+By Holly Richardson Can a C+ good? Sure - when grading on a curve. The Utah section of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released their 2020 report on Utah's infrastructure. We got a C+, unchanged from five years ago. However, K.N. Gunalan, past president of ASCE said "the grade is one of the highest in the nation. Utah should be very proud."  Good news for teachers - unless you're in Salt Lake School DistrictBy Holly Richardson The good news for Utah's K-12 teachers and staff is that the Utah legislature voted to appropriate $121 million for one-time "COVID-19 educator assistance stipend." Teachers would see $1,500 and staff $1000 for their work during an extremely trying year, a sort of hazard pay for these heroic frontline workers.  News to know: America's religion, 'too many' women, giving Trump credit, grief during the holidays and genocide in EthiopiaBy Holly Richardson Is Mormonism America's religion? McKay Coppins thinks so. In an in-depth piece, months in the writing, Coppins delves into the history of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with a journalistic eye and weaves in his own experience as a member. He asks the question:What happens when a religious group discovers that it's spent 200 years assimilating to an America that no longer exists? Utah HeadlinesDeseret News
Salt Lake Tribune
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Covid Corner
National Headlines
Policy NewsFrench President Macron tests positive for COVID-19According to the AP and KSL,French President Emmanuel Macron tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday, after he met with numerous other European leaders."Macron attended a European Union summit at the end of last week, where he notably had a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. It was not immediately clear what contact tracing efforts were in progress. PODCAST: Coming together to create solutions with Stan Lockhart and Curt Bramble On this edition of the "Sideline View" podcast, host Stan Lockhart sits down with Senator Curt Bramble to talk about a citizen legislature and the importance of being able to work together.  Curtis: COVID-19 bill needs to give targeted help to vulnerable individuals and small businessesToday, Representative John Curtis (R-UT) released the following statement on any additional COVID-19 legislation:"Any legislation related to COVID-19 needs to give targeted help to vulnerable individuals and the thousands of small businesses, and their millions of employees, that remain shuttered through no fault of their own. This is why I, and a bipartisan group of my colleagues, introduced the PPP Small Business Enhancement Act in late July to provide this type of targeted relief,"said Curtis. LULAC leader and Utah's youngest elected official invite Sen. Lee to reconsider The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the nation's leading Latino civil rights organization, along with Joel-Lehi Organista issued this statement following Senator Lee's opposition to creating a museum of Latino Heritage in America"QueridoSenator Lee, I wanted to give you a few days to reflect and do some introspection. In your heart, what compelled you to oppose fellow Americans from celebrating their heritage, as much as I am certain you treasure your own? I was raised by a family that believed, at our table there was always a place for one more visitor, no matter who came to our door as we enjoyed our meal together. So, what would cause you to feel crowded out in your heart that there is no place for others who merely wish to share this land we call America? PODCAST: Homeless in Salt Lake In November, Utah Foundation held a Breakfast Briefing on the topic of homelessness, sponsored by the University of Utah's College of Social and Behavioral Science. Our panel of experts featured:Tricia Davis, of the UtahHomelessness Programs OfficeUtah Representative Eric HutchingsDr. Jeff Rose, ofthe Department of Parks, Recreation, and Tourism at the University of UtahDr. Jess N. Valero, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Utah Business Headlines
On This Day In History(From History.com)
Wise Words"If we worked on the assumption that what is accepted as true really is true, then there would be little hope for advance." ~Orville Wright Lighter SideLighter SideThe World Health Organization announced that dogs cannot contract COVID-19. Dogs previously held in quarantine can now be released. To be clear, WHO let the dogs out.
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