Situational Analysis | June 30, 2021

Welcome to Wednesday, the last day of June. Today is National Meteor Watch Day. Funny story: when my husband and I were dating, he invited me to go up Provo Canyon to watch the meteor shower. I thought it was a euphemism. Nope. He really just wanted to watch shooting stars. 

Be in the Know

1. Governor Cox selects Marlo Oaks as the new state treasurer. Oaks is the managing director at Crewe Capital in Salt Lake City. His term will go until Dec. 31, 2022.

2. Speaking of Gov. Cox, the LA Times says he's different than many Republicans - and many politicians - in his approach: less combat, more listening and attempts to work constructively with all parties. He also enjoys a 65% approval rating with voters. He must be doing something right.

3. Heavy rain brings raging flash floods to southern Utah shutting down much of Zion National Park. Springdale Police Officer Britt Ballard calls it 'the worst I've ever seen.'

4. The Success in Education organization is launching its new initiative "Women Who Succeed"! There are 250 spots available for young women ranging 6th grade to college graduates across the state of Utah. APPLY BY JUNE 30th. (That's today.)

5. ‘Unofficial’ LGBTQ Pride march at BYU draws more than a thousand. The event was organized by BYU Pride.

Utah Headlines

General

• Utah named most independent state, least reliant on the federal government, ahead of Fourth of July (Fox13)
• Perspective: Six moments of civic charity that transformed America. The nation’s well-being must be valued over personal interests (Deseret News)
• 86% of LGBTQ youth have been harassed at school and are 2x as likely to experience hopelessness and sadness. Trans youth are 2x as likely to experience depression and attempt suicide. One Provo teen shared her story. (KSL)
• How religious freedom law fails Native Americans (Deseret News)
• Ogden fire damage estimated at $3.1 million after homes, businesses destroyed. A woman has been taken into custody as a 'person of interest.' (Fox13)

Politics

• Ross Douthat: The debate over how American schools should teach about race and racial history has reached a curious juncture, in which it’s becoming hard to tell what the argument is about. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Board of trustees unanimously votes to change Dixie State to Utah Tech University (St. George News)
• Romney: Most Americans know Trump’s election fraud claims are ‘not real’ (Daily Herald)
• Poll: Most Utahns agree with governor on ending extra unemployment pay (Deseret News)
• Perspective: Why constitutional originalism is not partisan (Deseret News)

COVID Corner

• 361 new cases, 3 deaths in Utah
• Pandemic lockouts would be barred if Congress passes this bipartisan bill (Desert News)
• Tuskegee relatives promote COVID-19 vaccines in ad campaign (AP)
• Los Angeles urges everyone to mask up because of delta variant — even the vaccinated (Washington Post)
• North Korea's Kim says 'great crisis' caused by pandemic lapse (Reuters)

Drought/Wildfires

• In Hyde Park, the mayor sent an emergency notice to residents: If they keep using water at the rate they are? Their water tanks will be empty by SATURDAY (Fox13)
• As water wanes, two Utah towns stop building (Salt Lake Tribune)

Economic Development

• Science company expanding in Ogden, bringing hundreds of new jobs (Standard-Examiner)

Education

• U.S. Dept. of Commerce awards USU Extension $1.1 million for remote work training (USU)
• New superintendent for SLC schools, Dr. Timothy Gadson, says students need someone like him (KUTV)
• Ogden School District appoints new superintendent, Luke Rassumussen. He takes over on July 1. (ABC4)

Energy

• Thom Carter, Utah Governor Spencer Cox's Energy Advisor and the Executive Director of the Office of Energy Development, joins Boyd Matheson to discuss why carbon taxes are not the right choice for the state. (Inside Sources)

Legal

• Utah’s bail reform: How the cost is pushing rural counties away from the benefits (KUER)
• Lori Daybell newly charged with conspiring to murder her fourth husband, Charles Vallow (KUTV)

Local Communities

• Orem council must decide how to spend $16 million (Daily Herald)

Service

• First lady Abby Cox interviews Becky Pickle on her work as an entrepreneur, being a foster parent, and her amazing work in the community (First Lady and Friends)
• Dozens of families are out of their homes after a fire ripped through their condo building in Salt Lake City early Monday morning. Amid the disaster for these families, stories of compassion have also emerged. (KUTV)

National Headlines

General

• Blackouts in US Northwest due to heat wave, deaths reported (AP)
• 'Our backyard': Tragedy strikes home for Miami-Dade rescuers, considered among the best and most experienced in the world. (AP)
• 8-year-olds in despair: The mental health crisis is getting younger.
  The number of children who need urgent mental health care has been on the rise for years, and spiked during the pandemic. (New York Times)
• Fox News agrees to $1 million fine as part of human rights investigation settlement (NBC)

Politics

• Joining Trump at border, GOP congressman Jim Banks eyes path to power (AP)
• Trump supporter warns CNN reporter of 'civil war' if former president not reinstated 'soon' (The Hill)
• Support for Biden erodes among Democrats as U.S. looks past pandemic (Reuters)
• Trump criticizes GOP senators, McConnell on bipartisan infrastructure deal (The Hill)
• NSA refutes Tucker Carlson spying allegation, saying "Tucker Carlson has never been an intelligence target of the Agency." (The Hill)
• House votes to remove Taney bust, Confederate statues (Roll Call)
• Congress faces renewed pressure to ‘modernize our antitrust laws’ (New York Times)

Courts

• Progressives are hoping that Justice Stephen Breyer steps down at the end of the term (NPR)
• Supreme Court rules New Jersey can’t block natural-gas pipeline, says pipeline developer can invoke federal eminent domain power to acquire state property (Wall Street Journal)
• Supreme Court leaves CDC eviction moratorium intact (The Hill)
• Supreme Court says no right to hearing for some immigrants (AP)
• An unmarried Catholic schoolteacher got pregnant. She was fired. A lawsuit that she filed in New Jersey is testing the First Amendment limits of religious freedom. (New York Times)

Education

• The 1921 Tulsa race massacre wasn't the only episode of violence overlooked by historians. U.S. institutions are confronting events like the 1919 Elaine massacre for the first time, even as some states try to limit how racism is discussed in schools. (New York Times)

Elections

• Despite outrage, new state voting laws don’t spell democracy’s end – but there are some threats (Governing)
• NYC mayoral vote in turmoil after Board of Elections finds 'discrepancy' (The Hill)
• Trump says Herschel Walker will run for Georgia Senate seat in 2022 (Politico)
• Yet another poll: 56 percent of GOP voters say Biden won the 2020 election by voter fraud (The Hill)

Energy

• Oil steady as U.S. stockpiles fall, OPEC warns of possible 2022 glut (Reuters)

Environment

• Nowhere is ready for this heat. The Pacific Northwest is melting now, but all across America the infrastructure we have was built for the wrong century. (The Atlantic)

International

• Trapped in Ethiopia’s Tigray, people ‘falling like leaves’ (AP)
• Hong Kong freedoms fade as China muzzles dissent (AP)

Business Headlines

• What's going on with Venmo's new fees? (Vox)
• China's Didi raises $4.4 bln in upsized U.S. IPO (Reuters)
• Stock Futures Point to Fifth Month of Gains for S&P 500 (Wall Street Journal)
• $6 billion NCR opens bitcoin purchases to 650 banks and credit unions (Forbes)
• Apple says in-person work is ‘essential’ and will not go back from its hybrid work plan (9 to 5 Mac)
• Zoom acquires an AI company building real-time translation (The Verge)

Policy News

9th annual Utah Pacific Island Heritage Month

The Annual Utah Pacific Island Heritage Month festivities will kick off on the evening of July 31, 2021, with a return to an in-person, live event at the new Three Creeks Confluence Park. With a diverse assortment of cultural foods, youth entrepreneurs, culturally authentic entertainment and many games, the event will be fun for all Utahns. Read More

Gov. Cox names Marlo Oaks as new state treasurer

Gov. Spencer J. Cox has appointed Marlo M. Oaks as treasurer for the state of Utah. He replaces David Damschen, who recently resigned to take a position in the nonprofit sector.
“Marlo’s broad experience in investment banking, risk management and portfolio oversight makes him an excellent choice as custodian of public funds,” said Gov. Cox. “I’m also impressed with his involvement in two nonprofits and Utah Valley University. I commend his desire to serve the public in this new capacity.” Read More

President Adams issues statement about the Governor’s treasurer appointment

Senate President J. Stuart Adams issues a statement regarding Governor Cox appointing Marlo Oaks as Utah’s State Treasurer:
“Utah has incredible individuals willing to step forward and serve, which was evident by the caliber of candidates who ran for the position of State Treasurer. I congratulate Marlo Oaks for being selected by the governor and believe Marlo will do a great job as the state’s new treasurer. His previous experience prepared him for this role, and I have confidence in Marlo’s abilities to lead our state finances and protect public funds. I look forward to working with Marlo as he takes on the position of State Treasurer.”

Rep. Curtis appointed to House GOP Energy, Climate, and Conservation Task Force

Today, Representative John Curtis (R-UT), member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman of the Conservative Climate Caucus, released the following statement after being named a member of the newly-formed “Energy, Climate, and Conservation” Republican Task Force.
“House Republican leadership created the Energy, Climate, and Conservation Republican Task Force because leaving the earth better than we found it is an important priority for Republicans and the American people,” said Curtis. “I thank Leader McCarthy and Chairman Graves for the opportunity to work with my colleagues on policies that make a real impact on climate change without sacrificing American jobs or increasing the cost of energy. Republicans are committed to finding ways to lower global emissions through American innovation and technologies to be used around the world— I look forward to developing and advancing those solutions.” Read More

Colorado River Authority of Utah names Executive Director

The Colorado River Authority of Utah (CRAU) announced the critical hiring of longtime Colorado River expert Amy I. Haas as its first Executive Director.
Haas hails from New Mexico and brings 20 years of water industry experience. This includes multiple positions specific to the Colorado River Basin. Read More

Rep. Stewart’s statement on Republican investigation of China’s malign influence activities against corporate America

Last week, Republicans on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence made public their investigation of China’s malign influence activities against corporate America. Congressman Chris Stewart (R-UT) released the following statement.
“It’s no secret that China’s ultimate strategic goal is becoming the world’s preeminent superpower – economically, militarily, diplomatically, and technologically. It’s also no secret that the Chinese government employs a wide range of initiatives to shape events and public opinion to undermine U.S. national and economic security. American companies are deeply entangled in this effort, wittingly and unwittingly." Read More

New video shows gondola experience in Little Cottonwood Canyon

Want to know what having a gondola in Little Cottonwood Canyon will be like? A new video lets you experience the actual system proposed. Beginning at the base station at La Caille, the video shows the journey from the hub where gondola riders start to the top of the canyon. A gondola system would offer a never-before-experienced vantage point of the beauty of the canyon, while also preserving it for future generations. Read More and See It Here

Number of the Day

Guest opinion: Wind and solar electricity free up needed Utah water

By Edwin R. Stafford

Upcoming

• Preparing for a New Future: Legislative updates and trends with Rep. Brian King and Senator Todd Weiler – July 8 @ 10 am Register here
• Securing the American Dream: A conversation with Tim Scott presented by the Hatch Foundation – Aug 11 @ noon. Register here
• Utah Foundation Annual Luncheon with Shaylyn Romney Garrett – Sept 23 @ 12 pm. Register here

On This Day In History

From History.com

• 1702 - Elizabeth Timothy is born. The colonial immigrant became the first female newspaper editor and publisher in America. After the death of her father, Timothy assumed his role in printing the South Carolina Gazette under contract with Benjamin Franklin.
• 1883 - Dorothy Tilly is born. She was a civil rights reformer who devoted her life to reforming southern race relations
• 1899 - Margaret Byrd Rawson is born. An educator and researcher, she identified and treated reading disorders including dyslexia
• 1906 - US Congress passes the Meat Inspection Act and the Pure Food and Drug Act; these laws owe much to the expose journalism of the period (Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle' in particular)
• 1934 - Hitler orders the assassination of hundreds of members of his own political party in the Night of the Long Knives for not being loyal enough.
• 1936 - Gone with the Wind is published.
• 1938 - Superman first appears in a comic
• 1982 - The ERA fails, 3 states short of ratification.
• 2014 - Burwell v Hobby Lobby is decided in a 5-4 vote 

Wise Words

“A child only gets one childhood.“ 
-Margaret Byrd Rawson

Lighter Side

What James Bond film is a blue whale’s favorite?
Licence to Krill.

– Advertise With Us –

Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers.