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Situational awareness - May 31, 2018
Good Thursday morning from Salt Lake City.
Today's lead story: Utahns are split over whether an LDS Church legal analysis criticizing the medical marijuana initiative leads them more to support the initiative.
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TICK TOCK
- 5 days until primary election mail-in ballots are sent to voters (6/5/2018)
- 12 days until in-person early primary voting begins (6/12/2018)
- 19 days until the final day to register to vote online or in person before the primary election (6/19/2018)
- 22 days until in-person early primary voting ends (6/22/2018)
- 26 days until the 2018 Primary Election (6/26/2018)
- 159 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
- 242 days until the first day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (1/28/2019)
- 887 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)
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Today At Utah Policy
 | Poll shows Utahns are divided by LDS Church opposition to medical marijuana ballot initiative Utahns are split over whether an LDS Church legal analysis criticizing the medical marijuana initiative leads them more to support the initiative, or turns them away from it, a new UtahPolicy.com poll shows. ... |
 | Did you know I'm a doctor? - Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 376 Count My Vote fails to make the November ballot, but voters will decide the fate of medical marijuana, redistricting and Medicaid expansion.... |
 | Former Kennedy campaign staffer says he was harassed online after quitting A former staffer for Republican Mike Kennedy's campaign says he was subjected to online harassment after he left to take another job in California.... |
 | Report finds Utah Medicaid costs among nation's lowest In 2016, Medicaid spending in Utah averaged $703 per capita less than any other state.... |
 | Facebook to build 970,000 square foot data center in Eagle Mountain Eagle Mountain City, together with the Governor's Office of Economic Development and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah announced Facebook will begin construction of a 970,000 square foot data center at the Sweetwater Industrial Park in Eagle Mountain, Utah.... |
 | Podcast: Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 376 Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott discuss the latest news in Utah politics.... |
 | Flake says he won't support Utahn nominated to head up State Department refugee program Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake says he will not support Utahn Ron Mortensen who was nominated by President Trump to head up the State Department program that oversees refugees. ... |
 | Despite LDS Church opposition, nearly 3/4ths of Utahns support ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana Even though the Utah Medical Association and leaders of the LDS Church oppose the medical marijuana citizen initiative petition, three-fourths of Utahns support the measure, a new UtahPolicy.com poll finds. ... |
 | Romney and Kennedy battle mostly to a draw in televised debate Well, it wasn't the dust-up some may have wanted especially pro-Mike Kennedy supporters who wanted to see Mitt Romney bloodied a bit but the TV/radio debate in the GOP U.S. Senate race Tuesday night did have some themes.... |
 | Curtis and Herrod provide some fireworks, and plenty of policy differences in 3rd CD debate Sun Tzu wrote in The Art of War, "Hold out baits to entice the enemy." For about 45 minutes on Tuesday afternoon, Rep. John Curtis was mostly able to ignore the bait from his GOP primary opponent Chris Herrod. ... |
 | Count My Vote fails to qualify for November's ballot The Count My Vote initiative failed to make November's ballot according to final numbers released by the Utah Elections Office on Tuesday afternoon. ... |
Policy News
 | WTC Utah invites you to learn about the future of business in the Korean region Join World Trade Center Utah and the Utah Council for Citizen Diplomacy in welcoming representatives from the U.S. Department of State, the Embassy of the Region of Korea, and the Korea Economic Institute who will speak to the economic, political, security, and financial iss... |
 | Western Pathways Conference to highlight Talent Ready Utah The Governor's Office of Economic Development is pleased to partner with the Global Pathways Institute to host the Western Pathways Conference from May 30 to June 1.... |
| GOED announces Rebecca Dilg to lead 25k Jobs Initiative and Utah Broadband Outreach Center The Governor's Office of Economic Development (GOED) is pleased to announce Rebecca Dilg as the Rural Program Outreach Manager.... |
| Governor appoints Don Torgerson to the Seventh District Court Gov. Gary R. Herbert has appointed Don M. Torgerson as a judge on the Seventh District Court.... |
Local Headlines
Salt Lake Tribune
Editorial: Data center deal points to lessons learned
Facebook to build a massive data center in Eagle Mountain, gets a $150 million tax incentive
Sen. Flake opposes controversial Utahn nominated to head refugee program and could sink Trump's pick
Long-running debt leads to a crossroads for Salt Lake City's Leonardo museum
Deseret News
Jay Evensen: Will forcing a vote on DACA signal a new day? Don't hold your breath
Editorial: Setting the bar for helping Utah veterans find work
Utah Tourism partnering with Airbnb to promote unique Utah experiences
Opposition growing to Utahn's appointment as an assistant secretary of state
Murray City School District raises base teaching salary to $43,000 annually
Medicaid spending per capita in Utah is lowest nationwide, report says
No surprise: Facebook to build data center in Eagle Mountain
Sen. Orrin Hatch describes his work to get Josh Holt released
Other
U.S. House hopefuls Weiland, Castillo debate cannabis, police profiling, guns (Standard-Examiner)
Logan has 10 months to consider modular nuclear reactor program (Logan Herald Journal)
National Headlines
The Maltese Phantom of Russiagate (RealClearInvestigations)
Conservatives see double-standard on Roseanne, cite Olbermann, Joy Reid (The Hill)
One of Trump's top California critics could help him hold the House (CNN)
Trump signs 'right to try' drug bill (The Hill)
Texas Governor Lays Out School Safety Plan In Wake Of Santa Fe Shooting (NPR)
ABC doesn't hate Roseanne -- The network hates her viewers (FOX News)
Starbucks employees react to racial bias training on social media (FOX News)
How Bad Could a Euro Crisis in Italy Get? (Slate)
The Fed just proposed a plan to make life easier for banks by loosening the 'Volcker Rule' (CNBC)
Dow leaps 306 points as worries over Italian political turmoil ease (FOX Business)
Wise Words
Perspective on Friendship
"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light." Helen Keller
Lighter Side
Happiest Place on Earth
"Disney World announced they are finally serving alcohol at every restaurant in the Magic Kingdom. Parents will say, "These giant teacups are spinning too fast," and the kids will be like, "We are not even on the ride yet." Jimmy Fallon
