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Utah State Fair kicks off this week; victim’s family responds to Menzies’ stay; Utah public schools get record $111M in SITLA distributions
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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 | September 3, 2025
It's Wednesday and Skyscraper Day 🏙️
What you need to know
- Judge Dianna Gibson will not pause her own ruling ordering the Utah legislature to draw new Congressional maps, but lawmakers will get a little bit more time to draw those maps, an additional 10 days. Her denial on the request for a stay will allow the legislature to appeal to the Utah Supreme Court.
Rapid Relevance
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Utah Headlines
Political news
- When a shooting happened in my neighborhood, prayer and action both saved us (Deseret News)
- The Department of War? At Trump’s behest, Sen. Mike Lee moves to rebrand the Defense Department. (Salt Lake Tribune)
Municipal
- Trails, boating, wetlands: How 15 years have changed the Jordan River (Utah News Dispatch)
Utah
- Utah nonprofit founder seeks community’s help amid health battle (KSL TV)
- Utah violinist in ICE custody issued bond, but release may still be weeks, months away (KSL Newsradio)
- After Tremonton shooting, veterinarian clinic raises money to buy bulletproof vests for K-9 officers (ABC4)
Biz/Tech/AI
- Southern Utah emerges as a premier tech destination with Wilson Connectivity expansion, official says (St. George News)
- Google keeps Chrome and Apple deal but must share data in big antitrust ruling (Reuters)
Crime/Courts
- Cedar Hills man, 80, charged with manslaughter in death of 9-year-old bicyclist (KSL)
- 2 critically injured with stab wounds in Draper domestic-violence incident (KSL)
- Domestic violence suspect dead after hours-long standoff with police in West Jordan (Fox13)
- Carbon County man arrested for 7 felonies after allegedly messaging undercover officer he believed was a child (ABC4)
- Man allegedly sent 1,500 threatening messages to Utah DCFS, fought officers during arrest (ABC4)
- Electric wheelchair stolen from boy with rare condition (Fox13)
Culture/Community
- How Dallas Jenkins turned ‘The Chosen’ into a family affair (Deseret News)
- A new color palette is coming to Disney World’s Cinderella Castle (Deseret News)
Education
- University of Utah students protest recently announced changes to class scheduling (Deseret News)
- University of Utah president says budget cuts from lawmakers ended up being ‘very reasonable’ (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Utah schools, parents adapt to AI's growing presence in education (KUTV)
- Black Student Union fights for its survival at University of Utah (Fox13)
- Utah scientists worry health research could be swept up in DEI-targeted funding cuts (KUER)
- Editorial Board: Tackling chronic absenteeism in Utah schools (Deseret News)
Environment/Energy
- Here’s why the latest fossil find in Utah was named after a goblin in ‘The Hobbit’ (Deseret News)
- Utah demands US Magnesium stop pumping massive amounts of water from the Great Salt Lake (Salt Lake Tribune)
- How Utah farmers are already feeling heavy impact of drought (Fox13)
- Even late monsoon rains couldn’t erase Utah’s historically dry summer (KUER)
Faith
Family
- ‘Do you always double-date like this?’ — Kristen Oaks recalls her first date with LDS apostle Dallin Oaks (Salt Lake Tribune)
Health
- Utahns among highest users of this health insurance program in the U.S. (Deseret News)
- Falls, fractures, and sprains: The most common injuries in pickleball (Deseret News)
- American kids are less likely to reach adulthood than foreign peers (Utah News Dispatch)
Housing
- There are fewer home sellers nationwide. Here's why (KSL)
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National Headlines
General
- No tax on tips for ... influencers? (Deseret News)
- Knitters snagged by tariffs, as yarn brands pause shipments to U.S. (Washington Post)
Political news
- Amy Coney Barrett on abortion, faith and the court’s role (Deseret News)
- Trump: U.S. kills 11 in military strike against ‘narcoterrorists’ (Deseret News)
- D.C. residents unleash anger on Republicans when they return to Capitol Hill (Deseret News)
- Trump follows through on first-term promise moving Space Command from Colorado to Alabama (Deseret News)
- Republican pushes for vote on Epstein files against GOP leaders' wishes (Deseret News)
- Many of the Epstein case files that were just released by a House committee were already public (PBS)
- Democrats warn of government shutdown after GOP lawmakers unveil more spending cuts (Deseret News)
- Becket joins religious freedom Supreme Court case for former inmate (Deseret News)
- 'We're going in': Trump to send National Guard troops to Chicago (Reuters)
- Judge rules Trump can't act as national police chief (Politico)
- Trump addresses health rumors after days without public events (AP)
- Trump administration blocks groups from voter registration at naturalization events (NPR)
- Trump administration’s cancellation of $500 million grant stuns staunchly Republican community (Washington Post)
- Mace leaves meeting with Epstein victims visibly upset (The Hill)
Immigration/deportation
- US appeals court rejects Trump's use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans (Reuters)
- Pentagon plans for 600 military lawyers to backfill immigration judges (Washington Post)
Ukraine/Russia
- Former Ukraine parliament speaker laid to rest after assassination (Reuters)
Middle East
- Thousands of Israeli reservists report for duty as military chief clashes with ministers (Reuters)
- Israel begins ground operation in Gaza City, IDF says (ABC News)
World news
- Afghan quake survivors dig graves with pickaxes as entire households wiped out (Reuters)
- China displays its military strength in a parade on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII (AP)
- China is using the private sector to advance military AI (Wall Street Journal)
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Number of the Day
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News Releases
Nominees announced for a Utah Supreme Court vacancy
The Appellate Court Nominating Commission has selected nominees for a vacancy on the Utah Supreme Court. This position results from the retirement of Justice John A. Pearce, December 1, 2025. The nominees for the vacancy are: Matthew Bell; James Gardner; Ryan Harris; John Nielsen; Derek Pullan; Stanford Purser; Ryan Tenney. Written comments can be submitted to the Appellate Court Nominating Commission at judicialvacancies@utah.gov or Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice, P.O. Box 142330, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2330.
Milford Mining Company Utah hosts annual community celebration
Nearly 700 people gathered in Milford on Monday evening to celebrate Labor Day with Milford Mining Company Utah (MMCU), enjoying a full afternoon and evening of live music, delicious food, community presentations and a spectacular fireworks show. The annual celebration began with performances from local favorite Livid Dead and country-rock band Van Waylon. Residents enjoyed food and entertainment throughout the evening before gathering for remarks from community leaders and dignitaries, including Milford Mayor Nolan Davis, and Beaver County Commissioner Tammy Pearson. (Read More)
Sutherland releases new report on the social benefit of religion for families
Today, Sutherland Institute released a new research publication on the social benefits of religion for families.
Publication highlights:
- Christians have a higher completed fertility rate (2.2 children per respondent) than religiously unaffiliated Americans (1.8).
- Women “in highly religious relationships” are more likely to report “joint decision-making” than “their peers in less/mixed religious couples.”
- Frequent church attendance was associated with 50% lower risk of divorce, and 52% lower risk of either divorce or separation. (Read More)
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Tweet of the Day
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Upcoming
- 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 10 — Women & Business Conference and ATHENA Awards Luncheon with the Salt Lake Chamber, 8:00 am-3:30 pm, Register here
- 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
- 1783 - Treaty of Paris signed, officially ending the American revolution
- 1838 - Frederick Douglass escapes from slavery disguised as a sailor
- 1914 - Dixy Lee Ray is born. A marine biologist whose scientific papers and research on marine invertebrates led to public television programs, she was appointed to the Atomic Energy Commission and elected as Governor of Washington in 1976.
- 1919 - President Woodrow Wilson embarks on a tour across the United States to promote American membership in the League of Nations.
- 1935 - Sir Malcolm Campbell became the first person to drive an automobile over 300 mph, speeding across the Bonneville Salt Flats.
- 1939 - Britain and France declare war on Germany. King George VI delivers the "King's Speech."
- 1944 - Anne Frank and her family are sent to Auschwitz concentration camp
- 1964 - President Lyndon B. Johnson signs the Wilderness Act into law. The law paved the way for the conservation and preservation of wilderness areas across the country through the National Wilderness Preservation System.
- 1970 - Vince Lombardi dies at age 57
- 2015 - Chris the sheep breaks the world record for biggest shorn fleece (88lb) near Canberra, Australia
Quote of the Day
"The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. That's the essence of it."— Vince Lombardi
On the Punny Side
I cut myself shredding cheese. I wanted to blame someone else, but then I remembered...
With grate power comes grate responsibility.
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