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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 toeditor@utahpolicy.com Situational Analysis - May 26, 2021It's Wednesday and National Blueberry Cheesecake Day. Also, a kind reader pointed out that I missed drawing your attention to Towel Day yesterday, a day created in 2001 by Douglas Adams' fans as a tribute to the author two weeks after his death. I can't believe it's already been 20 years. So long, Mr. Adams, and thanks for all the fish. News You Need to Know Chad and Lori Daybell have been indicted on murder charges (finally) on a deeply disturbing "doomsday cult" story. The DNews has done a round-up of stories on the case that will get you up to speed if you've forgotten some of the long and troubling tale. This is a municipal election year and filing opens next week. (Unless you live in a city that is doing Rank Choice Voting - filing for those 23 municipalities won't be until August.) If you are interested in running, be ready to file with your municipal clerk or recorder. The filing period runs June 1 to June 7 at 5 pm. An HOA management company for the Ivory Ridge community fined a Lehi family for Ramadan decorations. Their neighbors quickly rallied around the Khan family, calling the fine "religious discrimination." Ivory Homes agreed and demanded that they issue an immediate apology, saying that "Ivory Homes is committed to supporting diversity and creating communities where everyone is included." 23 Utah organizations - 10 Jewish, 13 Muslim, released a joint statement on Tuesday condemning antisemitism and Islamophobia and ask "all children of Abraham/Ibrahim to join" in "." Luna Banuri, executive director of the Utah Muslim Civic League, noted that both groups "have more similarities than differences." A grand jury has been convened to hear evidence and weigh potential charges in a Trump criminal investigation. Predictably, he lashed out (but not on Twitter), calling it a "continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt in American history." (Tell that to the women of Salem, Massachusetts, or Alse Young.....)Calendar A Conversation with Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg and Nubia Pena, Director of the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs - June 2, 12:30-1:15 pm. Register here. Utah Democratic Party organizing convention: June 26, 2021 250 days of the Cox-Henderson administration: September 11, 2021Today At Utah PolicyCommentary: A high-tech, sustainable, Utah Inland Port Authority system can help alleviate pressure on global supply chainBy LaVarr Webb The opportunity and vision for Utah's Inland Port was always big. But with container ships piling up at the West Coast ports, and the global supply chain backed up and seriously stressed, the current work of Utah's Port Authority system at the "crossroads of the west" is even more urgent. Jack Hedge, who left a job as an executive at the Port of Los Angeles (the largest container port complex in North America), said he was excited to become executive director of Utah's Inland Port Authority because the opportunity was unique and the possibilities were great. Utah HeadlinesGeneral Neighbors claim religious discrimination after HOA fines Lehi family for decorations celebrating Ramadan - but not Christmas. (KSL) Ivory Homes (the developer) weighed in and swiftly condemned the actions of the management company, demanding an immediate apology and corrective action. (Ivory Homes) 'We are friends and we are neighbors' - Utah's Jewish, Muslim communities unite against antisemitism, Islamophobia (Salt Lake Tribune) Changing Dixie State University's name is a necessity, not a surrender to political correctness (Deseret News)Politics Why government officials should be more like religion majors: An expert on foreign policy says few government officials spend enough time thinking about religious issues. (Deseret News) WATCH: Utah Representative Blake Moore talks about his first months in office (ABC4)COVID Corner Utah reports 185 new cases of COVID-19 and no new deaths (Salt Lake Tribune) Colorado to launch $1M lottery drawings as vaccine initiative (The Hill) Half of all US adults are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (NPR) Latin America and the Caribbean just crossed a grim coronavirus milestone: 1 million COVID deaths. 90% of the deaths come from just 5 countries. (Deseret News) Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is '100% effective' in teens. (Deseret News) Utah's innovative COVID school testing program recognized (Fox13) Top U.S. health official calls for follow-up investigation into pandemic's origins (Washington Post) Timeline: How the Wuhan lab-leak theory suddenly became credible (Washington Post) Black residents now account for more than 8 in 10 D.C. coronavirus cases (Washington Post) Toll in India far exceeds official figures, a Times analysis shows (New York Times)Drought Provo area fire restrictions begin Tuesday (KUTV) Three Utah rivers show real-time impact of drought (Fox13) Utah fire 'conditions are really dangerous right now,' officials say (ABC4)Economic Development Colliers identifies Salt Lake City as a top-ten emerging industrial market nationwide. The Salt Lake City market continues to grow exponentially, even during a time of economic uncertainty. (Colliers) The Point's master plan progresses and should be finished this summer. Public comments can be made until 5 pm May 28. (Draper Journal)Education The Salt Lake County Library holding annual summer reading challenge (ABC4) Jordan School District 'Teacher of the Year,' Kymberli Cosner shined during difficult time (Fox13) Alpine School District to change elementary school schedule after pandemic (Fox13) Weber School District sells student-built tiny home (Standard-Examiner) Quest Academy students work with city of West Haven to build informational solar system-themed walk (Standard-Examiner) Dr. Lance Hatch named new superintendent of Iron County School District (The Spectrum) 'When kids have food, they're not as worried': Schools see many benefits from free-lunch-for-all program (St. George News) Amy Roberts: No comments (at local school board meetings) (Park Record) Software-engineering graduates praise Snow program for technical rigor, faculty expertise, small class size and bargain price (Sanpete Messenger) Nearly 250 graduates to earn diplomas in San Juan School District (San Juan Record)Elections The 2021 municipal election filing period starts on June 1 and ends June 7, unless you are in of the 23 municipalities doing Rank Choice Voting, in which case, the deadline is in August. (Vote.Utah.gov) Park City native Tana Toly bids for City Council seat (Park Record)Environment 'Keep It Pure' initiative teaches Utahns to be watchdogs for Wasatch's water (Deseret News) Proposal to drill near Dinosaur National Monument draws ire of conservation groups (KUER)Family The Utah Domestic Violence Coalition will get federal funding from the Biden Administration (ABC4) How Utahns can support foster kids, even if they can't open up their homes (KUTV) Logan Family Center closing after 25 years (Herald Journal)Housing Utah home prices jump again, hit record sales in April (KSL) Utah's red hot housing market continues at record-breaking pace (Fox13) Jason Wheeler from ASSIST Utah spoke to SLC News about the work they do to keep folks in their homes and how federal dollars in the form of Community Development Block Grants keep their work going. (SLCtv) Employees concerned over growing homelessness challenges in Rio Grande neighborhood (KUTV) Planning is key: St. George City officials contend with rising house prices (St. George News)Infrastructure UDOT, members of state Legislature commemorate beginning of construction of West Davis Corridor. 'It's a game-changer.' (Standard-Examiner, KSL)Legal Chad Daybell, Lori Vallow Daybell indicted on murder charges. Finally. (Deseret News, CNN, Washington Post) Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell: 11 stories to help you catch up on the case (Deseret News) Utah man charged in Capitol riot says he was invited there by Trump and says he'd 'willingly do it again' (Fox13) Organizers of Halloween Utah County rave during pandemic peak agree to public apology as part of a plea deal. That's it. (KSL) Cemetery employee sold plots donated for COVID-19 victims now charged with theft by deception, a second-degree felony, and forgery, a third-degree felony. (Deseret News) Nibley man confesses to physically abusing woman and children, accepts plea deal (Cache Valley Daily) Samsung tablet's remote location feature helps Richfield PD solve series of crimes (Fox13)Local Communities Have you been? Utah has a number of ghost towns. Here's a look at a few (ABC4) There's an app for that. The Utah Natural History Museum invites Utahns and tourists to join 'Explorer Corps' and visit the natural and cultural landmarks in all 29 counties. I'm in. (Fox13, The Spectrum) Using science to better understand soil and produce better crops (Cache Valley Daily) Ephraim trying to be ready for big growth spurt (Sanpete Messenger)Service Volunteers meet for annual Earth Day clean up in Dimple Dell Park (Sandy Journal) After being featured in the AP's "One Good Thing," volunteers keep on giving (AP)National HeadlinesGeneral Last year, The Post published an in-depth, six-part series, "George Floyd's America," which examines the role systemic racism played throughout Floyd's 46-year life. Like many Americans, he was behind before he was born (Washington Post) People expected change after George Floyd's murder, but the numbers tell a different story: US police have killed people of color at virtually the same rate as they have for the past 5 years. (Time) Top cop in Black man's deadly arrest withheld cam video for nearly two years (AP) On Sunday, TSA screened 1.86 million passengers, the highest daily total since March 2020. International travel restrictions likely to be lifted soon (NBC) Nice substitute teacher. Kansas Republican charged with battery allegedly kicked high school student in the crotch (The Hill) Former Sen. John Warner dies at 94. He was a former secretary of the Navy, former chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and was married to Elizabeth Taylor from 1976-1982. (AP)Politics Senate confirms Kristen Clarke as first Black woman to lead DOJ civil rights division (CNN, The Hill) NBA social justice coalition pushes for passage of George Floyd Justice in Policing Act (The Hill) Rep. Kinzinger calls for Marjorie Taylor Greene to be kicked out of GOP conference over Holocaust remark (Politico) McCarthy, other congressional leaders condemn MTG for comparing coronavirus mask policies to Holocaust (Washington Post) Prosecutor in Trump criminal probe convenes grand jury to hear evidence, weigh potential charges (AP, Washington Post) Trump lashes out after grand jury seated for New York criminal probe (The Hill) Wall Street CEOs to testify in Congress on pandemic response (Wall Street Journal)Economy Inflation is back. Biden should be worried. (CNN) Amid the pandemic, some people can't afford rent, others became 401(k) and TSP millionaires. (Washington Post)Education The persistent grip of social class on college admissions. The SAT is falling out of favor, but other factors like the essay have their own issues. (New York Times)Elections Anti-government Ammon Bundy running to be Idaho's governor (KUER)Energy AP FACT CHECK: House GOP falsely blames Biden for gas prices (AP)Infrastructure GOP senators ready $1T infrastructure counteroffer to Biden (AP) DHS to issue first cybersecurity regulations for pipelines after Colonial hack (Washington Post)Intelligence Mysterious air base being built on volcanic island off Yemen (AP)International US denounces Syrian presidential election as neither free nor fair (The Hill) Belarus dissident's 'confession' video suggests coercion and torture, experts and advocates say (Washington Post) Airstrikes have stopped but tensions have not yet eased. Mass arrests of Palestinians called 'declaration of war.' (Deseret News) Blinken arrives in Egypt to shore up Gaza cease-fire efforts (AP)News of the Weird Just because you can doesn't mean you should. A Maryland candy company is cooking up chocolate covered cicadas (CNN) Galpagos tortoise found alive is from species thought extinct (BBC) (OK, that's not weird, but it is cool)Policy NewsJoin the Major Brent Taylor Foundation and the Red Cross of Utah for a day of service this weekendThe South Ogden community is invited to join family and friends of The Major Brent Taylor Foundation to help save lives by donating blood through the Red Cross on Friday, May 28, 2021, from noon to 5:00 p.m. at 4075 Orchard Ave., to honor those who died in service to this country for Memorial Day.Lee, Klobuchar introduce bill to empower state antitrust enforcers Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) yesterday introduced the State Antitrust Enforcement Venue Act of 2021, a bill to ensure state attorneys general are able to remain in the court they select rather than having their cases moved to a court the defendant prefers. Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) has introduced companion legislation in the House.Utah First Lady Abby Cox launches "Foster Friendly" app with America's Kids Belong and Utah's Hogle Zoo First Lady Abby Cox joined Utah's Hogle Zoo, the Salt Lake Chamber and foster organization representatives to announce Utah's launch of the "Foster Friendly" business app. Rep. Stewart's latest op-ed in The Daily Caller: The Intel Committee's plan to spy on Americans Last week, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) wrote an op-ed in The Daily Caller on the House Intelligence Committee's recent efforts to turn the massive powers of the Intelligence Community inward, toward the American people. Education and Labor Committee GOP members call out Biden administration for child trafficking crisis at the border Following a briefing from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Education and Labor Committee Republican Members, led by Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC), sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra today voicing concern about the Biden administration's catch-and-release policy at the border which, among other crises, could be fueling child trafficking. Business HeadlinesIn U.S. creator economy boom, big tech battles for online talent (Reuters) Futures gain as Fed calms inflation worries (Reuters) Morgan Stanley boss acknowledges slow progress on diversity (Reuters) Amid the pandemic, some people can't afford rent, others became 401(k) and TSP millionaires. (Washington Post) Bitcoin bounces after weekend plunge (Washington Post) Exxon CEO faces shadow in battle over future of oil (Wall Street Journal) If you thought working from home was messy, here comes hybrid work: Mandatory Mondays and Fridays. Unused desks and crowded conference rooms. Employers and workers navigate a return to offices. (Wall Street Journal) WhatsApp Sues India's Government to Stop New Internet Rules (New York Times) Bitcoin traders using up to 100-to-1 leverage are driving the wild swings in cryptocurrencies (CNBC) Dow Jones Industrial Average Celebrates 125 Years as Wall Street's Bellwether (Wall Street Journal) Bitcoin hovers around $40,000 after a wild week of trading (CNBC) D.C. attorney general brings antitrust lawsuit against Amazon (CNN)On This Day In History(From History.com) 1647 - Alse Young becomes the first person executed for witchcraft in the American colonies when she was hung in Windsor, Connecticut. 1805 - Lewis and Clark first spot the Rocky Mountains. 1868 - President Andrew Johnson acquitted in impeachment trial. 1896 - The first copies of the classic vampire novel Dracula, by Irish writer Bram Stoker, appear in London bookshops. 1916 - Helen Kanahele is born. She became a labor organizer in Hawaii, worked with the Women's Auxiliary of the International Longshoreman's and Warehousemen's Union (1949-51) and the United Public Workers union. She was subpoenaed before the Territorial Committee on Subversive Activities in the 1950's because of her labor organizing and opposition to the death penalty 1924 - President Calvin Coolidge signs into law the Immigration Act of 1924, the most stringent U.S. immigration policy in the nation's history. 1951 - Sally Ride is born. She became the first American woman to go into space in 1983 and the youngest, at age 32.Wise Words"All adventures, especially into new territory, are scary." ~Sally Ride Lighter SideLighter Side"Well guys, today, the White House announced that President Biden will have his first one-on-one meeting with Vladimir Putin on June 16.Yeah, it's a nice reminder that after a year in quarantine, you're going to have to see some people you don't like." ~JIMMY FALLON Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. |
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