Utah Headlines

Deseret News

• A new report says social media doesn't censor conservatives. Comedian Steven Crowder would like a word - The conservative pundit is suing Facebook even as NYU report says claims of censorship are unfounded.
• These policy solutions could close gaps faced by Black Americans and other racial groups - 
• A Brookings Institution panel dissected the value of reparations, police reform and revamping housing, lending, education and employment policies
• Dixie State's name change isn't about the past. It's about students' future - Students, faculty and alumni of the university in southern Utah say the name Dixie is hurting their prospects for a bright future.
• Biden signs disaster declaration to help Navajo Nation with COVID-19 response - Sens. Romney, Sinema also introduce legislation to expand access to drinking water on tribal nations.
• Protesting outside an official's home targeted by Utah lawmaker - 'There's a major difference between petitioning the government and harassing a family,' Rep. Wilcox says.
• Why Sen. Mike Lee says nuking the filibuster would be a disaster for Democrats, Republicans - The point of the filibuster and the Senate itself is to provide for deliberative debate and forge compromise among a diverse and divided nation.
• For some forced out of work by pandemic, tax time may be another harsh reality - While the extra money from unemployment compensation was certainly welcome by those who were left idle, soon they will be faced with the task of paying Uncle Sam his "fair share" come tax time.
• How Trump's impeachment defense could impact GOP's chances in 2022 - 
• "If they run in 2022 on the stolen election, the Democrats will pick up seats in the Senate," predicts Jeremi Suri.

Salt Lake Tribune

• Lawrence J. Leigh: Has Mike Lee's constitutional leftopia gotten worse? - Seditionists and crooks should not be allowed to skedaddle out of office before an impeachment trial can happen.
• Zion National Park gets $33 million federal grant for electric shuttles - The new buses will replace the 20-year-old, gas-powered fleet. 
• Former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne describes bluffing his way into Trump's White House - Bizarre details emerge: scarfing White House meatballs like popcorn with Donald Trump.
• Utah fantasy theme park Evermore sues Taylor Swift over alleged trademark infringement - The singer-songwriter's attorneys say the accusations are "baseless."
• Hogle Zoo names its new baby zebra - and it's got Utah flair - After hearing from the public, the zookeepers chose "Zion."
• Bill that would allow any billboard in the state to go digital advances through House committee - Opponents argue the proposal would erode local control and say the bright, flashing digital billboards are a blight on Utah's scenic landscapes.

Other

• Video visitation now available for most inmates in Draper (FOX 13) - Inmates are allowed one video visit session per scheduled day. The sessions must be scheduled at least two business days in advance with a pre-approved visitor.
• Executive order requires masks on all methods of public transportation in the United States (FOX 13) - The order requires passengers on all public conveyances (airplanes, ships, ferries, trains, buses, subways, taxis, ride-shares) traveling into, within, or out of the United States, to wear a mask over both the nose and mouth.

COVID Corner

• Utah's COVID-19 positivity rate is holding steady (SL Trib) - It's about 16%, which is more than three times what state officials are hoping to see.
• WHO investigators visit Wuhan lab at heart of China Covid-19 conspiracy claims (The Guardian) - The team, led by WHO virus expert Peter Ben Embarek, arrived at the heavily guarded Wuhan Institute of Virology at about 9.30am on Wednesday.
• Covid vaccine will be administered in 'safe and appropriate places,' assures Walgreens executive (CNBC) - "We'll make sure our health care professionals are there to give them the vaccine and monitor them appropriately," said Rick Gates, senior vice president of pharmacy and healthcare at Walgreens.
• Coronavirus strain in UK picks up mutation that could impact vaccines, experts say (KSL-TV) - The mutation, called E484K, was already part of the genetic signature of variants linked to South Africa and Brazil.
• COVID-19 vaccine distribution hits hurdle at nursing homes with staff refusing shots, CDC report finds (FOX News) - Nearly 78% of residents at these facilities received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. But among staff members, estimates plummeted to 37.5%

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National Headlines

• Former CIA officer: Treat domestic extremism as an insurgency (NPR) - That means using counterinsurgency tactics - similar in some ways to those used in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
• Top House Republican demands Psaki apologize over 'disgraceful' Space Force quip (Politico) - "It's concerning to see the Biden administration's press secretary blatantly diminish an entire branch of our military as the punchline of a joke, which I'm sure China would find funny," said Rep. Mike Rogers.
• House Republicans weigh stripping Greene from committee assignments as GOP senators repudiate her views (CNN) - In relaying how the meeting with Greene went, the officials said that McCarthy gave no indication that Greene showed any remorse or contrition for her comments.
• Greene's future on House committees in limbo after GOP meeting (The Hill) - The meeting, which lasted more than an hour, happened shortly after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) met with Greene as pressure ramps up for the GOP to take action to condemn her embrace of conspiracy theories and the emergence of violent and racist remarks made in recent years.
• Why Mitch McConnell chose *this* moment to condemn Marjorie Taylor Greene (CNN) - McConnell knows that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-California) is set to meet with Greene this week to talk about her views -- and, likely, to dole out some sort of punishment.
• Opinion: Rob Portman has done more damage to America than Marjorie Taylor Greene (Washington Post) - Why? Because he "did not lift a finger to stop the takeover of [his] party by the lunatic fringe."
• Schumer says Dems could censure Trump if impeachment trial ends in acquittal (FOX News) - But the Democratic leader asserts Trump 'deserves conviction, nothing less."
• Biden joins Capitol Police, leaders of Congress to honor Officer Brian Sicknick (Washington Post) - "He cared about his job, didn't get political. He was a man who did his job to the fullest," said a K-9 Capitol Police officer. "Seeing him now is tough."
• What Myanmar's coup could mean for the Rohingya and other persecuted minorities (Vox) - The takeover is terrible for Myanmar. It may be worse for the country's most vulnerable. The refugees who fled a genocide won't be going back anytime soon.
• Biden tells Democratic senators to pass a 'big, bold' relief package 'quickly' (Yahoo News) -0 Biden told the Democrats he let the Republicans know "that the $600 billion that they proposed was way too small."
• Lindsey Graham Joins Mitch McConnell in Defending Liz Cheney (Newsweek) -  Lindsey Graham (R-SC) has defended Congresswoman Liz Cheney amid a push to remove her as chair of the House Republican Conference following her vote to impeach former President Donald Trump.
• Missouri lawmaker indicted for allegedly selling fake stem cell treatments for Covid-19 (NBC News) - Patricia Derges charged patients for "regenerative" stem cell treatments, but instead gave them amniotic fluid that didn't contain stem cells, an indictment said.
• Secretary of State Blinken condemns Russia for Navalny sentencing (CNBC) - "We reiterate our call for the Russian government to immediately and unconditionally release Mr. Navalny, as well as hundreds of other Russian citizens wrongfully detained in recent weeks for exercising their rights," said Blinken.

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Policy News

Webinar, Feb 10: Developing an effective COVID-19 vaccination policy
Mark your calendars! The Salt Lake Chamber's Roadmap to Recovery Coalition is sponsoring a webinar on Developing an Effective COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. Throughout the past year many businesses have focused on preventing the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace. Now that vaccines have been developed, employers are faced with new questions. Can employees be required to be vaccinated? And do businesses need a formal vaccine policy?

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Romney and Sinema reintroduce legislation to support Navajo Nation during pandemic
 U.S. Senators Mitt Romney (R-UT) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) reintroduced bipartisan legislation which would invest $1.3 billion in strengthening the Sanitation Facilities Construction Program to support water and sanitation projects for tribal communities."With some of the highest COVID-19 infection rates in the country, the Navajo Nation faces a dire situation-due in large part to a lack of water infrastructure and sanitation facilities," Senator Romney said. 

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Sen. Lee votes no on budget resolution
 Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) issued the following statement Tuesday after voting against the motion to proceed on a budget resolution:"The $2 trillion dollar Biden stimulus package that the Democrats are starting to ram through this week has nothing to do with recovery from COVID and everything to do with bailing out and rewarding interest groups. A $15 minimum wage is great for Big Tech companies like Amazon, but it is a job killer for small businesses. According to the Congressional Budget Office, a $15 minimum wage would force 1.3 million people out of work. How does killing jobs help the economy?

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Sandy City Council member Kris Nicholl announces her candidacy for mayor
Kris Nicholl announced her candidacy for Sandy City Mayor. Kris Nicholl has served on the Sandy City Council since 2012. Prior to her time on the Council, she served on the Planning Commission for 3 years.

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State Board of Ed. responds to requests for member removal
 In response to recent inquiries regarding Board Member removal, Utah State Board of Education leadership, consisting of Chair Mark Huntsman, and Vice Chairs Laura Belnap and Cindy Davis,  issued the following statement:

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Business Headlines

• Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to step down (Deseret News) - The news about Bezos came during Amazon's fourth-quarter earnings report, according to CNN. The company exceeded Wall Street projections due to the pandemic boosting retail and cloud business sales.
• Jeff Bezos to step down as Amazon CEO, Andy Jassy to take over in Q3 (CNBC) - Bezos said he will stay engaged in important Amazon projects but will also have more time to focus on the Bezos Earth Fund, his Blue Origin spaceship company, The Washington Post and the Amazon Day 1 Fund.
• Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen to call regulator meeting on GameStop volatility, seeks ethics waiver (CNBC) - "Secretary Yellen believes the integrity of markets is important and has asked for a discussion of recent volatility in financial markets and whether recent activities are consistent with investor protection and fair and efficient markets," Treasury spokeswoman Alexandra LaManna said.
• As GameStop stock crumbles, newbie traders reckon with heavy losses (Washington Post) - The Reddit forum that helped kick off the frenzy has given way to anxiety, financial bloodshed and infighting.
• The GameStop stock roller coaster has come to the dip (The Verge) - The losses aren't real 'til you sell, but they sure feel that way.

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