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Hospitality Industry Booming
This week's newsletter from the Economic Development Corporation of Utah provides a look at impact the hospitality industry has both in established markets like Salt Lake City and Utah County, as well as on emerging markets like Cache Valley. 2006 revenues generated by the hospitality industry in Salt Lake County surpassed the records set in the 2002 Olympic year.
Christensen Forms Steering Committee
Salt Lake City mayoral candidate Keith Christensen has established a campaign steering committee consisting of nine business and community leaders who will share their expertise and guidance during the campaign.
They are Brad Baldwin, a broker with Commerce CRG and former president/CEO of Bank One, Utah; Linda Baldwin, a former Utah assistant attorney general; Byron Barkley, owner/partner at Wilson-Davis & Co. Securities; Larry Broxton, president of Salt Lake City-based Dauntless Consulting Group, a company specializing in research-based organizational development; Stephen Goldsmith, founder of Artspace in downtown Salt Lake City and former SLC planning director; Debbie Kotter-Barkley, store manager for a major national retailer and member of the board of governors for the Salt Lake Area Chamber of Commerce; Stan Parrish, past president of the Chamber and former Republican state chair; Sam Souvall, cofounder and chair of Davinci Executive Office Suites and Davinci Virtual; and Ascencion A. (JR) Vera, VP and relationship manager of Chase Bank.
Washington Watch
Hatch Blasts War Funding Bill
In a speech on the Senate floor, Sen. Orrin Hatch condemns the Conference Report to H.R. 1591, the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill, because it would prematurely withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq (see press release).
Bennett: Pres. Needs New Bill
Sen. Bob Bennett votes against the $124.2 billion emergency supplemental conference report that allocates funding for the troops, but also requires troop withdrawal from Iraq to begin by October 1, 2007, with a goal of ending U.S. combat operations by next March. Says Bennett: "The Democrats have known all along that the president would veto this bill. By pushing its passage, they are clearly making a political statement rather than looking for a legislative solution. We now must get to work on a bill the president can sign, and send the much-needed funding to our troops" (see press release).
The Matheson Report
Rep. Jim Matheson says of his opposition to the war spending bill: "We're all frustrated by the lack of progress in Iraq. I don't believe we should be setting dates for troop withdrawal in the legislation that funds our soldiers on the battlefield. I have consistently opposed such language" (see press release); Matheson says the just-released report by an independent scientific organization on the proposed Reliable Replacement Warhead program raises serious questions about moving forward with renewed nuclear weapons testing (press release); Matheson adds amendments to small business lending legislation to help businesses operated by military reservists and Native Americans access loans and technical assistance (press release); Matheson says of his support for HR 493, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act: "None of us are perfect specimens. Each of us carries numerous genetic 'glitches' that could increase our risk of developing one disease or another. If that is used against anyone -- either to preclude getting a genetic test, or medical coverage for a future health condition -- health and quality of life suffers. That is why I believe this bill offers critical protection-protection which is overdue" (press release).
Today in Political History
April 27, 1861: Abraham Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus for border states. Some civil libertarians object -- including judges, which are ignored. Lincoln orders Chief Justice Roger B. Taney be arrested (never carried out). (Source: perspicuity)
April 27, 1946: The International Military Tribunal for the Far East opens its war crimes trial in Tokyo, Japan. It continues until November 12, 1948, indicting Hideki Tojo, the former prime minister, and 27 associates. (Source: The Encarta® 2000 New World Timeline © Copyright 1998, Helicon Publishing Ltd.)
Wise Words
“Apply yourself both now and in the next life. Without effort, you cannot be prosperous. Though the land be good, You cannot have an abundant crop without cultivation.”
-- Plato (Source: Brainy Quote)
Utah Trivia
Utah women have been successful in local, state, and federal offices. Democrat Martha Hughes Cannon set the standard in 1896 when she won a seat in the Utah State Senate, the first woman state senator in the United States. (Source: Utah’s History by Poll , Et Al Brigham Young University Press pg 575)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- Washington Post: Columnist David Broder says Harry Reid is proving to be a "continuing embarrassment thanks to his amateurish performance" as Senate Majority Leader (see also related Amir Taheri column).
-- Financial Times: Columnist Clive Crook says of Barack Obama's presidential candidacy: "The country is asking itself: 'Is America ready to elect a black president?' Not just ready to, I would answer, but yearning to. Of course, it is not a universal sentiment. There is bigotry in the US, as everywhere. But the moderate, swayable centre of the electorate -- whose votes count double, because they could go either way -- would be delighted to elect a black man. White liberals are ecstatic at the prospect. Is America ready for a president who might heal the country's racial wounds? Ready for a leader capable of giving black youth a role model who is not a basketball player, a rapper or a drug-dealer? You bet it's ready."
-- New York Sun: In a speech in Washington Wednesday, Sen. Hillary Clinton acknowledged "that Democrats do not want to risk being 'blamed' for withholding funding for troops in Iraq, even as she joined Senator Obama in criticizing [Rudy] Giuliani for saying Democrats would put America back on the defensive in the war on terrorism."
Sierra Club Newsletter
The Utah Chapter of the Sierra Club has posted its summer newsletter, which features a couple of articles on how the '07 Legislature affected Utah environmental policies.
Blog Watch
-- At the Senate Site, Sen. Lyle Hillyard sets the record straight about this Logan Herald Journal story.
-- Rep. John Dougall says: "Does anyone else find it ironic that the anti-Cheney crowd accuses the VP of lying to the American people and then turns around and invites Ralph Nader, a man who has built a career based on lies, fearmongering, and class warfare (where the end justifies the means), to be the speaker at the alternative commencement? Gotta love that consistency!"
-- Rep. Steve Urquhart notes: "The Salt Lake Tribune headline reads, 'Calls for Jettisoning Bush, Cheney Grow.' Oh my! And just who are the luminaries listed in the article as making those calls? Rocky Anderson, Dennis Kucinich and Cindy Sheehan. Slow news day."
-- Holly Mullen is unhappy with Rep. Jim Matheson for voting against the House Democrats' war spending bill.
-- Paul Rolly reports that "Mike Jerman, vice president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, is leaving the conservative, tax-watch organization May 4 to go to work for U.S. Charter Development, a for-profit company that builds charter schools. ... Jerman ... says he will still do part-time work for the Taxpayers Association, putting out its newsletters, working on it's blog and helping with periodic reports and analysis."
Casual Friday
Fishing Report
The weather should be beautiful this weekend and fishing will be very good on many waters. It looks like we are settling into a warmer, more stable period and so conditions should be great throughout next week. There will never be a better time to go fishing.
Seasonal changes are coming a couple weeks ahead of normal this year. Fish Lake and Currant Creek Reservoir have open water and have produced some great fishing. Many of the high lakes on Boulder Mountain and Skyline Drive will become accessible during the next few weeks and they should produce very good fishing.
Hatches are prolific at times on local streams and Lake Powell has dynamite bass and striper fishing. See Dave Webb’s full fishing report and a Morning News story on striped bass fishing at Lake Powell.
For the latest wildlife news and information and the DWR fishing report visit the DWR website
Outdoors Report
-- Fish Lake Powell for striped bass in the Morning News
-- Plan your bicycling season in the Tribune
-- Morning News on Lake Powell’s precautions against invasive mussel
-- Get riding advice in the Morning News’ Cycling Notebook
-- Tribune’s Hike of the Week takes readers to Grove Creek
-- 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
-- Next: Tribune review
Concerts
-- Brahm's Requiem, Salt Lake Choral Artists, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall
-- USU Wind Orchestra, Friday, 7:30 p.m., Kent Concert Hall, USU, Logan, $5
-- Ririe Woodbury Dance Company, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
-- Temple Square Chorale and Orchestra at Temple Square, Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Tabernacle, free but tickets required (801-570-0080)
-- Utah Symphony: From the Canyons to the Stars, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Abravanel Hall
-- Encore Show Choir, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Kingsbury Hall, U.
-- International Children's Choir, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall, U., $7
-- Riverton Metropolitan Opera, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Bingham High School
-- Madeleine Festival, Sundays through May 20, Cathedral of the Madeleine
Theater
-- “Wine and One-Acts” through April 28, Pygmalion Productions
-- “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” through April 29, Capitol Theatre
-- “Barefoot in the Park” through May 5, Heritage Community Theatre
-- “The Jungle Book” through May 5, Academy Theatre Company
-- “Facing East” through May 6, Plan-B Theatre Company
-- “No Time for Sergeants” through June 2, Hale Center Theater Orem
-- “The Secret Garden” through June 2, Center Street Musical Theatre
-- “Seussical the Musical” through June 2, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “Phantom of the Grand Ol' Opry” through June 9, Desert Star Cabaret Theatre
-- “Thoroughly Modern Millie” through June 9, Hale Centre Theatre
-- “Les Miserables” through June 23, Pioneer Theatre Company
-- “The Secret Garden” through June 23, Center Street Musical Theatre
Museum Exhibits
-- Resonance and Return: Social Documentary Photography, 1935-Present Exhibition through May 19, Salt Lake Art Center
-- From Above: Images of a Storied Land Exhibition through May 20, Utah Museum of Natural History, University of Utah
-- The Quiet Landscapes of William B. Post Exhibition through May 28, Museum of Art, Brigham Young University
-- Brian Kershisnik: Painting from Life Exhibition through July 1, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah
Et Cetera
-- Park City Gallery Stroll, Friday, 6 – 9 p.m
-- Tulip Festival through April 28, Thanksgiving Point
-- The Organ Loft Spring Silent Movie Series, through May 25
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