News Highlights

Democratic National Committee and Utah Democratic Chair Wayne Holland launch pre-emptive attack on Mitt Romney (Deseret News).

Democratic 3rd Congressional District candidate Bennion Spencer says he and Jesus share the same political views (Salt Lake Tribune).

Quote of the Day

"Whether he would have an attack of insanity and decide to [run for office], who knows. Either way he will contribute dsignificantly to our community."

-- Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert on the possibility of Kirk Jowers, the first Republican director of the Hinckley Institute of Politics, seeking political office. Read lengthy Tribune profile of Jowers.

Mesmerizing Moment in History

I don’t know about you, but I’m greatly enjoying watching the Olympics. The level of athletic achievement is incredible. I’ve been caught up in the various storylines and dramas, and the best stuff, track and field, is just getting started. Beyond the sports, the ramifications of China’s spectacular entry onto the world stage, economically and politically, adds a fascinating element to the Summer Games. All in all, it’s really a mesmerizing moment in history (even though men’s synchronized diving doesn’t do much for me). Have a great weekend.

CCC’s Lomborg Hosted by Chamber
In an address to Utah leaders at the Salt Lake Chamber on Tuesday, the Copenhagen Consensus Centre's Bjørn Lomborg laid "a foundation for prioritizing action on energy issues and their effects on both the state's economy and environment." Said Lomborg: "The intent is to provide a groundwork for prioritizing solutions to Utah's energy needs. Removing self-interest and bias from the equation and focusing on evidence is essential to determining the best use of available resources to deal with Utah's energy demand" (see press release).

View Original Declaration at Capitol

On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress approved the Declaration of Independence and had it sent to a printer named John Dunlap, who then made 200 copies of the famed document. Those 200 copies were distributed to the 13 colonies and read aloud in town squares, meeting halls, and homes, all to gather allegiance and unify colonists against the crown.  Of the 200 copies, only 25 remain.

One the rare Dunlap copies of the Declaration will be available for public viewing today and Saturday in the Rotunda of the Utah State Capitol Building, sponsored by Cricket Wireless in conjunction with the Utah Capitol Preservation Board. The copy, which was privately purchased for $8 million, is the only Dunlap copy that travels across the United States for public viewing.  For many families, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the Declaration -- one of the most pivotal pieces of our country’s history. Also displayed at the Capitol will be voter registration booths sponsored by the Lt. Governor’s office, and inspirational videos featuring some of Hollywood’s biggest actors. 

Utah Priorities Project

Utah Not White-Collar Crime Capital

By Steve Kroes, President, Utah Foundation

Today, Utah Foundation will release a research brief on crime in Utah. Crime is ranked sixth in the list of 10 Utah Priorities for this election year. Did you know that Utah is the sixth-lowest state in the nation for violent crime rates? Utah does really well in most violent crime statistics, except for rape, which state officials say may be related to improvements in Utah’s reporting of this crime beginning around 1990.

Despite Utah’s generally good rates for violent crime, the state is above the national average for property crimes, caused by a high rate of larceny-theft (basically any theft that doesn’t involve breaking into a structure or stealing a vehicle). The good news is that just about all types of crime rates are decreasing in Utah, as they have been in the rest of the nation, in many cases faster than the nation.

Here’s something very interesting: Have you heard the notion that Utah is the nation’s white-collar crime capital? It’s a crock. White-collar crimes, such as bribery, counterfeiting, forgery, embezzlement, and fraud, only make up about six percent of all reported crimes in Utah. And national arrest data show Utah ranked 16th lowest in arrest rates for these crimes as a group.

The brief has much more information, including lists of the top and bottom five Utah cities for violent and property crime rates, information about identity thefts, and comparisons to other Rocky Mountain states. The brief will be published by 10 am Friday morning at www.utahfoundation.org.

Today in Political History

Aug. 15, 1947:  India becomes independent after some 200 years of British rule.

Aug. 15, 1948:  The Republic of Korea (South Korea) is proclaimed.

Aug. 15, 1971:  Pres. Richard M. Nixon announces a 90-day freeze on wages, prices and rents.  (Source:  NY Times) 

Wise Words

“We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” 

-- John Adams, 1798  (Source:  Patriot Post) 

Utah History Spotlight

Utah’s Energy Beginnings

Electric service in Utah began in the spring of 1881 when the Salt Lake City Light, Heat, and Power Company started supplying electricity to light some of Salt Lake City's streets, businesses, and public buildings. The next 20 years or so was a time of slow progress and faltering steps. As in the rest of the country, the initial enthusiasm about the possibilities and benefits of electricity changed to exasperation and skepticism. Most of Utah's early power plants were hydro-electric ones, small, isolated, locally owned, poorly financed and equipped, and located on canyon streams where they were subject to uncertain fluctuations. Technical knowledge was limited and early equipment unsophisticated. Service was unreliable, available only part-time, and only slowly extended throughout the state. By the early 1890s, after more than a decade, only five Utah cities and towns had electricity: Salt Lake, Ogden, Logan, Provo, and Park City. (Source:  Utah.edu) 

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- Politico: "For the second consecutive day, Mike Huckabee made public statements suggesting John McCain ought not pick Mitt Romney as his running mate. 'I think there are better choices for Sen. McCain that have the approval of value voters,' Huckabee said today on Fox News. Yesterday, he told CBS that many Republicans are 'not necessarily comfortable' with Romney because of his changed positions."

-- The Hill: "Sen. Barack Obama's (Ill.) campaign said Thursday that is has encouraged former rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) to place her name in the nomination at this month’s Democratic convention. 'I am convinced that honoring Sen. Clinton's historic campaign in this way will help us celebrate this defining moment in our history and bring the party together in a strong, united fashion,' Obama said in a statement."

-- Washington Post: Columnist E.J. Dionne: "Will the Party of Clinton ever become the Party of Obama? It has now been more than two months since Barack Obama secured the Democratic presidential nomination yet here we are, still fascinated with Bill and Hillary Clinton and what they're up to. Why?"

-- Wall Street Journal: Columnist Daniel Henninger says of Russia's aggression against the Republic of Georgia: "When this crisis ends, Georgia will be either a model for a world that works or a world whose members do business with knives. ... If the world's foreign ministries, CEOs, investors and policy intellectuals can't see the implications for their world in Georgia's fate, it's time to reorder our best efforts to playing by Mr. Putin's rules. Many of the West's enemies already have."

Lighter Side

“It’s easy being a humorist when you’ve got the whole government working for you.”

—Will Rogers (Patriot Post)

Casual Friday

Utah Fishing Report

Outdoor Journalists End Careers: Ray Grass has retired from the Deseret Morning News and Reece Stein's KUTV outdoors program is being discontinued. We will miss the articles/stories from these excellent journalists and serious outdoorsmen. The Trib's Tom Wharton pays his respects in this column: Best of luck to two fine outdoor journalists.

DWR has a good new article on fishing during hot weather: "It basically comes down to three things: the species of fish you’re after, and where and when you decide to fish." Read the article.

Full moon will occur Saturday, Aug 16. Many anglers feel a bright moon slows fishing, particularly during the morning hours, because fish can feed all night. Evening is often the best time to fish when the moon is bright.

Lake Powell DWR Project Leader Wayne Gustaveson expects the full moon to make boils uncommon during the usually consistent morning hours. At Powell, striper fishing is hot at Hite and good in other areas. Bass fishing is also good. Expect fishing to become excellent across the lake during late August and early September. Read Wayne's complete report.

Green River fishing continues to be very good. Steve Schmidt recommends PMDs, Terrestrials, small Stoneflies and Caddisflies. Read his complete report. Provo and Weber are also fishing well. Steve says there are prolific Caddis hatches on the Weber.

Best bets for the next couple weeks include Lake Powell, Flaming Gorge for kokanee, the Uintas and other high mountain areas for trout, the Green, Provo and other streams for trout. Oh, those ugly catfish will continue to bite well in Utah Lake, Willard Bay and other waters. These are highlights from the fishing report on RedRockAdventure.com.

Outdoors Report

-- Deseret News reports on sailing away on the Great Salt Lake

-- Restoring Utah’s state fish reported in the Tribune

-- Deseret News tells how to ready for the archery hunt

--Enjoy the heights of Murdock Peak in the Tribune’s Hike of the Week

-- Find out about upcoming events in the Deseret News’ Outdoor Notes

-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week

-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website

Weekend Events

New Films

-- Henry Poole Is Here:  Tribune review

-- Tropic Thunder:  Tribune review

-- Vicky Cristina Barcelona:  Tribune review Concerts

-- April Meservy and Barry Hansen, vocalists, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Brigham Young Historic Park, State Street and Second Avenue, free

-- Rick DellaRatta and Jazz for Peace, benefit for Habitat for Humanity, Saturday, 6 p.m., Peery's Egyptian Theater, 2415 Washington Blvd., Ogden, $35

-- Gabriel, trumpet ensemble, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free (no children under 8)

-- Jay Lawrence Quintet, jazz, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Vieve Gore Concert Hall, Westminster College, $12

-- Utah Symphony and Gladys Knight, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Deer Valley Amphitheater, Deer Valley, $40-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall                

Theater              

-- “Pride & Prejudice:  A Musical” through August 16, SCERA Center

-- “The Best of Broadway” through August 23, Center Street Musical Theatre

-- “Footloose” through August 23, Egyptian Theatre Company

-- “Honk!” through August 23, St. George Musical Theater

-- “Indiana Bones:  A Whip-Cracking Parody” through August 23, Desert Star Theatre

-- “Peter Pan” through August 23, Draper Historic Theatre

-- “South Pacific” through August 23, Sandy Arts Guild

-- “Thoroughly Modern Millie” through August 29, Pickleville Playhouse

-- “Othello” through August 29, Utah Shakespearean Festival

-- “The Taming of the Shrew” through August 29, Utah Shakespearean Festival

-- “Chuck Wagon’s Wild West Showdown” through August 30, Pickleville Playhouse

-- “Cyrano de Bergerac” through August 30, Utah Shakespearean Festival

-- “Fiddler on the Roof” through August 30, Utah Shakespearean Festival

-- “The School for Wives” through August 30, Utah Shakespearean Festival

-- “The Two Gentleman of Verona” through August 30, Utah Shakespearean Festival

-- “The Hasty Heart” through September 13, Hale Center Theater Orem 

-- “Lucky Stiff” through September 19, Terrace Plaza Playhouse

-- “Big: The Musical” through September 20, Hale Centre Theatre

-- “The Sound of Music” through October 15, Tuacahn Amphitheatre

-- “Les Miserables” through October 18, Tuacahn Amphitheatre

Museum Exhibits   

-- Masterworks of Victorian Art From the Collection of John H. Schaeffer Exhibition through August 18, Brigham Young University Museum of Art

-- Monet to Picasso from the Cleveland Museum of Art Exhibition through September 21, Utah Museum of Fine Arts

Et cetra

-- Balloon Festival, Friday and Saturday, Sandy

-- Bear Lake Raspberry Days, Friday and Saturday, Garden City

-- Friday Night Movies, Fridays through August, Pioneer Park 

-- Utah Shakespearean Festival, through August 30, Cedar City

-- Downtown Farmers Market, Saturdays through October, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m., Pioneer Park 

Elected Officials Birthday List

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