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News Highlights
The battle over Legacy Highway is set to begin anew (Salt Lake Tribune).
Deseret Morning News editorial calls for the modification of the Endangered Species Act.
The Grand County Council complains of problems with Diebold voting equipment (Morning News).
Weekend: Tribune publishes interesting Q&A stories with new County Mayor Peter Corroon and outgoing acting Mayor Alan Dayton. Bob Bernick writes about possible legislative conflicts of interest resulting from attorney-client privilege (Morning News).
Quote of the Day
“His big smile said it all — proud to be an American. I was not only bursting with joy for him, but for myself for being an American.”
-- Columnist John Florez, writing about observing a swearing-in ceremony for new citizens (Deseret Morning News)
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Wednesday
Buzz
Compiled
and Written by LaVarr Webb |
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The Week Ahead
It’s back to work after a long holiday weekend for most people. Winter is really here and the holiday season is upon us. Not a lot happening in politics except that transition committees are busy at both the state and county levels as Jon Huntsman and Peter Corroon scrutinize departments and personnel and prepare to make appointments and organize their administrations. Legislative leaders are also expected to announce committee assignments this week.
Chamber Supports Transportation Initiative
The Salt Lake Chamber is taking a key leadership role in supporting the landmark transportation funding initiative that will be before the Legislature in January. The Chamber’s Board of Governors on Nov. 23 passed a resolution noting that our transportation system is “approaching the stage at which gridlock and congestion is increasing and becoming the norm rather than the exception” and that “mobility . . . is crucial to economic growth.”
The resolution supports the efforts of the Wasatch Front Metropolitan Planning Organizations, the Utah Department of Transportation, the Utah Transit Authority, the Utah League of Cities and Towns, and the Legislature’s Transportation Planning Task Force to develop a single, comprehensive long-range transportation shared solution. The resolution pledges the Chamber's support in identifying funding solutions.
The Chamber support is crucial to the success of the transportation initiative because legislators are unlikely to boost transportation funding significantly unless they feel strong support from the business community.
Lunch with Jon Huntsman
Mark your calendar for a Thursday, Dec. 9, Utah Foundation noon luncheon event featuring Gov.-elect Jon Huntsman highlighting his agenda for Utah’s future. This year, Huntsman participated in Utah Foundation's groundbreaking Utah Priorities Project, which helped to focus political dialogue on the issues that matter most to Utah voters. The luncheon will be held in the Hilton Hotel grand ballroom, 255 West Temple. Cost is $35 for Utah Foundation members; $45 for non-members and $350 for a table of 10. For reservations call 801.355.1400 ext. 0 or email holly@utahfoundation.org by Dec. 3. You may pay by credit card over the phone or bring cash or check to the event.
How IT is Changing Our Lives
Cliff Ames from SmartUTAH sent along this link to a major Commerce Department study. Here’s a description:
A Nation Online: Entering the Broadband Age is the sixth report released by the U.S. Department of Commerce examining the use of computers, the Internet, and other information technology tools by the American people. Based on the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey of 57,000 households containing 134,000 persons, this report provides broad-based and statistically reliable information on the ways that information technologies in general, and broadband more specifically, are transforming the way we live, work, and learn.
KSL Radio News Delivered to Your Computer
Thanks to Phil Windley for noting in his blog that KSL Radio now has an RSS feed. You can receive an alert on your computer the moment KSL News headlines are posted. With RSS, you can have news delivered to you throughout the day, instead of having to surf for it. This page describes how to subscribe.
Said Windley, “With this one discovery, KSL Radio has become my premiere news source for Utah news simply because I'll now see the latest stories from them several times a day without linking out to their site. Think about seeing ten to twenty stories in your feedreader, clicking the ones you like and self-assembling a news program that you take on your iPod while you jog or drive into work. That is entirely possible using the technology we've already got.”
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Late Night Humor
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Dave Letterman, Nov. 25
• Did you watch the big Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade? It takes 54 people to work the giant balloons with tethers. It’s the same way they get Michael Moore into his pants.
• Every year there is some problem at the parade. This year someone threw a beer at Santa and he went into the stands and punched some guy.
• We were sitting at the dinner table and mom said that she had lost her cell phone. Then the turkey started to vibrate.
• Mom isn’t the best cook. So each year we make a side dish of Pepto Bismal.
• There was one really bad moment when I went into the kitchen and saw Uncle Earl trimming his nose hairs with the electric knife.
Exercise for Baby-Boomers
Here’s an exercise, suggested for baby-boomers and seniors, to build muscle strength in the arms and shoulders. Try doing it three days a week.
Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5-LB. potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides, and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, and then relax. Each day, you'll find that you can hold this position for just a bit longer.
After a couple of weeks, move up to 10-LB. potato sacks. Then, 50-LB. Potato sacks, and eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-LB. potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute.
After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the sacks; but be careful. |
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Monday
November 29, 2004
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Denver Post
- West wary of nuclear waste route
Salt Lake Tribune
- Legacy battle set to erupt anew
- Editorial: Getting tough
Standard-Examiner
- Complaint filed over rec center
- Editorial: Ogden's Wal-Mart scuffle far from over
Deseret Morning News
- Voting machines aren't a hit in Grand County
- John Florez: For immigrants, citizenship worth struggle
- Editorial: Modify the Species Act
Sunday, November 28
Deseret Morning News
- Secret conflicts of interest an issue for legislative leaders
- Jay Evensen: 'Pure' tax plan ought to serve as challenge
- Pignanelli & Webb: With new leaders in Utah come new expectation
Standard-Examiner
- Editorial: Walker's tax plan deserves serious study
Daily Herald
- Editorial: Ethics rules are in need of an overhaul
Salt Lake Tribune
- Walker put mark on politics
- Sitting mayor says 'everything' went wrong this year
- Corroon, Dayton grasp future, past
- Editorial: Squaring the circle
Saturday, November 27
Associated Press
- Test and training ranges could help Hill AFB avoid closure
Davis County Clipper
- McConkie keeps hand in many pies
- Elections: a never-ending job
- Bountiful raps Envision Utah for lack of action
- Bush, 81, leaves legislature as Utah's ‘elder statesman'
Salt Lake Tribune
- Forest Service at crossroads
- Fairfield gets ready to become its own fair city
Deseret Morning News
- Hatch is upbeat in waning days of chairmanship
- Legislators' quarters to get a bit more comfy
Friday, November 26
Deseret Morning News
- Justices to decide fate of Utah arbitration law
- Species Act may face change
- Editorial: Charter schools catching on
Standard-Examiner
- Editorial: Rethink the need for expanded government
Salt Lake Tribune
- Editorial: Zoning for dollars
Thursday, November 25
Salt Lake Tribune
- Not every Utah voted counted, but more did than in 2000
Standard-Examiner
- Utah cities have immeasurable qualities
- Study ranks four Davis County cities among top 10 statewide
- Walker talks tax codes in Ogden
- Governor visits Oval Office
Daily Herald
- Agencies spend millions on transportation studies, projects
- Olene Walker: A time of volunteering, helping and giving
Deseret Morning News
- Huntsman Corp. plans IPO |
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Please submit calendar items to Daily@UtahPolicy.com
- Nov 30: Energy Policy Task Force, 10 am, Rm W130, State Capitol.
- Nov 30: Administrative Rules Review Committee, 1 pm, Rm W025, State Capitol.
- Nov 30: Legal Concerns for Small Business Owners, 4pm, Chamber of Commerce Building, 175 E 400 S Suite 600, Salt Lake City. (SL Chamber calendar)
- Dec 2: Progressive Democratic Caucus Meeting, 6:30 pm to 8 pm, 455 South 300 East, Suite 102, Salt Lake City. Contact: Craig Axford 801-918-6017.
- Dec 2: Professional Republican Women's Holiday Luncheon and Tour at the Governor's Mansion, Noon, Reservations: dianney5@aol.com.
- Dec 4: Utah Republican Party Central Committee Meeting.
- Dec 7: Utah Log Cabin Republicans Monthly Meeting, 7:30 pm, Room N4010, Salt Lake County Building, 2001 S State Street, Salt Lake.
- Dec 9: Sutherland Institute seminar “Civic Stewardship – Applications in Determining Core Principles” 8:30-11:30 am, 6th Floor 150 E Social Hall Ave, Salt Lake City. Register: 801-355-1272.
- Dec 11: Davis County Democrats No-Host Breakfast, 8:30 am to 10 am, Joanie's Restaurant, 286 N 400 W, Kaysville. Contact: Richard Watson 801-292-6772.
- Dec 14: Sutherland Institute presents “A Call To Action” including pressbriefing highlighting 2005 legislative agenda, open house, and presentationby Sutherland Institute President Paul T. Mero. Contact: Lisa 801-355-1272.
- Dec 28: Green Party of Utah Roots Local Monthly Meeting, 12 pm, Sprague Library, 1100 E, just past 2100 S, Salt Lake City. Contact: 801-486-2558.
- Jan 3: Gubernatorial Inauguration.
- Jan 17: 2005 legislative session begins.
- Jan 20: Presidential Inauguration.
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Elected Officials Birthdays
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Rep. Jeff Alexander, District 62, November 28
Rep. Jack A. Seitz, District 55, December 25
Entire
Birthday List
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