Utah Headlines

Political news

• Sen. John Curtis sent Sen. Booker message of ‘encouragement’ as he presided over record-breaking speech (Deseret News)
• Sen. John Curtis shares Utah’s priorities with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy (Deseret News)
• Sen. John Curtis leads effort to financially assist Taiwan allies amid Chinese pressure (Deseret News)
• Sen. Mike Lee proposes SNAP changes: States would pay half, higher penalties for misuse (Deseret News)
• Utah Rep. Burgess Owens pushes to rename congressional press gallery after Frederick Douglass (Deseret News)
• Safer streets, better transit connections may have to wait as Trump team reviews Utah’s transportation grants (Salt Lake Tribune)

Municipal news

• Salt Lake County pulls funding from Sundance’s final festival in Utah (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Salt Lake City is considering a big change to water and sewer rates (Fox13)
• Former Rep. Marsha Judkins will challenge Provo mayor Michelle Kaufusi in this year's municipal election (KSL TV)

Utah

• EXCLUSIVE: Jack Black & Jason Momoa answer questions from Utah kids ahead of ‘A Minecraft Movie’ (ABC4)
• BYU women’s athletics pioneer Elaine Michaelis dies at 86 (Deseret News)
• Church unveils new statue on Temple Square depicting the ‘Five Wise Virgins’ found in Matthew 25 (Deseret News)

Biz/Tech

• Editorial Board: What the loss of the Sundance Film Festival means to Utah (Deseret News)
• Denali Therapeutics set to advance groundbreaking treatments for neurological diseases (Deseret News)

Crime/Courts

• Police investigating human remains found in trash bag near Brigham City (KSL)
• Utah judge charged with forcible sexual abuse (KSL)
• ICE detaining immigrants on probation during court-ordered check-ins (KSL Newsradio)

Culture

• Funerals have a way of making us think about our own mortality (Deseret News)
• Perspective: What should we make of the rapid rise in conservative media? (Deseret News)

Economy

• A stunned world reckons with economic fallout from Trump's tariffs (New York Times)

Education - K-12

• Acts of Kindness: Sprucewood Elementary displays kindness on its Kindness Wall (ABC4)
• Utah school board members draft letter supporting Trump’s aim to shutter Education Department (Deseret News)
• Utah State Board of Education to consider resolution tying DEI programs to communist goals (St. George News)
• Timpanogos High School to host ‘Prom Closet’, providing free formal wear for students (KSL TV)
• Utah lawmaker, school district settle lawsuit stemming from mask dispute (KSL TV)

Education - Higher

• Meet Sage, the very good girl helping Utah college students in crisis (Deseret News)
• Ute gymnasts are looking for their 49th straight trip to the NCAA finals. Here’s how to watch. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Environment

• Federal funds to restore Utah creeks, streams no longer flowing due to cuts (Fox13)

Family

• Why we compare our children to others (Deseret News)
• Voices: My child has a disability. Dismantling the Department of Education would undo years of progress. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Health

• Opinion: Providing oral care through Medicaid helps stabilize the lives of Utah’s most vulnerable populations (Deseret News)
• Health care costs more transparent, but data isn't reaching Utah consumers, report says (KSL)

Housing

• How many Americans have ‘locked in’ mortgages at less than 6%? (Deseret News)
• Building Options: How a Utah program is helping increase homeownership opportunities (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Apartment project for homeless individuals could cost $335,000 per unit (KUTV)

National Headlines

General

• A toddler picked up a rock on a family trip. It was a 3,800-year-old artifact. (Washington Post)
• Mexico bans junk food in schools. Is the U.S. next? (Deseret News)
• Death sentences commuted for 3 Americans — 2 of them Utahns — over failed Congo coup (Salt Lake Tribune)
• US Olympic, Paralympic officials fire coach, director after AP report on sexual abuse (AP)
• US South, Midwest face 'generational' flood threat after severe storms, two dead (Reuters)
• Lithuanians bid farewell to 4 US soldiers who died during training exercise (AP)

Political news

• Speaker Johnson swears in 2 newest U.S. House members (Deseret News)
• Trump’s meeting on TikTok: Will a deal be reached in time? (Deseret News)
• Waltz’s team set up at least 20 Signal group chats for crises across the world (Politico)
• Republicans reel as Dem over-performances hit a swing state and MAGA country (Politico)
• Musk said Wisconsin would decide the fate of Western civilization. Now he says he ‘expected to lose.’ (Politico)
• Tariffs threaten to upend markets American farmers depend on (NPR)
• Trump Tariffs Aim to Bring Down Curtain on Era of Globalization (Wall Street Journal)

DOGE/Musk

• Exclusive: Musk team issued inaccurate USAID firing notices, must send correct versions (Reuters)
• Trump tells inner circle that Musk will leave soon (Politico) 
• Trump press secretary denies Politico reporting on Elon Musk and DOGE, following Bret Baier interview (Deseret News)

Ukraine/Russia

• Russians fight to clear Kursk as Ukrainians hole up in monastery, war bloggers say (Reuters)

Israel, Gaza, Syria

• Hundreds of thousands flee as Israel seizes Rafah in new Gaza 'security zone' (Reuters)
• Netanyahu is rocked by a new scandal linking his close advisers to Qatar (AP)
• Hungary ignores arrest warrant for Netanyahu, withdraws from International Criminal Court (AP)

World news

• A mass grave for fighters in a Roman Empire-era battle is revealed in Vienna (AP)
• Myanmar earthquake toll crosses 3,000; heat and rains fuel disease risk (Reuters)
• With US absent, China steps in for earthquake-hit Myanmar (Reuters)

Number of the Day 

News Releases

Federal research funding in Utah

Utah received $4.4 billion in federal research and development funding in FY 2023. “Utah’s federal research funding hit a record high in FY 2023,” said Andrea Brandley, senior education analyst at the Gardner Institute. “These investments drive new discoveries, innovations, startups, and technological advancements that strengthen the economy and improve life quality.” (Read More)

United Utah Party announces plans for historic merger with the Forward Party

Wednesday, elected leaders of the United Utah Party (UUP) and the Utah Forward Party (FWD) announce the signing of an agreement to formally present plans for a party merger at an upcoming joint organizing convention taking place on April 26. If consummated, it is believed to be the first ever merger of political parties in the State of Utah. (Read More)

Lee introduces SHIELD-U and Drone Integration and Zoning Acts for 119th Congress

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) today introduced the Stopping Harmful Incidents to Enforce Lawful Drone Use (SHIELD-U) Act and the Drone Integration and Zoning Act to equip state and local law enforcement with the authority needed to protect their citizens and communities from drone threats. (Read More)

Curtis, Graham, Blumenthal & colleagues introduce hard-hitting Russia sanctions

U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) joined Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and 47 of their colleagues, in introducing primary and secondary sanctions against Russia and actors supporting Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. These sanctions would be imposed if Russia refuses to engage in good faith negotiations for a lasting peace with Ukraine or initiates another effort, including military invasion, that undermines the sovereignty of Ukraine after peace is negotiated. The legislation would also impose a 500% tariff on imported goods from countries that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other products. (Read More)

Tweet of the Day

Upcoming

• Apr 7 — Funeral for Mia Love, 10:00 am, Institute Building at the University of Utah
• Apr 9 — Pillars of the Valley Elder Matthew S. and Paige Holland, with the Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce, 7:00-9:00 pm, Register here
• Apr 24 — Giant in Our City with the Salt Lake Chamber, 6:00-9:00 pm, Register here
• May 1 — Utah Foundation's annual luncheon and 80th birthday celebration, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, Grand America Hotel, Register Here
• May 1 — High school writing contest deadline with The Rostra: Applying the wisdom of the past to the problems of today. More info here
• Aug 7 —  Titan of Public Service gala with Sen. Tom Cotton hosted by the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation at the Grand America Hotel. More Information Here

On This Day In History

• 1776 - Congress authorizes privateers to attack British vessels
• 1860 - Pony Express debuts
• 1948 - President Truman signs the “Economic Assistance Act,” commonly known as the Marshall Plan.
• 1964 - Malcolm X gives “The Ballot or the Bullet” speech
• 1968 - Martin Luther King, Jr delivers his final address - “I’ve been to the mountaintop.”
• 1996 - U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Ron Brown and 32 other Americans are killed in a plane crash in Croatia

Quote of the Day

"I've seen the promised land! I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land.”
― Martin Luther King Jr., I've Been to the Mountaintop

On the Punny Side

You think gas and electric prices are expensive, have you seen chimneys?

They're through the roof. 

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