| 
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 - April 19, 2021 Hello Monday and the start of a new week. Today marks the day the American Revolution began at Lexington and Concord, the day blood was first spilt in the Civil War, the day the Central Park jogger was brutally attacked, the day the Branch Davidian compound burned to the ground killing some 80 people and the day that Timothy McVeigh blew up the federal building in Oklahoma City. Yikes. We need some good vibes today, for sure! News you need to know - More shootings over the weekend with one in Austin, Texas, one in Kenosha, Wisconsin and one in Shreveport, Louisiana. The shooter in Texas is still at large while the one in Wisconsin has been arrested. The situation in Louisiana is still unfolding. Police in Texas and Wisconsin cases say the shootings were targeted.
- Former President George W. Bush says 'It's a problem that Americans are so polarized' they can't imagine him being friends with Michelle Obama.
- As Minneapolis braces for "unrest" with the Chauvin trial wrapping up, Philonise Floyd, George's younger brother, steps into the role of family spokesman, patriarch and advocate for racial justice.
- Alexei Navalny is in bad shape and his doctor said he could be near death. Probably because of international pressure, Russia finally agreed to let him go to a hospital. In another prison. Good luck, Alexei.
- The Wright Brothers would be amazed. A mini helicopter named Ingenuity, sent to Mars by NASA, achieved the first powered flight on another world. Go, little guy, go!
Countdown 5 days until the United Utah Party Organizing Convention and the Utah County GOP convention (04/24/2021)
11 days until the Biden/Harris administration's first 100 days are up (04/30/2021)
12 days until the in-person Utah GOP Organizing Convention (05/01/2021)
145 days until half-way through the Cox/Henderson's administration's 500-day plan (09/11/2021)
Today At Utah Policy  Utah's economic recovery is taking shape
By SL Chamber
The Salt Lake Chamber's Roadmap to Recovery Coalition, in partnership with the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, has updated the Economic Dashboard with current data for April, indicating where Utah sits in the overall recovery. Clear indicators show Utah climbing back from recession lows and heading into positive growth on several fronts. This comes at a time when The Wall Street Journal reports that Salt Lake City is the "hottest job market" in America.
 Sens. Romney, Sinema introduce bill to reduce student loan debt, make college more affordable
By Holly Richardson
U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) introduced the Earn to Learn Act, legislation to reduce student loan debt and make college more affordable for students. The bipartisan bill establishes a college matched-savings program that helps qualifying low-income students, including adult learners, pay for tuition, books, fees, and other education-related expenses.
 Legislative leaders name redistricting committee members
By Holly Richardson
The Utah Legislature has named the members of the redistricting committee entrusted with crafting boundaries for state Senate, House and congressional districts.
Utah Headlines Deseret News Salt Lake Tribune Other COVID Corner
National Headlines - Former Sheriff's Deputy Is Sought After 3 Are Fatally Shot in Austin (New York Times) - The authorities said the gunman, a former sheriff's deputy, knew the victims and that the shooting appeared to have been "targeted to them."
- Gunman who police say killed 3 in Austin is a former sheriff's detective accused of child sexual assault (Washington Post) - Police identified the suspect as Stephen Nicholas Broderick, 41, a former detective at the Travis County Sheriff's Office who is considered armed and dangerous.
- Could the Pandemic Prompt an 'Epidemic of Loss' of Women in Science? (New York Times) - Even before the pandemic, many female scientists felt unsupported in their fields. Now, some are hitting a breaking point.
- Why Political Sectarianism Is a Growing Threat to American Democracy (New York Times) - The country is increasingly split into camps that don't just disagree on policy and politics - they see the other as alien, immoral, a threat. Such political sectarianism is now on the march.
- Marjorie Taylor Greene to introduce resolution to expel Maxine Waters (The Hill) - The Republican lawmaker specifically targeted Waters for speaking to protesters at a demonstration in Brooklyn Center, Minn., on Saturday. Waters told reporters on Saturday that she is "going to fight with all of the people who stand for justice."
- McCarthy responds to MAGA caucus: GOP isn't party of 'nativist dog whistles' (Politico) - The apparent broadside from the House minority leader comes amid reports that pro-Trump lawmakers are planning to launch a group to fight for MAGA priorities in Congress.
- Senate Republicans at war over earmarks (Politico) - It's hard to find many GOP defenders of the earmark, but that doesn't mean Republican senators want to unilaterally disarm.
- China's third phase of genocide denial: Attacking those who speak the truth (Washington Post) - At a news conference this month, the Chinese Foreign Ministry attacked many of those witnesses as liars, criminals, terrorists and persons of "bad morality."
- Graham: 'I could not disagree more' with Trump support of Afghanistan troop withdrawal (The Hill) - "With all due respect to former President Trump, there is nothing 'wonderful' or 'positive' about allowing safe havens and sanctuary for terrorists to reemerge in Afghanistan or see Afghanistan be drawn back into another civil war," he said.
- Feds hit Roger Stone with $2 million tax suit (Politico) - The suit says that at the time of his indictment Stone was making regular payments to the IRS on a tax debt of about $1 million he ran up from 2007 to 2011.
Policy News  TAB Bank creates open banking platform and streamlines lending processes with MuleSoft
MuleSoft, provider of the world's number one integration and API platform, today announced that TAB Bank is using MuleSoft to build its open banking strategy and grow an ecosystem of partners. TAB Bank is a modern, digital-only bank that specializes in serving small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for the majority of businesses in the United States.
 Mountain America and the Utah Jazz's "Pass it Along" program reaches $200,000 in donations
Mountain America Credit Union and the Utah Jazz are pleased to announce with this month's donation to Utah Girls Love You (UGLY), the "Pass it Along" program has now donated $200,000 to 40 local charities.
 Ancestry appoints Gene Alston to its Board of Directors
Ancestry, the global leader in family history and consumer genomics, today announced the appointment of Gene Alston as an independent member of its Board of Directors, effective immediately.
 Utah Democrats call out Burgess Owens for campaign fund mishandling, donations from Matt Gaetz
Follow the money and see where it goes. For Burgess Owens, Utah's embattled Q-Anon congressman, where could it possibly lead but right back to Republicans embroiled in scandal antithetical to Burgess' own campaign - and to illegally-taken money, totaling $42,000.
Business Headlines
On This Day In History (From History.com) - 1775 - American Revolution begins with the battles of Lexington and Concord.
- 1861 - First blood shed in the Civil War when a secessionist mob attacked troops bound for DC.
- 1897 - First Boston Marathon
- 1933 - FDR announces the US will leave the gold standard.
- 1956 - American actress Grace Kelly becomes princess of Monaco.
- 1977 - Fifteen women in the House of Representatives form the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues.
- 1989 - Central Park jogger, Trisha Meili is attacked, badly beaten and sexually assaulted. In a coma for nearly 2 weeks, she remembered nothing of the attack. Five young Black and Latino teens are quickly arrested and convicted. In 2002, new DNA evidence and a confession proved that convicted rapist Matias Reyes was the lone assailant.
- 1993 - Waco Siege ends after 51 days when the FBI launches a tear-gas assault on the Branch Davidian compound, burning it to the ground and killing around 80 people.
- 1995 - A massive truck bomb explodes in Oklahoma City, killing more than 160 people and injuring 500.
"Stand your ground. Don't fire unless fired upon, but if they mean to have a war let it begin here." Captain John Paarker, to his Minute Men on Lexington Green, April 19, 1775.
Lighter Side If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?
Pilgrims
Subscribers may receive special messages with information about new features, special offers, or public policy messages from clients and advertisers. Advertise With Us |
