Mask mandates in SLC and Summit school districts, full FDA approval for Pfizer vaccine and the FDA also says "You are not a cow." | | | The Utah Policy newsletter is your one-stop source for political and policy-minded news. Send news tips or feedback to [email protected]. | | |
Situational Analysis | August 23, 2021 It's Monday of the last full week of August. How did that even happen?? It's also National Sponge Cake Day. Might I suggest a nice Victoria sponge, or a genoise? Be in the Know BYU has announced that masks will be required in the classrooms, any indoor space when physical distancing is not maintained and any other areas as directed. The mask mandate begins today, August 23. Mayor Mendenhall used her emergency powers to order that masks be worn in K-12 schools in Salt Lake City. Utah legislators hit back and say emergency powers are meant for "public safety and related to disasters or threats of disaster." They say they will pass legislation to restrict mayors' ability to act. Real-life consequences from the drought: Wolf Creek Water and Sewer Improvement District serves nearly 1,600 residents in unincorporated areas of Weber County, but has had to stop new water service to developers. The moratorium will be re-evaluated in March. Full FDA approval of the Pfizer vaccine is expected as early as today. The approval is expected to pave the way for a series of vaccination requirements by public and private organizations. Officials are hopeful that vaccination rates will increase as the vaccine moves away from "emergency use" status, a reason some have given for not getting the shot. Speaking of the FDA, they issued a warning over the weekend: "You are not a horse. You are not a cow. Seriously, y'all. Stop it." They were referring to the off-label use of veterinarian ivermectin to treat humans with COVID-19. It's meant to be used to treat parasites in animals. And finally, Donald Trump was booed this weekend. Why? He recommended rally attendees in Alabama get vaccinated. "Take the vaccines. I did it. Itâs good. Take the vaccines." | | |
Utah Headlines General Bodies of Paiute children believed to be buried at site of former Utah Indigenous boarding school (Salt Lake Tribune) Derek Miller: Afghanistanâs fall may trigger other dominoes. America must return to basics, supporting the rule of law and other principles here and abroad (Deseret News) Desperation in Afghanistan brings fear and hope in Utah. Robert Gehrke explains how Utahns can help. (Salt Lake Tribune) A tragic failure in Afghanistan. Why Americans should have seen it coming. (Deseret News) This generationâs âfall of Saigonâ: Utah veterans shocked to see Americaâs chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan (Deseret News) Utah groups prepare to receive, resettle Afghan refugees (KSL) Plane crash deaths hit hard at USU Aviation program (Herald Journal) COVID Corner Friday: 1116 new cases, including 216 in school-aged children, 9 new deaths âSense of betrayalâ â Latter-day Saint ICU doctor laments that more arenât vaccinated (Salt Lake Tribune) This Utah doctor who treated over a hundred COVID-19 patients, signed dozens of death certificates has a message for you: GET VACCINATED. (Deseret News) Counting Crows cancels Red Butte Garden show because the state wonât allow a COVID-19 vaccine mandate (Salt Lake Tribune) Navajo Nation issues vaccine mandate for tribal workers (KUTV) Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick placed blame for surging covid-19 cases on âAfrican Americans who have not been vaccinatedâ during a Fox News appearance. His comments drew immediate criticism. (Washington Post) States gripped by Delta variant face case surge with fewer health workers (Politico) Drought/Wildfires/Heat Parleys Canyon Fire 100% contained (Fox13) No containment, new threats from Northern California fire (AP) Economic Development âInnovative office experience,â over 650 parking spaces coming to Provo in new development (ABC4) Education Masks will be required at Summit County elementary schools if student populations reach a 2% COVID-19 positivity rate (Salt Lake Tribune) Waterford Upstart program being offered to more Utah students (ABC4) Washington County teacher set to publish childrenâs book series about exploring the national parks (St. George News) BYU has banned most types of facial hair for decades. Emeritus professor Warner Woodworth is leading the charge to change that. (New York Times) Elections On Message with Marty Carpenter: Clarify the Question (UTPOL Underground) Health Scott D. Pierce: Utah plays a major role in animated series designed to battle suicide. Episodes of âMy Life is Worth Livingâ are streaming for free on YouTube. (Salt Lake Tribune) Service Tales From Utah Valley: How to help our hungry neighbors (Daily Herald) National Headlines Afghanistan Pentagon activates Civil Reserve Air Fleet, requests civilian airlines' assistance in Afghanistan evacuation (The Hill) Defense chief Lloyd Austin tells lawmakers that Taliban have beaten Americans trying to escape Afghanistan (The Hill) Republican congressman places blame on the Trump administration for the crisis in Afghanistan: "They set this up to fail" (CNN) IS threat forces US changes to evacuations at Kabul airport (AP) Firefight involving Western forces erupts amid Kabul airport evacuation chaos (Reuters) U.S. military evacuated more than 10,000 people from Kabul on Sunday (Reuters) U.S. recruits commercial airlines to help move Afghanistan evacuees (Reuters) Politics Portland protests descend into violence as Proud Boys, antifa clash (Washington Post) House returns to take up budget and voting rights, with Democrats divided, centrists want infrastructure vote too, oppose Pelosi strategy (Roll Call) âCurveballs and obstaclesâ face Pelosi this week as Democrats spar over $3.5 trillion budget plan (Washington Post) 9 of 10 fastest growing districts repped by Republicans, Census data shows (Politico) Economy Do chance meetings at the office boost innovation? Studies say thereâs no evidence of it. For some, the office even stifles creativity. (New York Times) Remote work may now last for two years, worrying some bosses. The longer that Covid-19 keeps people home, the harder it may be to get them back to offices; âThere is no going backâ (Wall Street Journal) Stock futures edge up ahead of economic data (Wall Street Journal) Elections Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer, a Republican, condemns the AZ GOP fake audit report in a 38-page open letter. "I'm embarrassed listening to my party concoct the most outlandish theories (Chinese ballots!) to avoid accepting the reality: we lost." Whatâs wrong with Arizonaâs 2020 audit? A lot, experts say (AP) Environment At least 21 dead, 20 missing after âcatastrophicâ flooding in central Tennessee following 17 inches of rain (Washington Post) Henri brings floods, power outages to East coast (Wall Street Journal) Carbon taxes could hurt Russia more than sanctions, says oil tsar - Kommersant (Reuters) | | |
Policy News Congressman Blake Moore introduces the Afghanistan Accountability Act Today, Congressman Blake Moore (R-UT) introduced the Afghanistan Accountability Act. After nearly 20 years of continuous deployment, the sacrifice of over 2,000 American lives, and $2 trillion dollars in taxpayer money, the American people deserve to know what went wrong in the days and months leading up to the Biden administrationâs withdrawal. The Afghanistan Accountability Act is a crucial first step in identifying the breakdown between the intelligence community, Department of Defense leadership, and administration officials that facilitated this humanitarian and geopolitical crisis. (Read More) Jake Hunsaker kicks off his campaign for Congress An official campaign kick-off will be held Tuesday, August 24th at 4:30 pm on the south steps of the Utah State Capitol Building. Jake Hunsaker, a Riverton resident, and business professional will publicly launch his campaign to represent Utahâs Fourth Congressional District. The public is invited to attend. Tuesday evening Hunsaker will address the crowd on the Capitol steps and rally support for his efforts. Hunsaker enters the race as a conservative Republican. His focus is on building a strong coalition of Utahns focused on recentering the GOP on conservative principles over personality-driven politics. | | |
Owens, Foxx statement on Department of Education overreach Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT), Ranking Member of the House Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee and Dr. Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Education and Labor Committee Republican Leader released the following statement in response to the Department of Educationâs overreaching letter to Utah Governor Spencer Cox. âSecretary Cardona is taking a page out of the teachers unionsâ playbook by using threats and COVID-19 resources to infringe on statesâ authorities to protect students and ensure access to education. In an egregious overstep of federal power, this administration is threatening to weaponize taxpayer dollars and bully states into complying with its overreach.â | | |
Upcoming Utah Foundation Breakfast Briefing: Mental health in anxious times â Aug 26 @ 9 am. Register here Zions Bank Community Speaker Series: Building economic inclusion â Aug 31 @ 12 pm. Register here Utah Foundation Annual Luncheon with Shaylyn Romney Garrett â Sept 23 @ 12 pm. Register here | | |
On This Day In History From History.com 1305 - William Wallace is executed in gruesome fashion. Freedom! 1814 - First lady Dolley Madison saves a portrait from being looted by British troops during the War of 1812. 1859 - The Fifth Avenue Hotel in New York City opens and is the first American hotel to include a passenger elevator. 1929 - Anne Morrow flies solo for the first time, only months after marrying Charles Lindbergh. 1939 - Germany, Soviet Union sign non-aggression pact. 1973 -A bank robbery went wrong in Stockholm, Sweden, leading to a hostage crisis. The drawn-out event lasted five days. During that time, the hostages begin to sympathize with their jailers. This phenomenon becomes known as âStockholm syndrome.â Wise Words âI do not believe that sheer suffering teaches. If suffering alone taught, all the world would be wise, since everyone suffers. To suffering must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love, openness and the willingness to remain vulnerable.â -Anne Morrow Lindbergh Lighter Side Q: What do you call a rabbit with fleas? A: Bugs bunny | | |
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