Utah Headlines

Deseret News

• Mitt Romney says Chinese students welcome - if they're not here to steal American technology - "I would welcome an influx of people from Asian nations to come to our country because I know they would create a stronger economy for us. It's just a reality. America is going to shrink unless we have some legal immigration."
• Education Department clears way for $1.3 billion in student debt forgiven for disabled Americans - The Biden administration has now canceled $2.3 billion in student loans, little more than 0.01% in the nation's total college debt
• Former BYU students join lawsuit challenging religious schools' access to federal funds - A federal lawsuit filed Monday argues that some religiously affiliated schools should lose access to government funds over policies on LGBTQ rights
• County GOP volunteer at center of bullying allegations says he wasn't given 'fair process' - He said he began hearing rumors against himself in January, but did not learn of the specific allegations until last week. Salt Lake County Councilwoman Laurie Stringham said during Tuesday's County Council meeting that after a first incident was reported in September "following the appropriate process," the harassment didn't stop.

Salt Lake Tribune

• Judge rules the LDS Church didn't meddle in Utah death penalty case - The judge also rejected the argument that Doug Lovell's public defender didn't do his job during a 2015 trial.
• The lavish life of 'Real Housewives' star Jen Shah was funded by fraud, federal authorities allege - She and her assistant/partner allegedly generated and sold "lists of innocent individuals for other members of their scheme to repeatedly scam."
• Former editor of Salt Lake City Weekly sues, says the newspaper owes him thousands in unpaid wages - Enrique Limn says he wasn't paid for several stories he wrote for the alternative publication.
• Utah Jazz eventually make their way to Memphis after first charter flight is damaged by flock of birds - The team's Wednesday afternoon flight had to return to Salt Lake City after an engine was shut down
• Latter-day Saint youths soon can return to Utah temples to perform baptisms for the dead - All 15 operating temples in the Beehive State - along with dozens of others - will reopen their baptistries next month.

Other

• Virtual driver's license? Pilot program to start in Utah (ABC4) - According to the Driver License Division, Utah's mobile driver's license will be the first in the nation and "will incorporate the industry standards established for privacy, security, interoperability, and authenticity."
• Utah Food for Families to distribute food boxes every Tuesday (ABC4) - Officials say over 500 boxes were distributed in 2 hours yesterday. The boxes were packed with fresh meats, milk, yogurt, cheese, potatoes, vegetables and fruit.
• Utah Federation of Republican Women issues statement on 'ignored' sexual harassment claims (KUTV) - UFRW says they are "deeply disappointed and saddened to hear of the harassment and abuse that was aimed at Republican women in the 2020 election cycle; both candidates and campaign professionals."
• 2 BYU mental health studies show how stress before age 5 impacts children as they grow up (KSL) - Traumatic childhood events may shape girls' delinquency behaviors and parenting practices by fathers, according to two new mental health studies from Brigham Young University.

COVID Corner

• Lifting mask mandates so soon will make someone look foolish in the end (Deseret News) - Either all those politicians who thought they could negotiate matters of science, or all those health officials warning of another surge - or the wide swath of American people who can't make even the smallest of sacrifices for public health.
• Salt Lake County senior centers, closed for COVID-19, set to reopen in April (Deseret News) - Services put in place after the centers were shut down at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic a year ago will still be offered.
• COVID-19 variant identified in Britain found on Utah Navajo Nation (KUTV) - The person who tested positive for the variant on the Navajo Nation had been fully vaccinated.
• Canceled, duplicate appointments could be clogging up vaccine scheduling in Logan (KUTV) - Some residents around Logan say they had a hard time scheduling second dose appointments for the COVID-19 vaccine. The Bear River Health Department says the appointments are there, it just might not look like it.
• 2021 Tour of Utah, normally a jammed day in Park City, canceled based on coronavirus worries (Park Record) - The decision is more evidence that the economic impact of pandemic will stretch well into 2021.
• French President Macron under pressure to lock down as Covid-19 hospitalizations soar (CNN) - Today, more than 28,000 people are being treated in hospital for Covid-19 in France, including 5,072 in intensive care units (ICU), according to French health ministry data. It's the first time since April last year that ICU patient numbers have surpassed 5,000.
• Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines may block infection as well as disease (Science News) - Studies suggest fully vaccinated people pose a low risk for transmitting the coronavirus
• Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine safe and effective in children as young as 12, say companies (Washington Post) - The vaccine was 100 percent effective at preventing symptomatic illness within the trial and it triggered immune responses that were even more robust than those seen in young adults
• At least 19 states report rise in Covid hospitalizations (NBC) - Amid growing concern over a fourth wave, states from New York to Washington are now reporting a rise in hospitalizations. Many of the infections are being seen in young people.

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National Headlines

• Biden senses public shift with infrastructure plan (CNN) - At no time since the 1980s has unchained capitalism seemed so threatened. Biden sees a chance to act now.
• Rep. Matt Gaetz faces Justice Dept. investigation over alleged relationship with teen girl (Washington Post) - The investigation into Gaetz began some time last year, when Trump was still in office, after a criminal case against a different Florida politician led investigators to allegations that the congressman had a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old girl and paid for her travel.
• Rep. Matt Gaetz denies relationship with 17-year-old and claims extortion attempt (CNN) - The Florida Republican said that the claims were being pushed by people who are targets of an "ongoing extortion investigation" and that his father has been wearing a wire to "catch these criminals."
• Scoop: Matt Gaetz eyes early retirement to take job at Newsmax (Axios) - Many Republicans turned to the network after Fox News called Arizona early for President Biden. Some critics now say Fox is not conservative enough for their tastes,
• White House unveils $2 trillion infrastructure and climate plan, setting up giant battle over role of government (Washington Post) - Ahead of speech in Pittsburgh, Biden administration releases sprawling effort to revamp U.S. transit, broadband, housing and more
• Young witnesses to George Floyd's death testify they felt helpless as they watched him die and feared Derek Chauvin (Washington Post) - In deeply emotional testimony, Darnella Frazier, who was just 17 when she came across Floyd being restrained by the police, testified of the lingering anxiety and guilt she feels about Floyd's death and not doing more to intervene.
• Two Capitol Police Officers Sue Trump Over January Riot (New York Times) - Former President Donald J. Trump "inflamed, encouraged, incited, directed, and aided and abetted" the Capitol Riot on Jan. 6, the officers' lawsuit said.
• Supreme Court Arguments May Be Turning Point for N.C.A.A. (New York TImes) - The justices will consider whether limits on payments to student-athletes violate antitrust laws.
• New York police arrest man over attack on Asian woman in hate crime case (Reuters) - Police identified the suspect as Brandon Elliot, 38, who was already on lifetime parole for murdering his mother.
• Capitol riot suspect wore 'I Was There' shirt when arrested (AP) - Garret Miller's shirt had a photograph of former President Donald Trump, and it said "Take America Back" and "I Was There, Washington D.C., January 6, 2021," federal prosecutors noted in a court filing Monday.
• Some Capitol riot suspects apologize as consequences sink in (AP) - Confronted with compelling video and photographic evidence in court, dozens of rioters have apologized and expressed regret as the consequences of their actions have started to sink in. The ramifications include potential job losses, financial ruin and possible time behind bars.
• TikTok star on cellphone with fiancee as tree limb kills her (AP) - Rochelle Hager, 31, of Waterville, Maine, was an executive chef who posted popular TikTok videos and was engaged to be married this fall.

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Policy News

State Auditor announces the release of a review of Banjo, Inc. and its public safety application
The Office of the State Auditor (Office) today announces the release of its review of the State's contract with Banjo, Inc. (Banjo). Attorney General Reyes requested the Office review the contract for Banjo's public safety application Live Time. The circumstances surrounding Live Time posed several complex technical and social issues, including concerns regarding privacy and potential algorithmic bias. We recognize the compelling law enforcement interests underlying the associated procurement, particularly the possibility of leveraging technology to accelerate the safe rescue of abducted children.

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Rep. Curtis, Sen. Romney introduce bill to advance the Bonneville Shoreline Trail
Today, Representative John Curtis (R-UT) and Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) released the following statements about their legislation to enable the construction of high priority sections of the Bonneville Shoreline Trail (BST) to enhance recreation opportunities near Utah's most urban areas. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act, also supported by Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT), Rep. Blake Moore (R-UT), and Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) will adjust management boundaries to allow the advancement of the BST while also designating nearby U.S. Forest Service land for permanent protection.

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Business Headlines

• Volkswagen hoaxes media with fake statement on name change (AP) - Volkswagen of America said it would change its brand name to "Voltswagen," to stress its commitment to electric vehicles, only to reverse course Tuesday and admit that the supposed name change was a joke.
• S&P futures flat ahead of funding details on Biden's infrastructure plan (Reuters) - Meanwhile, Wall Street headed for its fourth straight quarterly gain on signs of a strong economic rebound.
• Exclusive: A billion dollars for every chip-maker who 'makes in India' (Reuters) - "The government will give cash incentives of more than $1 billion to each company which will set up chip fabrication units," a senior government official said.
• Black Executives Call on Corporations to Fight Restrictive Voting Laws (New York Times) - Dozens responded after companies in Georgia said little against state legislation that put strict rules in place.
• Turing Award Goes to Creators of Computer Programming Building Blocks - (New York Times) - Jeffrey Ullman and Alfred Aho developed many of the fundamental concepts that researchers use when they build new software.
• They Were on Equal Footing. Then the Ground Shifted. (New York Times) - A year of pandemic restrictions has meant some friends are flush and others foundering.

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