Utah Headlines

Deseret News

• How highly religious women are redefining feminism - Hot take: A serious religious commitment seems to more adequately prepare women - and their husbands - to face working motherhood than liberal feminism.
• H.R. McMaster: Utah has 'strategic competence,' and the U.S. should take note - The former national security adviser and Miles Hansen, CEO of World Trade Center Utah, say Utah's founding principles could lift the rest of the nation.
• Why Megyn Kelly and some other conservatives are resisting calls for unity - "We're not gonna unite. It's all nonsense," she said.
• Biden wasn't the only one sworn in last week - who to watch as the Senate switches control - The 117th Congress promises to be the year of the centrist.
• Rep. Chris Stewart says opposition to book deals for Trump administration 'un-American' - "Is their view going to be that if someone does publish these individuals, that they'll go burn those books, they'll ban them? I mean, for heaven sakes, this is like Germany in 1936."
• One Utah lawmaker hospitalized with COVID-19, two more test positive - Rep Jon Hawkins is in the hospital while Senators Weiler and Ipson have tested positive, as well as two staff members and one intern.
• Utah lawmaker wants it illegal to transfer fetal remains outside of state other than for burial - The bill as written would create a contradiction in the state's law as it does not delete existing language that allows a fetus or fetal tissue donated under the Revised Uniform Anatomical Gift Act to be transferred out of Utah.
• Utah, Kane County suffer Supreme Court defeat in controversial roads case - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled against taking up an appeal by the state of Utah and Kane County over whether two environmental organizations have the right to intervene in a case about RS2477 roads.
• Sen. Mitt Romney among senators proposing constitutional amendment to stop 'court packing' - The legislation to prevent Democratic "court packing"comes as progressive activists put pressure on President Joe Biden to get going on the bipartisan Supreme Court reform commission idea he floated during the campaign.

Salt Lake Tribune

• One in 5 of Utah's COVID-19 deaths has happened since the beginning of 2021 - With two more deaths reported Monday, the January death toll is more than 20% of the state's pandemic total.
• Elementary students are returning to Salt Lake City schools in person for the first time since March - Almost two-thirds of elementary students have chosen to attend classes in person.
• Freshman Utah Reps. Blake Moore named to Armed Services Committee; Burgess Owens to Judiciary.
• Lawmaker again seeks stricter ban on cellphones while driving - Rep. Carol Moss says even though the bill failed last year, debate over it saved lives.
• Utah treatment centers would face limits on use of restraints, drugs, isolation rooms under new bill - SB127 would also dramatically increase reporting and inspection requirements for these controversial centers.
• Troy Williams: Mitt Romney can help find common ground on protecting LGBTQ Americans from discrimination - Utah has set an example on nondiscrimination that the nation needs to emulate.

Other

• Hill Air Force Base pilots training at night this week; possible source of noise heard in Salt Lake (FOX 13) - People in the Salt Lake area reported that they felt shaking and heard "booms" Monday night around 9:30.
• Family, community mourn loss of Provo NICU therapist to COVID-19 (FOX 13) More on the life and death of Rufino Rodriguez.
• Utah health department, CDC working to ensure state is receiving 'fair share' of COVID-19 vaccine (KSL) - "We have no reason to believe Utah is receiving fewer doses than it should be," says the CDC.

COVID Corner

• Coronavirus: Utah responds to the pandemic (Deseret News) - Utahns must continue to follow health precautions even after receiving both vaccine doses.
• Google Maps will soon tell you where to get the COVID-19 vaccine (Deseret News) - People can search 'vaccines near me' to find new information about vaccine clinics.
• Here's when 'healthy, young' Americans will get their COVID-19 vaccine (Deseret News) - Hint: It will be a while.
• Should you wear two masks? Here's what Dr. Fauci says (Deseret News) - It could help.
• Moderna says its vaccine can stop variants. But it's creating another booster just in case (Deseret News) - "The virus is changing its stripes, and we will change to make sure we can beat the virus where it's going."
• This Utah respiratory therapist died of COVID-19 in the hospital where he helped save newborns for decades (Salt Lake Tribune) - Rufino Rodriguez passed away as LifeFlight paid a final tribute outside his hospital window.
• Melinda Wenner Moyer: If you are offered a COVID-19 vaccine, take it (Salt Lake Tribune) - Declining a coronavirus shot because you think it should go to someone else won't help anyone.

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National Headlines

• President Biden reverses Trump ban on transgender military service (Deseret News) - President Biden believes that gender identity should not be a bar to military service, and that America's strength is found in its diversity.
• Biden tells CNN Trump's impeachment trial 'has to happen' (CNN) - He also believes the outcome would be different if Trump had six months left in his term, but doesn't think 17 Republican senators will vote to convict Trump.
• Trump sends a message to Senate Republicans ahead of his trial (Politico) - Who is he? A mob boss?? The ex-president could seek vengeance on GOP senators if they break with him on impeachment and vote to convict.
• U.S. and China will remain at odds under Biden as Beijing flexes on global stage, trade expert says (CNBC) - The U.S. and China had been growing apart before Donald Trump became president, and that trajectory will likely continue under President Joe Biden.
• McConnell renews call for filibuster to remain after 2 Democrats back it (NBC News) - After two Democratic senators voiced support for the longstanding filibuster rule, McConnell signaled a willingness to move forward.
• Janet Yellen confirmed as first female treasury secretary (The Guardian) She was confirmed on a 84-15 vote, with all no votes coming from Republicans.
• Sarah Sanders' run for Arkansas governor to test value of ties to Trump (CNN) - The Arkansas race for governor will gauge how appealing Republican primary voters find personal connections to Trump and his presidency.
• Joe Biden says he is willing to adjust income thresholds for a fresh wave of stimulus payments in new relief package (Business Insider) - The remarks indicate Biden is willing to modify elements of his rescue package to garner GOP support.
• Watchdog to Examine Whether Justice Dept. Helped Trump Effort to Overturn Election (New York Times) - The inquiry was announced after revelations about a plot between Donald Trump and a top former department official to promote false claims of voter fraud by replacing the acting attorney general.
• Biden declines to tell Chicago teachers refusing to teach in-person to go back to work (Fox News) - "It's not so much about the idea of teachers aren't going to work. The teachers I know, they want to work," he said. "They just want to work in a safe environment and...as safe as we can rationally make it. And we can do that."
• Pets are back: Biden's 2 dogs settle in at White House (Associated Press) - Major and Champ are the first pets to live at the executive mansion since the Obama administration.

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Policy News

Utah's LGBTQ laws rated in Human Rights Campaign's annual state equality index
Yesterday, the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, the educational arm of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation's largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, and the Equality Federation Institute released their 7th annual State Equality Index (SEI). The SEI is a comprehensive report that details statewide laws and policies that affect LGBTQ people and their families and assesses how well states are protecting LGBTQ people from discrimination. Utah falls into the category, "Building Equality".

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Success of Central Utah Project shows value of long-term water projects
An analysis conducted by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute on the Central Utah Water Conservancy District's (CUWCD) Central Utah Project (CUP) demonstrates the value of long-term water projects to communities, tax payers, and the economy.

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Rep. Blake Moore gets 2 big committee assignments
Congressman Blake Moore was assigned to the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Natural Resources.Utah's First District includes Hill Air Force Base, the service's second largest base and home to all depot work for the F-35 fighter jets and Intercontinental Ballistic Missile programs. The District also hosts the Ogden Air Logistics Complex and the Utah Test and Training Range, the country's largest overland restricted airspace for military exercises and testing.

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Zions Bank January economic snapshot
This month's Economic Snapshots provide an overview of state and national trends highlighting indicators such as employment, demographics, housing, consumer sentiment and more. A few of this month's points of interest include the following:

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Parsons Behle & Latimer announces new CEO, new board
Parsons Behle & Latimer (Parsons) a preeminent Salt Lake City-based law firm is pleased to announce its new Board of Directors and officers for 2021; and with profound gratitude, announces that President and CEO Hal J. Pos will step down from his position on the firm's board of directors, after 25 years of dedicated service and visionary leadership.

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Business Headlines

• Popular McDonald's item returns to menus (KRON 4) - Spicy Chicken McNuggets are back on menus - but only for a limited time, so get 'em while they're hot!
• Hong Kong falls more than 2% as shares in Asia decline (CNBC)
• Target won't sell Thai coconut milk after probe shows product made by forced monkey labor: report (Fox Business) - An undercover investigation found that when not being forced to pick coconuts or perform in circus-style shows for tourists, the animals were kept tethered, chained to old tires, or confined to cages barely larger than their bodies.

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