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| The UtahPolicy.com daily newsletter gets you up to speed on the top local and national news about politics and public policy. Send news tips or feedback to [email protected] Situational Analysis - May 25, 2021It's Tuesday, May 25th and you know what that means: only 7 more months until Christmas! Also, today's quote is a personal mantra of mine. Do you have a favorite? I'd love to know. On a more serious note, it is the one-year anniversary of George Floyd's death at the knee of former Minneapolis police office Derek Chauvin. For 9 minutes and 29 seconds, Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck, while Floyd said 27 times, "I can't breathe." Towards the very end of his life, he called out for his mama who had died a couple of years before. As a mama myself, it broke my heart and brings me to tears every time I think about how scared he must have been. I am sure his mama was there with him in spirit as he died. I've gathered a number of articles from around the country marking this sad anniversary. I hope you'll take the time to read some of them today. News You Need to Know The Governor's Office of Planning and Budget (GOMB) completed an executive branch pay equity study. There were four key findings: on average, pay differences can be explained by non-demographic influences, in spite of the average, there are gender pay gaps within some agencies, women and minorities are underrepresented, especially in higher-paying jobs and those with decision-making authority and that employees with higher leave balances have higher wages, meaning those who are not using time off see more salary increases. Zion National Park has banned campfires as fire season starts off much drier than 2020 and the BLM has issued additional fire restrictions for Southern Utah won the National School Bell Award for their work in helping children experiencing homelessness. There are some 800 to 1000 children in St. George who meet the criteria for homelessness and there are thousands more living at or below the poverty line in Washington County. Partnering with The Assistance League of Southern Utah, they were able to clothe 901 kids, give away over 100 pairs of new shoes and donate 828 books for kids to keep and take home last year. Kudos to all of you. Samoa's first female prime minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, is literally locked out of parliament by her losing opponent so she takes her oath of office in a tent on the statehouse lawn. Her opponent refuses to accept the results of the election and accuses her of treason. She says he should "get a grip." The UN "stands ready to provide support" if requested. Finally, in a story that will make any parent at least a little queasy, a young Utah boy is back home after falling out of bed and ending up with broken parts of a pencil in his brain. So glad there's a happy outcome to this story. N%MCEPASTEBIN%Calendar Reporters' Roundtable: Utah's National Economic Leadership hosted by the Salt Lake Chamber - May 20, 4:00-5:00 pm. Register here for the webinar A Conversation with Facebook's Sheryl Sandberg and Nubia Pena, Director of the Utah Division of Multicultural Affairs - June 2, 12:30-1:15 pm. Register here. Utah Democratic Party organizing convention: June 26, 2021 250 days of the Cox-Henderson administration: September 11, 2021Today At Utah PolicyGovernor's Office of Planning and Budget completes Executive Branch Pay Equity StudyBy Holly Richardson The Governor's Office of Planning and Budget (GOPB) recently completed a study of executive branch state employees, their wages, and demographic and workplace characteristics such as gender, minority status, tenure, and work performed in order to inform efforts to narrow the gender pay gap. Utah HeadlinesGeneral Growing up in the divided America of the 1950's and 1960's. We have to keep talking about what life was really like for all Americans. (St. George News) Romney first GOP senator to say he would vote for Jan. 6 commission bill (The Hill) Christopher Smart: There is no racism here. (Not really. There is) (Salt Lake Tribune) Salt Lake City Cemetery reopens to the public after windstorm damage repaired. The cemetery closed after the destructive windstorm in September 2020 knocked over more than 200 trees on the property. (Salt Lake Tribune) From Zambia to the world stage: What keeps world-renowned economist Dambisa Moyo up at night (Deseret News)Politics Andy Larsen: How does Salt Lake City actually run its budget? From sewers to golf courses, airports to police - where the money comes from and where it goes. (Salt Lake Tribune) Sunday Edition: "I need answers" Rep. John Curtis on vote for Jan. 6 commission; deep dive into Critical Race Theory, women and the "wasted year" of the pandemic (KSL) Republicans move on from Jan. 6 at their own peril. If the GOP wants to rebound in the 2022 midterms, setting the record straight on Jan. 6 should be its first priority (Deseret News) Utah's Burgess Owens: Fire educators who teach critical race theory (Daily Herald)COVID Corner Utah reports 148 new COVID-19 cases and two more deaths. More than 35% of Utahns are now fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. (Salt Lake Tribune) Vaccinated? You have a shot at free flights, year of travel with United Airlines (ABC4, The Hill) A little US city, battered by the virus, tells its stories (AP) How medical jargon can make COVID health disparities even worse (NPR) After months of a racing heart and burning feet, a COVID long-hauler gets a diagnosis of POTS (NPR) COVID-19 Wuhan lab theory gets more serious look (The Hill) Meet the four kinds of people holding us back from full vaccination: System Distrusters, COVID Skeptics, The Watchful and the Cost-Anxious. (New York Times) As covid-19 devastates rural India, Modi and his ministers focus on covering up their incompetence. Local health volunteers say the scale of the devastation in rural India may never be known. (Washington Post)Drought Grim western fire season starts much drier than record 2020 (The Spectrum) Zion National Park campfire ban among latest batch of Utah fire restrictions (KSL)Economic Development Home Depot bringing over 1K jobs to Salt Lake City metro (KUTV)Economy Utah restaurants cope with increasing costs of food (ABC4) Women, minorities, underrepresented in high-paying Utah jobs, study shows (KUTV) Gender pay gap among state employees revealed by governor's office study (St. George News) Here are 4 takeaways from a study looking at how Utah state employees are paid: Gender and racial pay gaps shrink when factoring in tenure and job descriptions, according to a report from the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget. (Salt Lake Tribune)Education BYU offering 'traditional' fall semester, full-capacity, no masks (KUTV) Washington County School District wins national award for helping homeless students (St. George News)Elections On Message: Ignore the distraction. In politics, you're either on message or you're losing (UTPOL Underground)Energy Thom Carter: Energy diversity is the key to security (Salt Lake Tribune)Environment The line between mountain lion and human habitats is blurring. Here's why that matters (Deseret News) In new ad campaign, tribal coalition urges Biden to 'restore and expand' Bears Ears monument (Salt Lake Tribune) Work on SLC's foothill trails halted until at least October. Critics say the new trails are scarring the landscape and bringing in too much mountain biking. (Salt Lake Tribune)Family The faces of the mothers who bore the burden of the pandemic (New York Times) The summer of the free-range parent. After being cooped up during the worst days of the COVID-19 pandemic, kids need a long leash to roam and explore (Deseret News)Legal The 5 words that changed America: the right to remain silent (Deseret News)Local Communities From local farmers to federal agencies, management of threatened Utah prairie dogs a collaborative effort (St. George News) Bilingual exhibit at the Park City Museum uncovers activist Dolores Huerta's accomplishments in farm worker rights (Park Record) EMS Week observed by Sevier Valley Hospital (The Richfield Reaper)National HeadlinesGeorge Floyd A look back at summer of anti-police violence protests in Utah. SL Trib photojournalists spent weeks documenting demonstrations in Utah. (Salt Lake Tribune) How George Floyd's death affected Utah. State leaders banned chokeholds and increased police training, but some are frustrated that more wasn't done. (Salt Lake Tribune) 9 minutes and 29 seconds. George Floyd's death and impact, a year later (Deseret News) What George Floyd changed: The protests over one man's death touched far more aspects of American life than just criminal justice. Seven thinkers reflect on how America is (and isn't) different now. (Politico) What George Floyd's death has done for American's ability to feel empathy (NPR) A year since George Floyd's murder, Americans reflect on his legacy (Reuters) Protest and reflection: A year after the death of George Floyd (Reuters) Biden will host the Floyd family but will miss his police reform deadline (Politico) George Floyd's family marches to mark anniversary of his murder (The Hill) A year after George Floyd: A letter to my Black son (CNN) One year after Floyd's death, debate about race reaches across American life (Wall Street Journal) A timeline of what has happened in the year since George Floyd's death. A look back reveals a country both struggling to confront its history of racial division and continuing to succumb to it. (New York Times) President Biden will meet with George Floyd's family on the anniversary of his death. (New York Times) Where Prince lived and George Floyd died - hope, history and heartache (Politico) After George Floyd, how much has changed? (The Hill) Black families experience 'year from hell' (The Hill) How George Floyd's death reignited a movement (CNN)General U.S. issues 'Do Not Travel' advisory to Japan two months before Olympics (ABC4)Politics Senate Republicans scramble to derail creation of Capitol riot commission (The Guardian) Romney first GOP senator to say he would vote for Jan. 6 commission bill (The Hill) National Guard's Capitol security mission ends as lawmakers feud over protection needs, costs (Washington Post) Democrats about to miss a police reform deadline but hold out hope they can get GOP buy-in (New York Times)Courts US Supreme Court won't hear case about coal pensions (Wall Street Journal) US Supreme Court rejects inmate's plea for firing squad, gave no reason for refusing to hear case. (New York Times)Economy Goldman Sachs' new director makes its board almost half female (Reuters)Elections What if the unorthodox Arizona audit declares Trump won? (Slate) Republicans struggle to define a new governing coalition as Trump closes grip on party (Washington Post) Long after Trump's loss, a push to inspect ballots persists (New York Times) Asian American voter turnout increased at a higher rate than any other ethnic group in 2020 (NPR) Patrick Leahy signals he'll run for ninth Senate term. If he ran again, he would be in line to pass the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.) as the longest-serving senator of all time. (Politico) O'Rourke considering Texas governor bid (The Hill)Environment As hurricane season looms, Biden doubles funding to prepare for extreme weather (Washington Post)Immigration Watchdog: Under Trump, the US forced deported parents to leave kids behind (AP) Harris, White House betting on Guatemala to help stem migrant influx (Politico)Infrastructure White House 'eager' for GOP counteroffer on infrastructure (AP)International Biden committed to two-state solution between Israel and Palestinians, Blinken says (NBC) Samoa's first female prime minister, Fiame Naomi Mata'afa, is literally locked out of parliament by her losing opponent so she takes her oath of office in a tent on the statehouse lawn (BBC, NPR, The Hill) Blinken off to Mideast to secure Gaza truce, push for aid (AP) White House, Kremlin aim for Biden-Putin summit in Geneva (AP) EU leaders agree on Belarus sanctions after plane diversion (AP, Reuters) American journalist detained in Myanmar while trying to fly out of country (CNN)News of the Weird Meet them where they are, I guess. Las Vegas officials hold pop-up vaccine clinic at strip club (AP)Policy NewsRep. Stewart's latest op-ed in The Daily Caller: The Intel Committee's plan to spy on AmericansLast week, Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) wrote an op-ed in The Daily Caller on the House Intelligence Committee's recent efforts to turn the massive powers of the Intelligence Community inward, toward the American people. Education and Labor Committee GOP members call out Biden administration for child trafficking crisis at the border Following a briefing from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Education and Labor Committee Republican Members, led by Republican Leader Virginia Foxx (R-NC), sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra today voicing concern about the Biden administration's catch-and-release policy at the border which, among other crises, could be fueling child trafficking.Utah Treasurer Kirt Slaugh recognizes students for winning Spring 2021 Utah Stock Market Game Utah State Treasurer Kirt Slaugh applauds the winners of the Spring 2021 Stock Market Game. Nearly 3,200 students from across the state participated in the game, competing in elementary, middle school and high school divisions. The top three teams within each division are represented by 19 students in total.Hatch Center highlights family-centered approaches to criminal justice reform The Hatch Center-the policy arm of the Orrin G. Hatch Foundation-hosted a virtual symposium highlighting family-centered approaches to criminal justice reform. The symposium featured keynote remarks from Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) and a panel discussion with criminal justice experts that called attention to much-needed reforms in the areas of policing, prison placement, sentencing law, solitary confinement, and second-chance hiring.Lee, Tuberville introduce the CHOICE Act Sens. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) today introduced the Children Have Opportunities in Classrooms Everywhere Act, or CHOICE Act, a bill to allow low-income families with children in grades K-12 to use federal education funds for educational options that best fit their needs. Business HeadlinesStocks climb on Wall Street as appetite for risk returns (AP) U.S. chip funding could result in seven to 10 new factories in the US (Reuters) Deputy U.S Treasury chief sees G7 support for 15%-plus global minimum tax (Reuters) Wall Street climbs on tech gains as U.S. Treasury yields dip (Reuters) Goldman Sachs' new director makes its board almost half female (Reuters) Charlie's last bite: Viral video will leave YouTube after fetching $760,999 in NFT auction (Washington Post) Amazon nears deal to buy Hollywood studio MGM (Wall Street Journal) Apple and Epic Games spar in closing arguments over Fortnite (CNN) Apple stayed on message while Epic filled out the record (The Verge) Evidence is piling up that Netflix wants to be the Netflix of games (The Verge) %MCEPASTEBIN%On This Day In History(From History.com) 1787 - The Constitutional Convention begins, with George Washington presiding. 1803 - Ralph Waldo Emerson is born. 1861 - President Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus during the Civil War. 1889 - Lillie Mae Carroll Jackson is born. An early civil rights activist and organizer of the Baltimore branch of the NAACP, she pioneered the tactic of non-violent resistance. 1905 - Dorothy Wesley is born. A librarian and historian, she was one of the first African- American women to earn a master's degree in library science (Howard University, 1932). As curator of the Moorland-Spingarn Collection at Howard University, she helped it become a world renowned resource on the history and culture of African-Americans. 1910 - Mary Keyserling is born. An economist, she was also the Director of the Women's Bureau of the Labor Department (1964-1969), the Executive Director of the National Consumers' League (1938), and personal advisor to Eleanor Roosevelt in the Office of Civilian Defense 1919 - Madame C.J. Walker dies. She was an African American entrepreneur and the first Black self-made female millionaire in America. 1928 - Mary Wells Lawrence is born. She was the first woman executive of an advertising firm, the first woman CEO of a company traded on the New York Stock Exchange and was named Advertising Woman of the Year (1971) 1961 - JFK announces US goal of putting a man on the Moon before the end of decade. He made the task a national priority and a mission in which all Americans would share, stating that it would not be one man going to the moon-it would be an entire nation. 1977 - Star Wars opens in theaters 2018 - Stacey Cunningham becomes the first female president of the New York Stock Exchange. 2020 - George Floyd is killed.Wise Words"That which we persist in doing becomes easier to do, not that the nature of the thing has changed but that our power to do has increased." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson Lighter SideLighter Side(Speaking of COVID-19 cases) "If it keeps getting better at this rate, they say that by July 1 of this year, we'll need a new excuse to not want to see people." - JIMMY KIMMEL Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. |
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