Happy Birthday, UPD

I wasn’t watching the date (four years of getting up at 4 a.m. to compile UPD destroys a few brain cells) and missed the 4-year anniversary of Utah Policy Daily. We’ve been publishing since May 7, 2004. So eat some cake today. You can read every past edition in our archive. Year five will see some significant changes for UPD.  

Utah’s Energy Use and Resources

Utah Foundation has released a research report, examining  Utah’s energy use, energy resources, and what Utahns can expect as far as energy prices and supplies in the future. The report, entitled "Utah's Energy Use and Resources: Powering Our Standard of Living," was written in response to the findings of the Utah Priorities Survey, conducted in January 2008, which ranked energy, including gas prices, as the number one issue of concern for Utahns, even trumping Utah’s perennial favorite issue, education. Available on the UF web site is an executive summary, the full report, and a press release.

Among the major findings from the report: Abundant in-state energy resources have contributed to a low-cost, high standard of living for Utahns. In the short term and long-term, Utah prices will likely continue to be competitive compared to the rest of the country.

UF Research Analyst David Newell said, "The good news is that Utahns generally enjoy large quantities of cheap energy, relative to the rest of the country. The bad news that is it won’t last forever. Utah, which depends heavily on fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, will need to start looking into other energy sources that are viable in the long run, such as nuclear and renewable energy, in order to maintain the standard of living Utahns have come to expect."

United Way’s Report to Community

This week United Way of Salt Lake (UWSL) released its 2008 Report to the Community. UWSL's latest newsletter says during the past year the organization convened 130 of the top minds in Utah to create the Financial Stability Council, organized four Community Change Councils, held a Synergy Summit to discuss immigrant integration, effectively influenced the outcome of key legislation during the past legislative session, and continued its work with Utah Saves and the Earn it Keep it Save it initiative (which helped put $23 million into the local economy by helping people claim the Earned Income Tax Credit). For a full report of UWSL's many achievements, read the 2008 Report to the Community.

Grants for Local Econ Development 

The Economic Development Corporation of Utah is holding its annual Golf for Grants tournament on June 4 at Wasatch Mountain State Park, Mountain Course. EDCUtah's latest newsletter says the Community Match Grant Program has become an important economic development tool that supports grassroots economic development efforts by Utah's cities, counties and other non-profit organizations. Last fall EDCUtah awarded approximately $45,000 in matching funds for the 2007-2008-grant year. Since the program's inception 20 years ago, EDCUtah has awarded more than $700,000 in matching grants. 

Today in Political History

May 9, 2000:  Former four-term Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards is convicted of extortion schemes to manipulate the licensing of riverboat casinos. He is sentenced to 10 years in prison and a fine.  (Source:  Perspicuity) 

Wise Words

“There! His Majesty can now read my name without glasses. And he can double the reward on my head!”

-- John Hancock, 1776, upon signing the Declaration of Independence  (Source:  Patriot Post) 

Utah History Spotlight

Settlement of Iosepa

Iosepa was established in Tooele County's Skull Valley in 1889 as a community for Hawaiian members of the Mormon faith who wished to immigrate to Utah to be close to the temples and headquarters of the church. Iosepa lasted as a community until 1917 at which time the residents returned to Hawaii where the Hawaiian LDS Temple was under construction. The LDS Church paid the travel expenses for those who could not afford to pay themselves.

"Iosepa," meaning Joseph in Hawaiian and named for the Mormon prophet Joseph Smith and for Joseph F. Smith, who went to the Hawaiian Islands as a missionary in 1854, is pronounced "Yo-see-pa." I.W. Kauleinamoku was the leader of the Hawaiian Saints. The land was dedicated by LDS Church President Wilford Woodruff on 28 August 1890, one year after colonization.

The settlement encountered economic difficulties, leprosy and a harsh environment. When the Hawaiian Mormons left Iosepa for Hawaii, many of them settled on the church plantation at Laie, Oahu. Iosepa was sold in 1917 to a livestock company. The cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.  (Source:  Utah.Edu) 

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- Politico: "Not long after the polls close in the May 20 Kentucky and Oregon primaries, Barack Obama plans to declare victory in his bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. And, until at least May 31 and perhaps longer, Hillary Clinton's campaign plans to dispute it."

-- The Hill: "Uncommitted superdelegates in Congress are questioning [Clinton's] decision to fight for the Democratic nomination until June 3, the date of the last primaries in South Dakota and Montana, and possibly beyond."

-- New York Times: "At least one political party is acting like it knows who the Democratic nominee will be: the Republicans, who have greatly stepped up their criticisms of [Obama] in recent weeks while practically ignoring [Clinton]."
 
-- RealClearPolitics: Columnist Froma Harrop: "John McCain has used these weeks of Republican calm to dive into the Democratic lunch pail. This strategy clearly assumes [an Obama] candidacy. If demographics are destiny ... Democratic demographics may offer some choice cuts to the presumed Republican nominee. By dumb luck, Republicans have chosen their one candidate who projects a moderate image, hasn't alienated Latinos and offers an appealing life story to boot."

Blog Watch

-- At The Senate Site, Sen. Lyle Hillyard says: "I was attending a public meeting the other day when a good friend asked me when the legislature was going to get serious about funding education and raise taxes. It reminded me, once again, of the misconception about how 'we are always cutting education' and that is why there are still the concerns about what we are doing to improve the lagging success of public education. Of course, I mentioned all the money we have put into education the last few years. I heard Gov. Huntsman point out that the initial salary for beginning teachers has risen about 20% in the last two years. In this last year's budget, public education received, by far, the most new state dollars. My final point in talking to my friend was this: if pouring nothing but money was the solution for what he thought ailed public education, the huge amounts of money that we had invested the past few years would have reduced or at least started to reduce his concerns (and it obviously had not). More money would probably help every program but he finally suggested that maybe the biggest help to public education would be for more parents to become involved with the process in helping their children and holding them to a higher expectation of performance. After all, helping public education succeed is not just a problem for teachers. All of us need to be involved at a level beyond merely complaining."

Lighter Side

Mother’s Day Thoughts

(Quoted in Forbes magazine)

-- “Some things I never learned to like. I didn’t like to kiss babies, though I didn’t mind kissing their mothers.” (Pierre Trudeau, former Canadian prime minister)  

-- “If evolution really works, how come mothers only have two hands?” (Milton Berle)

-- “There’s nothing like a mama-hug.” (Adabella Radici)

Casual Friday

Fishing Report

Strawberry and Scofield ice is now pulling back and both reservoirs will offer shore fishing this weekend. At this writing, ice has pulled back about 30 feet in many spots at Strawberry. There will still be ice out in the bays this weekend and boating is not recommended. Float tubes can be effective but be careful because floating ice can be dangerous. Fish will be scattered -- you may find them anywhere. Most years anglers do well fishing the edge of the ice as it pulls back, and also fishing tight in against the bank. Woolly buggers, Zonkers and other big flies work well, as do jigs and many lures.

Lake Powell action is hot, and good fishing will last a few more weeks. Then it will settle into a summer pattern where fishing is good, but not as good as right now. Smallmouth and striped bass are the primary targets; walleye, catfish, bluegill and other species are also being caught. For specific tips, read the weekly report by Wayne Gustaveson.

Provo River fly fishing is good. Flows are high -- high enough to make it dangerous to wade. The high water pushes fish into sheltered spots, which can often be reached from shore. Midges and Blue Wing Olives are still the most common dry flies. Weighted nymphs are productive at this time because they can get down to the fish.

The Green and Weber are fishing well below the dams. Most other streams are blown out by runoff. Many reservoirs now offer good fishing. See the full report on RedRockAdventure.com for details.

Outdoors Report

-- Deseret News reports on skiing May powder at Snowbird

-- Apa Sherpa’s Utah adventures related in the Tribune

-- Strawberry Reservoir to receive larger fish, reports the Deseret News  

-- Utah’s Seven Wonders revealed in the Tribune

-- Find out about upcoming events in the Deseret News’ Outdoor Notes

-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week

-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website

Weekend Events

New Films

-- The Visitor:  Deseret News review

-- Young @ Heart:  Deseret News review

Concerts

-- Thyagaraja Music Festival, classical Indian music and dance, Friday, 6:30 p.m., Saturday, 7:45 a.m.-10 p.m., LDS church, 951 E. 100 South, free

-- Synthesis, jazz and big band, Friday, 7 p.m., SCERA Center for the Arts, 745 S. State St., Orem, $10

-- Intermountain Children Strings, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free

-- Marilyn Smith, vocal, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Madsen Recital Hall, BYU, Provo, free

-- Slickrock Gypsies, world jazz, Friday, Flynn Arrtpelago, 3474 S. 2300 East, free

-- “Nine Sinatra Songs,” Ballet West, Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m., Browning Center, WSU, Ogden, $16-$37

-- “How I Became a Pirate,” Ripple Tales, Ring Around the Rose, Saturday, 11 a.m., Rose Wagner Center, $5

-- “W Is for Word,” Virginia Tanner Dance, Saturday, 10 a.m., 1 and 4 p.m., Kingsbury Hall, U., free but tickets required

-- Riverton Children's Choir and Jericho Road, Saturday, 7 p.m., Riverton High School, 12476 S. 2700 West, $10 (808-9776)

-- Mendelssohn’s “Elijah,” Salt Lake Choral Artists, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall, University of Utah

-- Murray Concert Band, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Murray High School, 5440 S. State St., free

-- Schubert Singers, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free

-- Westminster Chamber Singers, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., St. Mary's Church, 1505 White Pine Canyon Road, Park City, $10

-- Madeleine Festival, Sundays through May 11, Cathedral of the Madeleine

-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall

Theater          

-- “Sordid Lives” through May 10, Pygmalion Theatre Company

-- “The Glass Menagerie” through May 17, Heritage Theatre

-- “Don Giovanni” through May 18, Capitol Theatre 

-- “The Miracle Worker” through May 24, Hale Center Theater Orem

-- “Annie Get Your Gun” through May 31, Hale Centre Theatre

-- “Indianapolis Jones” through May 31, Off Broadway Theatre

-- “The Sound of Music” through June 6, Terrace Plaza Playhouse

-- “Feelin’ Groovy” through June 7, Rodgers Memorial Theatre

-- “The Wizard of Odd” through June 7, Desert Star Playhouse

-- “The Foreigner” through June 9, Empress Theatre

-- “Cinderella’s Waltz Right Inn” through June 16, Valley Center Playhouse

Museum Exhibits   

-- Teapots:  Object to Subject Exhibition through May 25, Kimball Art Center, Park City

-- Minerva Teichert:  Pageants in Paint Exhibition through May 26; Masterworks of Victorian Art From the Collection of John H. Schaeffer Exhibition through August 18, Brigham Young University Museum of Art

-- 84th Annual Spring Salon Exhibition through July 6; Wayne Thiebaud:  70 Years of Painting Exhibition through July 27, Springville Museum of Art

Et cetra

-- Downtown Sustainable Living Festival, Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., Library Square, Salt Lake City

-- Golden Spike Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival, Friday and Saturday, Ogden