Judge strikes down Utah Fits All program; Deserae Turner dies at 22; unique southern Utah museum has thousands of taxidermy animals | | | 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 [email protected]. | | |
Situational Analysis | Apr. 21, 2025 It's Monday and National Kindergarten Day. ðï¸ Happy birthday yesterday to Rep. Matt Gwynn and today to Sen. Scott Sandall! ðð ð What you need to know Pope Francis, the first Latin American pontiff who ministered with a charming, humble style, has died at 88. Francis's death comes a day after he appeared in St Peter's Square to wish "Happy Easter" to thousands of worshippers. Advocating for migrants was one of Francisâ priorities as pope, denouncing the âglobalization of indifferenceâ shown to refugees and migrants. He met with Vice President Vance during what became his last full day on Earth. Rapid Relevance Judge strikes down Utahâs school choice program; Deserae Turner, whose courage âtouched countless lives,â dies at 22; and a unique southern Utah museum highlights conservation through thousands of taxidermy animals | | |
Utah Headlines Political news Sen. Mike Lee, EU ambassador weigh in on Trump tariffs (Deseret News) Hereâs what Utah voters say about Trumpâs job performance (Deseret News) Utahns back Gov. Cox and Legislature, but support is waning among these voters (Deseret News) Utah's higher education reinvestment could help address mental health shortage, Schultz says (KSL) âI canât be silentâ: Thousands rally at Utah Capitol for another âHands Offâ protest against Trump (KSL TV) Since Trump took office, Mike Lee has been posting more on X â especially with Elon Musk. Utahâs senior U.S. senator is posting to Muskâs platform at a pace of every fifteen minutes. (Salt Lake Tribune) How Utahns feel about the economy, protecting public unions, and big-name political visitors (Hinckley Report) Municipal news Millcreek neighbors rally as immigrant families face sudden deportation threat (Deseret News) Provo Power aiding in Navajo Nation electrification initiative (KSL) Utah Whatâs the $208 million building under construction on Utahâs Capitol Hill? (Deseret News) If weâre not the state full of big families, who are we? (Deseret News) Ground control to âRacer Tomâ: Utah skier pushes the limits of endurance (Deseret News) Utah offers âsignificantâ opportunity to live the American dream â but has lost some potential (Salt Lake Tribune) Biz/Tech She came for six months â that was $1 billion ago (Deseret News) How Utah businesses built bridges, not barriers, with Mexico (Deseret News) Opinion: Utahâs rise as a global trade and manufacturing hub (Deseret News) The Justice Department is about to make its case for a Google breakup. Here's what to know (NPR) Crime/Courts Heber City man intentionally hit, injured bicyclist in road rage case, police say (KSL) Former Boy Scout leader arrested on 42 felony counts for alleged sexual abuse over 2 decades (ABC4) Culture/Community Want to make DEI programs more effective? Focus on religion (Deseret News) The prodigal son no more: Inside the world of Franklin Graham (Deseret News) Education - K-12 Meet the Deseret News/KSL 2025 General Sterling Scholar (Deseret News) Education - Higher Utah gymnasticsâ bid to end its national title drought comes up short again (Deseret News) BYU Ph.D. studentâs visa reinstated (Deseret News) Itâs not just the religious conservative schools wondering now if they need to forgo federal funding (Deseret News) Nixed student visas: Lawsuit filed on behalf of several international students enrolled at Utah colleges (Deseret News) University of Utah announces creation of J.W. Marriott Institute (Deseret News) USU proposes ending 14 academic programs, including theatre program in Central Utah (Cache Valley Daily) Environment The race is on to capture the âheat beneath your feetâ (Deseret News) Louisiana joins Utah, Texas in suit on nuclear reactors (Deseret News) Trump moves to rescind public lands conservation rule (Deseret News) Health Fertility and maternal health programs slashed, alarming experts (Washington Post) Housing Americans less likely to buy homes, other big-ticket items due to Trump tariffs (Deseret News) | | |
National Headlines Political news Hegseth said to have shared attack details in second Signal chat that included his wife and brother (New York Times) Former top Pentagon spokesperson details âmonth from hellâ inside the agency (Politico) Sharlee Mullins Glenn: If we value the Constitution and our form of government, we must act now (Deseret News) A growing chorus has urged political peacemaking. But how many are really listening? (Deseret News) Sharon Eubank, community service and 'waging peace' (Deseret News) How storybooks on gender and sexuality sparked a major religious freedom battle (Deseret News) Trump administration makes major cuts to Native American boarding school research projects (AP) Sensitive documents, including White House floor plans, improperly shared with thousands (Washington Post) âBonkers crazypantsâ: American diplomats shaken by reports of possible cuts (Politico) Immigration/Deportation Jay Evensen: Don't kick the 'huddled masses' back into the arms of tyrants (Deseret News) Supreme Court blocks, for now, new deportations under 18th-century wartime law (AP) Tariffs China warns countries against making trade deals with the US unfavorable to Beijing (AP) DOGE/Musk Kansas City, MO, has long been a federal hub. The pain from DOGEâs cuts is everywhere (AP) The federal â5 thingsâ emails have fallen apart, as Elon Musk readies exit (Washington Post) Ukraine/Russia Kremlin says U.S. position ruling out NATO membership for Ukraine gives them satisfaction (Reuters) Ukraine ramps up artillery production amid fears of falling U.S. support (Washington Post) Putin declares Easter truce, quickly breaks it, Ukraine says (Washington Post) Israel, Gaza, Syria Israel's military finds 'professional failures' in killings of Gaza medics (Reuters) Israeli minister says freeing hostages not âmost importantâ aim of the war. It's ensuring that Hamas no longer rules the Gaza Strip (New York Times) World news El Salvador proposes swapping US-deported Venezuelans for Venezuelan 'political prisoners' (Reuters) | | |
| | Guest opinion: Utah should prepare for changes to the U.S. Department of Education. Hereâs how by Christine Cooke Fairbanks While official elimination of the U.S. Department of Education requires congressional action, serious reorganization is underway, and more is to come. States are understandably not adequately prepared for these changes, given the limited details from the federal government. But Utah policymakers can still begin addressing critical questions and building a framework for the conversations we need to have as a state. Hereâs a place to start. Possible changes to funding: Last month, the Utah State Board of Education requested an audit of federal funds received by the USBE over the past three years, including costs of administering and complying with federal requirements. This kind of analysis is prudent and is an example of an early step that could help assess funding impacts. Likewise, while debates swirl around unknowns, Utah leaders should expand this effort and ask: What policy or legislative responses are available if states lose, gain, or have increased flexible federal funds? State education leadership to do more: Headlines have covered another eye-catching change: the U.S. Department of Education workforce has been roughly cut in half, from 4,133 to 2,183 employees. The department houses many offices, like the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, the Office of Civil Rights, the Institute for Education Sciences, and Federal Student Aid. As with other federal workforce cuts, itâs supposed to represent less red tape and intrusion from the federal government, but some argue it means little if the morass of rules and regulations remains unchanged. Utah policymakers should consider the practical effects of federal cuts in staff or regulations and how to respond with a renewed state role in compliance and enforcement... (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Apr 24 â Giant in Our City with the Salt Lake Chamber, 6:00-9:00 pm, Register here Apr 26 â Utah Forward Party/United Utah Party Organizing Convention, 9:00 am â2:30 pm, Salt Lake Community College, Taylorsville Campus Thayne Center May 1 â Utah Foundation's annual luncheon and 80th birthday celebration, 11:30 am - 1:30 pm, Grand America Hotel, Register Here May 1 â High school writing contest deadline with The Rostra: Applying the wisdom of the past to the problems of today. More info here May 6 â "State AG Offices and the New Administration" webinar hosted by the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation, 10:00 am MDT, Register here May 12 â Utah Taxes Now Conference with the Utah Taxpayers Association, Grand America Hotel, 9:00 am - 1:00 pm, Register here May 17 â Utah GOP Organizing Convention, at UVUâs UCCU Center. May 31 â Utah Democratic Party Organizing Convention, Ogden High School Aug 7 â Titan of Public Service gala with Sen. Tom Cotton hosted by the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation at the Grand America Hotel. More Information Here | | |
On This Day In History 753 BC - According to legend, today is the day that twins Romulus and Remus establish Rome 1789 - John Adams is sworn in as the first US Vice President 9 days before Washington is sworn in 1910 - Mark Twain dies 1918 - German flying ace âRed Baronâ killed in action 1939 - Sister Helen Prejean is born. A leading American advocate for the abolition of the death penalty and Roman Catholic sister, she founded the group SURVIVE, to help families of victims of murder and related crimes. 1967 - Joseph Stalin's daughter Svetlana Allilueva arrives in New York City after defecting to the US 1989 - Chinese students protest at Tiananmen Square 2019 - Volodymyr Zelensky wins Ukraineâs presidential election in a landslide 2021 - Russian President Vladimir Putin warns the West not to cross a "red line" in his state of the union address, amid massing of 100,000 Russian troops on Ukraine border Quote of the Day "It's hypocrisy to call yourself a Christian and chase away a refugee or someone seeking help, someone who is hungry or thirsty, toss out someone who is in need of my help... If I say I am Christian, but do these things, I'm a hypocrite."
âPope Francis On the Punny Side All of us older folks know all about living on the edge. We used to answer the phone without knowing who it was. | | |
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