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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 - April 5, 2021 It's Monday and hope you enjoyed the warm weather because change is a-comin'. For all you Trekkies out there, today is also First Contact Day - or will be in 2063, when we get to meet the Vulcans. There is a full day of celebration planned, including panels with Jean-Luc Picard, Data and Will Riker (or, Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner and Jonathan Frakes). The free virtual event begins at 1 pm MDT. 5 things you need to know - Lt. Governor Henderson has a special relationship with Dr. and Senator Martha Hughes Cannon, who is taking her time heading to Statuary Hall.
- On Friday, a man rammed his vehicle into a police barricade in DC, killing Capitol police officer William "Billy" Evans. The attacker is also dead.
- Over 500,000,000 Facebook users had their data leaked online, including Mark Zuckerberg's personal cell phone number.
- Gonzaga had a pretty good game Saturday and will play Baylor tonight for the championship. (Just kidding - it was an amazing buzzer-beater win in overtime, with a 50-foot three pointer by Jalen Suggs. Imagine being that guy!)
- Half of Republicans surveyed believe false accounts of deadly U.S. Capitol riot. Six in 10 believe the election was stolen.
Countdown 9 days until the end of the Cox/Henderson administration's first 100 days (04/14/2021)
19 days until the United Utah Party Organizing Convention (04/24/2021)
25 days until the Biden/Harris administration's first 100 days are up (04/30/2021)
26 days until the in-person Utah GOP Organizing Convention (05/01/2021)
159 days until half-way through the Cox/Henderson's administration's 500-day plan (09/11/2021)
Today At Utah Policy  Tweets of the day
By Holly Richardson
Military build-up, food insecurity, Gaetz's days are numbered, MLK's last speech and water in the desert.
 Hatch Foundation teams up with Senators Scott, Coons for HBCU internship program
By Holly Richardson
Last week, the Hatch Foundation introduced a new initiative: the bipartisan American Promise Scholarship. This program connects high-achieving students from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) with a Senate internship to be split between the offices of Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) in Washington, DC.
Utah HeadlinesDeseret News - A woman's place is in the Capitol - Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson keeping eye on Martha Hughes Cannon as statue rests in Utah Capitol while awaiting journey to the U.S. Capitol
- A way too early guide to the 2024 Republican primary - The 'invisible primary' is underway and here's a list of potential contenders, based on early polling, interviews with Republican donors and strategists and results from online political betting markets
- 'Trump slump?' Not for Fox News' Dana Perino - Fox News, the longtime leader in cable TV news, is betting that viewers want more of George W. Bush's former press secretary, who brings Mountain West values to her high-profile job.
- Continued COVID-19 restrictions could take us back to the Prohibition era - Vaccine passports and other strict health protocols could lead to long-running regulations.
- International inclusion, Easter messages, 20 new temples mark historic conference - 'Truly the blessings of the gospel are for every race, language and people,' President Nelson said. 'The Church of Jesus Christ is a global church. Jesus Christ is our leader'
- Poll shows how Utahns feel about a citizenship path for 'Dreamers' - 55% of Utahns support legislation the U.S. House passed last month to provide a legal path to citizenship for young undocumented immigrants.
- The Easter message is a lesson for the pandemic's last mile - The dawn of an Easter weekend reminds us of the promise ahead, if we remain vigilant.
- A crime, a cell - and a new tablet? It's a 'new era' in this Utah jail - On March 3, the Davis County Jail began issuing tablets to all inmates who aren't in maximum security. With a tablet, inmates have access to more than 15,000 books, podcasts, movies and games, and can communicate more easily with family members.
- Utah's large universities say 'the jobs are out there' for 2021 grads - "I do think those students that are very intentional and, for lack of a better word, aggressive about pursuing the beginning of their career are still finding the opportunities in the state. The opportunities are out there."
- Church helping put USU's language-focused programs under 1 roof in new global learning center - The center "will help students gain the communication expertise and cultural confidence to be leaders in their professions and communities."
- Are Utahns ready to travel? Residents weigh in on plans in new poll - More than 2 in 3 are planning to travel in the near future, with the majority heading beyond the Beehive State's borders
Salt Lake Tribune Other COVID Corner - Utah has administered nearly 1.5 million total vaccines so far; no deaths reported Sunday (Deseret News) - It has been 109 days since the first COVID-19 vaccine shot was administered in the U.S., and 104 million people have since received at least one dose.
- COVID-19 vaccine trials for kids are critical for Utah - its young population can't hit herd immunity without them (Salt Lake Tribune) - Once the first phase is complete, the second phase of the trial would require thousands of participants. "To reach herd immunity, it's all hands on deck."
- No new COVID-19 deaths in Utah as number of vaccinations rises to almost 1.5 million (Salt Lake Tribune) - Only 18 have people died from the coronavirus in the past seven days. From March 22 to March 28, 52 people died.
- US puts J&J in charge of plant that botched COVID vaccine, removes AstraZeneca (Fox Business) - The government's move to have the facility make only the J&J single-dose vaccine is meant to avoid future mix-ups.
- Everyone in England to be offered twice-weekly Covid tests, PM to say (The Guardian) - Boris Johnson to promise universal rollout of lateral flow testing scheme in bid to ease England out of lockdown.
- Infectious diseases expert: U.S. is "at the beginning" of a fourth COVID-19 surge (Axios) - "We're now, I think in that cycle where the upper Midwest is just now beginning to start this fourth surge. And I think it was a wake-up call to everyone yesterday when Michigan reported out 8,400 new cases," Michael Osterholm said on Sunday.
- Why COVID-19 cases continue to spike in Michigan (Deseret News) - The data say that the average of new COVID-19 cases among children younger than 10 years old spiked by 230% - higher than any other age group. Children and young adults from 10 to 19 years old saw a 227% rise in cases, too.
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom just got the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine (Deseret News) - Gov. Newsom remains one of the most prominent people to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
National Headlines
Policy News Anthony's Fine Art Exhibition: Remembering the Salt Lake Temple
COME SEE AND EXPERIENCE:ORIGINAL ARTIFACTS, MEMORABILIA, PHOTOGRAPHS AND WORKS OF ART
 Rep. Curtis joins Congressional Bike Caucus, tours bicycling infrastructure in District
Today, Representative John Curtis (R-UT) released the following statement after joining the Congressional Bike Caucus this month, signaling his commitment to support biking as a bipartisan approach to address car emissions and transportation issues in American cities.
 KUER names Pamela McCall local host of 'Morning Edition'
KUER 90.1 announced today that newscaster and radio host Pamela McCall has been named the station's next local host of Morning Edition. The veteran of public and commercial news organizations will be the voice of NPR Utah's most-listened-to program, which in recent months has climbed to No. 3 in Salt Lake City's morning drive.
Business Headlines
On This Day In History (From History.com) - 1588 - Thomas Hobbes is born. He was an English philosopher known for his work "Leviathan."
- 1614 - American Indian princess Pocahontas and daughter of chief Powhatan marries English colonist John Rolfe.
- 1792 - George Washinton vetoes his first bill.
- 1876 - 'Arsenal Hill' exploded (now Capitol Hill)
- 1887 - Helen Keller learns w.a.t.e.r from teacher Anne Sullivan.
- 1901 - Hattie Alexander is born. She became a pediatrician and microbiologist who identified and studied antibiotic resistance caused by random genetic mutations in DNA. She was the first woman elected president of the American Pediatric Society.
- 1911 - 100,000 to 500,000 people march in New York City to attend the funeral of seven unidentified victims of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company fire in late March
- 1937 - Colin Powell is born.
- 1955 - Winston Churchill retires as prime minister.
"Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand." ~Colin Powell
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