| 
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
Situational Analysis - May 17, 2021 It's Monday morning and National Cherry Cobbler Day. This week we have interim day to look forward to (tomorrow) and a special session (Wednesday). Also, today is tax day. If you haven't already filed, get those returns postmarked today. News You Need to Know - We're #1! The Utah Jazz finished with the best record in the NBA and clinched the top seed in the Western Conference headed into the playoffs. And, ticketing has been opened up to allow more fans to watch in person.
- As CDC guidelines have been updated for fully vaccinated people to not wear masks in most situations, there are places where they are still required. Let's be kind and patient with each other as we navigate getting back to normal.
- Utah had a sad weekend on the water, with 2 brothers drowning in Utah Lake and another man drowning in Pineview Reservoir. A week ago, there was a drowning in a Holladay pond.
- The Israeli/Palestinian conflict continues as casualties rise and infrastructure is destroyed. The building housing international media in Gaza was bombed by Israel over the weekend, prompting swift calls for answers.
- The IRS is going to start monthly payments of child tax credit on July 15. The administration estimates 88% of all US children will receive these benefits.
N%MCEPASTEBIN% Calendar - Salt Lake Chamber Business Women's Forum Webinar: The Science Behind Being a Powerful Speaker. May 18, 11:00-1:00. Register here.
- Hatch Center: Justice and Mercy: Bringing greater balance to America's legal system with Senator Mike Lee. May 20, 11:00 am. Register here.
- Utah Democratic Party organizaing convention: June 26, 2021
- 250 days of the Cox-Henderson administration: September 11, 2021
Today At Utah Policy  Guest opinion: This mass hysteria around CRT is unwarranted
By Kelly Whited Jones
I teach on the college level and see this fervor around Critical Race Theory as a modern era book burning. We teach college students to critically evaluate many theories that are vital to their intellectual growth. There is a mass hysteria around this particular theory right now that doesn't make sense. On one level, we have to care about providing a fuller, more accurate history -- just as Better Days 2020 worked to fill in the gaps in women's history in our state, we have work to do with black history and indigenous history as well. On another level, by understanding how this unequal system was built and enabled, the next generation is empowered to continue to move the needle on civil rights.
Utah Headlines General - As tensions mount in Israel and Gaza, a swastika appears on a synagogue in Utah (Deseret News, Salt Lake Tribune, KUTV)
- Organizer postpones St. George Black Lives Matter protest, alleges death threats (St. George Spectrum)
- Law now requires autism awareness training. Here's what Utah police will learn (Deseret News)
- How BYU scientists struck pharmaceutical gold - and the fight over who keeps the money (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Senator Mitt Romney receives JFK Profile in Courage Award (ABC4, KUTV)
Politics - Guest opinion: Is Republican messaging increasingly grounded in a lie? (Deseret News)
- Your Trump-loving uncle is not evil (and neither is your Biden-loving aunt) (Deseret News)
- Guest opinion: If Evan McMullin splinters the GOP, only Democrats will benefit (Deseret News)
- Guest opinion: The 1619 Project and critical race theory rewrite history through the lens of 'wokeness' (Deseret News)
- 'Second Amendment Sanctuary' bill could be heard in Utah next week (Salt Lake Tribune, St. George News)
- The Inside Utah Politics Panel on unemployment, the border and the GOP (ABC4)
- On Message: For the Record (UTPOL Underground)
- No country for old things? Amid heightened sensitivity to racial injustice and sexual misconduct, can anything old survive the current moment? (Deseret News)
Service - How one man's mission is now transporting surgery on the road less traveled (Deseret News)
- Karl Malone and local UTV community help veteran in need (Fox13)
COVID Corner - Latter-day Saint aid flowing to India as COVID-19 ravages nation (Deseret News)
- Masks and vaccines are no reason to act like 2-year-olds (Deseret News)
- How will we know when the pandemic is over? Parade? National holiday? Nothing? (Deseret News)
- You won't need a mask at a state liquor store or, if you're vaccinated, at a Salt Lake City library or county rec center. (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Indigenous run aims to heal Utah communities affected by COVID-19 (KUTV)
- Hundreds of bodies found buried along Indian riverbanks (AP)
- Fauci says pandemic exposed 'undeniable effects of racism' (AP, Politico)
- CDC director denies political pressure affected new mask guidelines (The Hill)
Economy - Reduced supply, high demand have car prices cruising upward (Deseret News)
Education - UVU students can check out resort management, earn new degree (Daily Herald)
- Their Voice: Special ed teachers deserve recognition, thanks (Daily Herald)
Elections - Darin Mano seeks to become first Asian American elected to SLC Council (KUTV)
Energy - So gas prices are now $3. How did this happen? (Deseret News)
Environment - Kane County paid $483,000 to nonprofit fighting Biden conservation plan. American Stewards of Liberty's push against Biden's 30 by 30 conservation initiative violates tax-exempt status, watchdog says. (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Rep. Stewart earmarks $2 million for Zion National Park's electric shuttle (The Spectrum)
- Why Mitt Romney, John Curtis favor new wilderness designation - in Illinois (Deseret News)
Family - Could child care help open the economy and why is its funding such a contentious topic? (Deseret News)
- Taylorsville restaurant owner finally back with his wife, young son (Taylorsville City Journal)
- Child cash benefit will begin hitting millions of parents' bank accounts July 15 (Washington Post)
Housing - 5 staggering facts about Utah's hot housing market (Deseret News)
Legal - Utah appeals court rejects challenge to medical cannabis grow licenses (KUTV)
Local Communities - Utah Honor Flight hosts luncheon to honor WWII vets (Fox13)
- Local food exchange launched during pandemic goes nationwide (Standard-Examiner)
National Headlines General - Video Footage of Death of Black Man in South Carolina Jail Stirs Outrage (New York Times)
- FBI and DHS report finds deaths at hands of racially motivated violent extremists on the rise in US (CNN)
- FBI links Albuquerque triple homicide to Aryan Brotherhood (The Hill)
- Dallas prosecutor disbarred for withholding evidence that could have cleared Black men of murder charges (Washington Post)
Politics - Biden's America: Democrats see competence, Republicans see chaos (Washington Post)
- Cheney continues her lonely 'battle for the soul of the Republican Party' (Washington Post)
- Gov. Larry Hogan: Ousting Liz Cheney was a mistake (Politico)
- Stefanik: Cheney is 'looking backwards' (The Hill)
- Republican congressman calls out 'bogus' claims by GOP colleagues downplaying Capitol riot (CNN)
- Gaetz compares allegations against him to earmarks: 'Everybody knows that that's the corruption' (The Hill)
- A year before her election to Congress, Marjorie Taylor Greene searched for Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at her Capitol office, taunting the New York Democrat to "get rid of your diaper" and "talk to the American citizens," (AP)
Economy - Tax the rich? Executives predict Biden's big plans will flop (Politico)
- Inflation fears grow for White House (The Hill)
Elections - Arizona Republicans move 2020 ballots in trucks after pausing controversial election audit (CNN)
- Maricopa County Republican official calls Trump 'unhinged' (The Hill)
- Matthew McConaughey making calls as he weighs running for Texas governor (Politico)
- Franklin Graham says Trump comeback would 'be a very tough thing to do' (The Hill)
- Oklahoma bucks red-state trend, extends early voting (ABC News)
Energy - Natural Gas, America's No. 1 Power Source, Already Has a New Challenger: Batteries (Wall Street Journal)
International - China's repression of Uyghurs is not only cultural, but also physical, a new report shows (Washington Post)
- Afghans who helped the US now fear being left behind (AP)
Israeli/Palestinian Conflict - Israeli warplanes stage more heavy strikes across Gaza City (AP)
- 'Shocking and horrifying': Israel destroys AP office in Gaza (AP)
- Israel Rules Out An Immediate Cease-fire With the Palestinians (Wall Street Journal)
- When Fighting Erupts Between Israel and Hamas, the Question of War Crimes Follows (New York Times)
- Grief Mounts as Efforts to Ease Israel-Hamas Fight Falter (New York Times)
- Israel says Gaza tunnels destroyed in heavy airstrikes (AP)
Policy News  Mortgage Loan Office team surprises motorists on Adam's Avenue Parkway by paying their tolls Bank of Utah is in the midst of a Spring into Service Scavenger Hunt and is encouraging the public to do acts of service through May 21st and the Bank will donate $10 to a Utah nonprofit if a photo of the service is posted and tagged on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
 Guest opinion: Mental fitness for suicide preventionMay marks Mental Health Awareness Month, and this past week was National Prevention Week (NWP) to raise awareness around preventing substance abuse and to promote positive mental health. A year ago we were staring into the abyss with a global pandemic, and the toll this catastrophe has taken on mental health is immeasurable.
 Utah Senate Requests Public Comment on Judicial Nominee The Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee is seeking public comment on attorney Jeffry Ross who Governor Spencer J. Cox appointed as a judge for the 8th District Juvenile Court.
 Lee, McClintock Introduce Bill to Repeal Jones ActSen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) have introduced the Open America's Water Act, a bill that would repeal the Jones Act and allow all qualified vessels to engage in domestic trade between U.S. ports.
 Owens Introduces Legislation to Combat Critical Race Theory U.S. Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) introduced two pieces of legislation in response to the Biden Administration's proposal to fund education programs informed by Critical Race Theory (CRT).
Business Headlines - Four Utah companies landed $10 million in federal Paycheck Protection, the maximum loan amount, in 2020. (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Epic Games vs. Apple lawsuit may impact how app developers do business (Fox13)
- Welcome to the world of NFT. Here's how it is turning the world of art and collectibles on its head (Deseret News)
- Bitcoin price lower after Musk tweet (Reuters)
- Long working hours are a killer, WHO study shows (Reuters)
- U.S. trade chief pressured to lift duties on Canadian lumber (Reuters)
- AT&T-Discovery Deal Would Create a Media Juggernaut (New York Times)
- A new spin on the classic video game, Oregon Trail, gives Native Americans better representation (NPR)
On This Day In History (From History.com) - 1769 - George Washington criticizes "taxation without representation."
- 1912 - Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner is born. She was an African-American inventor most noted for her development of the sanitary belt.
- 1937 - Hazel Reid (O'Leary) is born. She became the first - and so far, only - woman to serve as US Secretary of Energy.
- 1954 - Brown v. Board of Education was decided in a unanimous decision and after 48 years of "separate but equal," segregation in American schools was ruled unconstitutional.
- 2004 - The first legal same-sex marriage in the US is performed in Massachusetts.
"We conclude, that in the field of public education, the doctrine of "separate but equal" has no place. Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal." ~Chief Justice Earl Warren
Lighter Side "It sounds like an old-time comedian's routine, doesn't it? Jeff Bezos is so rich, even his boats have got boats." ~James Corden Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. Advertise With Us |
