Trail Mix with Don Willie; George Santos has been arrested on federal charges; and women should start getting mammograms at 40
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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 | May 9, 2023

It's Wednesday and Golden Spike Day!

What You Need to Know

Rapid Roundup


Trail Mix with Don Willie

Join us as Don Willie talks about the career trail that led him to the position he starts on May 15, 2023: Director of Operations for "The Point." Don't miss his advice to students who want to someday do what he does!

Screenshot 2023-05-10 at 7.39.31 AM

 

FROM OUR SPONSOR AARP

Thank you to Utah’s leaders for tax relief on Social Security benefits.

For too long, state taxes have reduced the hard-earned Social Security benefits Utah seniors count on. But now, Governor Cox and Utah legislators have passed tax relief that will reduce state taxes on Social Security. AARP Utah fought hard for this new law to make sure our seniors keep more of what they’ve earned. Click here to learn more & thank our leaders.

 

Utah Headlines

Political news

  • Ronna McDaniel: The GOP's path to victory in 2024 (Deseret News)
  • ‘I am truly sorry’: Salt Lake City councilwoman apologizes after DUI charge, steps back from her role for 30 days (KSL)
  • New poll shows Biden’s disapproval in Utah on the rise (Deseret News)
  • Chris Stewart, Mike Lee slam Biden administration over border policy (KSL)
  • Ogden mayoral candidates appear in forum, talk crime and development (Standard-Examiner)

General Utah news

  • Competition has emerged for Salt Lake City in the race for an MLB expansion team (Deseret News)
  • Man made threats against Utah school to 'bring awareness' to school shootings, charges say (KSL)
  • ‘We will win this war,’ Zelenskyy vows to Latter-day Saint who served his mission in Ukraine (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • A former NFL player persuaded politicians that his child ID kits help find missing kids. There’s no evidence they do. (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • Family friends shocked by Utah author's arrest for husband's murder (KUTV)

Culture

  • New exhibit highlights Corky Lee, who photographed Asian Americans in Utah and beyond (KSL)

Education

  • Perspective: DEI statements are not a violation of the Constitution. They stop bullying and harassment, and save money. DEI makes Utah schools better (Deseret News)
  • How one program helps hundreds of refugee students across college finish line (KSL)
  • Salt Lake Virtual Elementary might close, catching parents by surprise (KUER)

Environment

  • Utah leaders close to picking a new ‘Great Salt Lake czar’ (Fox13)
  • Utah water districts work to recharge underground water supply (ABC4)
  • Salt Lake County extends state of emergency order for flooding (KSL TV)
  • Central Utah region starts to recover from extreme drought (Fox13)
  • Hogle Zoo flooded in 1983. They want to avoid a repeat during the big spring runoff (KUER)
  • Half of US West out of drought, but not fully recovered (AP)

Family

  • American Psychological Association panel says parents should be monitoring teens’ social media use (Deseret News)

Health

  • ‘Eye of the fly': How fruit flies could help find treatment for a rare genetic disease (KSL)
  • Here’s why tens of thousands of COVID-19 vaccine doses were scrapped in Utah: Only bivalent shots are now authorized in the U.S. (Deseret News)
  • Intermountain Health doctors see uptick in younger adults having strokes (Fox13)
 

National Headlines

General

  • The internet search from Alex Cox that caught an investigator’s attention in the Lori Daybell case (Deseret News)
  • 5 things to know about a major new Pew poll of Asians in the U.S. (NPR)
  • Here's the latest list of the '11 Most Endangered Historic Places' in the U.S. (NPR)
  • Home prices fell in one-third of the US during the first quarter (Wall Street Journal)

Politics

  • Senate Republicans question Trump’s 2024 viability after sexual abuse verdict (The Hill)
  • Biden ramps up pressure on House GOP in debt limit battle (AP)
  • Tucker Carlson says he'll take his show to Twitter (NPR)
  • Biden restricts asylum access at Mexico border as Title 42 ends (Reuters)

Ukraine 🇺🇦

  • Ukraine unit says Russian brigade flees Bakhmut outskirts (Reuters)
  • Ukraine regains ground around Bakhmut as fighting rages. AFP journalist killed by rocket fire (Wall Street Journal)
  • ‘Death is everywhere’ in a once-jubilant Ukrainian city. No city in Ukraine has suffered the reversal of fortunes that Kherson has. Liberated in the fall, it was a symbol of hope. Now it is a kill zone. (New York Times)
  • Ukraine’s occupied nuke plant faces possible staffing crunch (AP)
  • Kremlin calls Polish decision to rename Kaliningrad 'hostile act' (Reuters)
  • Wagner chief: We’ll rip out Macron’s teeth (Politico)

World

  • As more women forgo the hijab, Iran’s government pushes back (AP)
  • Battles shake Sudan's capital as power struggle escalates (Reuters)
  • Daily Mirror apologises to Prince Harry over unlawful information gathering (Reuters)
 

FROM OUR ADVERTISING PARTNER ENVISION UTAH

You’re invited to Envision Utah's 2023 Spring Breakfast!

Utah had an incredible snow season, but we’re still one of the driest states in the nation — and one of the fastest-growing. Join Envision Utah for a breakfast and an expert panel discussion on the future of water.  Thursday, May 18, 2023, 8 AM – 9:30 AM at The Grand America Hotel. Purchase Here!

 

News Release

Salt Lake County extends emergency declaration for flooding due to spring runoff

Tuesday afternoon, Salt Lake County extended the state of emergency that Mayor Wilson declared on April 13. Salt Lake County has experienced record-breaking snowpack, resulting in extremely high levels of water flowing through our rivers and streams. Recognizing the ongoing need for resources and additional staff to prepare for and address flooding, the resolution extends the state of emergency until June 13 (and can be extended at that point if needed; SLCo Flood Control expects to continue to be on high alert until at least early July). (Read More)

 

Number of the Day

Number of the Day, May 10, 2023

 

Tweet of the Day

Screenshot 2023-05-10 at 7.35.51 AM

 

Upcoming

  • 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 

  • 1775 - The Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia names George Washington Supreme Commander.
  • 1869 - The Transcontinental Railroad is completed at Promontory, Utah, with the driving of the Golden Spike.
  • 1872 - Victoria Woodhull is nominated as the first woman candidate for U.S. president for the Equal Rights Party.
  • 1919 - Ella Grasso is born. She became the first female governor of Connecticut in 1974. She was also the first woman in the nation to become governor on her own merits, rather than “inheriting” the role following a husband’s death.
  • 1924 - J. Edgar Hoover begins his 48-year tenure as FBI director.
  • 1940 - Winston Churchill becomes the prime minister of Britain.
  • 1950 - Jackie Robinson appears on the cover of Life magazine, the first time that an African-American appeared on the cover.
  • 1958 - Ellen Ochoa is born. She is an engineer, former astronaut and the current Director of the Johnson Space Center. She became the first Hispanic woman in the world to go to space when she served aboard the shuttle Discovery.
  • 1994 - Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first black president, is inaugurated.
  • 1996 - Eight climbers die during a storm on Mt. Everest, the worst loss of life in a single day.

Quote of the Day

“What I really hope for young people is that they find a career they’re passionate about, something that’s challenging and worthwhile.”
– Ellen Ochoa


On the Punny Side

Geography teacher asked if I could name a country with no R in it.

I said, "No way."

 

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