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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. 15, 2020It's Tuesday! It's National Bill of Rights Day, the first COVID-19 vaccines were shipped out and theElectoral College met. TICK TOCK6 days until Winter Solstice and the Christmas Star is brightest (12/21/2020) Today At Utah Policy Electoral College makes it officialBy Holly Richardson Yesterday, the members of the Electoral College met to case their votes for the winner of the presidential election in their respective states. Joe Biden, with 306 electoral votes to Donald Trump's 232. 270 votes were needed to win. President-elect Biden received slightly more than Donald Trump did in 2016, when he garnered 304 electoral votes.  COVID-19 vaccine rolloutBy Holly Richardson Last night, trucks rolled out of the manufacturing facility in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and headed across the country with the brand-new Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. With 300,000 Americans dead of COVID-19, overcrowded ICUs and some 210,000 new cases in the last month, it's no surprise that health care workers are the first in line for the vaccine.  Welcoming Utah Policy's new editor: Holly RichardsonBy Holly Richardson The Deseret News announced today that Holly Richardson has joined the organization and has been named editor of Utah Policy Daily. LaVarr Webb will continue to be part of the team and a critical contributor."I am delighted," said Richardson. "This is an exciting way to blend three of my passions: politics, people and storytelling. LaVarr Webb started Utah Policy in 2004 and it has become a staple for many who want to know and understand what is happening behind the scenes with Utah politics, policies and politicos. I look forward to building on his great work, expanding our presence, our reach and our range of topics." Utah HeadlinesDeseret News
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Covid Corner
National Headlines
Policy News Romney, colleagues announce bipartisan COVID-19 emergency billsU.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) and a bipartisan group of colleagues today announced two COVID-19 emergency relief bills which would provide as much as $908 billion in relief to American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during this crisis. For the past month, Romney has played a leading role in negotiations to reach agreement on a final emergency relief bill before the end of the year.  Dixie State trustees recommend removing 'Dixie'The board of trustees for Dixie State University voted unanimously to remove "Dixie" from DSU's name. Their recommendation went to the Board of Higher Ed and then on to the state legislature for further action.The difficulty with the name arises wth its connections to slavery, not only with America's South, but also with a history of slave-holding early pioneers who were growing cotton in southwest Utah. Latest news on Biden's cabinet picks The Biden/Harris administration continues to nominate additional key picks for their cabinet. President-elect Joe Biden has said he wants his administration to reflect America's racial and ethnic diversity.Secretary of State: Antony Blinken, former national security advisor UEA praises school employee vaccine prioritization "The Utah Education Association expresses appreciation to Governor Gary Herbert and the Utah Department of Health for prioritizing public school educators in the state's proposed COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan. Teachers and school staff risk their health each day by being in school face-to-face with students. It is critical those dedicated public school employees who elect to receive the vaccine, many of whom are at-risk themselves, have convenient access as soon as feasibly possible. Senate passes defense bill with Romney measures The Senate today voted 84-13 to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021, which authorizes funding for our national defense, promotes innovation and technology to keep our country safe, authorizes $9.1 billion to procure 93 F-35s, and provides a pay raise for our troops. The NDAA includes provisions which Senator Romney (R-UT) fought for to counter China's growing influence in the world, limit misguided U.S. troop reductions in Germany, support Hill Air Force Base, and protect Utah's Dugway Proving Ground. Business Headlines
On This Day In History(From History.com) 1791- Bill of Rights is ratified 1832 - Gustave Eiffel is born 1836 - The tempory home of the U.S. Patent Office goes up in flames. It held approximately 10,000 patent documents from 1790-1836 and almost all were destroyed. 1883 - William Hinton is born. This bacteriologist was the first Black professor at Harvard Medical School 1890- Sitting Bull killed by Indian police at Standing Rock 1913 - Muriel Rukeyser is born. She won the Yale Younger Poets awars in 1935 for her first book1 1998- U.S. House of Representatives recommends impeaching Clinton 2011 - U.S. declares an end to the war in Iraq Wise Words"Nourish beginnings, let us nourish beginnings. Not all things are blest, but the seeds of all things are blest. The blessing is in the seed." ~Muriel Rukeyser Lighter SideBest present (for parents)What's the absolute best Christmas present? A broken drum - you can't beat it!
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