Utah Policy: Looking back at a year of pandemic

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Situational Analysis - March 11, 2021

It's Thursday and the one-year anniversay of the day the world turned upside down.

Maybe lost in the news of the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 bill, which enjoys broad support by members of the public, by the way, is the news that Merrick Garland was approved as the U.S. Attorney General on a 70-30 vote. Utah's senators split their votes, with Romney voting for and Lee voting against.

Also, President Biden will address the nation tonight.

If you only have time for one thing: Take a minute to record your thoughts about the last year. Write, record, make a video, post on social media - doesn't matter the format as much as it does capturing your experience of living through a one-in-a-hundred-years event.

Countdown

34 days until the end of the Cox/Henderson administration's first 100 days (04/14/2021)
50 days until the Biden/Harris administration's first 100 days are up (04/30/2021)

Today At Utah Policy

Looking back at one year of a wretched pandemic
By Holly Richardson
What a year. 365 days ago, the World Health Organization declared SARS-CoV-2 - aka COVID-19 - to be a pandemic with 121,564 cases worldwide, 4,373 deaths and "alarming levels of spread and severity." On that day, the NBA suspended its season when Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus, Tom Hanks and his wife Rita Wilson announced they were also sick with the virus and then-President Trump announced a ban on travel into the US.Guest opinion: Don't waste opportunity for bipartisan action on emissions
By Kraig Westerbeek
Every day, over 42,000 members of the Smithfield Foods Family here in the U.S. come to work with a simple mission in mind: "Good food. Responsibly." We're proud to deliver some of the nation's favorite brands to dinner tables across the country, but more importantly, we're passionate about doing it the right way. Part of our effort is constantly innovating how we do business so that we can better respond to a changing climate. Guest opinion: Hydrogen as a fuel source is not that simple
By Lauren Barros, Tom Moyer
There is a lot to like in the op-ed, Realizing Utah's clean energy potential, written by Rep. Melissa Ballard in Utah Policy on March 3rd 2021. It is great to see her support of the bipartisan progress being made on environmental issues, both in the Utah Legislature and in Congress.

Utah Headlines

Deseret News

Handcuffing companies in the name of 'free speech' is unconstitutional - SB228, which passed the Utah Legislature, would infringe upon the rights of private businesses and religious organizations. Learning to live without him - Inside the newsroom: Teresa and Willard's love story and his loss due to COVID-19. An ode to love and loss - In the pandemic's second wave, no city in America has been hit harder than Los Angeles. One of its most celebrated writers explores life in a city on hold, gripped by grief. How faith can help you process a painful anniversary - Many churches will mark the COVID-19 pandemic's one-year anniversary with worship services this month. The day everything changed: The Utah coronavirus story - Crucial decisions came week after week. At one point, Utah had less than a week's supply of swabs, which would have severely affected the amount of testing that could be done. Is clock ticking on time changes? Congress could trigger Utah law for year-round daylight saving time - "Nobody wants to reset their clocks twice a year. This is an unpopular, outdated practice that does nothing but confuse our schedules. It's time the federal government let the states decide. Sen. Mike Lee says 'devil himself' wrote Democrats' election reform plan - The bill would require states to offer same-day voter registration for federal elections and to allow voters to change their registration at the polls. It calls for states to hold early voting for at least 15 days, offer ballot drop boxes and expand mail-in voting. It also includes campaign finance and ethics reforms.

Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake County Council Democrats condemn Dave Alvord's recent rant about race, gender and 'the left' - County residents submitted written comments about Alvord's Facebook post, with many calling his words "racist," "bigoted," "hateful," "divisive" and "false." Teens more likely to catch the coronavirus than older adults, according to a study that included Utah kids - Study contradicts earlier research that said youth were less susceptible to the virus. Salt Lake City Public Library's executive director is taking a new job - Peter Bromberg will finish his role here in May and join a national nonprofit library advocacy group. New airline with Utah ties gets approval to operate - The U.S. Transportation Department has granted approval for a new airline led by David Neeleman, who started JetBlue Airways two decades ago - Breeze Aviation Group. Sen. Mike Lee introduces bill on faith-based adoption agencies amid effort to expand LGBTQ protections - The Utah Republican says the legislation would allow these groups to act 'in accordance with their beliefs.'

Other

Lehi man announces intent to challenge Sen. Mike Lee in 2022 (FOX 13) - Utah County Republican Brendan Wright announced his intent to join the race to combat "the divisive, win-at-all-cost, leadership and teamwork crisis in Washington. Medical Examiner: No certified COVID-19 vaccine-related deaths in Utah (FOX 13) - Dr. Erik Christensen, Chief Medical Examiner for the Utah Department, says no COVID-19 vaccine-related deaths have been certified by the Office of the Medical Examiner. Utah family reflects on one year since 'COVID-19 Cruise' (FOX 13) - After more than a week, Monica and her family were allowed to return home. Life was anything but normal when they got back.

COVID Corner

A Year of Living With Covid (Wall Street Journal) - After the last year, we have learned that today the U.S. political system will turn anything, including a virulent global pandemic, into a petty and ultimately destructive cat fight. This Covid long-hauler is afraid to take a shower a year after her infection because of the amount of hair she has lost (CNN) - The long haul Covid condition is still a mystery, but doctors say they are learning more all the time. More than 100 symptoms have been reported by patients, including fatigue, headaches, brain fog and memory loss, gastrointestinal problems, muscle aches and heart palpitations. Brazil plunges into crisis as a second wave and deadly new variant overwhelm hospitals (CNN) - Brazil has broken its own record three times this month for number of deaths in a 24-hour period. Fauci draws backlash for admitting CDC must make 'judgment call' on whether vaccinated people can travel (Fox News) - "When you don't have the data and you don't have the actual evidence, you've got to make a judgment call." It's too early to have the data. 15 phrases that wouldn't have made sense before the pandemic (Deseret News) - The coronavirus pandemic has brought tragedy and heartbreak. It's also brought new phrases, ideas and concerns to the world. The mysterious virus was just another headline until it wasn't (Deseret News) - I've been looking over my articles from last year, one year after I've written them. The warning signs were all there. We should have been this coming. The virus was making its way across the world. Long-haulers get COVID-19 symptoms in waves, new research suggests (Deseret news) - Some of the long-haul symptoms include exhaustion, shortness of breath, headaches, fast heartbeats, changes in taste and smell and brain fog, among other symptoms. Even before the pandemic was declared, the global response was underway (Deseret News) - When a commercial flight out of the Pacific island nation of Kiribati needed to cut weight to make room for more Fijians to return home, 68 missionaries agreed to leave their luggage behind. Coping with COVID-19 (Deseret News) - COVID-19 brought with it many stresses. Here's how some Deseret News writers are dealing with it all. All Utah adults should be able to get COVID-19 vaccines starting April 1, governor's office says (Deseret News) - The state's mask mandate does not end completely, though. "It's important to note that the mask mandate will continue after April 10 in schools and for large gatherings. Businesses can still require masks. And of course, every individual can choose to wear a mask."

National Headlines

Manchin on his veto power over Biden agenda: 'It's not a good place to be' (CNN) - Manchin argues that he's simply trying to ensure the two parties work together in a highly polarized political environment. His Democratic critics say he's giving far too much deference to an opposition party eager to thwart the President's agenda. House passes landmark $1.9T COVID bill, delivers Biden first legislative win (Fox News) - Republicans firmly rejected the legislation as too big. Congress Just Passed Another Round Of COVID Checks And Unemployment Aid (BuzzFeed News) - Checks of $1,400, unemployment benefits, and hundreds of billions of dollars in aid are coming soon. President Joe Biden will sign the bill Friday. Wall Street Journal: Trump pressured Georgia investigator to find 'the right answer' in baseless fraud push (CNN) - "When the right answer comes out, you'll be praised," Trump tells Frances Watson, the chief investigator at the Georgia secretary of state's office, in a six-minute conversation on December 23, according to the Journal. "I won everything but Georgia. And I won Georgia, I know that. By a lot. And the people know it. Merrick Garland Is Confirmed as Attorney General (New York Times) - The federal judge will take over a Justice Department battered during the Trump administration and confronting the threat from domestic extremism. Can Gov. Cuomo survive his double crisis? (The Hill) - Calls for his resignation are flooding in from members of his own party, and the cries of outrage grow louder every day. Schumer says working with Susan Collins under Obama was 'mistake' by Dems, White House chief of staff Ron Klain retweets (Fox News) - Schumer's statement -- and the fact it was retweeted by Klain, who holds the most critical staff position in the White House -- raises questions about the sincerity of the pleas for unity from Biden and the desire of the administration to work with Republican members of Congress. Texas AG threatens to sue city of Austin for defying governor on mask mandate (NBC News) - So much for local control. "City/county leaders must not be thinking clearly," Attorney General Ken Paxton tweeted. "Maybe it's oxygen deprivation from quintuple-masking." Biden wants to sell the stimulus. The White House is still figuring out how. (Washington Post) - There is currently no major advertising campaign focused on the proposal. Biden to offer hopes for a return to normalcy in first prime-time speech (Washington Post) - It's a speech about where we've been, where we are and where we can be," said Anita Dunn, a senior White House adviser. "And I think it will speak to the shared experience of this country over the last year." At border, record number of migrant youths wait in adult detention cells for longer than legally allowed (Washington Post) - The Border Patrol continues "to struggle with the number of individuals in our custody, especially given the pandemic." Cuomo aide says governor groped her (Politico) - Four women who have worked for Cuomo have accused him of harassment or inappropriate comments and behavior in the past few weeks. Two other women who did not work for him have also made allegations.

Policy News

Rep. Stewart reintroduces legislative package to protect Utah's rural communities
Today, Congressman Chris Stewart (R-UT) reintroduced the More Opportunities for Rural Economies (MORE) Grants Package. This bipartisan and bicameral legislative package, also reintroduced by U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and Steve Daines (R-MT), helps level the playing field for rural communities in areas with large amounts of federal land.Sen. Lee, colleagues introduce bill to protect faith-based child welfare providers
Senator Mike Lee today joined Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and 21 of their colleagues in introducing the Child Welfare Provider Inclusion Act, a bill to protect organizations that provide adoption and foster care services from discrimination based on their religious or moral beliefs.Slight uptick in executive confidence with vaccine distribution beginning in Utah
According to the Salt Lake Chamber's CEOutlook, Utah executives registered a slight improvement in confidence with job growth trending upward in the fourth quarter of 2020. Another continuing trend was the positive expectations for Utah's economy going through the first half of 2021. Sentiment, however, was mixed, providing a positive outlook for industry but negative profit expectation for the next year, likely demonstrating continued uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic and broader macro-economic trends across the country relating to interest rates, debt, and stimulus debates. Davis Technical College announces opening of new program for incarcerated youth
The Division of Juvenile Justice Services (JJS) invites you to celebrate Davis Technical College Opening a new program for incarcerated youth on March 18.St. George Chamber of Commerce to honor women at awards ceremony
The St. George Area Chamber of Commerce is honoring women in Washington County who are changing the world where they stand. These women are so good at what they do that we just have to let the community know! The Movers. The Shakers. The Humanitarians. The Entrepreneurs. The Influencers. These women are in their element, doing what they do best, and breaking down barriers. The Element Award recognizes women who exhibit significant leadership and have demonstrated courage in the face of adversity.

Business Headlines

Here's when the IRS could start sending out $1,400 stimulus checks (CNBC) - As early as next week, especially if you have direct deposit set up with the IRS. Biden orders another 100 million COVID vaccine doses from Johnson & Johnson (New York Post) - "I'm doing this because in this wartime effort we need maximum flexibility," Biden said at a White House event to announce the purchase. "There's always a chance that we'll encounter unexpected challenges or will - there will be a new need for a vaccine effort or vaccination effort. A lot can happen. A lot can change. And we need to be prepared." Roblox goes public and is instantly worth more than $45 billion (CNN) - Shares of the popular video game platform debuted on Wall Street and surged nearly 55% to $69.50, valuing the company at more than $45 billion.

On This Day In History

(From History.com)

1779 - Congress establishes the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 1903 - Dorothy Schiff, owner and publisher of the New York Post, is born. She sold the Post for an estimated $30 million to Rupert Murdock in 1976. 1904 - Hilde Bruch is born. She escaped from Nazi Germany in 1933 to England and then America. Her pioneer work made her the leading expert in eating disorders, especially anorexia nervosa. 1918 - US Army mess cook Private Albert Gitchell of Fort Riley, Kansas becomes the first documented case of a new flu. It's the start of a worldwide pandemic that killed 50-100 million/ 1921 - Charlotte Friend, a microbiologist in the 1950s at Sloan-Kettering Institute, was born today. She discovered a link between defective maturation and tumor growth in mice -- discoveries that were critical in establishing the role of viruses in some cancers. 1941 - FDR signs the Lend-Lease Bill which lends money to Britain for their war effort. 1968 - Otis Redding is the first person in the US to posthumously receive gold record for his single "Sittin' On the Dock of the Bay" 1985 - Mikhail Gorbachev replaces Konstantin Chernenko as Soviet leader. 1997 - The ashes of Star Trek creator, Gene Roddenberry are launched into space. 2006 - Michelle Bachelet is inaugurated as the first female president of Chile. 2011 - 8.9 earthquake hits Japan, triggering a tsunami killing thousands of people and causing the second worst nuclear accident in history at Fukushima nuclear plant. 2018 - Superhero movie "The Black Panther" becomes the fifth Marvel movie to earn $1 billion worldwide. 2020 COVID-19 declared a pandemic by the head of the World Health Organization Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, with 121,564 cases worldwide and 4,373 deaths. NBA suspends 2019-20 season until further notice after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tests positive for COVID-19. President Trump announces 30-day ban on travel to the US. Dow Jones drops 20% Harvey Weinstein is sentenced to 23 years in prison for a criminal sex act and rape in New York