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.