Utah Headlines

Deseret News

• Sen. Mike Lee cites popular Latter-day Saint hymn in opposition to COVID-19 relief plan - "As the hymn counsels, 'Gird up your loins, fresh courage take. Our God will never us forsake. And soon we'll have this tale to tell. All is well! All is well,'" he said.
• Women were hit hard last year. They'll also be the key to rebuilding economies around the world - As the world starts to recover and move forward from the health and economic crises, leaders and policy makers would do well to put women at the forefront of recovery.
• Meghan Markle's revelation about suicide struggle could reduce stigma, experts say - "It takes so much courage to admit that you need help. It takes so much courage to voice that," Markle said on CBS. She urged others to "know that life is worth living."
• On Women's Day, Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson says 'there's plenty more to do' - "As our state and nation emerge from this pandemic, we have a tremendous opportunity to rethink our support systems for women and families," Henderson said.
• Salt Lake's homeless have hard time getting to court, so court's coming to them - Initiative is part of broader push to bring services to encampments before sweeps take place.
• How did Utah's economy survive COVID-19? A conversation with Derek Miller - Utah's unemployment rate of 3.5% is the fifth lowest in the nation. Miller is quick to add the disclaimer: "That's not to say everyone is OK. If you lost a job, if you lost a business, that's 10 out of 10 on the pain scale," no matter what the statistics say.

Salt Lake Tribune

• Demand surges for COVID-19 vaccination appointments, as some 700,000 Utahns become eligible - Monday was the 'official' sign-up date for Utahns age 50 and older and with certain health conditions, though some agencies started early.
• Lee likens effort to restore congressional earmarks to legal bribery - Lee says spending directed by individual members of Congress is the 'grease that moves the corrupting gears of Washington.'
• A high BMI can get you vaccinated in Utah, junk science or not - "A metric of health that has long been called into question by fat activists and medical experts alike could stand to actively benefit fat people for the first time."
• Gehrke: Utah takes big step on deregulation, but this first-of-its-kind move has me worried - This "regulatory sandbox" can allow businesses to bypass state laws.

Other

• Utah Lt. Gov signs declaration marking March 8 as 'Women's Day' in the state (KJZZ) - Henderson said: "Women in Utah have a long track record of doing, not just talking. And there's plenty more to do."
• Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson promotes women's equality (Gephardt Daily) - "We need more women leaders in government, business, and our communities," Henderson said in a prepared statement. "But we don't need them simply as experts on women's issues. We need them because their voices are necessary to improve our state, our country, and our world."
• Gender Pay Gap: Utah women earn an average of 30 percent less than men, 2nd worst in the nation (ABC4) - Yesterday, Lieutenant Governor Deidre Henderson mentioned some of the problems Utah women face. "We hear about the low college graduation rates among Utah women, the high domestic violence rates and unequal pay for equal work."
• Lt. Gov. Participates In Town Hall As Part Of International Women's Day (UPR) - LG Henderson says women are needed as leaders in the state not "simply as experts on women's issues," but "because their voices are necessary to improve our state, our country, and our world."
• Utah Lt. Governor signs declaration celebrating 'powerful heritage of Utah women' (Standard-Examiner) - "We know that, nationally, women are bearing the economic burden of this pandemic, with four times more women than men leaving the workforce to care for their families as child care options evaporate and schools shift online," she said. "As our state and nation emerge from this pandemic, we have a tremendous opportunity to rethink our support systems for women and families," Henderson continued.
• Dropping mask mandate in April is too soon, Salt Lake County mayor says (KSL-TV) - Mayor Wilson explained that her concern is for teens, children and other people who may still be unvaccinated.

COVID Corner

• A new lab study shows troubling signs that Pfizer's and Moderna's COVID-19 shots could be far less effective against the variant first found in South Africa (Business Insider) - The sample size was small, and the antibody response is just one aspect of the immune response, so it remains unclear how well the vaccines work against the variant first found in South Africa in real life.
• 'Russia is up to its old tricks': Biden battling COVID-19 vaccine disinformation campaign (USA Today) - "We will fight (the disinformation) with every tool we have," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said during a press briefing on Monday.
• CDC releases highly anticipated guidance for people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 (CNN) - New guidelines say people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 can safely visit with other vaccinated people and small groups of unvaccinated people in some circumstances, but there are still important safety precautions needed.
• Vaccine response may be weaker in elderly; Merck drug shows promise in reducing virus level (Yahoo! Finance) - Researchers studied 91 vaccine recipients under the age of 60 and 85 recipients over age 80. Seventeen days after the second of two doses, nearly one-third (31%) of the elderly recipients did not have any antibodies capable of neutralizing the virus.
• It's not just you. Your pets are also putting on the pounds during the pandemic (CNN) - Pets are often celebrated for matching their owner's mannerisms. Walking at the same pace? A sign of good training. Cuddling and watching TV together? Adorable. Stress-eating together because you're both home all day due to a harrowing pandemic? Less endearing.
• A year into the pandemic, the coronavirus is messing with our minds as well as our bodies (The Conversation) - "As we see it, SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is a sort of zombie virus, turning people not into the undead but rather into the unsick. By interfering with our bodies' normal immune response and blocking pain, the virus keeps the infected on their feet, spreading the virus."
• Biden's coronavirus stimulus plan expected to become law this week (Deseret News) - The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan act includes additional stimulus checks, extends unemployment insurance and gives billions to state and local governments in coronavirus assistance.
• Health department says COVID-19 vaccines are 'our path back to normal' as federal mask guidelines loosen for vaccinated (Deseret News) -"Think of it as you can get some of your social life back if you've been vaccinated."
• Relief bill is most significant legislation for Black farmers since Civil Rights Act, experts say (Washington Post) - $5 billion would go to farmers of color, who have lost 90 percent of their land over the past century because of systemic discrimination and a cycle of debt.
• Health experts worry about variant-driven surge as states lift restrictions (Washington Post) - As authorities relax restrictions meant to curb the coronavirus and the race to vaccinate the public remains underway, experts say the United States sits at a potential inflection point, with highly contagious variants threatening an additional surge.
• 5 travel shows that ease the pain of still being stuck at home (Washington Post) - From pasta on the Amalfi Coast to Carnival in the Caribbean, we're living vicariously through our TV screens.
• Vaccinated Americans, Let the Unmasked Gatherings Begin (but Start Small) (New York Times) - The C.D.C. on Monday released long-awaited advice for immunized people, a glimpse at the next stage of the coronavirus pandemic.

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National Headlines

• RNC brushes back Trump team on 'cease-and-desist' demand (Politico) - The committee says it has "has every right to refer to public figures" while fundraising.
• Twitter sues Texas attorney general over investigation into content moderation practices (Politico) - The filing argued that Ken Paxton abused his power by launching an investigation in retaliation for the platform's suspension of former President Donald Trump.
• Georgia Senate Republicans Pass Bill To End No-Excuse Absentee Voting (NPR) - The legislation, SB 241, would make a number of sweeping changes to Georgia's election code, most notably cracking down on who is eligible to vote by mail.
• Georgia Senate approves sweeping election bill that would repeal no-excuse absentee voting (CNN) - The bill aims to undo a 2005 Republican-backed law allowing no-excuse absentee voting.
• Deadline day arrives to decide fate of Georgia legislation (Associated Press) - Georgia lawmakers reached a key deadline on Monday, which was crossover day in the General Assembly. That's when bills and other measures must pass the House or Senate and move on to the other chamber.
• Biden Faces Challenge From Surge of Migrants at the Border (New York Times) - The president's promise of a more humane policy is being tested as more unaccompanied children seek to enter the United States from Mexico.
• Trump in NYC to 'look under the hood' of his businesses as prosecutors probing fraud turn up heat: source (New York Daily News) - Details about whom Trump is meeting with during the visit were not immediately known. His spokesman Jason Miller did not return a request for comment.
• How U.S. politicians and media personalities reacted to Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview (Deseret News) - The interview touched on issues including racism, mental health and even unions.
• Trump ramps up battle with Republican leadership (The Hill) - "Republicans are once again being reminded about how they're bowing down at the altar of someone who doesn't care about them," said Doug Heye, the former communications director at the RNC.
• Michelle Obama to be inducted into Women's Hall of Fame (The Hill) - The organization celebrated Obama as "one of the most influential and iconic women of the 21st century" through her work as the first Black person to serve as first lady and her ambitions afterward.

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Policy News

Rep. Curtis leads bipartisan transit bill to increase FrontRunner frequency and reliability
Today, Representative John Curtis (R-UT), introduced the bipartisan Transit Revitalization and Infrastructure Needs (TRAIN) Act to expand the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) FrontRunner service. The TRAIN Act would make a technical fix to the US Department of Transportation's Core Capacity federal grant program to allow eligibility for the FrontRunner expansion project, which would ultimately increase the frequency and reliability of FrontRunner trains. Additionally, the TRAIN Act would expand grant funding eligibility to include electrifying transit systems.

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Reps Moore, Bustos to co-chair bipartisan military depot caucus
Today, Congressman Blake Moore (UT-01) and Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) announced that they will co-chair the bipartisan House Military Depot and Industrial Facilities Caucus."Since my first day in Congress, I have been committed to prioritizing Hill Air Force Base, the Ogden Air Logistics Complex, and the First District of Utah's defense community at large,"said Congressman Blake Moore.

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Sen. Romney joins bipartisan, bicameral delegation in condemning proposed restrictions on Hong Kong's electoral system
U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), Ranking Member of the East Asia Subcommittee on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), Chairman of the East Asia Subcommittee on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (D-CA), Chairman of the Asia Subcommittee on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Representative Steve Chabot (R-OH), Ranking Member of the Asia Subcommittee on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representative James McGovern (D-MA), co-Chairs of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-Ranking Members of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, in issuing the following joint statement in response to the Chinese government's decision to schedule a March 11 vote in the National People's Congress that would impose new restrictions on Hong Kong's electoral system.

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Utah Congressional delegation sends letter to Biden re: national monuments
U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Representatives Chris Stewart (R-UT), John Curtis (R-UT), Burgess Owens (R-UT), and Blake Moore (R-UT) sent a letter Friday to President Biden regarding the administration's review of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments. The letter requests the administration's support in finding a permanent legislative solution for determining appropriate boundaries for the monuments, as well as statutory protections to prevent abuses under the Antiquities Act.

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SL County to hold online community engagement for West General Plan
As part of the process developing the West General Plan, Salt Lake County invites residents to join and participate in one of four meetings to be held this month, where they will learn more about the Plan and have the opportunity to give additional feedback.

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Business Headlines

• $1,400 stimulus checks are included in Congress' new relief package. Here's the latest on what we know about those payments (CNBC) - Full $1,400 payments are slated to go to those with adjusted gross incomes of up to $75,000 for individuals, $112,500 for heads of household and $150,000 for married couples filing jointly.
• GameStop stock surges to nearly $200 in Monday market rally (CNET) - The rise coincided with the stock market moving up after the passing of the COVID relief bill in the Senate on Saturday and news that the company is developing a new e-commerce strategy with Chewy.com founder Ryan Cohen at the helm.
• Burger King U.K. gets pushback for 'Women belong in the kitchen' post (Yahoo! News) - A Burger King spokesperson told TODAY Food that the company had made a "mistake" in announcing the initiative with that format.
• Airline industry pushes US to standardize health papers (Fox Business) - Leading airline and business groups are asking the Biden administration to develop temporary credentials that would let travelers show they have been tested and vaccinated for COVID-19, a step that the airline industry believes will help revive travel.

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