Utah Policy Daily Newsletter

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

Situational Analysis - April 27, 2021

Happy Tuesday. It's National Tell a Story Day, an ancient practice that goes back to before writing was invented. What family lore lives on in your family??

News you need to know

The US Census has released numbers. Guess which state grew the fastest over the last decade? Yep. Utah. However, it was not enough to get a 5th Congressional seat. There was a demographic shift, though, from the Northeast and Midwest to the South and West. Oregon, Montana, Colorado, North Carolin and Florida each gained one seat, while Texas gained two. California, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Pennslvania and New York each lose one seat. This will have definite implications in the mid-term elections.
Utah's population increased by 504,487, for a total of 3,275,252. That means the size of Congressional districts will be approximately 818,000 people, Utah Senate districts 113,000 and House districts aroud 44,000.
The Utah County GOP elected new leadership by acclamation on Saturday. The new chair is Skyler Beltran.
The U.S. Justice Department plans to investigate the Louisville Police Department, a little over a year since officers shot and killed Breonna Taylor.
Enough signatures were gathered in California to force a recall election of Governor Gavin Newsom, a contest that could land on the ballot as early as this summer or as late as December. Newsom's approval ratings are still above 50%.

Finally, 3 podcast episodes you don't want to miss: First Lady Abby Cox's visit with Dr. Angela Dunn and Boyd Matheson's visits with Bill Kristol and Dana Perino. Great conversations.

Countdown

3 days until the Biden/Harris administration's first 100 days are up (04/30/2021)
4 days until the in-person Utah GOP Organizing Convention (05/01/2021)
60 days until theUtah Democrat party organizing convention (06/26/21)
137 days until half-way through the Cox/Henderson's administration's 500-day plan (09/11/2021)

%MCEPASTEBIN%

Today At Utah Policy

Commentary: Future of GOP depends on Trump stepping aside
By LaVarr Webb
The Republican Party is struggling to find its identity after the Trump presidency. House Republicans are holding a retreat in Orlando, Florida, this week to plot a way forward. Trump was not invited to the retreat, but he clearly hovers like a colossus over the future of the Republican Party. I've written previously that Republicans can't win with Trump as the party's standard-bearer, but they also can't win without him.

Utah Headlines

Deseret News

The Derek Chauvin verdict: Hope, humanity and headway
What Rachel Parcell wore to the pandemic - She started as a fashion blogger and is now a multimillionaire who sells a lifestyle brand that says, "I'm a mom, just like you!" but is also aspirational.
'Women need to be at the table': Helping more Latter-day Saint women run for public office
Which state grew the fastest the past decade? Hint: It's pretty, great
Utah hopes to help those who left college to get degree back on track with grants from the new Adult Learners Grant Program.
Utah vehicle registration postcard reminders are officially back
Salt Lake City campaigning begins, kicking off new election process in Utah's capital as Blake Perez announces his candidacy for City Council District 1

Salt Lake Tribune

Owens, Stewart failed to uphold democracy following 2020 election, the conservative 'Republican Accountability Project' says
Granite School District announces new superintendent: Richard Nye. He is currently the Ogden School District superintendent and will start July 1.
Can Utah's medical marijuana users own guns? Advocates and experts say yes.
Mantua mayor resigns after firing police chief. The former chief says he was dismissed because he didn't write enough traffic tickets.
Almost 880,000 Utahns are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, roughly 38% of eligible Utahns age 16 and older.
Millennial caucus is co-led by Utah's Blake Moore, who may or may not be a millennial
Exclusive: How Utah leaders plan to spend billions of dollars in new COVID relief money
Why Utah, the fastest-growing state in the country, failed to win a fifth seat in Congress

Other Utah News Sources

Thousands of COVID-19 vaccine appointments open in Salt Lake County (KUTV)
Utah drivers complain about road markings: 'Impossible' to see (KSL)
Proposed high-density condo project draws concern in Orem, owner plans to proceed (KUTV)
Heber City sees big jump of new move-ins; residents see impact firsthand (KUTV)
Unsheltered community in Salt Lake City overcome by flood, trying to find new home (ABC4)
New state crime lab opens in Cedar City (ABC4)
Earth Engine from Google shows Utah changing over time (Fox13)
Kearns coalition sets example for fighting addiction, strengthening community (Fox13)
Lehi police are bringing autism awareness to law enforcement, community (Daily Herald)
Introducing the Springville bakery that Twitter built (Daily Herald)
2 attempted child kidnappings in South Ogden; man arrested after first incident (Standard Examiner)
Group coming together to honor Native American Chief Terikee slain 170 years ago in Harrisville (Standard Examiner)

COVID Corner

Utah prepares for shift away from mass vaccination sites to local clinics (KUTV)
What to do to get your Covid vaccination added to your medical record (CNN)
Covid: Boris Johnson's 'bodies pile high' comments prompt criticism (BBC News)
Amid Second Virus Wave, the World Responds to India's Distress Call (New York Times)
U.S. vaccination pace slows as average daily cases drop below 60,000 (CNBC)
Some parts of the U.S. are getting close to herd immunity, expert says (Deseret News)
Seriously, why is Michigan facing a COVID-19 crisis? (Deseret News)
Why Iowa just rejected 22,000 COVID-19 vaccines doses: Lack of demand. (Deseret News)
Is President Biden about to announce new mask rules? (Deseret News)
Miami private school says teachers who get coronavirus vaccine aren't welcome, citing debunked misinformation (Washington Post)

National Headlines

The arcane legislative maneuver 'sucking up all the oxygen in D.C.': Budget reconciliation, which lets the party in power pass bills without the minority. (Politico)
Contrary to false claims, Biden isn't banning meat, USDA chief says (Politico)
A quarter of women say they are financially worse off a year into pandemic, Post-ABC poll finds (Washington Post)
US marks slowest population growth since the Depression (AP)
New York to lose House seat -- and an Electoral College vote -- after falling 89 residents short in census count (CNN)
Census Bureau announces 331 million people in US, Texas will add two congressional seats (CNN)
Does anyone believe Arizona didn't grow enough to earn a 10th congressional seat? (AZ Central)
Campaign to Recall Gov. Gavin Newsom Qualifies for California Ballot (New York Times)
John Kerry is skirting the line of treason with Iran (New York Post)
Homeland Security will assess how it identifies extremism within its ranks (New York Times)
Justice Department will investigate Louisville police department in aftermath of Breonna Taylor shooting (CNBC)
Cheney breaks with McCarthy on scope of Jan. 6 panel, says it should be narrow (The Hill)
After violently arresting woman, 73, with dementia, police laughed about it, video shows: 'We crushed it' (Washington Post)
New poll: Biden fares better than Trump over first 100 days (Reuters)
After failures to curb sexual assault in the military, there is now a move toward a major shift: removing commanding officers from deciding assault cases. (New York Times)

Policy News

Better Utah Institute releases gamified civic engagement toolkit
Today, the Better Utah Institute released a Civic Engagement Toolkit, which can be found on their website here. Through an engaging and gamified series of surveys, games, and quizzes, the toolkit educates Utahns on what civic engagement is and how they can make a positive change in their community by advocating for the issues they care about.

Americans for Prosperity-Utah releases 2021 legislative scorecard
Americans for Prosperity-Utah (AFP-UT) today announced the release of its 2021 legislative scorecard-highlighting the key votes legislators took during this year's legislative session to tackle the most critical issues Utahns face daily. AFP-UT's scorecard serves as a comprehensive guide to provide transparency between constituents and their elected representatives. It highlights the important issues of furthering economic opportunity, criminal justice reform, health care, and education.

Utah higher ed leaders join Gov Cox, LG Henderson to celebrate legislation that expands state-based grant funding to adult learners
Western Governors University (WGU) President Scott Pulsipher joined Governor Spencer Cox, Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson, Representative Lowry Snow (R-St. George), and other stakeholders today at a ceremonial bill signing in Cedar City to commemorate education-related legislation that passed in the 2021 General Session-including the creation of the Adult Learners Grant Program (HB 328), which provides financial support to adult Utahns who pursue postsecondary credentials and degrees through eligible online programs.

Bank of Utah to sponsor 'Spring into Service Scavenger Hunt' in May
Bank of Utah is inviting families and individuals to join them in a Spring into Service Scavenger Hunt to do good works around their communities May 3 21. Using social media, the local bank will offer a way to sweeten community service efforts of individuals with a $10 cash donation to their favorite charity.

Rep. Stewart: There is no virtue in woke CEOs' signaling
Today, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) wrote an op-ed in Newsweek on the fundamental shift in America's political factions: Democrats now represent the interests of big corporations, and Republicans are the proud defenders of the American worker.

Business Headlines

Utah-based BambooHR set to hire 500, elevate goal to 'set people free to do great work' (Deseret News)
Fastest Labs, a Drug, Alcohol, and DNA Testing franchise expands in the Salt Lake Valley (Utah Business)
Tesla posts record net income of $438 million, revenue surges by 74% (CNBC)
Stock futures are flat after S&P 500 and Nasdaq close at record highs (CNBC)
iOS 14.5 App Tracking Transparency toggle mysteriously grayed out for some users (9 to 5 Mac)
Apple will now let you add virtual lasers and confetti to your Clips videos (The Verge)
Ouch: Oscars ratings hit (another) all-time low, dropping 58% (USA Today)
Biden Forms Task Force to Explore Ways to Help Labor (New York Times)
Apple's New Update Will Let You Unlock Your Phone With Your Face Even If You Have A Mask On (Buzzfeed)

On This Day In History

(From History.com)

1759 - Mary Wollstonecraft Godwin is born. She was an English writer and feminist who wrote "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman"

1822 - Ulysses S. Grant is born (18th US president)

1882 - Ralph Waldo Emerson, American essayist & philosopher dies of pneumonia at 78

1903 - Maggie L. Walker was named president of Richmond's St. Luke Bank and Trust Company, becoming the first African American woman to head a bank.

1906 - Alice Dunnigan is born. She became the first African-American journalist accredited to cover Congress and the White House, the Supreme Court, and State Department. She documented Klan actions when no "white" newspaper covered them, and was the first journalist of color to travel with President Truman on his train.

1927 - Coretta Scott (King) is born.

1994 - South Africa holds its first multiracial elections.

2015 - Loretta Lynch is sworn in as the 83rd US Attorney General and the first Black woman to hold that position.

Wise Words

"That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do has increased."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Lighter Side

"The ratings for the Oscars plummeted from 23 million last year to less than 10 million this year. How can something so woke put so many people to sleep?"

~Jimmy Kimmel

Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers.

Advertise With Us

Unsubscribe | Update your profile | 157 W 200 S, Springville, UT 84663