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Situational Analysis - January 19, 2021
Happy Tuesday! It's National Popcorn Day and, coincidentally, the Utah legislature begins today. Those two things surely go togther. All of the legislative goings-on are available to watch at le.utah.gov, beginning at 10 am. (Because of COVID-19 and security issues, the Capitol is closed to in-person visitors.) The session begins on a somber note, however, with flags flying at half-staff in honor of Rep. Lou Shurtliff who passed away Dec. 30.
Later today, the nation will also pause and remember the lives lost to COVID. Utah will participate by ringing the bells at the State Capitol 15 times at 3:30 pm, in memory of the 1500+ Utahns that have died since March 2020. Nationally, we are likely to reach 400,000 deaths today.
If you only have time for one thing today, watch Mayor Jenny Wilson and Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson talk about vaccinations and dealing with COVID from one of Salt Lake County's mass vaccination sites.
TICK TOCK
1 days to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris's Inauguration Day (01/20/2021)
45 days to the end of the 2021 Utah Legislature (3/5/21)
85 days until the end of the Cox/Henderson administration's first 100 days (04/14/2021)
101 days until the Biden/Harris administration's first 100 days are up (04/30/2021)
Today At Utah Policy
This legislative session will bring better public accessBy Holly Richardson
The Utah legislative session begins today, January 19, and in a year of pandemic and political turmoil, it's going to look a little bit different. Some have worried that the changes may make it harder for members of the public to make their voices heard, but I disagree. I think the pandemic and security-related changes will actually level the playing field.
Tweets of the dayBy Holly Richardson
Today's tweets reflect yesterday's MLK Day, including commentary by Dr. Bernice King, Martin's daughter.First up: Utah National Guard soldiers paid their respects at the MLK Monument in D.C.
Webb Wrap: Legislature a refreshing contrast to Congress...Biden will get credit for COVID progress...Change DSU nameBy LaVarr Webb
Good luck, lawmakers. One reason I welcome the convening of Utah's 104 citizen lawmakers in their annual 45-day general session is that they present such a refreshing contrast to the dysfunction and gridlock of Washington, D.C.Utah's lawmakers, along with the executive branch, will tackle Utah's toughest problems and deal forthrightly with most of them.
Utah Headlines
Deseret News
- The case for wooden pews
- How will Utah lawmakers tackle police reform in 2021?
- Restoring trust will be President-elect Biden's first challenge in office
- Dr. King's greatest message? It only takes one.
- We are living in Dante's Inferno. Here's our way out
- 'No pain, no strain': Utah opens mass-vaccination site as state's death toll hits 1,500
- What to expect from the Utah Legislature's 2021 session
- With candidates winning primaries without majorities, 2 GOP lawmakers eye ranked-choice voting
Salt Lake Tribune
- About 60 people rally in SLC to support Black lives and police reform
- How an ex-U.S. attorney for Utah's push for Trump pardons fits his about-face on criminal justice
- Trump supporter who rode his horse through SLC charged with entering U.S. Capitol illegally
Other
- COVID-19 case trends improve, but health dept. warns Utahns to remain vigilant (FOX 13)
- Commissioners of several counties ask for Utah legislative session to be delayed (FOX 13)
COVID Corner
- WHO warns of "catastrophic moral failure" over coronavirus vaccine access (Axios)
- Venezuela's Nicols Maduro sends oxygen to tackle Brazil's Covid crisis (The Guardian)
- 'No pain, no strain': Utah opens mass-vaccination site as state's death toll hits 1,500
- COVID-19 eviscerated the global price of oil, inflicting pain on Utah (Deseret.com)
- New COVID-19 variant discovered in Brazil. Here are the details (Deseret.com)
- 'We have to do better,' Dr. Anthony Fauci says on vaccine release (Deseret.com)
- Can vaccinated people still spread COVID-19? Here's what we know. (Salt Lake Tribune)
National Headlines
- As Biden's Inauguration Approaches, Pressure Mounts on Some Trump Appointees (New York Times)
- Rand Paul's dire prediction for the GOP (CNN)
- The Black women who paved the way (Washington Post)
- Conspiracies? Let's investigate this one (The Hill)
- Census Bureau director stepping down after outcry over immigrant count (Politico)
- Applause for 10 Republicans who stood up to Trump: Reader views (USA Today)
- Trump Orders Lifting of Virus Travel Ban, but Biden Aides Vow to Block Move (New York Times)
- Melania Trump asks Americans to 'choose love' in farewell message (USA Today)
- Trump Prepares Pardon Wave for Final Hours (New York Times)
- Trump supporters in National Guard might 'do something' to Biden, Dem congressman says (Fox News)
- On MLK Day, Biden volunteers, Trump issues divisive report on slavery and civil rights (NBC News)
- Trump will join these three other presidents who boycotted their successor's inauguration (Deseret.com)
Policy News
Jan 19 Webinar: Women's Biz Center hosts free home-based biz makeoverCOVID-19 has taught us what women owners of home-based businesses have known all along; you can work from home! Even though our home office may be at the dining room table, there are several ways to look professional while keeping your overhead down and your family near.
Utah League of Women Voters releases study on Utah abortion lawsThe League of Women Voters of Utah has long watched the Utah Legislature spend time and effort on the subject of abortion. Since the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade 1, the Utah Legislature has considered 95 bills relating to abortion and has passed 43. In the 2020 legislative session alone, Utah lawmakers considered 11 bills to add restrictions to or prohibit abortion with certain exceptions.
Gov. Cox appoints new Colorado River CommissionerUtah Gov. Spencer Cox announced the appointment of Gene Shawcroft as the Utah Commissioner to the Upper Colorado River Commission (UCRC).The UCRC is an interstate water administrative agency that works with the upper basin states (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) to safeguard their respective water rights and allocations while meeting obligations to the lower basin states (Arizona, California and Nevada).
Utah State Board of Education passes resolution denouncing racism and embracing equityThe Utah State Board of Education's Mission is based on equity. Our role is to lead by creating equitable conditions for student success which includes advocating for necessary resources, developing policy, and providing effective oversight and support. We cannot provide equitable conditions unless we recognize and denounce the destructive nature of racism and injustices that may reside in our schools and communities.
SL Chamber commemorates MLK Day by committing to diversity, equality and inclusionThe Salt Lake Chamber joins with all America on the occasion of Martin Luther King Jr. Day to commemorate the life and sacrifice of Dr. King and to affirm its commitment to the ideals and reality for which he lived. Almost 60 years ago, from a jail in Birmingham, Alabama, Dr. King wrote that the time for patience and disengagement from a moral cause was over.
Business Headlines
- Treasury Secretary nominee Janet Yellen to call for "big" action at Senate confirmation hearing (CBS News)
- China becomes only major world economy to report growth in 2020 (The Hill)
- Parler website partially returns with support from Russian-owned technology firm (The Guardian)
- U.S. asks Australia to scrap proposed laws to make Facebook, Google pay for news (Reuters)
- How Full Employment Became Washington's Creed (The New York Times)
On This Day In History
(From History.com)
- 1807 - Robert E. Lee is born.
- 1809 - Edgar Allan Poe is born.
- 1903 - A new bicycle race, the "Tour de France," is announced.
- 1905 - Oveta Culp Hobby is born. She later becomes the second woman in the U.S. Cabinet (20 years after Frances Perkins), first Secretary of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (1953) and is awarded the Distinguished Medal of Service for her work as Director of the Women's Army Corps (1945).
- 1920 - The American Civil Liberties Union is founded.
- 1946 - Dolly Parton is born.
- 1955 - First presidential news conference is filmed for TV, with President Eisenhower.
- 1966 - Indira Gandhi becomes India's prime minister and the country's first female head of government,
- 2012 - Freestyle skier Sarah Burke dies after accident in Park City.
Wise Words
"Find out who you are and do it on purpose."
~Dolly Parton
Lighter Side
Lighter SideSadly, no one is safe from receiving the dreaded pink slip. Recently, a job application came across my desk at the federal personnel office in Washington, D.C. It was written on a standard form, which includes the question "Why did you leave your previous employment?"
The applicant, a former U.S. Congressman, responded, "The express wish of 116,000 voters."
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