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News dump Friday
Buckle up, everyone. There are a couple of big political stories that could crop up at some point today.
This afternoon we expect the Legislative Redistricting Commission to unveil their card proposals ahead of Monday’s public hearing. This will be the only opportunity for the public to speak before Tuesday’s special session.
Regarding next week’s special session, Governor Spencer Cox is expected to launch the call later that day detailing what issues lawmakers will address along with the redistribution.
Not read the fine print
Conservative social media sites in Utah hailed a poster photo in Ogden claiming “mandates are unconstitutional”.
π€¦ββοΈ π€¦ββοΈ π€¦ββοΈ
Utah social media conservatives cheer this billboard in Ogden.
The group behind it believes in a conspiracy theory that the US became a foreign company in 1871 that is part of the far-right movement “Sovereign Citizens”. pic.twitter.com/sryDWBtC7o
– Bryan Schott (@SchottHappens) November 5, 2021
Apparently they did not visit the website of the Friends of the Original Constitution, the group responsible for the billboard.
If they did, they would realize that the organization is a fringe group clinging to the conspiracy theory that the 1871 Congress, which founded Washington, DC, turned the United States into a foreign corporation. It’s the same conspiracy theory that QAnon supporters used to claim that former President Donald Trump would be sworn in as the 19th President of the original United States in March 2021.
It is also an offshoot of the sovereign citizens’ movement. its members claim that the United States government is illegitimate.
Friends of the Original Constitution urges site visitors to join the $ 500 trillion lawsuit against the federal government. If successful, the group plans to wave billions of dollars to scientists around the world to motivate them to develop a “reverse drug for the COVID-19 vaccine.”
They promise that every adult American who joins the lawsuit will receive $ 100,000. Sixty million small businesses will receive $ 200,000 each. You can see the full list of withdrawals here.
You need to know this by Friday morning
Utah
π Utah lawmakers want to oppose the testing or vaccination mandate for larger companies, but there aren’t many good options available. [Tribune]
π³ Election 2021
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Election update: Zoltanski becomes Sandy’s first mayor; Results are reflected in Midvale. [Tribune]
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In the Cedar City Mayor Count, Garth Green overtakes incumbent Maile Wilson Edwards. [Tribune]
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Robert Gehrke says the Utahns elected a large number of women mayors this year, which is a good development for the state. [Tribune]
β‘οΈ Lawyers are working to find enough shelters for Salt Lake County’s homeless population before the temperature drops. [Tribune]
π¦ The Primary Children’s Hospital is delaying operations due to high patient traffic. [Tribune]
π Legislators are looking for ways to help parents with rising childcare costs. [Tribune]
National
π House Democrats are moving towards a vote on a spending bill for President Joe Biden’s economic agenda and a bipartisan infrastructure bill. [Politico]
π The House of Representatives committee chair investigating the attempted January 6 insurrection says he is ready to issue up to 20 new subpoenas. [CNN]
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The judge, who heard ex-President Donald Trump’s arguments about avoiding revealing documents related to their investigation, appeared to be skeptical of his claims to executive privilege. [NBC News]
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The committee interviewed a person who participated in the January 6 riots at the Capitol and claims they knew of contacts between Trump allies and GOP state officials. [Politico]
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A Texas real estate agent who bragged that she would not go to jail for attending Jan. 6 for having blond hair and white skin was sentenced to 60 days in prison. [Daily Beast]
π The US mandates that large companies vaccinate all employees or undergo weekly COVID tests by January 4th. [AP]
π Thousands of secret service agents refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and are threatened with firing. [AP]
βοΈ The Justice Department files a lawsuit against the new Texas voting restrictions. The lawsuit alleges that the legislation harms some Texans who want to vote, including those with limited English language skills and older voters. [WaPo]
βοΈ The Manhattan attorney has convened a new grand jury in the criminal case against the Trump organization to weigh possible charges. [WaPo]
βοΈ The Russian analyst, who contributed to a dossier of Democrat-funded research into alleged links between Russia and Donald Trump, was arrested Thursday on charges of lying to the FBI. [AP]
π¦ Pfizer says its antiviral pill reduces risk of hospitalization or death from COVID by 89 percent. [NYT]
βοΈ The FBI is considering prosecuting some passengers involved in commercial airline disruption. [WaPo]
π Global greenhouse gas emissions are almost back to pre-pandemic levels. A new report says the world can only burn carbon at the current rate for 11 more years before it crosses a threshold that will lead to catastrophic global warming. [WaPo]
Summary of the news from Utah on Friday morning
Utah
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This way, Utah’s top employers stayed connected while working from home. [Tribune]
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Kane County rejects the plan to create a shuttle from Kanab to Zion. [Tribune]
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The judge won’t dismiss the lawsuit over the smell of West Valley City. [FOX13]
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Junge recalls meeting a suspected shooter in Taylorsville. [KUTV]
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First responders train for mass accidents at St. George Regional Airport. [ABC4]
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Xlear’s CEO is responding to Justice Department complaint. [Daily Herald]
COVID-19
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Utah reports more than 2,000 new coronavirus cases for the second day in a row. [Tribune]
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The Utah company has been accused of “misleadingly” promoting its nasal spray as a COVID-19 treatment. [Tribune]
surroundings
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Utah’s miners are dying out. Is there a greener future for them? [Tribune]
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Don’t steal turtles from the Utah deserts, officials warn. [FOX13]
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Utah’s traditional fire season has ended. That’s how it went this year. [KSL]
education
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Weber State students criticize racist signage, criticize the university’s reaction. [Standard Examiner]
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Legislators are expected to vote on the name change for the state of Dixie next week. [FOX13]
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Former student with gun found outside Granger High School. [FOX13]
On the opinion pages
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Tell your lawmakers you want the people’s cards, writes the Tribune Editorial Board. [Tribune]
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Opinion: Port Authority should be more like Point of the Mountain. [Deseret News]
π You say it’s your birthday? !!
Happy Birthday on Saturday to Former State Representative Richard Greenwood.
Happy Sunday returns to West Valley City Mayor Ron Bigelow, Former Senator Howard Stephenson, Connor Boyack, President of the Libertas Institute, and Riverton City Council member Tawnee McCay.
Do you have a birthday that we should recognize in this area? Send us an E-mail.
– Connor Sanders contributed to this report.
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