Salt Lake Tribune
- Provo hospital trying to give out 1,900 doses of COVID-19 vaccine by Friday The doses of the Pfizer vaccine won’t go to waste, a Utah County Health department spokeswoman said.
- Mike Lee meets privately with Trump’s lawyers, even though he acts as juror in impeachment trial – Sen. Lee, along with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, met with Trump’s lawyers on Thursday afternoon after Democratic House managers rested their case.
- Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson forgot to register his truck for months. He wasn’t alone. – Rep. Scott Chew, R-Jensen, distributed a photo that truly grabbed the attention of fellow lawmakers as he pushed for the state to restore its old practice of sending postcards to remind vehicle owners when their registration is due. It pictured a truck with expired stickers that is familiar to most House members – it belongs to House Speaker Brad Wilson.
- Alleged organizers of illegal Halloween party ask the public to help pay their fines – The two event companies are trying to raise $76,345 to cover their fees and “fight to protect the right to gather” during the pandemic.
- Controversial ‘porn filter’ bill squeaks past House committee by one vote – Proposal would require new mobile devices and tablets sold in Utah to have filters blocking adult content turned on by default.
- Digital archive will save memories of the doomed Utah Theater, but preservationists would rather save the playhouse itself – First-class repository at U. library will include virtual reality tours, but advocates lament loss of the real thing.
Deseret News
- The past and future of church-state partnerships – President Joe Biden has promised to heal a suffering country. To do so, he’ll have to look to religious organizations for help.
- Is empathy the key to national security? Former national security adviser H.R. McMaster says yes – “Strategic empathy is not to be confused with sympathy. It is really viewing complex challenges, as well as opportunities, from the perspective of the other side — especially of rivals, adversaries, or enemies.”
- What the author of a book on Mark Hofmann had to say about ‘Murder Among the Mormons’ – “It seemed like a very serious kind of filmmaking,” said Rick Turley, who previously served as the assistant church historian, recorder and head of Church Public Affairs.
- Utah transgender athlete bill: A ‘fair playing field’ or discrimination and harmful? – After hearing emotional testimony of both LGBTQ advocates and cisgender female athletes, a Utah House panel recommended 6-4 a bill that would bar transgender athletes at public schools from participating in girls sports.
- Gov. Cox makes cameo in impeachment trial; Lee meets with Trump lawyers – House impeachment manager Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., showed a Jan. 11 clip of Cox on “Good Morning America,” saying, “People have to be held accountable, and yes, that includes the president.”
- How many Salt Lake high schoolers tested positive for COVID-19 before returning to school? The number may surprise you – Just four of 2,800 Salt Lake City School District high school students who underwent COVID-19 testing prior to the resumption of in-person learning this week tested positive, according to district officials.
- ‘We’re going to need you’: Governor asks Utahns to volunteer help with COVID-19 vaccinations – Doctors and medical professionals are being sought to administer shots at mass vaccination sites expected to open next month as the state’s allotment of vaccines from the federal government continues to climb, as well as Utahns who can provide traffic control, administrative assistance and other needs.
- Utah’s bizarre connections to late pornographer Larry Flynt – Utah declared pornography a public health crisis in 2016, prompting the late Larry Flynt to send every member of the state Legislature a copy of his Hustler magazine.
- Is minimum wage the best way to lift the poor? – Americans can’t really begin a serious discussion about the minimum wage without first recognizing that its 330 million people are scattered among different, sometimes widely varying markets.
Other
- Facebook data center in Eagle Mountain announces expansion (Daily Herald) – 900,000 square feet with two new buildings.
- Sen. Romney’s ‘Family Security Act’ proposal gives payments to parents (Fox 13) – “This is a family program that has anti-poverty benefits,” said Sam Hammond, Director of Poverty and Welfare Policy at right-leaning think tank, Niskanen.
- More fixes coming to Utah’s medical cannabis program (Fox 13) Senate Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, and Rep. Ray Ward, R-Bountiful, have introduced a bill that would allow more health care providers to recommend cannabis for up to 15 patients.
- ‘Real threat’ to Utah’s Silicon Slopes, outgoing US attorney warns (KUTV) – Utah’s Silicon Slopes are facing a major cyber threat from China, according to outgoing U.S. Attorney for Utah John Huber.
COVID Corner
- Biden Announces Deal For 200 Million More COVID-19 Vaccines (NPR) – “We’ve now purchased enough vaccine supplies to vaccinate all Americans,” Biden said. “Now we’re working to get those vaccines into the arms of millions of people.”
- ‘Stop killing us’: Attacks on Asian Americans highlight rise in hate incidents amid COVID-19 (USA Today) – A series of violent crimes against Asians and Asian Americans has prompted activists and experts to warn that racist rhetoric about the coronavirus pandemic may be fueling a rise in hate incidents.
- Trump’s Covid-19 condition was so concerning that doctors considered putting him on a ventilator, source confirms (CNN) – The detail raises questions about whether the former President’s condition was worse than officials were willing to publicly acknowledge.
- Can I gather with friends and family after getting the COVID-19 vaccine? Can I travel? Here are what health experts say. (USA Today) – Not just yet, experts say.
- Answering COVID-19 vaccine questions: Will drinking too much water dilute the vaccine? When will the general public be vaccinated? (Click on Detroit) – Drinking water has no impact on the vaccine.
- Dr. Anthony Fauci says April will be ‘open season’ to get the COVID-19 vaccine (Deseret News) – “The number of available doses will allow for much more of a mass vaccination approach which is really much more accelerated than what you’re seeing now.”
- Here’s what you need to know about double-masking (Deseret News) – The CDC said you shouldn’t combine two disposable masks if you’re going to double up. Neither are designed to fit tightly so it wouldn’t help and you also should not combine a KN95 mask with any other masks.
