News Releases
Gov. Cox nominates Jay Winward to Fifth District Judicial Court
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has nominated Jay Winward to the Fifth District Court, filling the vacancy created by Judge Jeffrey Wilcox’s retirement. Winward’s nomination requires confirmation by the Utah Senate.
Currently, Winward is a prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Utah. During his time there, he received the St. George Police Department Chief’s Award. Prior to his current role, he worked as a partner at Winward Law where he represented clients in federal, state, and municipal criminal cases, domestic and family law, commercial litigation, business transactions, and real property. Prior to that, he was an attorney at Mitchell & Forest, working in all aspects of a civil litigation practice. (Read More)
Utah Senate requests public comment on 5th District Court nominee
The Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee is seeking public comment on Jay Winward, who Gov. Spencer J. Cox nominated to serve as a judge in the 5th District Court.
Those who desire to comment should contact the Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee electronically or by mail at the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, by 5:00 p.m. Friday, January 6, 2022. Electronic comments can be emailed to senatejudicialnominees@le.utah.gov. Written comments can be mailed to the Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee at the Utah State Capitol, Suite W210, PO Box 145210, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-5210. All statements should include the respondent’s name, telephone number and mailing address. (Read More)
Romney: Government funding bill includes priorities for Utah and national security
U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) voted in favor of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, the government funding bill, which includes measures he fought for this Congress to benefit Utah. The bill includes the Bonneville Shoreline Trail Advancement Act, support for hospitals throughout the state, and funding for essential services like roads and law enforcement in Utah’s rural counties. Utah’s military programs at Hill Air Force Base and Dugway Proving Ground will also receive the funding they need to carry out their vital missions in support of the country’s national defense.
The package also funds programs authorized by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act—which Romney and his colleagues negotiated—including the Central Utah Project and funding for wildland fire management. The legislation funds the federal government through September 30, 2023, and provides full funding for the recently passed defense bill, which will modernize our defense capabilities to protect against growing threats from China and Russia. (Read More)
Lee amendment continuing pay and benefits to Alkonis family unanimously passes
The Senate unanimously adopted Sen. Mike Lee’s (R-UT) amendment to the 2023 Omnibus Appropriations bill, which directs the Secretary of the Navy to continue the pay and benefits of Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis.
Sen. Lee drafted the amendment after the Department of Defense failed to grant an Exception to Policy request that would have continued his pay and benefits. Sen. Lee’s amendment directs the Secretary of the Navy to continue the pay and benefits of Lt. Alkonis and his family. (Read More)
Student power couple takes first place in ‘LG Wonderbox Showcase,’ wins $25K, and displays artwork in Times Square
Utah Valley University (UVU) motion design student Evan West and his wife, Ashley West, a Brigham Young University (BYU) student, were named first-place winners in the LG Electronics “Wonderbox Showcase,” a digital art competition for college students in New York City on Dec. 14.
In the process, the couple won $25,000 and the right to have their artwork displayed on LG’s Times Square billboard through mid-January. They also received a 27-inch LG Ultrafine UHD 4K Nano monitor, which is ideal for creating digitally animated art. (Read More)
UVU professor named Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors
Dr. Kazem Sohraby of Utah Valley University’s (UVU) Smith College of Engineering and Technology (CET) has been named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI), the organization announced on December 8, 2022.
The NAI Fellows Program highlights academic inventors who have demonstrated a spirit of innovation in creating or facilitating outstanding inventions that have made a tangible impact on the quality of life, economic development, and the welfare of society. Election as an NAI Fellow is the highest professional distinction awarded to academic inventors. (Read More)
Utah Taxpayers Association release their first annual Pork Barrel report
The Utah Taxpayers Association is pleased to announce the 1st edition of a new annual report, titled “The Pork Barrel”. The report is an annual analysis of the Utah State Budget to provide transparency and accountability.
For the first edition of the report, the Association looks back at the last 6 years for overall general fund and education fund ongoing spending and a comprehensive list of all “one-time” spending for the last 2 fiscal years. The report also highlights three areas of the budget – Cultural and Community Engagement, Transportation and Higher Education Buildings. Future editions of the report will highlight other various areas of the budget in addition to overall spending and will go into more detail than this initial report. (Read More)
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