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Local News Highlights: Daily Briefing
Morning Must Reads for Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Good Wednesday morning from Salt Lake City. Today is the 278th day of the year. There are 94 days left in 2016.
Debate fallout continues at the national level. Salt Lake County Auditor releases audit of Recorder Gary Ott’s office. U.S. Senate struggles to vote on bill to fund the government and avoid a shutdown.
The clock:
- 6 days to the 2nd Congressional District debate at the University of Utah (10/4/2016)
- 6 days to the vice presidential debate at Longwood University (10/4/2016)
- 11 days to the second presidential debate at Washington University (10/9/2016)
- 12 days to the 4th Congressional District debate at Salt Lake Community College (10/10/2016)
- 14 days to the U.S. Senate debate at Brigham Young University (10/12/2016)
- 19 days to the 1st Congressional District debate at Weber State University (10/17/2016)
- 21 days to the 3rd Congressional District debate at Utah Valley University (10/19/2016)
- 21 days to the third presidential debate at UNLV (10/19/2016)
- 41 days until the 2016 presidential election - (11/8/2016)
- 117 days until the first day of the 2017 Utah Legislature - (1/23/2017)
- 162 days until the final day of the 2017 Utah Legislature - (3/9/2017)
Talking points for Wednesday:
1-Utahns have strong confidence that their election ballot will be counted accurately, a new Utah Policy poll shows (Utah Policy).
2-Government shutdown looms as Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate bicker regarding “simple” bill to fund the federal government (New York Times) (The Hill).
3-Sen. Orrin Hatch participates in the Beehive Podcast, discussing education for high-tech careers and other technology topics. He is bringing Apple CEO Tim Cook to Utah on Friday for the Utah Technology Council Hall of Fame dinner (Beehive Podcast).
4-Political Guru Larry Sabato and his Crystal Ball colleagues analyse the election as it stands, including the Electoral College ratings and the chances of the Democrats taking over the Senate (Rasmussen Reports).
5-Violent crime rose in 2015 in the United States, and the murder rate jumped by double digits, the FBI reported. Murders jumped by 16 percent in Chicago (Fox News) (Wall Street Journal).
6-SL County Recorder Gary Ott doesn’t show up to respond to county auditor’s evaluation of his office’s performance (Deseret News) (Tribune) (Deseret News editorial).
7- UTA addresses closed meetings issues before Salt Lake County Council (Tribune).
8-Will Monday’s presidential debate move the needle in the race? (The Hill). GOP lawmakers give Trump bad reviews (The Hill).
On this day in history:
- 1066 – William the Conqueror invades England, landing at Pevensey Bay, Sussex.
- 1542 – Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovers California at San Diego Bay.
- 1779 – Samuel Huntington is elected President of the Continental Congress, succeeding John Jay.
- 1781 – 9,000 American and 7,000 French troops begin siege of Yorktown.
- 1787 – Congress sends Constitution to state legislatures for their approval.
- 1850 – U.S. Navy abolishes flogging as punishment.
- 1887 – Yellow River floods in China, killing an estimated 1.5 million people.
Today At Utah Policy
 | Utahns Have Strong Confidence in Ballot Accuracy Despite talk about election computer systems being hacked, eight out of 10 Utahns believe their ballot cast in November’s final election will be counted accurately, a new UtahPolicy poll finds.Considering that one of the major party candidates – Donald Trump &nda... |
| Utahns More Confident About Present and Future Economy The Zions Bank Utah Consumer Attitude Index (CAI) increased 1.8 points to 113.2 in September. The increase resulted from greater confidence in both the present economy and the future economic situation. The overall CAI currently sits 3.2 points higher than its level 12 month... |
| New Rep. Love bill will bring funds to Utah schools WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Mia Love has introduced the Funding Local Schools Act (H.R. 6180), a bill that would help to bring additional funding to Utah’s schools.The Bureau of Land Management’s Pony Express resource management plan (RMP) identifies s... |
| Lee: DOJ Isn't Doing Enough to Protect Churches In a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Sens. Mike Lee and Ted Cruz accuse the Justice Department of favoring abortion clinics over churches, and urge the law enforcement agency to respond more assertively to violations of religious liberty.... |
| As the Race Tightens, Whither the NeverTrumpers? Utah native Evan McMullin entered the presidential race in the immediate aftermath of the Democratic National Convention, when it appeared Donald Trump was headed toward a landslide loss to Hillary Clinton. Now, with polls showing Trump tied or ahead in several crucial battl... |
 | Rigged Election? Utahns Say No If Donald Trump loses the election, he says it will be because it was “rigged” against him.Most Utahns don’t agree, a new UtahPolicy poll shows.But there is a significant minority (nearly a third) who agree with Trump: The only way he loses is if the electi... |
| Which Party is Better for the Economy? Ahead of Monday night’s first presidential debate, WalletHub’s analysts compared the economic performance of the U.S. under both Democratic and Republican control to objectively answer an important question: Which Party Is Better for the Economy? The years w... |
| Lee: Will Obama Heed Utahns, or Out-of-State Activists, on Monument Designation? Sen. Mike Lee saystheworking-classresidents of San Juan Countyfear that Pres. Obama will pull a Bill Clinton and upend their way of life by creating, with the mere stroke of his pen, yet another vast national monument in southern Utah.... |
Policy News
| Salt Lake Chamber Hosts 129th Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon Utah’s business leaders gathered on Tuesday at the Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek for the Salt Lake Chamber’s 129th Annual Meeting and Awards Luncheon. The theme for the event was “Rewind Time,” allowing Chamber members to review the previo... |
| State Auditor Releases Audit on Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control The Office of the State Auditor has released a report on the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control -- Special Financial and Limited Performance Audit For Procedures Performed During Fiscal Year 2016. This report provides recommendations in five performance and financial a... |
| Utah Economic Outlook: Utah Employment Strong, but National Outlook Mixed Utah Labor Market. The unemployment rate in Utah has continued to decline. The state’s year-over-year growth in total employment decreased from 3.5 percent in June to 3.2 percent in July. Compared to a year ago, Utah has added 43,800 jobs to the economy, with the curre... |
| Air & Energy Symposium to Explore Nexus Between Energy and Air Quality Abundant and low-cost energy is essential to economic growth and community well-being. But the production and use of energy produces emissions that affect Utah’s unique airsheds. The challenges of realizing the combined goals of economic development and environmental h... |
| Press Release: Sen. Karen Mayne Urges School Nurse Funding Boost Utah State Sen. Karen Mayne (D–West Valley) called on her colleagues in the Utah State Legislature to increase funding for school nurses. Citing a newly released Utah Department of Health (UDOH) report stating that Utah faces a “critical shortage” of school... |
Local Headlines
Salt Lake Tribune
Doug Owens criticizes Mia Love's use of taxpayer-funded mailers
Not a tossup: Handicappers now say Mia Love has the advantage over Doug Owens
Rolly: Utah's Senate Republicans banish GOP defector
Audit highlights low wages among Utah liquor store employees
Salt Lake County Recorder Gary Ott bails on facing critical audit
Utah school board candidates debate over partisan, nonpartisan elections
UTA revises explanation of closed-door meeting
Deseret News
Derek B. Miller: Utah lost Facebook but can still save face
Jay Evensen: Who sets the vision for public education in Utah?
Richard Davis: The Bart and Lisa Simpson debate
Editorial: Audit of Salt Lake County Recorder's office raises troubling questions
Did the debate between Clinton and Trump sway undecided Utah voters?
Utah consumers high on local economy, index says
State liquor outlets should run more like convenience stores, Utah auditor says
Audit: S.L. County recorder has 'very little oversight or involvement' in his office
Trump, Clinton have work to do to make Utah voters 'comfortable' following debate
Utah child population growing, becoming more diverse, new report says
Other
Commission: It's time to have the conversation about raising taxes in Utah County (Daily Herald)
As Park City's school grades drop, methods questioned (Park Record)
Statehouse competitors talk traffic, development in Park City (Park Record)
Morgan County leader and political newcomer up for seat in Utah's House District 53 (Park Record)
National Headlines
Obama's team isn't laughing at Trump anymore (Politico)
Congress weighs plan to dodge shutdown (Politico)
NBC's Lester Holt emerges from debate bruised and partisan (The Hill)
Trump: I won every debate poll except CNN (The Hill)
Christie again denies knowing of traffic plot (Associated Press)
Trump says he may hit 'harder' in next debate (Washington Post)
Ford Fights Back Against Trump Debate Claims (Wall Street Journal)
Obama's Climate Legacy Under Fire as Power Plan Faces Test (Bloomberg)
If Trump wins, 'Yellen would resign fairly quickly': Economist (CNBC)
US Accuses Tech Firm Palantir of Bias Against Asian Engineers (New York Times)
Wise Words
Do Over
"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?" John Wooden
Lighter Side
Kenyan Vote
"President Obama's half-brother, who lives in Kenya, told reporters this week that he will be voting for Donald Trump in the country's mock U.S. election. Oh, that's got to sting for Trump - an Obama wants to vote for him, but it's the one with the Kenyan birth certificate." Seth Meyers
