Utah Jazz lose on last-second halfcourt basket by Atlanta Hawks; fewer teens died on Utah roads in 2024; and apocalyptic wildfires in CA | | | 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 | Jan. 8, 2025 It's Wednesday and National Snuggle a Chicken Day. ð What you need to know Today is Inauguration Day for Gov. Cox, Lt. Gov Henderson, Attorney General Derek Brown, Auditor Tina Cannon, and Treasurer Marlo Oaks. You can watch the livestream at 10 am. Rapid Relevance Utah Jazz lose on last-second halfcourt basket by the Atlanta Hawks; fewer teens lost their lives on Utah roads in 2024; and apocalyptic wildfires in California | | |
Utah Headlines Political news Heinrich accuses Mike Lee of breaking protocol over Burgum hearing (Politico) Sen. John Curtis celebrates final House wins (Deseret News) Gov. Cox, other Utah leaders serve at food bank and talk about upcoming legislative session (Deseret News) National battles come to Utah: 3 key issues up for debate in the coming legislative session (Deseret News) How will Trump's border and deportation policies impact Utah? (Fox13) Utah Legislature poised to cut taxes for 5th year in a row â but how? (St. George News) Salt Lake City Council shakes up its leadership, approves new stipend ordinance (KSL) Judge denies Jan. 6 defendant's request to travel to inauguration with ex-Rep. Chris Stewart (KSL) Utah lawmaker takes action against sextortion with bill addressing counterfeit images (KUTV) Commissioner Skyler Beltran, other Utah County officials sworn in to office (Daily Herald) Box Elder County officials sworn in during special ceremony (Cache Valley Daily) Former Box Elder County Commissioner Stan Summers had his own way of accomplishing tasks (Cache Valley Daily) Iron County's newly elected officials sworn in with reminder to 'be kind' (St. George News) Utah Utah saw 281 road fatalities in 2024, preliminary state data shows (KSL) January events and activities in Utah (Deseret News) Utah immigration attorneys report huge increase in calls over deportation concerns (KSL TV) Biz/Tech Park City Mountain ski patrol, Vail Resorts reach tentative agreement (Deseret News) Consumer Electronics Show: Here are the trends shaping technology in 2025 (KSL) Meta cites political bias in move to suspend fact-checking on Facebook, Instagram (Deseret News) 'New era of travel': Delta Air Lines unveils new partnerships to kick off its second century (KSL) Crime/Courts USU uses secret messaging apps for 'more candid conversations,' according to lawsuit (Cache Valley Daily) Culture âThe Ruthâ theater opens its doors, ushers in new era for entertainment in Utah County (ABC4)
Peter Yarrow, singer of Peter, Paul and Mary, dies at 86 (Deseret News) Utah Jazz playerâs Miss America reaction goes viral (Salt Lake Tribune) Post Malone gives $20,000 tip to single mom working at bar on Christmas Eve (KUTV) Education Fire academy's latest addition opens at Davis Tech (KSL) Environment Utah is about to get a hut-to-hut system. Hereâs what skiers and hikers can expect. (Salt Lake Tribune) Cutting back on alfalfa and hay crops is essential to helping Great Salt Lake, study finds (UPR) Family Half of U.S. parents think TikTok ban would make kids safer online (Deseret News) It costs parents $18k+ per year to raise 1 child in Utah (KUTV) Health Winter illnesses return with a vengeance (NPR) Being in shape is better for longevity than being thin, new study shows (Washington Post) How to Start and Keep a Journal (New York Times) | | |
National news General Wildfires in the Palisades and Pasadena force more than 30,000 to evacuate (Reuters) In L.A., the fire moved so fast that officers ordered drivers to get out and run (Washington Post) How to live like Jimmy Carter: âTreat everyone â family, friends and strangers â with honesty and respect.' (Deseret News) Harris, lawmakers pay tribute to US President Jimmy Carter at Capitol (Reuters) Flying taxis are on the horizon as aviation soars into a new frontier (AP) Politics Trump trades isolationism for expansionism â possibly with military force (Politico) Trump says he will change the name of Gulf of Mexico to 'Gulf of America' (AP) Greenland leader to meet Danish king amid Trump bid to take over territory (Reuters) Trump asks Supreme Court to block sentencing in his hush money case in New York (AP) What to know about Trumpâs calls to make Canada the â51st stateâ (The Hill) Ukraine Ukraine strikes oil depot near Russian air base, Ukrainian military says (New York Times) Over 12,300 civilians killed since start of Ukraine war, UN says (Reuters) Israel/Gaza Middle East latest: Israeli strikes kill 17 people in Gaza, nearly all of them women or kids (AP) Trump says âall hell will break outâ if no hostage deal by inauguration (Washington Post) World news The world's largest humanitarian crisis has been declared a genocide. Here's why that matters (Deseret News) Inside Bashar Assadâs detention centers, where âdeath was the least bad thingâ (AP) | | |
| | News Releases Several Curtis bills from House recently signed into law U.S. Senator John Curtis (R-UT) today reflected on some of his final legislative accomplishments in the 118th Congress as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. Before transitioning to the Senate, Curtis secured into law several including the Colorado River Salinity Control Fix Act, the Great Salt Lake Stewardship Act, the Protect Americaâs Rock Climbing (PARC) Act, the Connect Our Parks Act, the Biking on Long-Distance Trails (BOLT) Act, the Simplifying Outdoor Access for Recreation (SOAR) Act, and the Recognizing the Importance of Critical Minerals in Healthcare Act. (Read More) Kori Ann Edwards named 47G Chief Strategy Officer 47G Utah Aerospace & Defense (47G) has announced Kori Ann Edwards as the Chief Strategy Officer to lead the organizationâs strategic initiatives to accelerate the growth of Utahâs aerospace and defense ecosystem. She possesses over three decades of public and private-sector experience in economic development, strategic leadership, program development and stakeholder engagement. Most recently, Edwards served as the managing director of strategic initiatives for the Governorâs Office of Economic Opportunity (GOEO) where she developed the soon-to-be-released Gameplan 2034, the State of Utahâs economic vision for the 2034 Winter Olympic Games. (Read More) Salt Lake County receives $2 million Healthy Homes Production grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development The Salt Lake County Office of Regional Development is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $2 million grant under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to expand the Healthy Homes Production program. This award is in response to an application submitted by Salt Lake County for this highly competitive program. Funding will empower Salt Lake County to address significant health and safety hazards in homes, helping to protect families and children across the region. (Read More) AFP-Utah releases âProsperity Elevatedâ agenda for 2025 state legislative session Today, Americans for Prosperity-Utah (AFP-UT) released âProsperity Elevated,â its 2025 policy priority agenda, ahead of the state legislative session starting on January 21. AFP-UT will work with state lawmakers throughout the session to bring Utah to new heights by making vital reforms to improve the economy, education system, housing market, and border security. (Read More) | | |
Upcoming Jan. 8 â Inauguration for Gov. Cox, Lt. Gov Henderson, AG Derek Brown, Auditor Tina Cannon, and Treasurer Marlo Oaks, 10 am Jan. 9 â Whatâs Up Down South Economic Summit. St. George. Register here Jan. 10 â Utah Economic Outlook & Public Policy Summit with the SL Chamber & Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, 7:30 am - 12:00 pm, Grand America Hotel, Register here Jan. 10 â Rural Utah Data Symposium. St. George. Register here Jan. 11â Special election for HD4, 2 pm Jan 14 â Utah Taxpayers Association Legislative Outlook Conference, 9 am - 12:00 pm, Little America Hotel, Register here Jan. 21 â Utah legislative session begins Mar. 7 â Utah legislative session ends | | |
On This Day In History 1790 - George Washington delivers the nationâs first State of the Union address. 1835 - The U.S. national debt reaches $0 for the first and only time. 1859 - Fanny Bullock Workman is born. An explorer, she spent most of her career climbing the Himalayas. One of her most noted achievements includes being the first woman to exceed 23,300 feet when she climbed Pinnacle Peak. 1867 - Congress overrides Andrew Johnsonâs veto of a bill granting Black men the right to vote in Washington, D.C. 1867 - Emily Greene Balch is born. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946 for her lifelong efforts for disarmament and peace. 1877 - Oglala Lakota warrior Crazy Horse fights his last battle. 1918 - President Woodrow Wilson delivers his âFourteen Pointsâ speech, outlining his vision for a stable, long-lasting peace. 1980 - NCAA Divisions II and III vote to include womenâs championships. 2002 - George W. Bush signs No Child Left Behind into law. 2011 - Congresswoman Gabby Giffords is shot in the head during an outdoor meeting with constituents. She is critically injured but survives. Quote of the Day "All of the good things we accomplish in government is because this stuff (service) happens. If this stuff stops happening, then government is broken, and our society is broken. We need to get back to community building.â âGov. Spencer Cox On the Punny Side What do you call a medieval spy? Sir Veillance. | | |
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