Situational Analysis | July 6, 2022

A happy Wednesday to you. Today is International Kissing Day so pucker up. 💋 

Speaking of kissing, a big congrats to Speaker Brad Wilson's daughter Liz on her recent engagement! 💍 

Be in the Know

• Did you see the picture of the small boy being circulated on Monday after the parade killings in Highland Park, Illinois, saying he had been separated from his parents? That little's boy's name is Aiden McCarthy and he was alone because both of his parents were shot and killed. His father died shielding Aiden. He has been reunited with his grandparents.
  
  
• The 22-year-old suspected shooter was charged with seven counts of first-degree murder yesterday, Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart promised Tuesday that dozens more charges would be sought. In spite of prior suicidal and homicidal threats in which police confiscated 16 knives, a dagger and a sword, he was able to legally purchase 5 guns, including the assault rifle used in the attack.  

Rapid Roundup

• The University of Utah is being recruited by the Big 12, a snake caused a power outage in South Weber, the UHP reported 5 fatalities over the Fourth of July weekend, July 4th fireworks set nearly 3 dozen dumpsters, yards, brush ablaze in Southern Utah, and a 76 million-year-old dinosaur is set to be auctioned off.

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Utah Headlines

General

• ‘She was the sweetheart of the family’: Kaysville family remembers Macie Hill (KSL TV)
• Utah businesses, once resistant, finally shift to remote and hybrid work (KUTV)
• Mental health issues or poor gun laws? What Utahns say causes mass shootings (Deseret News)
• Utah jail deaths surged back to a concerning high in 2020. County jails haven’t reported this many jail deaths since 2016. What’s being done? (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Mom of Zane James reacts to $4M Cottonwood Heights settlement in 2018 police killing of her son (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Who is Will Hardy? Meet the 34-yr-old shot-making, volume-texting, slow-eating head coach of the Utah Jazz (Salt Lake Tribune)

Politics

• Where Mitt Romney sees the country going if Donald Trump is elected again (Deseret News)
• Rep. Stewart signs on as co-sponsor of House bill to boost Alzheimer’s disease research (St. George News)
• Summit County Council considers eminent domain against private property owners (KPCW)

Energy

• Energy superabundance: How cheap, abundant energy will shape our future (CGO at USU)

Environment

• Great Salt Lake hits another new low — ‘this is not the type of record we like to break.’ The drop is expected to stretch into the fall. (Salt Lake Tribune)
• Locals cheer close of North Salt Lake waste incinerator (Fox13)
• Air pollution data suggests Utahns cut fireworks use this year (Fox13)
• Cedar City mayor says ‘use every drop wisely,’ touts tuna can water conservation hack (St. George News)
• What Utahns can do right now to be wildfire ready (KUER)

Housing

• 6 things you should know about the housing market right now (Deseret News)
• Searching for a safe neighborhood? Look for a lot of dogs (Deseret News)

National Headlines

General

• This Florida synagogue is using religious freedom to challenge abortion restrictions (Deseret News)
• ‘We want to make your Olympic dreams come true,’ IOC president tells Ukrainians during visit (Deseret News)
• Highland Park suspect's online history reveals a fascination with violence (NPR)
• Gun violence in America: A long list of forgotten victims (AP)
• Highland Park set tight gun limits long before parade attack (AP)
• OPEC secretary-general dies, just weeks shy of departure (AP)
• Increasingly isolated, Boris Johnson pledges to fight on (Reuters)
• Boris Johnson fights for political life amid resignations from his party (Washington Post)
• Hiring demand remained strong as summer started (Wall Street Journal)

Politics

• The 5 states that will likely determine the fate of the U.S. Senate (Deseret News)
• The first Gen Z candidates are running for Congress — and running against compromise (NPR)
• Georgia grand jury subpoenas top Trump allies, including Giuliani and Eastman (NPR)
  How Republican-led states are targeting Wall Street with 'anti-woke' laws (Reuters)
• As some Democrats grow impatient with Biden, alternative voices emerge (Washington Post)
• The Supreme Court's EPA ruling was the beginning of something bigger (Washington Post)
• Trump White House bid threatens GOP midterm strategy (The Hill)

Ukraine 🇺🇦 

• Russia’s Tactical Shift in Ukraine Raises Prospect of Protracted War (Wall Street Journal)
• NATO signs accession protocols for Finland and Sweden. The ceremony in Brussels took place as Russian forces continued to make “substantive progress” in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region, according to Britain’s Defense Ministry (Washington Post)
• Trudeau: Canada first NATO ally to ratify membership bids by Finland and Sweden (Politico)
• A growing movement against illegal war (Washington Post)

News Releases

Gov. Cox orders flags to be lowered in honor of the lives lost in Highland Park

Utah Gov. Spencer J. Cox has authorized the lowering of the flag of the United States of America and the flag of the state of Utah on all state facilities in accordance with President Joe Biden’s proclamation honoring the victims of the tragedy in Highland Park, Illinois.

Flags should be lowered to the half-staff position immediately and return to full-staff at sunset on Saturday, July 9, 2022. 

The president’s statement can be found here. 

Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee now accepts public comment via email

The Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee seeks public comment when the governor appoints judicial nominees. Individuals can submit comments regarding judicial appointments to the Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee electronically or by mail.  

Electronic comments can be emailed to: [email protected].

The Utah Senate Judicial Confirmation Committee is currently requesting public comments for:

• Judge Jill M. Pohlman, who Gov. Spencer J. Cox appointed to serve as a justice on the Utah Supreme Court. The deadline to submit comments is Wednesday, July 13, by 5:00 p.m.

• Attorney Rick Westmoreland, who Gov. Spencer J. Cox appointed as a judge for the 2nd District Juvenile Court. The deadline to submit comments is Monday, July 11, by 5:00 p.m.

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Upcoming

• Hatch Center Webinar: Preserving Judicial Integrity — July 14, 11:00 am, MDT. Register here
• ULCT Annual Convention - Oct 5-7, Salt Palace Convention Center, Register here
• General election â€“ Nov 8

On This Day In History

• 1189 - Richard the Lionheart is crowned King of England, upon the death of King Henry II
• 1907 Frida Kahlo is born. The Mexican painter explored questions of identity, postcolonialism, gender and race in Mexican society in a bold, distinctive style
• 1921 - Nancy Reagan is born.
• 1933 - Major League Baseball’s first All-Star Game is held
• 1942 - Anne Frank's family goes into hiding in After House, Amsterdam
• 1944 - Fire engulfs a circus big top in Hartford, Connecticut, killing 167, two-thirds of them children
• 1945 - Nicaragua becomes 1st nation to ratify the Charter of the United Nations
• 1946 - George W. Bush is born.
• 1957 - Althea Gibson became the first Black player to win a Wimbledon title in women’s tennis singles.
• 1976 - Women inducted into the US Naval Academy for the first time.
• 1983 - Supreme Court rules retirement plans can't pay women less 

Wise Words

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

— Anne Frank

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