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Situational awareness - October 4, 2018

Good Thursday morning from Salt Lake City.

As UtahPolicy.com first reported Wednesday night, lawmakers, LDS Church officials and Prop. 2 backers have reached a compromise on medical marijuana. The agreement will be unveiled during a noon press conference on Thursday - http://bit.ly/2RlLfYe

The 4th District race between Republican Mia Love and Ben McAdams is heating up. 

The Cook Political Report (subscription required) moved their rating of the race from Lean Republican to Toss Up. "Party strategists are arguing over what's the bigger factor in Love's reelection math: drag from President Trump's unpopularity, or a lift from Mitt Romney's Senate bid. Either way, the contest between Love and Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams looks likely to go down to the wire." - http://bit.ly/2Pb4DWe

The New York Times profiles the race between Love and McAdams - https://nyti.ms/2P9TWDD

  TICK TOCK   

5 days until the last day to register to vote by mail (10/9/2018)
12 days until mail-in ballots are sent to voters (10/16/2018)
19 days until in-person early voting begins (10/23/2018)
26 days until the last day to register to vote in person or by mail (10/30/2018)
28 days until in-person early voting ends (11/2/2018)
33 days until the 2018 midterm elections (11/6/2018)
116 days until the first day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (1/28/2019)
163 days until the final day of the 2019 Utah Legislature (3/14/2019)
761 days until the 2020 presidential election (11/3/2020)

Today At Utah Policy

Lawmakers, LDS Church, Prop. 2 backers reach deal on medical marijuana
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
After weeks of discussion, Utah lawmakers, LDS Church officials, and Prop. 2 backers have reached an agreement for a compromise on medical marijuana. The agreement will be announced at a noon press conference on Thursday....Perfectly partisan purposes and pickled peppers
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
The Mia Love vs. Ben McAdams race in Utah's 4th Congressional District has taken some strange twists and turns over the past week....Dixie State University researcher looks for new ways to treat drug-resistant skin infections
By Brian Somers, USTAR Managing Director
Amidst epidemics of new viruses and resurgences of diseases which were once thought to be effectively eradicated, a well-characterized medical crisis continues to plague hospitals and their patients: antibiotic-resistant infections....Report: Utah suicide rates rise dramatically across age groups
By Utah Foundation
While public health agencies, schools and other groups are working to address Utah's rising suicide rates, judging the effectiveness of those efforts will require better data collection....'We're not there yet' says Hughes on medical marijuana deal. Talks continuing
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Reports of a tentative compromise between lawmakers, the LDS Church and backers of Prop. 2 were premature according to sources involved in the negotiations who spoke to UtahPolicy.com on Tuesday morning....Podcast: Bernick and Schott on politics Ep. 392
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Bob Bernick and Bryan Schott bring you their thoughts on the big Utah political news of the past week....Weekly survey: Will 'Better Boundaries' survive the legislature?
By Bryan Schott, Managing Editor
Critics of Prop. 4, the "Better Boundaries" initiative, say it usurps the Utah Legislature's constitutional role in redistricting. Some have suggested lawmakers could drastically alter, or even repeal the initiative if it passes. What do you think will happen? Vote now in ou...

 

  OTHER UTAH HEADLINES   

Deseret News

Editorial: It may be time to regulate Salt Lake City's flock of electric scooters

Jay Evensen: Don't close the old homeless shelter next year

Salt Lake district attorney candidates paint opposing pictures of office during debate

Poll: Utahns split over whether Roe v. Wade should be overturned

Love-McAdams race now rated a toss-up

Logan man arrested in White House ricin investigation

A.G. Jeff Sessions says program to reduce violent crime working in Utah, across country

Announcement over medical marijuana initiative expected Thursday

Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake City's bike share was on track to have its most successful season ever. Then, the scooters came.

Medical marijuana negotiations continue, and a deal could be announced as soon as Thursday

New Salt Lake City campaign reminds scooter riders to stay off the sidewalk

In Utah visit, Attorney General Jeff Sessions promotes a national effort to crack down on violent crime by seeking long sentences

Utah's highly watched Mia Love-Ben McAdams race is now a 'toss-up'

Salt Lake County district attorney candidates spar over police brutality, medical marijuana initiative

Other

Ogden, Weber County officials featured prominently in AG Jeff Sessions' visit to Utah (Standard-Examiner)

Man suspected of mailing ricin to Pres. Trump, Pentagon arrested in Logan (Logan Herald Journal)

Casey Snider wins GOP special election to fill Webb's House seat (Logan Herald Journal)

  NATIONAL HEADLINES  

The FBI probe into claims of sexual misconduct by Brett Kavanaugh is finished. Senators and a handful of Senate staff will be able to read the report, but it's unclear whether the public will get to see it - http://bit.ly/2Pakzbi
The White House tweeted early Thursday morning that the FBI report supports moving forward with Kavanaugh's confirmation - https://wapo.st/2P6MIQM
The Senate plans to hold a procedural vote on Kavanaugh's nomination on Friday. If that is successful, the final vote could come on Saturday afternoon -https://politi.co/2P5gV2u 
The FBI's probe into Kavanaugh's behavior appears to have been severely restricted by the White House. The bureau reportedly only interviewed six witnesses in their investigation - https://wapo.st/2Pbnvo3
The FBI investigation into Brett Kavanaugh ignored several former classmates of the Supreme Court nominee who wanted to come forward with information - http://bit.ly/2P7gRzj

More than 1,000 law professors signed a letter saying Kavanaugh should not be confirmed to the Supreme Court because he lacks the temperament for the Supreme Court - https://nyti.ms/2P9zNgV
Republicans in the Senate, along with President Trump, have shifted their tactics to attack Christine Blasey Ford, the woman who claims Brett Kavanaugh sexually assaulted her in high school - https://nyti.ms/2P88dk0
The fight over Brett Kavanaugh's nomination has energized Republican ahead of the midterm elections according to a new poll - https://n.pr/2P9fSP9
56% of Republicans say sexual harassment charges would not disqualify a political candidate - https://nbcnews.to/2P83DSP
Most Americans won't vote during the upcoming midterm elections - https://nyti.ms/2P9PNQ5
Republican members of Congress are having to defend President Trump's tax law to angry constituents - https://nyti.ms/2PhdKEQ
The efforts to kill Obamacare's guarantee of coverage for preexisting conditions is causing problems for Republicans on the campaign trail - https://wapo.st/2P9l9WR
The Navy's Pacific Fleet is proposing a show of force to China. The plan is to conduct a series of operations in November, including sailing ships and flying aircraft near China's territorial waters - https://cnn.it/2P9jnFb
A federal judge blocks the Trump administration from terminating the legal status of about 300,000 immigrants from Haiti, Sudan, Nicaragua and El Salvador. The judge says racial animus was behind the policy, which violates the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection - https://wapo.st/2P8avj6
A new survey finds most Americans don't pay any attention to President Trump's tweets. They also tend not to change their opinion when the president lashes out at a person or company - http://bit.ly/2P9gnZx

  ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY  

1883 - First run of the Orient Express.
1927 - Gutzon Borglum begins sculpting Mount Rushmore.
1957 - Sputnik 1 becomes the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth.
2006 - WikiLeaks is launched.

Policy News

Utah businesses tentatively optimistic after new NAFTA revision
On September 30th, the U.S., Canada and Mexico finalized a long-awaited trade deal that will replace the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)....

More National Headlines

Poll: Amid Kavanaugh Confirmation Battle, Democratic Enthusiasm Edge Evaporates (NPR)

Amid trade spat, US-China military tensions soar (AFP)

Citing conflict, Minneapolis police won't look into claim against Keith Ellison (Star Tribune)

'There is no restaurant that is ready for this': D.C. restaurateurs grapple with political protests (Washington Post)

Poll: Heitkamp trails Cramer by 12 points in North Dakota (The Hill)

Trump plans travel push to stave off 'blue wave' in House races (Reuters)

GOP-doxxing suspect arrested; worked or interned for Feinstein, Jackson Lee, other Dems (FOX News)

Fox News Poll: Republicans make gains in top Senate races (FOX News)

Subject in custody after suspicious letters sent to Trump, Pentagon (CNN)

Capitol Hill tensions flare over Kavanaugh, as protesters confront lawmakers (FOX News)

Ex-Boyfriend of Christine Blasey Ford Claims She Told a Falsehood About a Polygraph Test (Slate)

Wise Words

Respect

"If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable." Louis D. Brandeis

 

Lighter Side

Last Place on Earth

"Melania Trump has announced her first major solo trip as first lady. She will be going to Africa and visiting Ghana, Malawi, Kenya, and Egypt. She said she specifically chose those countries because those are literally the last places on Earth her husband would look for her." James Corden

 

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