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 - Dec. 8, 2020Welcome to Tuesday. It's National Brownie Day, so in the spirit of the holidays, go ahead and mix up a batch of BYU Mint Brownies. If you are feeling particularly festive you can sprinkle some crushed candy cane on the top to enjoy while you deck your halls. TICK TOCK6 days until the Electoral College meets (12/14/2020) Today At Utah Policy![]() By LaVarr Webb, Publisher As a state and nation, we're in a really weird place in the great COVID-19 pandemic of 2020. First, it's great that vaccines will soon be distributed and administered. Better days are definitely ahead.But, meanwhile, infection rates, deaths and hospitalizations are soaring. And many governments are cracking down with mask requirements, school closures, and restrictions, some of them inconsistent, on businesses and gatherings. ![]() By Staff About 45 minutes after sunset on December 21, if you look to the southwest, you will witness something that has not been seen in the night sky since the Middle Ages. Jupiter and Saturn will align to become one very bright point of light, known as the "Christmas Star" or "Star of Bethlehem." ![]() By Staff President J. Stuart Adams announced committee appointments for the 64th Legislature (2021/22) and the appointed majority leadership team."Now more than ever, we must not be complacent," said President Adams. "Chair and all committee assignments are opportunities to make significant strides for our constituents and our state to continue to lead the nation. Utah HeadlinesDeseret News
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Policy News![]() Live in Senate 14? It's not too late to run for the open Senate seat being vacated by Senator Dan Hemmert. The Utah County Republican party has outlined the timeline for the special election: Delegates were notified last Friday of the upcoming election. Filing opened December 7 and closes at 5 pm on December 9. ![]() Utah Clean Air (UCAIR) is holding their final meeting of the year on Friday, December 11th at 9:00am. Representative Patrice Arent is retiring from the State Legislature at the end of the year and she will be sharing some of the highlights from her years as a Champion for Air Quality. ![]() The 2021 legislative session in Utah will look different compared to previous years. Utah has one of the most accessible capitols in the nation except this year. As you might have guessed COVID-19 will have a huge impact on the protocols for people visiting the state capitol this year. What should constituents plan on?The County Seat sat down with Lincoln Shurtz, Director of Government Affairs, from the Utah Association of Counties to discuss what to expect from the 2021 legislative session. ![]() The Salt Lake Chamber sent the following letter to Utah's Federal Delegation outlining the current state of small business in Utah and request leaders to work towards a bipartisan stimulus deal to bridge the gap until vaccine's distribution: "While Utah's economy remains on stronger footing than most of the nation, our small businesses and families still desperately need help-before the end of the year-to ensure they can weather the ongoing economic impacts caused by COVID-19 restrictions. ![]() The South Valley Chamber is hosting a webinar on the how the COVID-19 vaccine rollout may impact businesses in Utah. Business Headlines
On This Day In History(From History.com) 1542 - Mary Queen of Scots is born and became the monarch when she was 6 days old. 1881 - A fire at the Ring Theater in Vienna, Austria, kills between 620 and 850 people and injures hundreds more. 1941 - The United States declares war on Japan. 1969 - President Nixon announces that the Vietnam War is ending. 1980 - John Lennon is shot and killed outside his Manhattan apartment. 1987 - President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev sign their first treaty agreeing to reduce their nuclear arsenals. Wise Words"Community connectedness is not just about warm fuzzy tales of civic triumph. In measurable and well-documented ways, social capital makes an enormous difference in our lives...Social capital makes us smarter, healthier, safer, richer and better able to govern a just and stable democracy." Robert D. Putnam Lighter SideRudolph the RedOne night a Viking named Rudolph the Red was looking out the window when he said, "It's going to rain." His wife asked, "How do you know?" "Because Rudolph the Red knows rain, dear." Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. |