News Highlights

Salt Lake Tribune editorial supports Jones-Mascaro school funding legislation. Two Japanese Americans, Republican Curt Oda and Democrat Tab Uno, are running against each other in House District 14 in Davis County (Deseret Morning News). Will delays at Yucca Mountain increase chances of high level nuclear waste coming to Utah? (Salt Lake Tribune).

Quote of the Day

"We've fully scrutinized whether the University of Utah can hold a stock subscription in a private company. But we haven't given any scrutiny to a measure that denies fundamental rights to Utah families."

  - Scott McCoy, director of the Don't Amend Alliance, noting that the proposed amendment banning gay marriage was not reviewed by Utah 's Constitutional Revision commission. (Salt Lake Tribune)

Silence of the Media

The major news media in Utah aggressively cover political and business controversies, especially if a politician is being criticized. But what happens if one of their own is criticized? What happens if serious charges of unprofessional journalistic conduct are being leveled at a reporter and/or a major media institution?

Well, the silence is rather deafening. The news media don't always do a good job of covering themselves or each other.

Case in point: Peter Huntsman, president and CEO of The Huntsman Companies, purchased full-page ads in last Friday's and Sunday's Salt Lake Tribune, charging the Tribune with all sorts of serious journalistic sins in a package of Tribune stories published Aug. 8 mostly about the Huntsman Texas operations.

When the ad was published, I thought the Tribune would assign a reporter to cover the allegations, and I thought other news media would write and broadcast about it as well. I thought wrong. Other than some discussion of the first ad by Doug Wright on his KSL Radio talk show Friday morning, I haven't seen any other media reports, even after the second ad ran Sunday.

Had the Huntsman family purchased a full-page ad to lambaste a politician or a competitor, the newspapers and broadcast outlets would have been all over it. It would have been a big story.

So why the silence on this matter? It has all the elements of a fascinating story, with Utah's most prominent family, a son running for governor, no less, leveling serious charges against a big media institution. Far less interesting things are published and aired every day.

Why not treat the story like any other? Why not assign a reporter to check into it? It may be difficult to sort out who's right and who's wrong, but at least the Tribune should respond to the charges and other news media ought to look into them. Why didn't Tribune reader advocate Connie Coyne address the criticism in her Saturday column? Did reporter Judy Fahys and the rest of the Tribune team go into the story with a pre-conceived notion, as Peter Huntsman alleged, that the Huntsman family and businesses are “a bane to society” and then do everything possible to prove their thesis? Were the stories full of mistakes?

Was the coverage “highly personal, biased and vicious”? It's a very serious charge that the Tribune “ignore(d) facts, and used half-truths and innuendo to present a slanted, biased and unfair view of the Huntsman family and the Huntsman companies.” Does the Tribune stand by its story in the face of the allegations? Are the Huntsmans considering a lawsuit? Has Publisher Dean Singleton himself gotten involved with this story? Have reporters been disciplined? Has the Tribune's credibility in the community been hurt?

The ads were published only in the Tribune, so Deseret Morning News readers know little about this issue. So why hasn't the Morning News done a story? The News recently did a story about Nancy Workman running a newspaper ad, so why not a story about the Huntsman ad? The news media obviously don't cover themselves like they cover other institutions.

Former Tribune Editor Jay Shelledy, as I recall, did a pretty good job of assigning reporters to do objective stories about his own newspaper when controversies arose, even when it hurt. After all, the state's largest newspaper is a very important community institution and it deserves scrutiny itself when it's accused of messing up.

Workman Gets a Win

After a tough summer of bad political news, Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman needed a win, and she got a nice one with the decision of the outdoor retailers' organization to stay in Utah for the next five years.

The mayor and her staff, along with the Salt Lake Chamber and other allies, worked hard to keep the twice-yearly trade show in Utah and they deserve credit for pulling it off. They still need to put together a funding plan to expand the Salt Palace, and that will require some legislative support, but Workman has always had a good relationship with the Legislature.

Workman still faces a tough re-election fight and to win she will have to run a really smart campaign in September and October, maximizing her fundraising advantage. Republicans outnumber Democrats in Salt Lake County, but the county cannot be counted on as a Republican stronghold. A politically weak Republican can be readily defeated by a solid Democrat.

Breakfast with Eddie

It's always interesting to chat about politics with Eddie Mahe, a prominent Washington, D.C., based-political consultant who has done a lot of work in Utah over the years. At breakfast last Thursday, Mahe, a staunch Republican, said Pres. Bush is going to have to do some extraordinary campaigning in the last two months to pull off a win. The economic recovery has been uneven and winning the peace in Iraq has been far tougher than expected. John Kerry might not get a lot of people excited, but he's not making mistakes and is capitalizing on Bush's weaknesses.

Rep. Rosalind J. McGee, District 28, August 16
Rep. Brent H. Goodfellow, District 29, August 16
Rep. LaVar Christensen, District 48, August 18
Entire Birthday List

Agenda Utah is a service
of Utah Policy.com

Publisher: LaVarr Webb
Editor: Bart Barker
News: Golden Webb
Calendar and Subscriptions: Paul Hollingshead

Arizona Republic
- Population growth worsens drought
- Op-ed: A cliff best forgotten

Salt Lake Tribune
- Many politicians got early start
- Yucca slips, Skull Valley stock rises
- Attorneys moving forward with Envirocare case
- Editorial: Tax-fairness bill

Daily Herald
- Op-ed: Making and testing more nukes a bad idea
- Editorial: Return people's voice to Board of Education

Deseret Morning News
- Do developers rule in Draper?
- Please pardon mess, S.L. says
- Capitol project puts crimp on public access
- Davis race is 'extraordinary'
- Lee Benson: Mitt gets truce award
- Editorial: Victory for the rule of law
- John Florez: S.L. administration's efforts at diversity divide

Sunday, August 15

Associated Press
- Terror training covers voting

Deseret Morning News
- Energy drain: Overbilling by utilities siphons education funds
- It just keeps growing and growing
- Wal-Mart to file appeal
- Workman ads accentuate the positive
- Utah studies ballot options
- Jay Evensen: Fund soccer stadium by taxing fans who attend
- Pignanelli & Webb: Some tips on how to pick a president
- Rocky Anderson: Editorial is personal attack, tells only a kernel of truth
- Editorial: Rocky versus Rockwell
- Editorial: Politics cloud Yucca Mountain

Daily Herald
- Tax hike to fund school growth

Standard-Examiner
- Planners tackle transportation

Salt Lake Tribune
- County mayor vote causing confusion
- Mayor Election: Salt Lake County's mission
- Fuming over those *!#@ fees!
- Op-ed: Democrats better reflect LDS values
- Op-ed: Changes would harm families
- Editorial: More perfect unions

Saturday, August 14

Salt Lake Tribune
- Gays disappointed, vow to press for marriage rights
- Nevada legislators seek united Wendover
- Open-space initiative might get a new chance
- Environmentalists talk politics, business with outdoor retailers

Standard-Examiner
- Initiative may get chance at ballot
- Editorial: Looking beyond this election's wedge issues

KSL
- Editorial: Utah's reservoirs

St. George Spectrum
- Editorial: Nation doesn't need new nukes

Daily Herald
- County to re-examine Open Space signatures after high court ruling
- Terrorist threat forces election day preparations
- Editorial: Beehives and Buffalo Chips

Deseret Morning News
- Ruling opens door to open space
- Nevada puts strings on annexation
- Hatch riffs on Kerry and 'crazy' Teresa
- Hunsaker appointed to replace Pace

Please submit calendar items to AgendaUtah@UtahPolicy.com

- Aug 17: Jon Huntsman at Vernal Chamber of Commerce, noon, Vernal Golden Corral, $8.
- Aug 17: Jon Huntsman at Moab Chamber of Commerce dinner, 7 pm, Moab.
- Aug 17: Rep. Rob Bishop town meetings 6-7 pm, Bountiful City Council Chambers, 790 S 100 E; 8-9 pm Clearfield City Council Chambers, 55 S State.
- Aug 17-18: Constitution Party starts 12-week history of Constitution course taught by Jim Brown. Class A is Tuesday nights starting Aug 17. Class B is Wednesday nights starting Aug 18. 7-8:30 pm. 801-557-9225.
- Aug 18: Voice for Moderation Meet the Candidates night. Meet Democratic candidate for Governor Scott Matheson, and Salt Lake County Auditor candidates Sean Thomas and Peter Stevens at 6 pm at the Anderson/Foothill Library located at 1135 So. 2100 East in Salt Lake City.
- Aug 18: Rep. Rob Bishop town meeting 8-9 pm, Tooele County Courthouse, 47 S Main, Tooele.
- Aug 18-21: Davis County Democrats looking for volunteers for their Davis County Fair booth, call Pat Herrera 801-546-0283.
- Aug 19: Rep. Rob Bishop town meetings 6-7 pm, Weber County Commission Chambers, 2380 Washington Blvd, Ogden; 8-9 pm, West Haven City Offices 2440 S 2050 W.
- Aug 20: Matheson for Congress Fundraiser, Open House sponsored by Iron County Democrats, 7-9 pm. Call 435-865-7482 for location.
- Aug 20: Jon Huntsman at Box Elder Republican BBQ, 6 pm, Marble Park, Bothwell. 435-723-7410.
- Aug 24: Greg Skordas for Attorney General Fundraiser, 5:30 pm, Em's Restaurant, 271 N Center St, SLC, $100 suggested contribution.
- Aug 24: Attorney General debate on KRCL radio, 90.9 FM, Noon - 1 pm, at 1971 W. North Temple, Salt Lake City, UT.
- Aug 24: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, 12 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 East, just past 2100 South, Salt Lake City. Contact: 486-2558.
- Aug 26: Jon Huntsman at Park City Sunrise Rotary Club, 7:45 am.
- Aug 26: Jon Huntsman at Utah Mining Association, 11 am, Grand Summit Hotel, The Canyons Resort.
- Aug 26: Davis County Democrats Picnic, 6 pm, Barnes Park, West on 200 N in Kaysville.
- Aug 26: Jon Huntsman Jr. at Utah Republican Hispanic Assembly meeting, Utah Republican Party HQ, 117 E. South Temple
- Aug 26: Salt Lake County Libertarian Party monthly meeting, 7 pm, Bohemian Brewery & Grill, 94 E 7200 S Midvale.
- Aug: 27: Jon Huntsman Jr fundraiser at Delta Center, $100 for single ticket up to $5,000 for platinum table. Call 737-1811.
- Aug 27: Rep. Rob Bishop town meeting 7-8 pm, Brigham City Council Chambers, 20 N Main.
- Aug 28: Rep. Rob Bishop town meetings 11-noon, Salt Lake County Council Chambers, 2100 S State; 2-3 pm Oakley City Bldg, 960 W Center. 7-8 pm Rich County Courthouse, 20 S Main, Randolph.
- Aug 28: Disco Party for Mark Wheatley for Legislature, 7:30 pm, Former Bob Rice Mansion, 4421 Zarahemla Dr, Olympus Cove, SLC. Park at Olympus Hills Mall, shuttle service provided, suggested donation $15, More info call Josie Valdez 801-264-8844.
- Aug 30-Sept 2: Jon Huntsman attends Republican National Convention, New York City.
- Sept 2: Professional Republican Women monthly meeting, 11:45 am, Panini's restaurant, Wells Fargo Building, 299 S Main, SLC, $20 RSVP call 801-270-0802.
- Sept 2: Progressive Democratic Caucus Meeting, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm, 455 South 300 East, Suite 102, Salt Lake City. Contact: Craig Axford (801) 918-6017.
- Sept 3: Huntsman campaign at Midway Swiss Days.
- Sept 4: Jon Huntsman at Hispanic Fiesta Days, 3 pm, Gallivan Center, SLC.
- Sept 4: Libertarian Party meet/greet/eat fundraiser, 11am-10 pm, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, 911 East Fort Union Blvd, Midvale. 15% of purchase donated to Libertarian Party if you identify yourself as a Libertarian.
- Sept 3-4: Huntsman campaign at Iron County Fair, Cedar City.
- Sept 7: Utah Log Cabin Republicans Monthly Meeting, 7:30 pm, Room N4010, Salt Lake County Building, 2001 South State Street, Salt Lake.
- Sept 9: Huntsman Campaign at United Way Day of Caring Breakfast, 7:30 am, Lavell Edwards Stadium, BYU; Logan Rotary Club, 12:30pm, Coppermill Restaurant, Logan; also at Vietnam Veterans meet the candidates night, 7 pm, Salt Lake City Library, 4th floor, 210 E 400 S.
- Sept 9: Sutherland Institute seminar "The Rules of the Game-Applications in Boundaries and Procedures," 8:30-11:30 am, 6th Floor 150 E Social Hall Ave, SLC. Register: 801-355-1272.
- Sept 11: Davis County Democrats No-Host Breakfast, 8:30 am to 10:00 am, Joanie's Restaurant, 286 North 400 West, Kaysville. Contact: Richard Watson (801) 292-6772.
- Sept. 15: Attorney General Mark Shurtleff's annual "Wasatch Challenge." Trap, skeet and target shooting, Western entertainment and down-home cooking. Call 801.746.3030 or email info@markshurtleff.com for more details.
- Sept 15: Jon Huntsman at National Assisted Living Week luncheon, noon, Legacy Retirement Residence, South Jordan.
- Sept 15-17: Utah League of Cities and Towns Annual Convention, register: www.ulct.org
- Sept 16: Jon Huntsman at the Salt Lake Women's Republican Club Meet and Mingle Night, 6:30 pm, Bicentennial Park, Sandy.
- Sept 17: Jon Huntsman at Salt Lake County Republican BBQ, 6 pm, Murray Park.
- Sept 17: Utah League of Cities and Towns gubernatorial debate, 9 am, Sheraton Hotel, 150 W 500 S, SLC.
- Sept 17: Jon Huntsman at Governor's Council for People with Disabilities, noon, 750 W Heritage Park Blvd, Layton.
- Sept 17: Salt Lake County Republican Party's Constitution Day Picnic, 6 pm, Murray Park. Come meet the candidates!
- Sept 18: Jon Huntsman at SLC Avenues Fair, 8 am.
- Sept 23: USACCC Annual Conference, Homestead Resort, Midway.
- Sept 25: Republican Central Committee Meeting.
- Sept 28: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, 12:00 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 East, just past 2100 South, Salt Lake City. Contact: 486-2558.

- See the entire calendar