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Officials remind community to mow lawns after apartment complex blaze; new evacuations b/c of Monroe Canyon Fire; Utah back-to-school dates
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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 | July 31, 2025
It's Thursday and National Avocado Day 🥑
Happy birthday to Rep. Cory Maloy! 🎁 🎂 🎈
What you need to know
- A majority of Utah voters (54%) approve of the job Pres. Trump is doing, and 50% approve of the job JD Vance is doing, according to a new poll from the Deseret News and the Hinckley Institute of Politics. 56% approve of his approach to immigration and reducing the cost of government, while 49% approve of his approach to inflation and 47% approve of his approach to tariffs.. As you might imagine, there is a deep partisan divide.
Rapid Relevance
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Utah Headlines
Political news
- Utah lawsuit reveals alarming Snapchat data on child exploitation (Deseret News)
- Utah scores preliminary victory in rural roads fight (Deseret News)
- Rep. Blake Moore addresses Epstein files, immigration and Trump’s tax bill during Utah visit (Deseret News)
- Some states are better at protecting religious liberty than others. How does Utah measure up? (Deseret News)
- Lt. Governor's Office receives Dept. of Justice request for Utah voter information (KUTV)
Municipal
- Mayoral candidate says Hurricane mayor’s removal of signs is ‘election interference’ (ABC4)
Utah
- Opinion: Protecting Utah’s disability infrastructure — why University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) are indispensable (Deseret News)
- Utahns share experience in Hawaii amid tsunami warning (KSL TV)
- Utah family vacationing in Hawaii shares experience with tsunami warning and worries (ABC4)
- 'Alarming' spike in Utah motorcycle deaths shatters July records (KUTV)
- 25 injured after turbulence hits Salt Lake City flight headed to Europe (Fox13)
Biz/Tech
- Trolley Wing Company says it's closing remaining locations (KSL)
- Utah AG issues consumer advisory for 23andMe customers (Utah News Dispatch)
Crime/Courts
- Minnesota man charged with abusing teens at religious event in Murray (KSL)
- 7 Utah sheriff’s offices now have ICE agreements. Here’s what to know (KUER)
- Man tried to kidnap baby from stroller on TRAX platform, police say (KSL)
Culture/Community
- Pacific Islander Heritage Month activities launch with kickoff event at West High (KSL)
- Appreciating Afa: Friends, fellow fashion designers honor Ah Loo with tribute collection (Standard-Examiner)
- Mexican Consulate, Artes de Mexico hosting festival featuring Mexico's varied food offerings (KSL)
- Say what? 9 Utah places with quirky names (KSL)
Economy
- Ignoring Trump’s demands, Federal Reserve stands pat on interest rates (Deseret News)
Education
- A study with ties to Utah Valley University is helping fuel a controversy over the age of the universe (KSL Newsradio)
- Utah's own little slice of Pompeii? BYU leads camp focused on archaeological excavation (Deseret News)
- Should colleges pay their athletes? Here’s what Utahns think (Deseret News)
- Volunteers from 2 Utah companies help pack thousands of meal kits for students in need (KSL Newsradio)
- USU Professor Fights Student Hunger With Major Gift (Utah State Today)
Environment/Energy
- Utah scores preliminary victory in rural roads fight (Deseret News)
- EPA proposes to roll back tailpipe emission standards (Deseret News)
- Voices: Bears Ears isn’t a partisan issue. Leaders must respect tribal knowledge. (Salt Lake Tribune)
- New data centers expected to demand 7 billion gallons of water a year (UPR)
Family
- Utah State Treasurer: Financial literacy is key skill to teach children (Fox13)
Health
- Experts warn of heat risks for youth sports participants (Fox 13)
- August is peak time for foodborne illness. How to keep food from cramping your fun (Deseret News)
Housing
- How Utah is spending $2 million to tell you there’s a housing shortage (Fox13)
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National Headlines
General
- A look at the tsunami that spread across the Pacific (Deseret News)
- Colorado dentist convicted of murder, gets life sentence for lacing wife's shakes with poison (AP)
Political news
- Kamala Harris will not run for governor of California in 2026 (Reuters)
- Democrats invoke rare federal law to force release of Epstein files. Here’s how it works (Deseret News)
- Democrats sue ICE after being blocked from visiting immigration facilities (Deseret News)
- Judge orders Trump administration to explain why order to restore Voice of America wasn’t followed (AP News)
- Republicans battle over whether to ban Congress, presidents from stock trading (Deseret News)
- Trump calls GOP’s Hawley ‘second tier’ senator after bill to ban stock trades in government advances (AP)
- Trump administration is launching a new private health tracking system with Big Tech’s help (AP)
- Despite grand claims, a new report shows noncitizen voting hasn't materialized (NPR)
- Trump’s newborn savings accounts a ‘back door for privatizing Social Security,’ Bessent says (Washington Post)
- Texas map would add five safe Republican seats. What it means for the midterms. (Washington Post)
- Family of Epstein abuse survivor urges Trump not to pardon Ghislaine Maxwell: 'A monster who deserves to rot in prison' (NBC News)
Immigration/deportation
- US immigration agency dismisses asylum applications without hearings (KSL Newsradio)
- DHS' new ICE recruitment strategy: 50K signing bonuses, student loan forgiveness and Trump posters (Politico)
Ukraine/Russia
- Russian airstrikes on prison, hospital kill 19 in southeastern Ukraine (Reuters)
Middle East
- Arab countries condemn Oct. 7 attack, call on Hamas to disarm (Deseret News)
- Canada plans to recognize Palestinian state, raising allies' pressure on Israel (Reuters)
- On Gaza malnutrition ward, a child’s arm is as wide as mother’s thumb (Reuters)
- Dozens killed while seeking food in Gaza as US envoy heads to Israel (AP News)
World news
- Powerful Quake Rattles Russia’s Far East but Causes Little Damage (New York Times)
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Number of the Day
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News Releases
Curtis, Padilla join PBS NewsHour to discuss wildfires and bipartisanship
In a PBS NewsHour segment yesterday, Senator John Curtis (R-UT) appeared alongside Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) to discuss their bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act, transparency in government, and how Senators can work on bills across the aisle. (Read More)
Creekstone Energy and BluSky AI announce 50 MW infrastructure agreement at Utah’s Delta Gigasite
The effort to build the world’s largest data-center campus in Delta, Utah has taken another significant step forward. Creekstone Energy LLC, the developer behind Utah’s largest AI-ready energy site, has signed an agreement with BluSky AI Inc. to provide land and up to 50 megawatts of power at its Delta Gigasite in Millard County. (Read More)
Moore, Tokuda, Jackson introduce legislation to strengthen U.S. Air Force depot-level maintenance partnerships
Representatives Blake Moore (R-UT), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), and Ronny Jackson (R-TX) introduced the Forward Air Logistics Complex Operation Nodes (FALCON) Act to strengthen U.S. Air Force depot-level maintenance partnerships with key foreign allies in the Indo-Pacific, such as Australia and the Republic of Korea. (Read More)
Lee introduces America First deregulation for coastal trade
U.S. Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced three pieces of legislation today to repeal and reverse the effects of the overreaching Passenger Vessel Services Act of 1886 (PVSA). Senator Lee’s three-pronged approach will strengthen America’s economy while protecting American jobs and businesses by repealing PVSA and eliminating its burdensome regulations. (Read More)
Consumer advisory for Utahns: Protect your genetic data amid 23andMe bankruptcy sale
The Office of the Utah Attorney General (OAG) and Utah Department of Commerce’s Division of Consumer Protection (DCP) are issuing a consumer alert regarding the recent sale of 23andMe, a direct-to-consumer genetic testing company. The bankruptcy court approved the sale of 23andMe’s assets, including consumer genetic data and samples, to TTAM, a nonprofit created by 23andMe founder and CEO Ann Wojcicki...
Consumers who have 23andMe accounts should have received direct notice of the ownership change from 23andMe and TTAM, including instructions on how to permanently delete their data and their genetic samples if they wish. If you want to rescind access to your genetic information and request the destruction of your test sample, you can follow the instructions 23andMe lays out to do so. (Read More)
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Tweets of the Day
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Upcoming
- 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
- Aug 12 — Municipal primary
- Aug 18-20 — Interim Days
- Sept 11-12 — Women in the Money Conference, Sheraton Hotel and online, Register here
- Sept 15-17 — Interim Days
- Oct 6-8 — One Utah Summit, Cedar City, More information here
- Oct 13-15 — Interim Days
- Nov 4 — General election
- Nov 17-19 — Interim Days
- February 4-7, 2026 — Summit, with Silicon Slopes and Visit Salt Lake
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On This Day In History
- 1715 - A hurricane off the coast of Florida sinks 10 Spanish treasure ships, carrying literally tons of gold and silver coins.
- 1777 - Marquis de Lafayette, age 19, accepts a commission as a major-general in the Continental Army - without pay.
- 1875 - President Andrew Johnson dies
- 1912 - Milton Friedman is born. The American economist won a Nobel Prize in Economics in 1976.
- 1924 - Geraldine Hoff Doyle is born. She is thought to be the model for the World War II “We Can Do It” poster which came to symbolize Rosie the Riveters, the women who worked in factories to support the war effort
- 1965 - J.K. Rowling is born.
- 1970 - Black Tot Day: the last day of the officially sanctioned rum ration in the Royal Navy (started 1740)
- 1975 - Labor leader Jimmy Hoffa is officially reported missing
- 1980 - Harry Potter is born.
- 2017 - Anthony Scaramucci is removed as White House Communications Director after less than 2 weeks.
Quote of the Day
“Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.”
—Albus Dumbledore, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
On the Punny Side
Why can’t a nose be 12 inches long?
Because then it’d be a foot.
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