Utah Policy: Gov. Herbert bids farewell, Michelle Obama and Donald Trump most admired, 2000 year-old street food

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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 editor@utahpolicy.com,.

Situational Analysis - Dec. 29, 2020

It's Tuesday and I bet you did not know that it is National Tick-Tock Day. What is that you ask?Well, it's a day designated as the one to wrap up all unfinished business before the end of the year. Now you know.

TICK TOCK

6days to Utah inauguration day (1/4/2021).
7days until Senate runoffs in Georgia(January 5, 2021)
8days until a joint session of Congress to certify the presidential election (January 6, 2021)
21days to the start of the 2021 Utah Legislature (1/19/2021)
22days to presidential Inauguration Day (01/20/2021)
66days to the end of the 2021 Utah Legislature (3/5/21)

Today At Utah Policy

News to know: Street food, jail time and a smart watch app for PTSD
By Holly Richardson
Street food in Pompeii - Researchers just announced that they have excavated a complete street food stand in Pompeii (although they used a fancy word: thermopolium). The colors are still bright, the paintings crisp (at least for artwork over 1950 years old). Researchers found the remains of popular foods that were still in their earthen pots.Michelle Obama most admired woman, Donald Trump most admired man
By Holly Richardson
Former first lady Michelle Obama was named the most admired woman in the U.S. for the third consecutive year according to Gallup polling released Tuesday, followed by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.In order, the top 10 most admired women in 2020 are:Governor Herbert bids farewell
By Holly Richardson
Governor Gary Herbert bids farewell in his last speech as Governor. After 11 years in the Governor's Mansion, he is moving his family out and Governor-elect Spencer Cox will be moving in next week.

Utah Headlines

Deseret News

What George Will taught me about civility and other reflections on an uncivil year A summer of protests, in photos Mendenhall reflects on weathering 'rager' first year as Salt Lake City's mayor Older Utahns likely to receive COVID-19 vaccines starting in mid-February Gov. Gary Herbert urges Utahns to 'step up' in farewell speech The pitfalls of owning old mining sites in Salt Lake's Wasatch canyons

Salt Lake Tribune

Utah in 2020: With COVID, an earthquake, winds and fires, it was a year many may like to forget - but never will In his last speech as governor, Gary Herbert calls for unity, invokes Utah pioneer spirit Robert Gehrke: Gary Herbert and the case for competence Rep. John Curtis, Congress blasted by US Conference of Mayors for leaving cities, states out of relief package Anti-maskers who cited Book of Mormon and Constitution drop suit against Utah Gov. Gary Herbert

Other

COVID-19 relief package brings hope to small Utah businesses struggling to survive (FOX 13) Utah doctors prepare for possible post-holidays surge in COVID-19 cases (FOX 13) Utah hiker slips, falls more than 100 feet - and survives (NBC News)

COVID Corner

As Hospitals Roll Out COVID-19 Vaccines, Health Care Workers Describe Chaos And Anger (NPR) L.A. County issues most dire coronavirus warnings yet: Hospitals in crisis as death toll surges toward 10,000 (Yahoo News) Spain will register those who choose not to get vaccinated, and will share the information with the E.U. (New York Times) Disney employee brags about getting COVID-19 vaccine early. Here's how she got it (Deseret News) Covid-19: Hospitals under pressure as coronavirus cases rise (BBC News) Still Disinfecting Surfaces? It Might Not Be Worth It (NPR) Why The World Is Seeing Some Of Its Most Extreme Pandemic Lockdowns (NPR) Some Americans aren't in a rush to get a COVID-19 vaccine; experts understand but say there's no need to wait (USA Today) Italy Turns to Flower Power to Help Spread Vaccine Message (New York Times)

National Headlines

House Republicans join with Democrats to override Trump's veto of defence bill (The Guardian) You think Congress is frustrating now? Just wait. (Washington Post) Biden Admonishes Trump Administration Over 'Obstruction' (New York Times) House approves increasing stimulus checks to $2,000 for Americans, sends bill to Senate (USA Today) Roger Stone thanked Trump for pardon during exchange at West Palm Beach club (The Hill) Democrats promise Biden-era abortion showdown over Hyde Amendment (NBC News) Democrats set to clash in special House elections (The Hill) Amazon hires lobbyist brother of Biden White House counselor (CNBC) Marco Rubio Rails Against Fauci, Says He 'Lied About Masks' and 'Distorted' Herd Immunity (Newsweek) Some Republicans plan to challenge Biden's Electoral College victory. Here's what happened when Democrats challenged Bush (CNN)

Policy News

Federal appeals court blocks limits on religious gatherings
In a 3-0 decision, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York blocked state restrictions on attendance limitations imposed on houses of worship. Circuit Judge Michael Park said "no public interest is served by maintaining an unconstitutional policy," and said that the plaintffs did establish irreparable harm by showing that their free exercise of religion had been impaired.PODCAST: Jeff Burningham interviews Rob Axson
On his latest version of "Us: The extraordinary ordinary," host Jeff Burningham interviews Mike Lee's State Director, Rob Axson on about being physically separated but still connected. They spoke about "sweating in the service of others," Christmas and politics in Washington D.C.. Check it out here.The County Seat gives Gov. Herbert an 'exit interview'
The County Seat talks with outgoing Governor Gary Herbert about economic success, educational achievement public lands achievements, jobs stability, his advice for the next administration and his own next steps. He praised Utahns, saying "The people of Utah are good people to work with." Check it out.Romney calls out Trump's 'election fraud' narrative as dangerous
In an interview with KCPW, Senator Mitt Romney said that Trump's position is damaging at home and abroad."It's clear that the President's efforts to diminish the validity of the election has a byproduct; a reduction that people have in confidence in democracy. And that has a high cost for our country, and for people around the world. After all, people look to the United States to be the leader of the free world. And if they think we can't hold an election, how are they gonna hold it in a Third World country. The President's claims I find to be very unfortunate, and, frankly, dangerous."Rep. Romero proposing police reform bills
KUER's Emily Means reports that Representative Angela Romero will have two bills related to police reform in the 2021 session. One bill would require that 16 of the 40 hours of annual training already required of officers be focused on crisis intervention and de-escalation. The other would require law enforcement agencies to keep track of their use-of-force in a federal FBI database. The database already exists. Reporting is voluntary and currently, 42% of the nation's law enforcement officers work with agencies that report their use-of-force data.

Business Headlines

U.S. stock futures rise slightly after Monday's record-setting jump (CNBC) More than 190,000 ceiling fans sold at Home Depot recalled after blades fly off (KTLA) FAA brings commercial drone deliveries one step closer with new rules (Fox Business)

On This Day In History

(From History.com)

1170 - Archbishop Thomas Becket is murdered in Canterbury Cathedral. 1800 - Charles Goodyear is born. 1808 - Andrew Johnson is born. He later served at Abraham Lincoln's second Vice-President and became the 17th President of the U.S upon Lincoln's assassination. He also became the first U.S. president to be impeached. 1845 - Texas becomes the 28th state. 1851 - Retired sea captain Thomas Valentine Sullivan establishes the first Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) in Boston, MA. 1890 - U.S. Army massacres Sioux Indians at Wounded Knee. Nearly half of the victims are women and children. 1937 Thea Bowman is born. She became the first black Catholic nun to join white Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in the 1960s, worked with issues of racial inequality.

Wise Words

"I think the difference between me and some people is that I'm content to do my little bit. Sometimes people think they have to do big things in order to make change. But if each one would light a candle we'd have a tremendous light."

~Thea Bowman