| Utahns express frustration with Mike Lee; Forsyth Fire evacuees can return home today; Utah on the map as a national road trip destination .png?width=1200&upscale=true&name=Utah_Policy_Logo_Email_Full%20(1).png) | 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 | June 26, 2025 It's Friday and National Sunglasses Day ð Happy Birthday to Rep. Val Peterson! ðð ð What you need to know -
âPawsomeâ news, pet lovers: Utah Stateâs weeks away from launching stateâs 1st 4-year âanimal docâ program. Forty-two future veterinarians are expected to report for the first day of instruction â including 27 Utahns. More than 300 applied for USUâs maiden DVM program class. Since 2012, the school has enjoyed a â2+2â partnership with Washington State University (WSU) where USU students completed two years of foundational study in Logan before completing their final two years in Pullman, Washington. In 2022, the Utah Legislature approved funding for the 4 year program.
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 | Beyond Fun and Games Nearly half of Boomers and 36% of the Silent Generation play video games weekly â for mental sharpness, stress relief, and fun. Learn more and game on. | | |
Utah Headlines Political news - What the Supreme Courtâs Planned Parenthood ruling means for Utah (Deseret News)
- Improving national parks, gateway communitiesâ role (Deseret News)
- What the Supreme Courtâs Planned Parenthood ruling means for Utah (Deseret News)
- Utah lawmakers say Congressâ proposed pause in AI regulation would undo the stateâs progress (Utah News Dispatch)
- A southern Utah hot spring resort, a Moab vineyard and new restaurants get liquor licenses (Salt Lake Tribune)
- As Utah sees immigration raid protests, 4 local companies make money from ICE â and one is lobbying for more (Salt Lake Tribune)
Municipal news - 'It's like COVID': Sugar House businesses feel construction sting once again this summer (KSL)
- Utah Inland Port Authority adopts west Utah County (KSL)
- Residents call for tighter fireworks restrictions after human-caused Cedar Hills Fire (KUTV)
- A summer spot Utahns and Idahoans love is losing its charm, residents say (UPR)
- Fire restrictions to be implemented Saturday; fireworks discharge banned outside of city, town limits in Weber County (Standard-Examiner)
Utah - IOC reassessing bid process that gave Utah a second Winter Games nearly a decade away (Deseret News)
- Utah traditions: You know you're a Utahn if ... (KSL)
- Utah dad Tanner Martin, who chronicled cancer battle and wifeâs pregnancy online, dies weeks after daughterâs birth (Salt Lake Tribune)
- Faith Kipyegon attempted womenâs running history. These Utah ties were part of the moment (Deseret News)
Biz/Tech - Pluralsight moving headquarters to Texas, laying off 17% of workforce (KSL)
- Jay Evensen: Are self-driving cars inevitable? (Deseret News)
- Shortly after settling suit with FTC, Utah County's Xlear sues FTC over regulations (KSL)
- Utahns build, test largest NASA rocket ever produced in Promontory (Fox13)
Crime/Courts - Riverton man charged with manslaughter in stepsonâs shooting death (Deseret News)
- Cedar City public works employee arrested, accused of pointing gun at co-worker (KSL)
- Church youth leader accused of grooming teen girl charged with 26 felonies (KSL)
- One hospitalized after road rage-turned auto-pedestrian crash on I-215 (KUTV)
- An 'Initiative on Initiatives' goes to the Utah Supreme Court (Fox13)
Culture/Community - Diabetes camp at Weber State offers kids community and confidence (KSL)
- Nate Bargatzeâs plan to turn Nateland Entertainment into a family-friendly media empire (Deseret News)
- Lemonade stand helps Ogden man with Down syndrome get to Lagoon (Fox13)
- Fighting hunger for 15 years at Tabithaâs Way (Daily Herald)
- We saw all 6 plays at the Utah Shakespeare Festival. Hereâs what you need to know (Deseret News)
Energy - Idaho National Laboratory completes nuclear fuel test that had never been done (Deseret News)
Environment - Interior Secretary Doug Burgum wants to bolster park relations with cities (Deseret News)
- âWe stand on the brink of system failureâ: Feds up pressure for states to reach deal on the future of the Colorado River (Salt Lake Tribune)
- USU survey shows broad public support for environmental action in Utah (Utah State Today)
Faith - âHumbling honorâ: Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus on âThe Chosen,â meets Pope Leo XIV (Deseret News)
Health - 2 more Utahns diagnosed with measles, bringing state total to 5 (KSL)
- Utah health officials issue warning after algae is found in water at Anderson Cove (Fox 13)
- CDC reconsiders immunization schedule as RFK Jr. pulls vaccine group dollars (Deseret News)
- Supersize me! How much fast food do Americans eat? (Deseret News)
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National Headlines General - Bison falls into Yellowstone hot spring and dies in view of visitors (Deseret News)
- For first time, Webb telescope discovers an alien planet (Reuters)
Political news - Trump - Trump DOJ sues entire Maryland bench in unprecedented judicial clash (Deseret News)
- White House video embraces Trump as 'daddy' after NATO chief's remark (Reuters)
Other political news - Some senators question âtotal obliterationâ after classified Iran briefing (Deseret News)
- Republicans want to fire the Senate parliamentarian. What does she do? (Deseret News)
- What does the Supreme Courtâs decision mean for immigrants facing deportation? (Deseret News)
- Medicaid proposals stripped from Trump tax bill by parliamentarian (Deseret News)
- Report: Five House GOP members oppose budget mega bill over public lands sale (ABC4)
Immigration/deportation - Trump administration will put Abrego on trial before deporting him again (Reuters)
- Immigration officers arrest Iranian asylum-seekers in Los Angeles (Reuters)
- Canadian citizen dies in ICE custody; Ottawa âurgently seekingâ information (Washington Post)
Ukraine/Russia - Russia captures village in eastern Ukraine near lithium deposit, Russian-backed official says (Reuters)
Middle East - What we know so far about the damage done to Iranâs nuclear facilities (Deseret News)
- Battling to survive, Hamas faces defiant clans and doubts over Iran (Reuters)
World news - Debris From SpaceX Explosion, Landing in Mexico, Draws Investigation (New York Times)
- Vatican unveils last of restored Raphael Rooms after 10-year cleaning that yielded new discoveries (AP)
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 | News Releases Economic contribution of SUU Southern Utah University strengthens Utah and the Southwest Economic Region economies through high-quality education, institutional, student, and visitor spending, and broad societal benefits. A new report from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, commissioned by the Utah System of Higher Education (USHE), details SUUâs significant regional and statewide economic contribution, which includes supporting more than 5,000 jobs, $202 million in earnings, $298 million in gross Domestic Product (GDP), and $513 million in output (total sales) regionwide in FY2023. (Read More)
Weber State hosts PREP camp to shape young experts in STEM Weber State University is helping prepare the next generation of scientists, engineers, and innovators through its Pre-Freshman Engineering Program, or PREP. Now in its 11th year at Weber State, PREP offers a rigorous seven-week STEM camp for students entering seventh through ninth grade. The free program is part of Intermountain PREP network and offers a blend of classroom learning alongside hands-on projects, mentorship, and career exploration. (Read More)
Salt Lake Chamber announces Clyde Companiesâ President & CEO Jeremy Hafen as 2025-2026 Board Chair The Salt Lake Chamber, Utahâs largest and longest-serving business association, has named Jeremy Hafen, president and CEO of Clyde Companies, Inc., as the new chair of its Board of Governors. Hafen most recently served as the Chamberâs vice chair alongside outgoing Board Chair Nathan Callister, executive vice president and executive director commercial banking of Zions Bank. (Read More) | | |
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Upcoming - 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
- Aug 12 â Municipal primary
- Aug 19-21 â Interim Days
- Nov 4 â General election
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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
- 2019 US Supreme Court rules 2020 census cannot contain a question about citizenship in a 5-4 ruling
- 2019 - US Supreme Court rules the Constitution doesn't prohibit partisan gerrymandering, allowing a ruling party to redraw electoral boundaries
Quote of the Day "Everything has its wonders, even darkness and silence, and I learn, whatever state I may be in, therein to be content." â Helen Keller
On the Punny Side Why do mushrooms get invited to all the parties?
Because they are such fungis. | | |
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