Gwyneth Paltrow not guilty; Finland joining NATO; more intense snow in northern Utah; Alta Ski Area passes 800 inches
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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 | March 31, 2023

It's Friday, the last day of March and National Crayon Day. Color your world!

What You Need to Know

  • Former President Donald Trump was indicted yesterday by a New York grand jury in connection with hush money paid to a porn star. He will be fingerprinted and photographed, "like any other person." Sen. Mike Lee tweeted "This is not a good day for America." Former VP Pence calls the indictment an "outrage." 
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  • Gwyneth Paltrow won a dollar in her countersuit against Terry Sanderson who was suing Paltrow for a ski collision in 2016. The jury found that Paltrow had not caused the crash. Attorney fees were also requested by Paltrow and that amount will be decided by the judge.

  • All that's left is the paperwork. Finland's request to join NATO was just approved after Turkey gave their official approval. Finland shares an 830-mile border with Russia and its membership in NATO is both a diplomatic and strategic setback for Russia. The Russian Embassy in Sweden threatened both Finland and Sweden with military retaliation on Wednesday. Sweden is still waiting to join NATA, as their membership is being blocked by both Turkey and Hungary. 

Rapid Roundup

 

Waterwise is Always in Style

Epic winter snow has created a big summer opportunity, and keeping our outdoor water use low is more important than ever. Everything we don’t put on our yards helps repair the Great Salt Lake and builds our statewide water storage. Click here for resources to help be waterwise.
This message is brought to you from Central Utah, Jordan Valley, Washington County, and Weber Basin Water Conservancy Districts.

 

Utah Headlines

Political news

  • Utah County Commission OKs pay increase for elected officials (Daily Herald)
  • Samuel Morse: New law upsets the balance of judicial power in Utah (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • South Jordan adds 2,285 acres with visions of another Daybreak (Salt Lake Tribune)

General Utah news

  • Silence: SLCPD chief upset with officers for giving public info to FOX 13 News (Fox13)
  • Utah man uses drone to melt snow on school sports fields (KSL)
  • Utah company offers free cyclone sand to help prepare for flooding (KSL)
  • Author Juanita Brooks’ legacy draws healthy turnout to history conference (St. George News)

Business

  • Utah VC Kickstart announces new, whopper $230M fund, expansion into Colorado (Deseret News)
  • Profits of largest U.S. egg producer increased by 718% (Deseret News)
  • Three SLC businesses get their much-prized bar licenses (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Deer Valley Resort making a push for more employee housing (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Clearfield business owners shocked over license fee increases (Fox13)

Culture

  • The ethicist. David W. Miller weighs right and wrong, creativity and courage (Deseret News)
  • Still I rise. How a target of religious bigotry and racism found a higher way (Deseret News)
  • Perspective: Why we need holy days, not just holidays (Deseret News)
  • How to strengthen neighborhood bonds with online groups (Deseret News)

Education

  • Spanish Fork High says emergency app helped during hoax call lockdown (KSL)
  • Latter-day Saint apostle Jeffrey R. Holland will speak at SUU commencement despite opposition (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Skip college? Even as more Americans consider it, that’s not the Utah way (KUER)

Environment

  • Biden administration unveils conservation vision for public land management. Under proposed rule, BLM would realign emphasis toward ecosystem health, preserving landscapes for future generations (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Data shows Utah no longer in extreme drought for first time in nearly 3 years (KUTV)
  • Yellowstone hit by over 150 earthquakes in two weeks (ABC4)
  • Water scientist says Utah legislature isn't doing enough to save Great Salt Lake (UPR)

Family

  • Study reveals that dad jokes are scientifically beneficial for children. (Deseret News) - happy to provide your daily dose....
  • Washington County Children’s Justice Center sees ‘steep incline’ in use of mental health services (St. George News)

Health

  • Can you ever truly catch up on sleep? (Deseret News)
  • Study finds over-prescribed antibiotics causing harmful side effects (KSL TV)

Housing

  • Enter the forever renters. Buying a home has never felt this out of reach. Is it time to redefine the American dream? (Deseret News)
  • The connection between homeownership and democracy (Deseret News)
  • Over 85% of the future Logan subdivision is in 100-year flood zone, maps show (Salt Lake Tribune)
 

National Headlines

General

  • A key inflation gauge tracked by the Fed slowed in February (AP)
  • The Vatican repudiates 'Doctrine of Discovery,' which was used to justify colonialism (NPR)

Politics

  • Religious freedom is a bedrock right. Why is it given second-class status? (Deseret News)
  • Religious freedom is threatened in countries around the world. Here’s how the U.S. is fighting back (Deseret News)
  • Workin’ Man Blues. How the Democrats lost the white working class (Deseret News)
  • A college in upheaval: War on 'woke' sparks fear in Florida (AP)
  • Idaho lawmakers pass a bill to prevent minors from leaving the state for abortion (NPR)
  • DeSantis: Florida won’t cooperate with Trump extradition (The Hill)

Ukraine 🇺🇦

  • Russia might put strategic nukes in Belarus, leader says (AP)
  • Russia sends bombs as Ukraine marks grim Bucha anniversary (AP)
  • Russia says Ukraine ceasefire now would not achieve Moscow's goals (Reuters)
  • How a Ukrainian soldier's final act of defiance made him a hero (Wall Street Journal)
  • Secret trove offers rare look into Russian cyberwar ambitions (Washington Post)

World

  • Grace on wheels. In war-torn Israel, volunteer drivers see past ethnic and religious differences to deliver Palestinian children to the health care they need (Deseret News)
  • A crucible of dreams. Before migrants embark on what may be the most dangerous 60 miles in the world, a small parish in Colombia prepares them for the journey (Deseret News)
 

News Release

Curtis applauds passage of clean energy package

Today, Rep. Curtis (R-UT), chair of the Conservative Climate Caucus, issued a statement celebrating the House’s bipartisan passage of H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act. The landmark legislation aims to promote affordable, reliable, safe, and clean energy solutions for the American people. (Read More)


Lee introduces bill to protect digital advertising competition

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), joined by Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), JD Vance (R-OH), and John Kennedy (R-LA), introduced the Advertising Middlemen Endangering Rigorous Internet Competition Accountability (AMERICA) Act. The bill would restore and protect competition in digital advertising by eliminating conflicts of interest that have allowed the leading platforms in the market to manipulate ad auctions and impose monopoly rents on a broad swath of the American economy. (Read More)


Owens, Stewart help reintroduce the Open Evapotranspiration Data Act

Today, Reps. Burgess Owens (UT-04) and Chris Stewart (UT-02) helped reintroduce The Open Access Evapotranspiration (OpenET) Act, legislation to get critical water use data into the hands of farmers, ranchers, and decision-makers for improved water management in Utah and across the Western U.S. The bill would establish a program to use publicly available data from satellites and weather stations to provide estimates of evapotranspiration (ET), a critical measure of actual water use. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) reintroduced companion legislation in the Senate. (Read More)


Romney joins Braun, colleagues in bill to prevent IRS from being used as political weapon

U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) today joined Senator Mike Braun (R-IN) and Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), Todd Young (R-IN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Jim Risch (R-ID) in re-introducing a bill to prevent the IRS from being used as a political weapon against conservative non-profit groups. (Read More)

 

Number of the Day

Number of the Day, Mar 31, 2023

 

Tweet of the Day

Screenshot 2023-03-31 at 6.41.34 AM

 

Upcoming

  • YWCA Utah Legislative Recap — Mar 31, 5:00-7:00 pm, Register here
  • Advancing Women Through “Developmental Relationships”: A Dialogue with Global Experts with the Utah Women and Leadership Project — April 4, 12:00 pm-1:15 pm, Register here
  • UVU Conference on Domestic Violence — April 14, 9:00 am-4:00 pm, Register here
  • Hatch Foundation Gala with special guest Sen. Mitch McConnell and Sec. Elaine Chao is being rescheduled.
  • Teen Girls Experiencing Increased Sadness and Violence with Utah Women and Leadership Project — April 25, 12:00-1:15 pm via Zoom, Register here
  • United Utah Party State Convention — April 29, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Lehi High School with keynote speakers Teri McCabe and Jay Mcfarland
  • Mount Liberty College Spring Youth Seminar on The Virginian — May 6, 9 am-7 pm, Register Here
 

On This Day In History 

  • 1776 - Abigail Adams writes to her husband John who is helping to frame the Declaration of Independence and cautions, “Remember the ladies…”
  • 1888 - The National Council of Women of the U.S. is organized by Susan B. Anthony, Clara Barton, Julia Ward Howe, and Sojourner Truth, among others, the oldest non-sectarian women’s organization in the U.S.
  • 1889 - The Eiffel Tower is completed. Parisians did not love it.
  • 1918 - The first daylight saving time begins in the United States. This is when the madness started
  • 1927 - Cesar Chavez is born. A former migrant farmworker, Chavez founded the National Farm Workers Association. 
  • 1980 - Jesse Owens, four-time Olympic Gold Medalist, dies of lung cancer at age 66.
  • 1988 - Toni Morrison wins the Pulitzer prize for her novel, Beloved.
  • 1998 - American politician Bella Abzug dies at age 77

Quote of the Day

"I raise up my voice - not so I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard...We cannot succeed when half of us are held back."

—Malala Yousafzai


On the Punny Side

My friend asked if I had to include vegetables in all my sentences…

I said “not nececelery.”

 

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