News Highlights

Gov. Huntsman delivers upbeat address at his second annual statewide economic summit, says Utah is "the most successful business state in America" (Deseret Morning News, Daily Herald, KCPW, and Salt Lake Tribune).

Editorials: Tribune says Utahns want smart growth; Morning News analyzes candidate filings and commends those jumping into politics.

Quote of the Day

"High Road for Human Rights ... is designed to fill the void in the world of human rights organizations. We will raise consciousness about major human rights challenges and provide an organizing mechanism to empower people to help bring about change."

-- Former SLC Mayor Rocky Anderson, announcing formation of a new advocacy and education group (Morning News).

Happy Easter!

Have a great Easter weekend and enjoy the spring-like weather. 

No Health Reform Without Some Pain

Utah’s Health Care Reform Task Force will soon get underway amid hope and optimism that, over time, we can control skyrocketing health care costs and expand insurance coverage to nearly everyone. But it will be extremely difficult, and there will be winners and losers.

An illustration of how hard it will be is shown by the cries of disaster and doom resulting from the federal government’s attempt to reform the Medicaid system to keep it solvent. Soaring Medicaid costs threaten to swamp federal and state budgets and represent a bigger unfunded liability than even Social Security. We’re leaving an enormous burden to our children and grandchildren.

But a Tribune story on Wednesday noted that federal reform proposals would strip $360 million in federal funding to the state over the next five years, deprive the U. of U. hospitals and clinics of $25 million a year, “potentially tearing holes in the state’s primary medical ‘safety net.’” Lawsuits are being filed to keep the Medicaid funding flowing.

Medicaid reform is absolutely necessary, but it hurts. The same will be true with health care reform in Utah. The problem is that lots of people, institutions and groups – doctors, hospitals, drug companies, medical equipment manufacturers, insurance brokers, agents and companies – are making a lot of money from the current system. People and businesses benefit as more and more money is soaked up in the system.

We can’t have meaningful reform without curbing those costs. Giving everyone insurance won’t help a bit if costs continue to soar. But cutting costs means less money going to someone. There aren’t easy answers, and we’ll see a lot of weeping and wailing when the income of various groups starts to be impacted. Everyone is going to have to sacrifice. We won’t have health system reform without some pain.

Today in Political History

Mar. 21, 1907:  U.S. Marines land in Honduras, which is in a state of revolution, to protect American interests.

Mar. 21, 1935:  Persia officially changes its name to Iran  (Source:  Perspicuity) 

Mar. 21, 1965:  Three thousand civil rights demonstrators led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. begin their march from Selma to Montgomery, Ala. (Source:  NBC5) 

Wise Words

“History will have to record that the greatest tragedy of this period of social transition was not the strident clamor of the bad people, but the appalling silence of the good people.”

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.  (Source:  Brainy Quote) 

Utah Landmarks

Timpanogas Cave National Monument

This monument was established in 1922 to protect and provide public access to a series of exotic caves in American Fork Canyon. The interior of the caves is naturally decorated with a colorful variety of dripstone, flowstone, and rimstone formed by minerals in the ground water that enters the caves.

The monument consists of three caves connected by manmade tunnels. Hansen Cave was discovered first, in 1887, followed by Timpanogos Cave in 1915 and Middle Cave in 1921. During the 1890s Hansen Cave was stripped of most of its onyx and other mineral deposits by crews working for a Chicago onyx company. Local groups and the Forest Service were determined to protect the other caves from the same fate; designation as a national monument provided the necessary protection.

A number of improvements have been made and upgraded over the years, including a good trail to the entrance, and electric lights in 1921, and a campground, parking area, and ranger's residence in 1922.  A telephone system was installed in 1923 between the base and the cave entrance. The caves were joined by short tunnels in the 1930s, allowing a more efficient, one-way flow of visitors.  (Source:  Utah.edu) 

National Politics

Best Stories From . . .

-- Times of London: "New polls released [Thursday] suggest that Barack Obama has been damaged significantly by the controversy over his pastor's inflammatory remarks and that the issue has become a serious threat to his presidential ambitions."

-- FOX News: Columnist Susan Estrich: "Did he do it? That was the question my friend, herself an old friend of [the Obamas], asked me in the wake of the Illinois Senator's powerful and eloquent speech on race this this week. Did he put the issue of race to rest? The short answer is no. The long version is more complicated, like the race question itself, like Barack Obama the candidate. Complicated and sometimes contradictory."

-- Center for Politics: Analyst Larry Sabato: "This week's detour into the murk of racial politics underlines that it's going to be a long, hard slog on the Democratic side. The next opportunity for Democrats to resolve their deadlock will come in June, once the primaries are over and every state (and territory) has had its say."

-- Politico: "On the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates sparred over the rationale for the war and a time frame for its end, foreshadowing the national security debate likely to take center stage in the November general election."

Utah Wildlands Endangered?
A coalition of conservation groups, including The Wilderness Society, warn that "[t]housands of local residents and more than 2 million acres of wild public lands such as western Colorado's Piceance Basin and Utah's San Rafael Swell will experience fouled water, disrupted wildlife, polluted air and damaged habitat if the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) hurtles forward with a plan to open these lands to oil shale and tar sands development" (see press release).

Blog Watch

-- At Out of Context, Dan Harrie reports: "Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff and Senate President John Valentine had their own little closed caucus [Wednesday] night -- in an alcove off the Salt Lake City Library auditorium. The two were both there to accept 'sunshine' awards -- for their contributions to open government -- from the Utah Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. That is a topic for a different blog. But the brief sidebar was noteable because earlier in the day Shurtleff had done the unthinkable for a Utah Republican official -- publicly criticized other Utah Republicans. The A.G. complained about decisions being made at the Legislature in closed caucuses. Because the Senate Republicans are the only ones who close their caucuses, it was clear the complaints were aimed at Valentine & Co. On his trip back to his seat from receiving his award, Valentine pulled Shurtleff into an alcove and the two privately chatted for a couple of minutes. I can guess the topic. I tried to probe Shurtleff during a later panel discussion on 'Government Secrecy,' about the confab. He refused to spill." (See also related Salt Blog post.)

Lighter Side

Favorite Headlines

(From James Taranto’s Best of the Web at OpinionJournal.com)

Good News for Male Students
"Mankiller Cancels BSU Lecture Due to Illness"--headline, Idaho Statesman, March 19

That Way, Their Collar Buttons Won't Show
"As U.S. Border Fence Rises, a Tribe Tightens Ties"--headline, Reuters, March 20

News You Can Use
"Body Piercing: Don't Get Stuck With a Toxic Stud"--headline, U.S. News & World Report, March 17

Casual Friday

Fishing Report

By Dave Webb

Did you heard about the wolf pack spotted in NE Utah? Here are details. Kinda puts a different spin on backpacking into the Uintas. Actually, I'd love to be sitting at a campfire listening to wolves howl. I'm all for wolves in Utah.

Green River dry fly hatches are starting. Steve Schmidt reports: "Utah's Green River is coming out from its deep freeze. It's been a cold and windy winter on the Green, but milder days are creeping into the calendar and with that the fishing consistency is improving. Blue Wing Olives are out now, but not in the numbers we will see in a few weeks. Mixed with the Blue Wings are excellent Midge hatches. Both occur during the most pleasant time of the day." Read his full report.

Provo River is also seeing some dry fly action. Steve says: "The infamous "Buffalo Midge" is out, and the fish are keying on them on the Lower and Middle Provo River. The big #18 Midge will come off late morning to early afternoon most days." See that report.

Yuba ice has pulled back and people are fishing the shoreline. Should be able to launch boats during the coming week. Rainbows should be catchable as they cruise the shoreline. Walleye won't get going until the water warms a bit.

Utah Lake and Willard Bay are now drawing attention from the walleye anglers. The spawn is getting underway and that creates considerable excitement. Actually, the best walleye action does not come during the spawn. Read our walleye articles for more info.

Anglers are being encouraged to help introduce others to the sport. Anglers' Legacy is a program developed to assist that effort. Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources supports the effort. At the Sportsmen's Expo last weekend, the DWR persuaded 752 people to participate. Wayne Gustaveson was there helping. Here are his comments. See my complete fishing report.

Outdoors Report

-- Morning News tracks trends for family ski vacations
-- Learning from an outdoor classroom in the Tribune
-- Beaver Mountain’s great skiing in the Morning News
-- Tribune convinced burbot tastes better than it looks
-- Bikers, trail runners train for future competitions in the Morning News
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning 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

New Films

-- Drillbit Taylor: Tribune review

Concerts

-- BYU Jazz Showcase, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Covey Center for the Arts, 425 W. Center, Provo, $10 (801-852-7007)
-- Fear No Music, chamber, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Madsen Recital Hall, BYU, Provo, free
-- BYU Ballet Showcase, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Dance Studio Theater, Richards Building, BYU, Provo, $5
-- Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchesta at Temple Square, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Salt Lake Tabernacle, free but tickets are required
-- “Tchaikovsky’s Fourth,” Utah Symphony, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Abravanel Hall
-- BYU Jazz Ensemble, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., de Jong Concert Hall, BYU, Provo, free
-- BYU Singers and Concert Choir, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Covey Center for the Arts, 425 W. Center, Provo, $10 (801-852-7007)
-- Shut Up & Dance, Odyssey Dance Theatre, through March 29, Kingsbury Hall
-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall

Theater

-- “Inherit the Wind” through March 22, Grand Theatre

-- “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” through March 22, Center Street Musical Theatre

-- “The Miracle Worker” through March 22, Academy of Performing Arts
-- “My Valley Fair Lady” through March 22, Desert Star Theatre

-- “The Hasty Heart” through March 24, Sugar Factory Playhouse
-- “Pirates of Penzance” through March 24, Valley Center Playhouse

-- “Big River” through March 29, Rodgers Memorial Theatre

-- “Forever Plaid” through March 29, Heritage Theatre
-- “The Heiress” through March 29, Pioneer Theatre Company
-- “The End of the Horizon” through March 30, Plan-B Theatre Company

-- “Cabaret” through April 5, Egyptian Theatre Company, Park City
-- “She Loves Me” through April 5, Hale Center Theater Orem

-- “The Sound of Music” through April 11, Terrace Plaza Playhouse

-- “Prince Brat and the Whipping Boy” through April 19, Children’s Theatre & School of the Arts

Museum Exhibits

-- The 11th Black & White Statewide Art Competition Exhibition, Photography by Randy S. Chatelain Exhibition through March 29, Eccles Community Art Center
-- Bravo! The Tortilla Paintings of Joe Bravo Exhibition, Wasatch Back Student Art Show Exhibition through March 30, Kimball Art Center

-- Masks, Magic, and Mirrors Exhibition through March 31, Natural Revelations: Paintings by Susan Swartz Exhibition through April 13, Utah Museum of Fine Arts

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

Et Cetera

-- Salt Lake Gallery Stroll, Friday, 6 – 9 p.m., downtown
-- St. George Arts Festival, Friday and Saturda

Elected Officials Birthday List

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