Fostering Entrepreneurship
This week’s issue of the Economic Review, published by the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, features the Western Rural Development Center (WRDC) with an article about fostering entrepreneurship. The WRDC is building a coalition of private and public interests in Box Elder County and within the next 60 days will launch an entrepreneurial training program there called the “Western Edge.” (Read the full story.)
Utah Foundation Forum
The Utah Foundation will hold a forum on Sept. 7 titled: "Positioning Utah Schools for Success in the 21st Century: A Discussion of Finance and Reform Proposals." For more info, click here.
Senatorial Debate Announcement
Senate candidate Pete Ashdown announces that "[a] debate with four of the six candidates running for US Senate, and one state party chair, has been set for August 12, 2006 at the Salt Lake City Main Library Auditorium from 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM. [Ashdown] (Democratic nominee), Scott Bradley (Constitution nominee), Julian Hatch (Desert Green nominee), and Roger Price (Personal Choice nominee) have agreed to debate; Dave Starr Seely (Libertarian nominee) is unable to attend but will be officially represented by Libertarian state chair Rob Latham. The debate will be a town hall format, where candidates will respond to questions from the audience on any issue ... While Senator [Orrin] Hatch has not directly communicated to any campaign in response to requests to debate, there will be a chair open for him, his campaign staff, or a Republican party official to officially represent his positions" (see press release).
Podcast Watch
Jennifer Napier-Pearce’s podcast this week features InsideUtah.com redux: Highlights from the past six month, including Salt Lake County Councilmen Jim Bradley (:38) and Joe Hatch (4:09) on Real Salt Lake; Living Planet Aquarium board member Tom Marcusi (9:24) on fishing for public money; plus choice soundbites from Kanab teen columnist Matt Livingston (11:47), former TenFold CEO Gary Kennedy (12:54), former transgendered candidate Jenni Jackson (14:10); Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson (14:57), and others.
Blog Watch
At Out of Context, Matt Canham reports that Senate candidate Pete Ashdown has mixed feelings about Sen. Joe Lieberman's primary defeat in Connecticut (see also here and here)... Utah Taxpayer looks at the growth rates of state tax revenues over the last ten years and concludes that it's "time for a tax cut"... Congressional candidate Bob Brister says: "It is unfortunate that it took a member of Congress from upstate New York to blow the whistle on BLM colluding with county commissioners in Utah to 'fix' the Resource Management Plans in favor of extractive industries on our public lands. The incumbent Congressional Delegation, including Rep. Jim Matheson, fail to insist that the BLM follow environmental laws ... Utah has some of the most spectacular landscapes in the world. We owe it to ourselves, our descendents, and the wildlife that lives there to pass it on to future generations in better shape than we received it"... Middlebrow says of Mass. Gov. and likely '08 presidential candidate Mitt Romney's Mormonism: "We have had an entire state dominated by Mormon politics for over one hundred years. It is republican in its constitution and allows free and fair elections. Mormons have shown (if proof is necessary) that they can govern within the bounds of the American mainstream. They have served in both House of Congress, in Presidential cabinets, in prominent roles in the Armed Forces, and as cultural and business leaders. Culturally, LDS members are not some unknown, frightening new group, but part of the American political fabric. The fact that I have serious disagreements with them does not make Mormons scary ... Any Church whose most prominent recent political figure before Romney was [Sen. Orrin] Hatch seems more likely to be staid than terrifying ... Non-Mormons are flocking to Utah for its good standard of living not leaving in fear of some Danite Band of Religious Oppressors. Would that most states were run as well as Utah! ... Opposition to Romney on the grounds of his religion is not, therefore, sensible. If not sensible, it is bigotry ... Unless I hear further arguments, I believe Mitt Romney deserves a chance to make his case to traditional Christians without his religion being an issue" (see also here, here, here, here, here, and here).
-- Compiled by Golden Webb
Washington Watch
Hatch Bill 'Makes a Lot of Sense'
Article in British IT industry news outlet says of Sen. Orrin Hatch's recently introduced patent reform bill: "[A]t the risk of launching a server-melting flame-war apocalypse, we'll venture out on a limb and say that the bill actually makes a lot of sense. The concerns raised by small inventors, while important to note, don't even come close to matching the benefits to the public that will result from the sweeping changes contained in the bill" (The Register).
Trends in Marriage Law
The Sutherland Institute has posted a new study by William C. Duncan examining recent trends in U.S. marriage law. To read it, click here. Weekend Events & Outdoors Report
Outdoors Report
-- Biologists are finding lots of fish during summer surveys. See DWR press release.
-- Tribune reports on the Division of Natural Resources’ new logos
-- Utah’s National Parks still a hot travel destination in the Morning News
-- Kids try out some winter sports in this Tribune article
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook for sports and recreation activities this week
-- Use the Morning News’ interactive map of Utah to plan your outdoor pursuits across the state.
-- The latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report
New Films
-- World Trade Center: Tribune
-- Best Movie Bet for Families: Cars. Read the Tribune review
Concerts
-- Jazz Downtown, Friday, 6 p.m., various locations
-- Concert in the Park: Moosebutter, Friday, 8 p.m., Brigham Young Historic Park, free
-- David Wilcox, Friday, 8 p.m., Holladay United Church of Christ, 2631 E. Murray Holladay Rd.
-- Gabriel, Trumpet Ensemble, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Assembly Hall, free
-- Concert in the Park: Heartbound, Tuesday, 8 p.m., Brigham Young Historic Park, free
-- WorldStage! Under the Stars Concert Series, Mondays at 7:30 p.m. through August 21, Utah Cultural Celebration Center
-- Twilight Concert Series, Thursdays at 7 p.m. through August 24, Gallivan Center
-- Lunch Bunch Concert Series, weekdays at noon through September 22, Gallivan Center
Theater
-- Neil Simon Festival through August 12, Cedar City
-- “The Nerd” through August 12, Heritage Theatre
-- “Peta Pun” through August 12, The Off-Broadway Theatre
-- Utah Festival Opera through August 12, Logan
-- “You Can’t Take It With You” through August 19, Hale Center Theater Orem
-- Salt Lake Shakespeare through August 20, Babcock Theatre
-- "Saturday's Voyeur 2006” through August 20, Salt Lake Acting Company, Tribune and Morning News reviews
-- “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” through August 25, Draper Historic Theatre
-- “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” through September 1, Pickleville Playhouse, Morning News review
-- "Peter Pan" through September 1, Tuacahn Amphitheatre, Ivins
-- "South Pacific" through September 2, Tuacahn Amphitheatre, Ivins, Tribune review
-- “Tied to the Tracks” through September 2, Pickleville Playhouse
-- Utah Shakespearean Festival through September 2, Cedar City
-- "Pirates of the Caribbean 2: The SeaQuel," Desert Star Theatre
-- “Desperate Homemakers: The Big Fat Sequel to My Big Fat Utah Wedding,” Desert Star Cabaret Theatre
-- "The Rat Pack Remembered," Desert Star Dinner Theatre
Museum Exhibits
-- The Face of Utah Sculpture Exhibition through August 24, Utah Cultural Celebration Center
-- Wind Pieces: New Sculpture Exhibition through August 26, Nora Eccles Harrison Museum of Art, Utah State University
-- In Focus: National Geographic Great Portraits Exhibition through September 23, Utah Museum of Natural History
-- Material Culture: The Art of Fine Textile Exhibition through September 30, Looking Back: 75 Years at the Salt Lake Art Center Exhibition through October 14, Salt Lake Art Center
-- Rooted In Tradition: Art Quilts from the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum through October 15, Utah Museum of Fine Art
-- Sideshow through January 28, Utah Museum of Fine Art
Et Cetera
-- Sundance Outdoor Film Festival, Mondays at sunset through August 21, Gallivan Center
-- Utah Shakespearean Festival through September 2, Cedar City
-- Downtown Farmers’ Market/ Downtown Art & Craft Market, Saturdays through October 21, 8 a.m.–1 p.m., Pioneer Park | 
