5 dead, 1 injured in WVC shooting; Huntsville under boil order through Christmas; and at least 100,000 bodies found in Syrian mass grave.
View in browser

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 | Dec. 18, 2024

It's Wednesday and Answer the Telephone Like Buddy the Elf Day.

What you need to know

  • Utah law enforcement officials are split on whether President-elect Donald Trump’s deportation agenda will help or hurt their mission to keep the state’s residents safe. Some county sheriffs are excited for a new presidential administration that will prioritize deporting migrants who commit crimes. Other current and former law enforcement officials in the state worry that expanding deportation efforts could deter witnesses from coming forward and take resources from addressing other criminal activity. 

Rapid Relevance

On the Hill

  • 4:00 pm: Senate Floor Time
 

Utah Headlines

Political news

  • Trump wants police to help with mass deportations. Will Utah law enforcement comply? (Deseret News)
  • Health care advocates launch ads targeting Sen.-elect John Curtis over RFK Jr. nomination (Deseret News)
  • Utahns cast state’s 6 electoral votes for President-elect Donald Trump (KSL)
  • After closed-door meeting, Salt Lake County buys former corporate headquarters outside Utah’s capital (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • How a career in sports reporting helped breakdown walls of polarization (UPR)

Utah

  • ‘We are making history today’: Breaking ground on the first phase of ‘The Point’ (ABC4)
  • Development at The Point kicks into gear as expansion work of Porter Rockwell Boulevard begins (Daily Herald)
  • Former Zions Bank CEO Scott Anderson joins Sutherland Institute board of directors (Deseret News)
  • A Utahn was nominated for a national U.S. Soccer award. Here’s how to vote for her (Deseret News)
  • Set designer builds experience hotel for sci-fi enthusiasts in Utah (KSL)

Holiday season

  • Is Santa a Republican? Here’s what Americans think (Deseret News)
  • 'The oldest and dearest tradition': Utah Filipinos gather for Christmastime Simbang Gabi services (KSL)
  • Woman decorates ‘Baby Land’ in cemetery to bring holiday cheer (KSL Newsradio)
  • Tragedy leads to gifts of love from Manti school lunch lady (Fox13)
  • Orem’s Westmore Elementary School meal kits help boost families in need over the holidays (Daily Herald)
  • Santa who? Bizarre Christmas traditions stealing the holiday spotlight - like the "pooping log" (St. George News)
  • Churches are making room for grief and loss at Christmas (NPR)

Biz/Tech

  • ‘We’re making history’: Salt Lake library workers reach key step in effort to unionize (KSL)
  • 'The very best of the Utah dream': Old prison site breaks ground on first phase of redevelopment (KSL)
  • US retail sales showcase economy's enduring strength (Reuters)
  • Seeing Trump 2.0 tariffs coming, America's toymakers gird for ruckus (Reuters)

Crime/Courts

  • Utah man with violent history arrested in road rage confrontation (KSL)

Culture

  • Thanksgiving Point opens new 5-story Jurassic-themed interactive playground (KSL)
  • It pays to have long hair and a beard in Utah—Jesus models are in demand (Wall Street Journal)

Education

  • Wisconsin shooting recharges cellphones in school debate (Deseret News)
  • University of Utah Health hires new chief (Deseret News)
  • School suspensions: What are long-term emotional impacts on students? (Deseret News)
  • St. George arts students reach national heights (Fox13)
  • Utah State and Colorado State sue Mountain West Conference over exit penalties (KUER)
  • Voices: At BYU, we’ve seen how cultural centers fight racial injustice (Salt Lake Tribune)

Environment

  • What happened to the Great Salt Lake this year (Deseret News)
  • Utah water managers remain hopeful for 'near-normal' snowpack after slow start (KSL)
  • Utah wants to shore up its Colorado River share with a water ‘savings account’ (KUER)

Health

  • Family raises funds for daughter's prosthetic arm, another child after insurance denial (KUTV)
  • An Alabama woman is doing well after the latest experimental pig kidney transplant, after 8 years on dialysis (AP)
  • 'Cancer ghosting' can be more painful than treatment, survivors say (NPR)

Housing

  • Insurers are deserting homeowners as climate shocks worsen (New York Times)
 

National Headlines

General

  • Suspect in UnitedHealthcare’s CEO killing charged with murder as an act of terrorism (AP)
  • Frontier announces 'All-You-Can-Fly' annual passes for never-before-offered price of $299 (KUTV)
  • Complete mastodon jaw discovered in New York backyard (NBC News)

Political news

  • Lawmakers release spending bill to fund federal government until March 14 (NPR)
  • Electoral college elects Donald Trump as next president (Washington Post)
  • Trump appoints ex-NFL star Herschel Walker as ambassador to the Bahamas (Washington Post)
  • Latter-day Saint lawyer to lead group with huge sway over Donald Trump’s court picks (Salt Lake Tribune)
  • GOP report recommends Liz Cheney be criminally investigated over Jan. 6 work (The Hill)
  • Trump sues Des Moines Register, pollster for ‘election interference’ after pre-election poll (AP)
  • GOP battle erupts over Social Security bill (The Hill)

Ukraine 🇺🇦

  • Trump's Ukraine envoy plans January trip to Kyiv (Reuters)
  • Russia intensifies assaults in Kursk and eastern front, Ukraine says (Reuters)
  • Trump says it was ‘stupid’ for Biden to let Ukraine use US weapons to strike deeper into Russia (AP)

Israel and Gaza

  • Israeli military orders another Gaza evacuation ahead of an offensive (AP)
  • CIA director arrives for talks amid rising hopes for Gaza cease-fire (New York Times)

World news

  • Russian law paves way to recognise Taliban and potentially Syria's new leadership (Reuters)
  • Tiny coffins: Measles is killing thousands of children in Congo (New York Times)
 

Number of the Day 

Number of the Day, Dec. 18, 2024

 

News Releases

Changes in Salt Lake County elected officials

At today’s meeting, the Salt Lake County Council honored the service of five dedicated elected officials who will be departing office in January. Collectively, these individuals have devoted over 70 years to public service, leaving a profound legacy of leadership, commitment, and progress. On January 6, five newly elected officials and four returning elected officials will take the oath of office in an inauguration ceremony. (Read More)


Development kicks off at Utah’s Innovation Community

After years of in-depth planning and site preparation, development is quickly moving forward at The Point. To mark this momentous occasion, the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority (Land Authority) will host a historic groundbreaking of Porter Rockwell Boulevard today, and the public is invited to attend. The event will showcase the significant progress made to develop The Point in a way that reflects Utahns’ vision. It will feature speeches by several Utah leaders who will kick off construction with real-time excavation demonstrations. This pivotal milestone symbolizes the start of a new era as Utah’s Innovation Community rises from the ground. (Read More)


Sutherland Institute welcomes Scott Anderson to Board of Directors

Sutherland Institute is pleased to announce that A. Scott Anderson, former president and CEO of Zions Bank, has accepted a seat on its Board of Directors. Anderson joins Sutherland following more than 25 years as the head of Zions Bank. His guidance has also benefited countless boards in Utah and beyond. (Read More)

 

Tweet of the Day

Screenshot 2024-12-18 at 7.01.06 AM
 

Upcoming

  • Dec. 18 — Advanced Screening of Lost Treasure: Handel's Messiah in Bethlehem, Jordan Commons Megaplex, 12:00 pm, Price of admission: Canned goods for the Utah Food Bank, RSVP here
  • Jan. 9 — What’s Up Down South Economic Summit. St. George. Register here
  • Jan. 10 — Rural Utah Data Symposium. St. George. Register here
  • Jan 14 — Utah Taxpayers Association Legislative Outlook Conference, 9 am - 12:00 pm, Little America Hotel, Register here
  • Jan. 21 — Utah legislative session begins
  • Mar. 7 — Utah legislative session ends
 

On This Day In History

  • 1865 - Slavery abolished in America with adoption of 13th amendment
  • 1892 - Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker" premieres in Saint Petersburg, Russia. It is now the world's most performed ballet
  • 1916 - Battle of Verdun, longest of World War I, officially ends in German defeat after nine months of fighting and almost 1 million total casualties
  • 1966 - Dr. Seuss' "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" airs for first time on CBS
  • 1971 - Capitol Reef National Park established
  • 1979 - The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) is signed by the UN National Assembly. The United States is the only industrialized country not to ratify the treaty.
  • 2019 - President Donald Trump impeached

Quote of the Day

“Capitol Reef is filled with geology that takes shape, color, and dimension to a level beyond comprehension.”

—Stephanie Payne


On the Punny Side

What do they call snowmen in Hawaii?

Water.

 

– Advertise With Us –

Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers.