Situational Analysis | June 27, 2022

It's the last Monday in June and it's National Sunglasses Day.

Today is the LAST DAY to have your primary ballot postmarked. You can drop it off at a polling collection location until 8 pm tomorrow and you can vote in person tomorrow if you'd like.

Be in the Know

• On Friday, the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade, sending the decisions on laws regarding abortion back to the states. Judge Clarence Thomas used his concurrence to call for the Court to reconsider all of the Court's substantive due process precedents, including Griswold  [contraception], Lawrence  [sodomy], and Obergefell  [same-sex marriage].” After overruling those “erroneous” decisions, Thomas wrote, the court could determine whether the rights established in those cases are located elsewhere in the Constitution.
  There was a special edition of the Utah Policy newsletter sent Friday afternoon with an initial roundup of news stories and reactions. If you missed it, you can read it here. The trigger law in Utah went into effect Friday evening. 
  
  
• The bipartisan Safer Communities Act has been signed into law after passing the US House on Friday in a 234-193 vote. No Utah Congressmen voted for the bill. The legislation will implement stricter background checks for gun purchasers under age 21, provide incentives for states to adopt “red flag” laws, block domestic abusers in dating relationships from owning or buying guns until five years pass without further disqualifying convictions, and appropriate funding for mental health and school safety measures.

Rapid Roundup

• Huge crowds at Hill AFB air show, the Grand Canyon won't seek volunteers to kill bison this fall, flash flood warnings in effect across southern Utah including parts of Lake Powell, Capitol Reef National Park, Russia has defaulted on its foreign currency debt for the first time since 1918. It also attacked Kyiv again over the weekend as G7 leaders met.

FROM OUR SPONSOR, 100 PERCENT KIDS COVERAGE COALITION

82,000 Utah kids don’t have health insurance

Health insurance is crucial for the success of children, especially during a public health crisis. Unfortunately, too many kids across Utah are going without health insurance. Let's help all kids get the care they need, by covering all kids NOW!

Utah Headlines

Roe v. Wade

• GOP lawmaker Karianne Lisonbee says she trusts Utah women to control their ‘intake of semen’ as abortion trigger law goes into effect. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• ‘A great day for the babies’: Gayle Ruzicka marks end of abortion after 50-year fight. Ruzicka says she would support a federal effort to ban abortion. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• ‘Not now, not ever’: Planned Parenthood files lawsuit against Utah after abortion ban (ABC4)
• SCOTUS ruling elicits strong feelings on both sides of abortion issue (KUTV)
• How Utah religious leaders view abortion (Fox13)
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ stance on abortion is now ‘more liberal’ than some states’ laws (KUER)
• From Salt Lake City to St. George, Utahns react to state’s abortion ban (KUER)

General

• Inland Port Authority’s budget, of more than $40 million, includes lots of spending with little detail. No line items note how much the port plans to invest in its transloading facility, Intelligent Crossroads Network or other big-dollar projects in the coming year. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• From alcoholic to workaholic: How Jefferson Rogers took his addictive personality and made it work for him (Deseret News)
• Fire ignites near Rio Tinto Stadium during Real Salt Lake game (KUTV)

Politics

• How civility became a bad thing. Some Americans now view civility as a barrier to social progress. That idea is toxic to our democracy (Deseret News)

Elections

• Utah County Commissioner Amelia Powers Gardner calls out David Leavitt for implying she endorsed him in the Utah County Attorney race. (Daily Herald)
• 'Mitt Romney Republican' is now a potent GOP primary attack (AP)
• What Utah voters should know before this year’s primary elections. Longtime Salt Lake County Clerk Sherrie Swensen walked Tribune reporters through the ballot counting process, showing the security measures her office employs to keep voting anonymous and accurate. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Environment

• He worked to clean up sites contaminated with uranium in San Juan County. When he got sick, it took years to get compensation. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Fill Lake Powell? Coalition calling for more water to be stored in the reservoir faces tough road ahead. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• The drying Colorado River needs your voice. Here’s how to make it heard (Deseret News)

Housing

• A new report shows that having a mortgage is far more expensive than having a lease, a disparity that is helping to cool a red-hot housing market. (New York Times)
• Steven Ridge and Ross Ford: An electrification mandate for Utah homes would be a bad idea. Forcing all-electric homes would lead to more emissions, higher costs and fewer energy options (Salt Lake Tribune)

Utah/Ukraine

• Local nonprofit aims to fix lost homes in Ukraine (KSL TV)

National Headlines

Roe v. Wade

• Chasm opens between states over abortion pills and out-of-state care. The overturning of Roe v. Wade sets up tensions between competing state laws unseen since slavery (Washington Post)
• A Vatican News editorial reiterated the Catholic Church’s defense of "unborn life," but emphasized that this goes beyond abortion. It said truly "being for life" meant addressing maternal mortality rates in the U.S., poverty and "the threat of firearms." (New York Times)
• In light of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, advocates from all sides of the issue have called for men to be part of the conversation. The Times heard from hundreds who wanted to share their stories. (New York Times)
• The end of Roe v. Wade has huge economic implications for male partners, too (NPR)
• Roe ruling shows complex relationship between court, public (AP)
• Roe v Wade ruling disproportionately hurts Black women, experts say (Reuters)
• In states that allow abortion for rape and incest, finding a doctor may prove impossible (Politico)

General

• Mom who saved her kids from Uvalde school shooting says police are targeting her (KUTV)
• Consumer-Staples Stocks Are Bright Spot in Bleak Market. Shares of companies selling staples such as beer, chocolate and canned soup have raced past the broader market in 2022. (Wall Street Journal)

Politics

• More than 1 million voters switch to GOP in warning for Dems (AP)
• In Colorado and elsewhere, 2020 election deniers seek top voting offices (Reuters)
• Biden signs gun safety bill into law, takes swipe at Supreme Court (Reuters)
• Democrats seize on abortion ruling in midterms as Republicans tread carefully (Washington Post)
• Abortion ruling could scramble data privacy talks (Washington Post)
• How Democrats and Republicans explained the Roe fallout on Sunday talk shows. (New York Times)
• Crunch time for multiple incumbents as seven states hold elections (Roll Call)
• Trump fatigue sets in: ‘Some donors are getting sick of the sh--show' (Politico)

Ukraine 🇺🇦 

• As missiles struck the Ukrainian capital Sunday, sending Kyiv into collective fear, one of its soldiers was laid to rest in an emotional funeral in the suburb of Bortnychi. His mother plunged to her knees and cried out, "I beg you, put me next to him!" (New York Times)
• Russia has defaulted on its foreign currency debt for the first time in more than a century, as tough Western sanctions designed to punish Moscow for invading Ukraine restrict its ability to pay overseas creditors. (Washington Post)
• Russia ‘pouring fire’ on Ukrainian city as offensive mounts (AP)
• Pledging new sanctions, G7 to stand with Ukraine 'for as long as it takes' (Reuters)
• NATO to massively increase high-readiness forces to 300,000 - Stoltenberg (Reuters)
• Ukraine's richest man sues Russia at Europe's top human rights court (Reuters)
• A bloody retreat as Ukrainian unit hit by Russian cluster bombs (Washington Post)
• How bad actors are using tech platforms to sexually exploit, traffic Ukrainian women (The Hill)

News Releases

Gov. Cox appoints Rep. Joel Ferry as the new executive director of the Utah Department of Natural Resources

Gov. Spencer Cox announced Rep. Joel Ferry will be joining his administration as director of the Department of Natural Resources. This appointment is subject to approval from the Utah Senate.

“From water conservation to air quality to public lands, Joel has been an effective voice for wise stewardship of the rich natural resources in our state,” Gov. Cox said. “His legislative experience as well as his foundation as a farmer and rancher will help shape our vision around natural resources and I’m grateful he’s willing to take on this new challenge.” (Read More)

Gov. Spencer J. Cox names Rick Westmoreland to 2nd District Juvenile Court

Gov. Spencer J. Cox has appointed Rick Westmoreland to fill Judge Michelle Heward’s vacancy on the 2nd District Juvenile Court. The governor’s nominations are subject to confirmation by the Utah Senate.

“Rick’s experience as both a prosecutor and defense counsel will serve him well as he joins the 2nd District Juvenile Court bench,” Gov. Cox said. “We’re grateful for his continuing commitment to public service.” 

Westmoreland currently serves as specialty court division chief in Davis County Attorney’s Office, acting as a prosecutor of all types of criminal felony and misdemeanor cases in Utah State District Court, a position he’s held since 2004. Prior to his current position, he worked as adjunct professor in criminal justice at Weber State University in Ogden. He also worked as an adjunct professor in the master’s program of nursing teaching compliance in patient care. (Read More)

Utah Senate requests public comment on Judicial Nominee

The Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee is seeking public comment on attorney Rick Westmoreland, who Governor Spencer J. Cox appointed as a judge for the 2nd District Juvenile Court. 

Those who desire to comment should contact the Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee at the Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel, by 5:00 p.m. Monday, July 11, 2022, at the Utah State Capitol, House Building, Suite W210, PO Box 145210, Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-5210. All statements should include the respondent’s name, telephone number and mailing address. 

The Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee plans to hold a public hearing, then issue a recommendation to the full Senate. If confirmed by the Senate, Westmoreland will fill the vacancy left by the retirement of Judge Michelle E. Heward on August 1, 2022. The 2nd Juvenile District includes Weber, Davis and Morgan counties. 

Number of the Day

Tweet of the Day

Upcoming

• Primary election day â€“ June 28
• ULCT Annual Convention - Oct 5-7, Salt Palace Convention Center, Register here
• General election â€“ Nov 8

On This Day In History

• 1829 - English scientist James Smithson establishes the Smithsonian Institution 
• 1844 - Joseph and Hyrum Smith killed in Carthage, Illinois
• 1880 - Helen Keller is born
• 1893 - Prices collapse at the New York Stock Exchange drawing the United States into a deep economic depression.
• 1950 - President Truman orders US forces to Korea
• 1978 - Gillette Co. receives a patent for the first successful erasable ball-point pen.
• 1985 - Route 66 decertified, highway signs removed.
• 2008 - Bill Gates steps down as Chairman of Microsoft Corporation to work full time for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
• 2015 - Activist Bree Newsome removes Confederate flag from South Carolina State House.
• 2017 - Mark Zuckerberg announces Facebook has reached 2 billion monthly users

Wise Words

"I have no space for folks who try to reduce racism to a mere 'culture war,' as though racism is just a bad idea held by otherwise decent people and not a brutal system that deprives people of humanity."

— Bree Newsome

– Advertise With Us –

Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers.