Russia booted from UN Security Council, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed, Delta pilots on strike, bonuses for Utah teachers | | | 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 | April 8, 2022 It's Friday already and National Zoo Lovers Day. It's also the first day of Thanksgiving Point's Tulip Festival. Be in the Know The UN has suspended Russia from the Human Rights Council over reports of "gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights" in Ukraine. Russia's deputy U.N. Ambassador Gennady Kuzmin described the move as an "illegitimate and politically motivated step" and then announced that Russia had decided to quit the Human Rights Council altogether. "You do not submit your resignation after you are fired," Ukraine's U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya told reporters. Ukrainian officials are rushing to evacuate civilians from cities and towns before another major Russian offensive in the east. While we slept, Russia sent missiles into a crowded train station in Kramatorsk, killing dozen and wounding hundreds. A large missile fragment with the phrase âFor the childrenâ spray-painted on its side in Russian was also visible, less than 300 yards from the station entrance. In the meantime, Russia wants people to know that they, too, have suffered 'significant losses' | | |
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Utah Headlines General Will local meatpackers take advantage of federal dollars? Utahâs food security at stake (Deseret News) âWeâll help you get started:â This Utah group wants to help turn your garden into a farm. (Salt Lake Tribune) Delta pilots picket for âcommonsense solutionsâ to staffing issues (Deseret News) Delta pilots protest scheduling concerns outside of Salt Lake City International Airport. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Delta Air Line pilots say theyâve worked a record amount of overtime. (Salt Lake Tribune) Will Intermountain Healthcareâs drone deliveries be the gateway to the future? (Deseret News) Utah cops crack down on distracted driving as new law is set to take effect (KUTV) Politics Jennifer Graham: A totally factual, unbiased fact-checking of Tucker Carlsonâs rant about Utah, Spencer Cox and Mitt Romney (Deseret News) Why did Tucker Carlson call Utah GOP Gov. Spencer Cox a âcut-rate Gavin Newsom imitatorâ (Deseret News) Mitt Romney âyes,â Mike Lee ânoâ on historic confirmation of Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court (Deseret News) Brown Jackson vote: Sen. Romney applauds, Sen. Lee walks out (KUTV) Richard Davis: America should fix the way it appoints Supreme Court justices. Hereâs how (Deseret News) Education Utah teachers to get $10 million in bonuses as a 'thank you' (Fox13) State School Board shelves gender identity guidance, leaving schools to fend for themselves (Deseret News) Research week will highlight why USU is a national leader in research and graduate and undergraduate education (Cache Valley Daily) Environment Nouman Kante: Utah's leaders should unite behind a carbon fee and dividend (Deseret News) New push underway to reduce west-side pollution â inside and out. Grant will help residents upgrade their home energy systems (Salt Lake Tribune) John Bennion: Arguments for dredging Utah Lake donât hold up (Salt Lake Tribune) Tara Bishop: Who will pay for Utah Lake to be destroyed? (Salt Lake Tribune) Northern Utah homeowner tears out lawn after tough water restrictions put in place (KSL) Family Trying to raise successful kids? Experts say you shouldnât forget about faith. Busy family schedules often leave no time for religion. That may be a bigger problem than parents realize, experts say (Deseret News) Utah/Ukraine Connection Lehi couple determined to wrap Ukraine with quilts (KSL) âUnited for Ukraineâ benefit concert to happen in Provo this weekend (Salt Lake Tribune) Former Utahn talks about working at a refugee center for people fleeing Ukraine (Salt Lake Tribune) COVID Corner 699 cases for the week, 16 deaths Utahâs first weekly COVID-19 update seen as encouraging, but it doesnât include new elevated virus levels (Deseret News) Pelosi positive for COVID-19, was at White House with Biden (AP) Man in Germany gets 90 COVID-19 shots to sell forged passes (AP) National Headlines General Jackson confirmed as first Black female high court justice (AP) Why this weekâs French elections matter to the wider world (AP) The Huge Endeavor to Produce a Tiny Microchip (New York Times) Politics Appeals court OKs Biden federal employee vaccine mandate (AP) US speeds entry for Ukrainians as more reach Mexico border (The Hill) Ex-RNC staffer gets more than 12 years in prison in child porn case (Politico) Ukraine Millions of Ukrainian children are still in school despite the war (NPR) Zelenskyy says situation in Borodyanka is much worse than in Bucha (CBS News) Russian retreat reveals destruction as Ukraine asks for help (AP) Since Russia invaded Ukraine, over 4 million people have left their homes on their way to 7 countries. Another 7.1 million have fled to other cities within Ukraine (NBC News) UN aid chief: âIâm not optimisticâ about Ukraine ceasefire (AP) Day 43: Gathering the dead, clutching to life (AP Photos) Train station strike in eastern Ukraine takes brutal toll on civilians evacuating (Washington Post) Russia's war dead belie its slogan that no one is left behind. Ukraine has about 7,000 unclaimed Russian corpses in morgues and refrigerated rail cars. (Washington Post) In eastern Ukraine, Russian military razing towns to take them over. âScorched earthâ tactics seem deliberate as Russian forces try to consolidate control of the Donbas region (Washington Post) Horrors of Ukraineâs Bucha Laid Bare on Yablunska Street (Wall Street Journal) | | |
News Releases Utah Democratsâ statement on historic confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court Today, the Utah Democratic Party issued the following statement after judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed by a bipartisan U.S. Senate vote to the Supreme Court. âJudge Jackson is the daughter of public school teachers, has served as an accomplished lawyer and public defender, a distinguished federal judge, and now, will be a historic member of the Supreme Court. Todayâs bipartisan Senate vote not only adds a brilliant legal mind with the utmost character, integrity, and understanding of the law to our nationâs highest court, but will also make the Supreme Court better reflect the diversity of Utah and our nation. Despite Judge Jacksonâs unimpeachable credentials, Senator Mike Lee chose to vote against confirming a highly qualified, historic nominee, and Utah voters will not forget it.â Romney chairs Foreign Relations Committee nominations hearing, highlights importance of Americaâs involvement in the world U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) today served as Ranking Member at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee nominations hearing for ambassadorships to Australia, South Korea, the Philippines, and Norway. During his opening remarks, Romney stressed the importance of Americaâs involvement in the world in defending the causes of freedom and democracy. In his exchange with the Honorable Caroline Kennedy, nominee to serve as Ambassador to Australia, he discussed the importance of developing a comprehensive strategy to confront Chinaâs growing aggression in the world. (Read More) Owens co-sponsors legislation to support Utahâs restaurants and small business community Today, Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) co-sponsored the Entrepreneurs Need Timely Replenishment for Eating Establishments (ENTRÃE) Act, legislation that would redirect unused COVID-19 relief dollars to Utahâs restaurant owners who have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. âOver the past year, Iâve seen Washington spend and mismanage trillions in taxpayer dollars, causing historic inflation, skyrocketing prices, and decreases in real wage growth,â said Rep. Owens. âRather than print another $55,000,000,000 that further fuels this economic crisis, Congress should consider the ENTRÃE Act, a commonsense piece of legislation to redirect unused taxpayer dollars back to Utahâs Fourth District to preserve our stateâs essential businesses.â (Read More) Congressman Blake Moore appointed by Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to serve as China legislation conferee Today, Congressman Blake Moore (UT-01) was selected by House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to serve as the House Republican Conferee from the Armed Services Committee to the Conference Committee to negotiate a compromise bill between the House and Senate to bolster U.S. research and technology and counter and compete with China. Congressman Moore will serve alongside House Republican Ranking Members on the House and Senate China legislation conference to help surge U.S. innovation and industry and preserve our competitive edge over China. The Conference Committee will negotiate between the Senate-passed U.S. Innovation and Competition Act and House-passed America COMPETES Act to invest in U.S. manufacturing and address global semiconductor and supply chain shortages. âIt is a huge honor to serve as a conferee to advance critical legislation that will strengthen our competitiveness with China,â said Congressman Blake Moore. (Read More) Utah State Board of Education meeting summary for April 7, 2022 In its April 7, 2022 meeting the Utah State Board of Education: Approved a new rule to direct with the distribution of $10 million in teacher bonuses approved by the Legislature for teachers who took on extra assignments during the pandemic. Funds will not be available until after July 1. Approved amendments to a rule allowing districts and charters to apply for new funding to expand full-day kindergarten after July 1. Announced that draft gender identity guidance will not move forward from the Standards and Assessment Committee. District and charter school leaders will be encouraged to find the best solutions for students and families moving forward. Click here for the full summary. | | |
Upcoming United Utah Party State Convention - April 16, 10 am, West High, SLC 2022 Midyear Conference, Utah League of Cities and Towns - April 20-22, St. George Register here GOP Convention, April 23, 10 am, Mt. America Expo Center Dem Convention, Apr 23, 9 am Ballots are mailed â June 7 Primary election day â June 28 General election â Nov 8 | | |
On This Day In History 573 - Buddhists celebrate birth of Gautama Buddha. 1820 - The famous ancient Greek statue, Venus de Milo is discovered on the Aegean island of Milos. 1918 - Betty Bloomer Ford is born. 1935 - FDR signs Emergency Relief Appropriation Act, authorizing work-relief programs. 1974 - Hank Aaron breaks Babe Ruthâs all-time home run record. 1990 - 18-year-old Ryan White, national symbol of the AIDS crisis, dies. 1993 - Astronaut Ellen Ochoa becomes the first Hispanic woman in space. 2013 - Margaret Thatcher, Britainâs Iron Lady, dies at age 87. Wise Words "I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left." â Margaret Thatcher Lighter Side ââLadies and gentleman, the newest member of the United States Supreme Court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jacksonâ â is what I will be saying in a few months, when sheâs actually sworn in. Itâs a long process.â â STEPHEN COLBERT | | |
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