Utah Headlines

Deseret News

• Could these 5 facts change vaccine-hesitant Republicans' minds? - The two subgroups with the highest levels of vaccine hesitancy were Republican men, 49% who said they wouldn't be vaccinated, and people who supported former President Donald Trump in 2020, at 47%.
• Mitt Romney, Mike Lee vote against Biden's interior secretary nominee - Only four Republicans joined all Senate Democrats present in the 51-40 vote confirming Haaland.
• Vatican will not bless same-sex unions, but prays for gay Catholics - The Vatican reminded Catholics that 'we are more important to God than all the sins that we commit' and that 'God himself never ceases to bless each of his pilgrim children in this world.'
• Mitt Romney calls for economic, diplomatic boycott of Beijing Olympics - Let the athletes go but have everyone else stay home. China says no country should be using "human rights issues to interfere in other countries' internal affairs."
• Expect to need additional vaccinations against COVID-19, experts say - People should expect that they'll need some sort of additional vaccine at some point in time. Whether that's every year, every two years, or, if we get a big surge of a new type of variant, we might find that we need modified vaccines.
• Are you lying to yourself? Utah officials say driver overconfidence having deadly consequences - UDOT reported Monday that preliminary estimates show that traffic fatalities in 2020 climbed 11% to 276 despite the fact the number of cars on the road fell by 13% last year.
• On Deb Haaland, Native American history and renewed hope - No longer invisible, new voices are rising from the land.
• Two churches - one Black, one white - look to the future with hope -Two Baptist congregations have been separated since slavery; they were healing deep racial wounds when the pandemic hit and separated them again. Now, their pastors look ahead.
• Don't blame speed limits for Utah's jump in fatal accidents - Utah Highway Patrol Col. Michael Rapich wants to make one thing clear: The alarming increase in fatal accidents and reckless driving on Utah roadways since the pandemic began is not connected with the increase in speed limits.

Salt Lake Tribune

• Robert Gehrke: From New York to Salt Lake County, these politicians blame 'cancel culture' for their misdeeds - Taking responsibility for one's actions and owning the consequences are important lessons.
• Romney, Lee vote against Deb Haaland's historic confirmation as green groups, energy interests weigh in - As first Native American in a presidential Cabinet, new Interior boss is expected to chart a new course favoring conservation over extraction. Bears Ears and Grand Staircase are top issues.
• Utah hits a 9-month low for new COVID-19 cases, although fewer people than usual were tested - The last time there were fewer new cases was June 9, when that number was 196.
• Mitt Romney wants U.S. athletes to compete in the Beijing Olympics, instead calls for an economic boycott - Utah senator says holding back athletes will silence the voice of America, do little to curtail human rights abuses.
• Despair gives way to hope as San Juan leads Utah in vaccinations - After enduring the highest mortality rate in the state, over 40% of the rural county has received at least one dose of the vaccine, far outpacing the national average.
• Utahns impacted by COVID-19 can now apply online for rental assistance - Renters can request help paying for past-due rent, security deposits and utility bills.
• Utah lawmakers are pouring millions into mental health. Here's their plan. - Focus includes limiting firearm access and focusing on school children.

Other

• Utah couple stranded in Hawaii over COVID-19 confusion (FOX 13) - Positive tests leave mom quarantined in Hawaii.
• Several Utah cities may hear Camp Williams fire training (KSL-TV) - The Utah National Guard tweeted the training will take place from Monday, March 15 through Wednesday, March 17, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

COVID Corner

• Why the pandemic experts failed (The Atlantic) - We're still thinking about pandemic data in the wrong ways.
• Brazil Needs Vaccines. China Is Benefiting. (The New York Times) - China is a major supplier of coronavirus vaccine, giving it enormous leverage in pandemic-ravaged nations. Brazil, recently hostile to the Chinese company Huawei, has suddenly changed its stance.
• Former coronavirus testing czar urges Trump to encourage vaccinations (CNN) - "I think it's very important for former President Trump as well as the vice president, to actively encourage all the followers to get the vaccine," Adm. Brett Giroir said.
• Moderna begins testing next-generation coronavirus vaccine (Reuters) - The new COVID-19 vaccine candidate that could potentially be stored and shipped in refrigerators instead of freezers.
• Covid vaccines and blood clots: Experts warn little evidence for concern (NBC News) - The World Health Organization said Monday that "there is no evidence that the incidents are caused by the vaccine."
• Feeling fatigued or feverish after your COVID-19 vaccine? Here's why the CDC wants to know (Yahoo! News) - The CDC is continuing to gather information about how those who get the vaccines are responding and are doing it through an app called V-safe.

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National Headlines

• An unlikely Trump turncoat shows the GOP way to resist his influence (Politico) - Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington state said her role may be helping Republicans "return to who we are."
• No. 2 Senate Democrat torches filibuster (The Hill) - "The filibuster is still making a mockery of American democracy. The filibuster is still being misused by some senators to block legislation urgently needed and supported by a strong majority of the American people," Durbin said during a floor speech. 
• The American middle class is dead - The PRO Act would resuscitate it (The Hill) - It should come as no surprise that big business lobbyists and anti-union politicians are lining up to block the PRO Act, the massive labor law reform bill that passed the House on Tuesday. 
• Biden is boxed in on immigration as migrant children crisis continues (CNN) - President Joe Biden is facing growing political tension, including from within his own party, over his administration's strategy on the US-Mexico border as officials race to address the number of children crossing the border alone.
• Opinion: Biden is sending the wrong signals on the border (Washington Post) - Biden's intention to reverse Trump's immigration policies gives the country a golden opportunity for bipartisanship. Republicans and moderate Democrats should come together to push a series of measures to ensure the administration adequately enforces existing immigration laws.
• Deb Haaland Becomes First Native American Cabinet Secretary (New York Times)  -The Senate confirmed Ms. Haaland to lead the Interior Department. She'll be charged with essentially reversing the agency's course over the past four years.
• Trump pressured a Georgia elections investigator in a separate call legal experts say could amount to obstruction (Washington Post) - President Trump urged Georgia's lead elections investigator to identify wrongdoing in the state's vote in a December phone call, saying the official would be praised for doing so.
• U.S. Capitol Police to begin removing Capitol fencing, saying no 'known, credible threats' (Washington Post) - The USCP will continue to monitor the threat posture, should a change occur, plans will be reevaluated.
• Texas Republicans target Houston with raft of bills seeking new voting restrictions (CNN) - GOP lawmakers introduced two dozen bills that would make it harder to vote in Texas.
• Democrats roll out coordinated effort to save Newsom from recall effort as D-Day approaches (Fox News) - Last week the campaign to recall Newsom announced it had reached its goal of collecting 2 million signatures.

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Policy News

3/18: Davis Technical College & Juvenile Justice Services open house
The Division of Juvenile Justice Services (JJS) invites you to celebrate Davis Technical College Opening a new program for incarcerated youth.

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Salt Lake City's average rent was $1,263 in February
Salt Lake City's average rent reached $1,263 in February, after a?1.7% increase since last year. Renters make up 48% of Salt Lake City's population. Utah's capital?is a diverse and vibrant place to live in, with apartment rents?below the national average of $1,399.

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Sen. Romney votes against Interior Secretary nominee
U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) today released the following statement after voting against the nomination of Representative Deb Haaland to be Secretary of Interior:      

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Reps Moore, Bustos lead bipartisan call for military arsenals, depots and ammunition plants to be included in efforts to strengthen nation's supply
Today, Reps. Blake Moore (UT-01) and Cheri Bustos (IL-17), Co-Chairs of the bipartisan House Military Depot, Arsenal, Ammunition Plant and Industrial Facilities Caucus, led a call for the Organic Industrial Base (OIB), or military arsenals, depots and ammunition plants, to be included in President Joe Biden's ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation's supply chains.

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United Utah Party to hold convention on April 24
 All Uniters are invited to participate in our conventions as delegates (registration required). Our conventions are also open to observers. However, we do ask that you RSVP so that we can accommodate all who would like to attend. This year, our state convention will be held virtually via Zoom. Please RSVP and register no later than April 10th.Call for Candidates for Party OfficeAs part of our state organizing convention, we will elect our state party officers of Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. We invite any qualified Uniter interested in running for these positions to apply no later than April 10th. 

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Business Headlines

• Here's what you need to know about the new stimulus child tax credit (CNN) - The $1.9 trillion relief package signed by President Joe Biden greatly enhances the federal child tax credit for one year, allowing millions more families to benefit and lifting millions of children out of poverty.
• Can airports meet the challenge of a surge in summer travelers? (NBC News) - "It doesn't matter how clean the plane is if the airport isn't clean and healthy," said one airport director.
• Facebook is doing its best to counter anti-vaccination damage done by Facebook (Vox) - To get 50 million people vaccinated, Facebook will have to do more than just PR.
• Where is your stimulus check? (Deseret News) - People who struggled to get their stimulus check during the last round of distribution - when the Trump administration dished out $600 checks - will struggle to receive their checks early this time, too.

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