It's Arbor Day and perfect weather for tree-planting; US jobless claims drop, and the West Virginia guv is running against Joe Manchin
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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 | April 28, 2023

It's Friday and we're heading into the last weekend of April. Today is also Arbor Day and the weekend weather is perfect for tree planting. 

What You Need to Know

  • Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas announced Thursday the U.S. plans to open migrant processing centers in Central and Latin America ahead of Title 42—pandemic-era border controls—expiring in May. The first centers will open in Guatemala and Colombia and are part of a strategy to expand legal pathways to the US while making it harder to claim asylum at the border. 

  • The Department of Labor reported Thursday that initial jobless claims—a proxy for layoffs—decreased by 16,000 to 230,000, indicating the labor market remains strong despite weaknesses in other parts of the U.S. economy.

Rapid Roundup

 

Utah Headlines

Political news

  • Utah restaurant liquor licenses are still scarce, DABS board says, even after Legislature’s additions (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Utah judge to consider challenge to new abortion clinic ban (AP)
  • Romney a ‘no’ as the Senate’s Equal Rights Amendment vote falters (KUER)
  • Ex-Ogden Police Chief Jon Greiner to run for mayor, cites experience (Standard-Examiner)
  • Utah passes sweeping changes to ensure school safety statewide (KUTV)
  • Opinion: Why DEI oaths undermine freedom of speech (Deseret News)

General Utah news

  • State investigators say child predators turning more aggressive (KSL TV)
  • ‘Make the world a healthier place’ by celebrating Arbor Day in St. George (St. George News)
  • Late blooming flowers from record snowfall extends the Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point (Fox13)
  • Sarah Lafond is a Utah teacher and world arm wrestling champion (KSL Newsradio)
  • North Ogden shooting and house fire leaves 2 dead, 1 hospitalized (KSL)
  • How this ‘Giant in our City’ has built a life of giving (Deseret News)

Education

  • Lack of communication concerns parents after attempted kidnapping at Salt Lake City school (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Utah County teacher strikes student, admits to officer he'd been drinking, police report (KUTV)
  • USU receives $1 million grant to help farmers with irrigation (UPR)
  • At University of Utah, an Arab student group aims to build community (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Morally based choices bring joy, peace, Elder Christofferson tells BYU graduates. BYU’s 6,812 new graduates put a fine exclamation point on Kevin Worthen’s presidency with long standing ovation at commencement (Deseret News)

Environment

  • Lower Weber River residents warned of coming flooding conditions (Standard-Examiner)
  • Uinta Basin gas company caught polluting the air, EPA alleges (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • St. George-area officials confident but not cocky their preparations will prevent major flooding (Salt Lake Tribune)

Family

  • Preserving life's most precious digital memories (Washington Post)
  • Why you should seek out awe-inspiring experiences for your family (Deseret News)

Health

  • A new portrait of American teenagers in crisis. The CDC’s 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey offers a troubling window into high school students’ physical, emotional and mental health (Politico)
  • Uterine cancer cases are rising. Here's what to know. (New York Times)
  • One way to prevent suicides: limit access to guns (NPR)
  • Women need more sleep than men. Here's why (Deseret News)

Housing

  • New data suggests Wasatch Front home prices may stop falling soon (KUTV)
  • Higher densities may be coming soon to your SLC neighborhood (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Utah nonprofit organizations to receive $24 million for homeless resources (KSL Newsradio)
 

National Headlines

General

  • One school’s solution to the mental health crisis: Try everything. From home visits to grocery donations to therapy sessions to animal encounters, this Ohio campus is grasping for every possible remedy (Washington Post)
  • Two U.S. Army helicopters crash in Alaska, killing 3 soldiers (New York Times)
  • Guardsman in leak case wanted to kill a ‘ton of people’ (AP)
  • $2.3B awarded in California sex abuse lawsuit that named the LDS Church (KUER)
  • DNA found on pickaxe matched Tylee Ryan, forensic biologist testifies (Fox13)

Politics

  • Pence appears before Jan. 6 grand jury in Trump special counsel probe (Washington Post)
  • Mike Pence is on a mission (Deseret News)
  • Veterans sound alarm on budget cuts, say the cuts would mean 81,000 jobs lost in VA health services, 30 million fewer visits (The Hill)
  • Senate GOP blocks the Equal Rights Amendment (The Hill)
  • Rubio warns against Florida going after companies for ‘political purposes’ (The Hill)
  • ‘QAnon shaman’ says former lawyer failed him over Jan. 6 videos (Politico)
  • Conservative dissenters block abortion limits in Nebraska, South Carolina (Washington Post)
  • West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice enters 2024 Senate race against Joe Manchin (Wall Street Journal)
  • DeSantis’s miscalculation: ‘Disney is playing the long game’ (Wall Street Journal)
  • New bipartisan bill would give concert-goers an upfront look at fees (Deseret News)

Ukraine 🇺🇦

  • Russia kills at least 18, including toddler, in massive rocket attack on Ukraine. Barrage of strikes kills sleeping civilians. (Politico)

World

  • People fleeing Sudan recount stories of fear and violence on the road (Washington Post)
  • Heavy clashes rock Sudan’s capital despite truce extension (AP)
 

News Releases

Economic Opportunity Office reaches 100 businesses in the Championing Women Initiative

The Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity recently announced reaching its goal of 100 Utah-based businesses designated in its 100 Companies Championing Women initiative, part of Inspire In Utah. The initiative recognizes and highlights stories of 100 Utah companies offering family-friendly policies and practices and women-specific initiatives known to impact the recruiting, hiring, retaining, and advancing of women employees, managers, and leaders. (Read More)


Utah favorably positioned to host another successful Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

Utah’s demographic, social, and environmental factors favorably position the state to host another successful Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. This new study from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute supplements a  previously released report that found hosting another Winter Games would make a significant economic impact to the state, generating jobs, income, and economic output. (Read More)


Turf conversion grants awarded to seven Salt Lake County cities

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson announced Thursday $1.1 million in turf conversion grants for seven cities across the Salt Lake Valley. Using funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARPA), post-performance grants will be distributed to 21 approved projects across seven cities to support conversion of turf on municipal property to water efficient landscaping. (Read More)


Mike Pence to speak in Salt Lake City at the invitation of UVU’s Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy

Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence will speak at a luncheon in Salt Lake City on April 28 at the invitation of The Gary R. Herbert Institute for Public Policy at Utah Valley University. He will speak and respond to questions about local and national public policy issues and will share his insights from his time serving as vice president, congressman, and governor with Utah community and business leaders. (Read More)


Salt Lake Chamber honors leaders at 44th Giant in our City

Business and community leaders gathered Thursday at the Grand America Hotel to recognize Wilford Clyde, Chair of Clyde Companies, Inc., as the 44th Giant in our City for his life as ‘a builder, not only of highways, bridges and dams, but of communities.’ The award is presented by the Salt Lake Chamber, Utah’s largest and longest-serving business association, and is recognized as the most prestigious business award given in Utah. (Read More)

 

Number of the Day

Number of the Day, Apr 28, 2023

 

Tweet of the Day

Screenshot 2023-04-28 at 6.00.43 AM

 

Upcoming

  • United Utah Party State Convention — April 29, 10:00 am-12:00 pm, Lehi High School with keynote speakers Teri McCabe and Jay Mcfarland
  • One Utah Summit — May 1-2, Davis Conference Center, Register here
  • Mount Liberty College Spring Youth Seminar on The Virginian — May 6, 9 am-7 pm, Register Here
  • Below the Belt screening and discussion (a film on endometriosis) — May 10, 7 pm, UVU Noorda Theater, Register here
  • YWCA Leader Luncheon featuring Dr. Bernice A. King — May 12, 11:30-2:00, Grand America. Register here
  • Interim Day — May 16-17, Utah State Capitol, le.utah.gov
  • Utah Democratic Convention May 19-20, SUU (More information here)
  • Intellectual Property Rights webinar with the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation — June 1, 10:00 am, Register here
  • Interim Day — June 13-14, Utah State Capitol, le.utah.gov
 

On This Day In History 

  • 1758 - James Monroe is born. He became the 5th US President (1817-25).
  • 1908 - Oskar Schindler is born.
  • 1923 - Game inventor Elizabeth Magie Phillips applies for her second patent for Monopoly’s predecessor. Her original patent was received in 1904, but after copycat versions started circulating, she applied for the second. It did not protect her intellectual property, however. Charles Darrow sold a slightly altered version to Parker Brothers and even though Phillips immediately went public with the plagiarism, she never did get the credit she deserved.
  • 1945 - Benito Mussolini is executed.
  • 1947 - Thor Heyerdahl and the crew of the "Kon-Tiki" sail from Peru to Polynesia.
  • 1960 - Elena Kagan is born today. She became the U.S. Supreme Court’s fourth woman justice
  • 1971 - Samuel Lee Gravely, Jr. becomes the first Black Admiral in the U.S. Navy.
  • 1993 - First “Take Our Daughters to Work” Day, sponsored by the Ms. Foundation. In 2003, it became “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work” Day

Quote of the Day

"Success in life is the result of several factors. My formula is simply education plus motivation plus perseverance." 

—Vice Admiral Samuel Lee Gravely, Jr.


On the Punny Side

What do a tick and the Eiffel Tower have in common?

They're both Paris sites.

 

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