National Fruitcake Day; Jazz lose to Spurs; Utah State meets Memphis today; Utah officers perform 600th opioid overdose reversal
View in browser

The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. We scour the news so you don't have to! Send news tips or feedback to Holly Richardson at editor@utahpolicy.com.

 

Situational Analysis | Dec. 27, 2022

It's Tuesday and National Fruitcake Day, something neither the Governor nor Lt. Governor find particularly appealing. It's also day 2 of Kwanzaa. Today is focused on self-determination (kujichagulia).

Be in the Know

  • The Taliban banned women from attending universities a week ago. On Saturday, they also prohibited women from attending religious classes at mosques in Kabul and ordered all NGOs (non-governmental organizations) to fire all female employees. At least seven NGOs, including Save the Children, the International Rescue Committee, the Norwegian Refugee Council, Islamic Relief, Christian Aid, World Vision and CARE, have suspended operations in Afghanistan in response to the move. Women protestors have been met with water cannons

Rapid Roundup

 

Together, We Can Better Support Women in Business

Whether you’re a woman starting a business or looking to elevate your career, Inspire In Utah is dedicated to providing you with the resources to help on your journey. Find funding, training, and even inspirational stories in our dedicated resource center.

 

Utah Headlines

General

  • Ukrainian refugees celebrate Christmas in Utah with gratitude (KSL)
  • Kwanzaa celebrations begin, honoring African American culture and history (KSL Newsradio)
  • Utah deaths of 2022: Politicians and protesters, artists and architects, characters and a cat (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Police share resources for victims as domestic violence calls spike during holiday season (KUTV)
  • Suspect dead, Hurricane Police K-9 stabbed during officer-involved critical incident (KUTV)
  • Danger Cave still evokes life as it was at a Great Salt Lake of 8,000 years ago (KUER)

Politics

  • Perspective: Is populism worth the soul of conservatism? By whispering nostalgia into the ears of the public, populists like Donald Trump gain power, but at a societal cost (Deseret News)
  • January 6 Committee says Lee worked to have states send alternate electors for Trump (Fox13)
  • Mayoral year in review: Airport terminal, city hall top Provo’s 2022 accomplishments (Daily Herald)
  • Mayoral year in review: All-abilities park, library land approval highlight Lehi’s 2022 successes (Daily Herald)
  • Mayoral year in review: New parks, growth and services highlight 2022 in Springville (Daily Herald)
  • Utah lawmakers could move to ban gender-affirming surgery for trans youth in 2023 (KUER)

Business

  • Texas Instruments’ multibillion-dollar investment in Utah comes online. TI’s newly refurbished microchip plant in Lehi is set to grow Utah’s economy, and reputation, in a myriad of ways (Deseret News)
  • Baking supplies cost a lot more this year. So did flying. But that flat-screen TV got cheaper. (Wall Street Journal)
  • US retail sales rise 7.6 percent during holidays (The Hill)
  • From ‘Lord of the Rings’ to whiskey barrels, this Utah company makes men’s rings of it all (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Avoid work slumps by taking a break (Deseret News)

Education

  • What are local naming rights deals worth at public university athletic stadiums? A look at the contacts for venues at Utah State, Utah Valley and Southern Utah. (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Utah Tech program creates opportunities for incarcerated youth (UPR)
  • Search committee announced for next USU president (Herald Journal)

Environment

  • ‘Mind-blowing’ network of magma chambers found under Hawaii’s volcanoes. A new map of the island’s underworld provides a valuable window into the behavior of some of the most capricious, and hazardous, volcanoes on Earth (Washington Post)
  • These natural wonders aren't national parks in the US. But they should be (KSL)

Family

  • Opinion: How to build a holiday. Christmas is over — but the holidays don’t have to be (Deseret News)

Health

  • Long COVID: Could mono virus or fat cells be playing roles? (KSL)
  • Utah mom helps others get access to children’s medicine amid empty store shelves (KSL TV)
  • Big nonprofit hospitals expand in wealthier areas, shun poorer ones.
    Despite lucrative tax breaks for serving needy communities, many large systems focus growth on higher-income neighborhoods (Wall Street Journal)
  • Growing vaccine hesitancy fuels measles, chickenpox resurgence in U.S. (Washington Post)
  • Maternal deaths in the U.S. are staggeringly common. Personal nurses could help (NPR)

Housing


National Headlines

General

  • At least 50 people have died across the U.S. in 'once-in-a-generation storm' (NPR)
  • Southwest cancels more than 2,800 flights in a 'full-blown meltdown' (NPR)
  • Southwest under scrutiny after wave of storm cancellations (AP)
  • 4 Wash. power stations vandalized amid unsolved incidents nationwide (Washington Post)
  • The way you tell your life story matters. Start now. The Wall Street Journal’s obituary writer reflects on importance of preserving stories of your life (Wall Street Journal)

Politics

  • George Santos admits to lying about college and work history. The congressman-elect confirmed The Times’s findings that he had not graduated from college or worked at two major Wall Street companies, as he had claimed. (New York Times)
  • Democrats call for George Santos to resign over ‘whopping lies’  (The Hill)
  • GOP omnibus opponents bring home billions of earmarked dollars. ‘No’ votes included the two Republicans with the largest earmark hauls in the House (Roll Call)
  • Arizona governor-elect asks court to sanction election denier Lake (Reuters)
  • Gail Collins: Women are on the march in politics. Just think of 2023 as the Year of Women Governors. (New York Times)
  • GOP stumbles with independents contributed to midterm woes (AP)

Ukraine 🇺🇦 

  • Lavrov: Ukraine must demilitarize or Russia will do it (AP)
  • Mariupol residents scramble to find missing as Russia rebuilds (Wall Street Journal)

World News

  • Aid groups in Afghanistan suspend work after the Taliban ban female staff. The  government’s decree, barring women from work in local and international relief organizations, threatens critical assistance for millions of people. (New York Times)
  • Tensions rise in northern Kosovo, Serbia puts army on alert (Reuters)
 

News Releases

U.S. delegation returns from Taiwan, bolstering partnership with critical American ally

Last week, Congressman John Curtis (UT-03) led a congressional delegation to Taiwan to discuss national and energy security, as well as Taiwan’s critical role in the global supply chain. Members included Rep. John Curtis (UT-03), Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04), and Rep. Michelle Steel (CA-48). 

“When I first visited as a missionary in 1979, Taiwan was very different than it is today. Under strong leadership, Taiwan has become a strong democracy in a volatile region and the number one supplier of advanced semiconductors,” said Rep. Curtis. “I was honored to return to Taiwan to reaffirm America’s bipartisan commitment to have a strong alliance with Taiwan. I look forward to supporting Taiwan’s national and energy security, which will in turn support America’s defense strategy.” (Read More)

 

Number of the Day

Number of the Day, Dec 27, 2022

 

Tweet of the Day

Screen Shot 2022-12-27 at 7.49.13 AM
 

Upcoming

  • Utah Economic Outlook and Public Policy Summit with the Salt Lake Chamber — Jan. 12, 2023, Salt Lake City Marriott, 8 am - noon, Register here
  • Legislative session begins, Jan. 17, 2023, le.utah.gov
 

On This Day In History

  • 1822 - Louis Pasteur is born

  • 1901 - Marlene Dietrich is born.

  • 1930 - Mary Ellen (Meg) Greenfield, an American editorial writer, was born. She was named editorial editor at Washington Post in 1979 after winning a Pulitzer Prize — and penned commentaries on civil rights, integration, nuclear arms and the military establishment.

  • 1932 - Radio City Music Hall opens

  • 1934 - Shah of Persia Mohammad Reza Pahlavi declares Persia now Iran

  • 1944 - FDR seizes control of Montgomery Ward

  • 1945 - International Monetary Fund formally established by 29 member countries based on ideas of Harry Dexter White and John Maynard Keynes

  • 2007 - Pakistani politician Benazir Bhutto assassinated

  • 2012 - Norman Schwarzkopf dies at 78

  • 2016 - Carrie Fisher dies


Wise Words

"Kwanzaa is a special time to remember the ancestors, the bridge builders, and the leaders."

— Dorothy Winbush Riley


On the Punny Side

This is ridiculous! We're 364 days away from Christmas - 

- and people already have their lights up on their house.

 

– Advertise With Us –

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