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Becker Releases Education Plan
SLC Mayoral candidate Ralph Becker has announced an education plan calling for a partnership between the mayor's office and the public education system in Salt Lake City. Becker's Education Blueprint is “a detailed, seven-point plan to foster a world-class education system in Salt Lake City,” according to a press release.
"Building up Salt Lake City schools will be my top priority as mayor. A key part of becoming a Great American City depends on educating our kids," Becker said. "My Education Blueprint is a groundbreaking commitment from the mayor's office, connecting our education system with city policy, civic life, the business community, the University of Utah, and other higher-education entities." Read the entire blueprint here.
Washington Watch
Hatch Introduces Health Care Bill
Sens. Orrin Hatch, Ted Kennedy, and Mike Enzi introduce a bill intended "to modernize health care for the 21st century. ... The Wired for Health Care Quality Act of 2007 sets forth the goal posts for improving health care through technology, reducing administrative costs and diminishing fatal errors caused by lack of information" (see press release).
Bennett: $$ for Utah Projects
The Senate Appropriations Committee approves nearly $12 million for Utah projects requested by Sen. Bob Bennett, including preservation of public lands and additional funding for the Museum of Natural History at the University of Utah (see press release).
Cannon: No to Muckraking Website
Rep. Chris Cannon condemns the Democratic Majority on the Judiciary Committee for creating a website "to solicit rumors, gossip, and stories from former and current Department of Justice employees about political influence at the Department" (see press release).
Today in Political History
June 22, 1870: The U.S. Department of Justice is created.
June 22, 2004: A veteran civilian test pilot becomes the first human to reach space in a privately developed program, guiding a tiny rocket ship more than 60 miles above California. (Source: perspicuity)
Wise Words
“Few men have virtue to withstand the highest bidder.”
-- George Washington (Source: Brainy Quote)
National Politics
Best Stories From …
-- New York Times: "The announcement by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg of New York that he was leaving the Republican Party to become an independent was made after nearly two years in which his aides had laid the groundwork for a potential independent run for president" (see also related John Mercurio column and New York Times editorial).
-- Washington Post: "Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) drew only modest boos at a gathering of liberal activists [Wednesday], a sign of how well her changing position on Iraq is playing in the antiwar wing of her party. ... 'She's been kind of slow to come to the antiwar position, but she's there now,' said Robert Borosage, the co-director of the D.C.-based group that hosted the conference. 'Her position on the war has improved dramatically.'"
-- Des Moines Register: Columnist David Ypsen: "There is a growing possibility Iowa will be forced to move the date of the caucuses. ...The adjustments will be forced by the growing number of states that are moving up the dates of their contests. That is likely to force New Hampshire officials to change the date of their primary to an earlier time, and that, in turn, is likely to prompt Iowa party officials to change the date of our caucuses. Anybody for Jan. 2 or 3? How about mid-December?"
-- MSNBC: "MSNBC.com identified 144 journalists who made political contributions from 2004 through the start of the 2008 campaign, according to the public records of the Federal Election Commission. Most of the newsroom checkbooks leaned to the left: 125 journalists gave to Democrats and liberal causes. Only 17 gave to Republicans. Two gave to both parties."
Blog Watch
At The Senate Site, Sen. Margaret Dayton says: "Utah's resistance to No Child Left Behind created ripples across the nation -- and created some angst and frustration with the U.S. Dept. of Education. ... Fortunately for Utah, one of the members of our Congressional delegation was a school teacher for nearly 30 years, and he has always been an ally in our fight for flexibility. But lately Congressman Bishop's efforts in Washington have been partially undermined -- undermined by fellow Utahns who are fighting choice and flexibility here at the local level. Congressman Bishop has apparently been given repeated indications by folks in the federal education establishment in DC that the actions of the Utah State Board of Education and others to fight against Utah's voucher legislation are undermining his work" (for more on the voucher issue, see Steve Urquhart, Under The Dome, and UAC Blog).
-- Holly Mullen expresses her displeasure with certain comments Rocky Anderson made about SLC mayoral candidate Jenny Wilson.
-- At Out of Context, Thomas Burr reports: "GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney dropped into Utah in February to raise some cash and herald the endorsement of a majority of the state Legislature. All but 10 or the House Republicans and five of the Senate GOPers said they were backing Romney, the former head of the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. It's doubtful those lawmakers had read Romney's comments in the July 2002 issue of Commonwealth Magazine in which he bashed the single-party dominance in Utah. 'I just came back from living in a state that was overwhelmingly Republican,' Romney told the Massachusetts magazine. 'And a single-party system generates problems, in my view. In that state, the more extreme wing of the dominant party begins to have more and more political sway, and that de-energizes the great mainstream of citizens. They get turned off by politics and offended by the politicians and become less engaged in the political process.' Wonder what happens when Romney runs into those legislators during his Utah visit this week? Any bets on whether he'll air those criticisms while he's asking for donations?"
Lighter Side
Best of Late Night Humor
Conan O’Brien: Hillary Clinton has launched a new website where people can get all the latest Hillary news. In a related story, John Edwards has launched a new website where people can order his secret blend of shampoos and conditioners.
David Letterman: “Top Little-Known Facts About Mitt Romney”: Name is short for “Mitzi”; Starts each day by wrasslin’ a gator; Made his fortune selling counterfeit Prada handbags; Won NRA endorsement by vowing to shoot twice as many old guys as Cheney; Once defeated Chuck Liddell for Ultimate Fighting Championship title; Is the model on packages of Jockey underpants; Would be the first Mitt in the White House since Mitt Quincy Adams.
Jay Leno: According to a new poll, Hillary’s lead in the polls is due to her support by women. She’s bringing in the female vote. And Bill is attracting “the other woman” vote. ... Here’s the latest in the John Edwards campaign. It turns out, yes, there are two Americas and neither one of them is voting for him. ... A judge has turned down Scooter Libby’s request to delay his prison term. In fact, the judge gave him an extra three months just for having that stupid name, Scooter. ... There’s a huge problem with the Russian space station. The computers failed. The whole computer system went down. Pretty scary. But they’re hoping they can fix the problem and call tech support when they fly over India. ... According to a new study 30 percent of Cubans are overweight. The other 70 percent are still in Cuba.... Dan Rather came out swinging this week. He said that CBS and Katie Couric are tarting up the news. Tarting up the news? As opposed to Dan, who just made up the news.
Casual Friday
Outdoors Report
Outdoor recreation became front-page news this week, after a black bear killed a child in American Fork Canyon. Wildlife officials are taking heat and are evaluating bear management polices. Two campgrounds have been closed because of bear incidents. Click here for a large number of news articles about these issues.
Newsweek reports that participation in hunting and fishing activities is down nationwide. Wildlife officials in Utah and across the nation are concerned about that trend and are trying various schemes to interest young people in wildlife-related recreational activities. Read the Newsweek article.
Meanwhile, there is great fishing all around Utah right now. Kokanee are coming on strong at Flaming Gorge, smallmouth bass fishing is hot on local waters and trout fishing is good almost everywhere. Read Dave Webb's full report.
-- Bald eagles nesting in the Morning News
-- Morning News studies Strawberry Reservoir’s fish population
-- Bear precautions in the Tribune
-- Cycling news around the state in the Morning News’ Biking Notes
-- Check out the Tribune’s Outdoor Notebook and Recreation Roundup for sports and recreation activities this week
-- Find out about upcoming events in the Morning News’ Outdoor Notes
-- For the latest wildlife news and information and the fishing report visit the DWR website
New Films
-- Evan Almighty: Tribune review
-- 1408: Tribune review
-- A Mighty Heart: Tribune review
Concerts
-- Farmington Composers Concert, Friday, 7 p.m., Farmington Community Center, 120 S. Main, Farmington, free
-- Penny McKay Ballet, Friday, 7 p.m., Austad Auditorium, Weber State University, Ogden, free
-- Wasatch and District Pipe Band, Friday, 8 p.m., Brigham Young Historic Park, free
-- Gina Bachauer International Piano Festival, Friday and Saturday, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center
-- Salsa Dance Workshops and Performances, Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Studio 600, 23 E. 600 South, $25
-- The Cleveland Teen Trio, strings, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall, free
-- Lunch Bunch Concert Series, weekdays, noon, Gallivan Plaza
-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall
Theater
-- “Honk Jr.” through June 23, Babcock Theatre
-- “Ragtime, the Musical” through June 23, SCERA Shell
-- “The Secret Garden” through June 23, Center Street Musical Theatre
-- “Backstage” through June 25, Valley Center Playhouse, Lindon
-- “The Twelve Dancing Princesses” through June 25, Sugar Factory Playhouse
-- “1776” through June 30, Rodgers Memorial Theatre
-- “The Importance of Being Earnest” through June 30, Draper Historic Theatre
-- “Seussical, the Musical” through June 30, Old Barn Community Theatre, Collinston
-- “Fiddler on the Roof” through July 2, Empress Theatre
-- “Les Miserables” through July 7, Pioneer Theatre Company
-- “The Little Shop of Horrors” through July 28, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “The Rainmaker” through July 28, Hale Centre Theatre
-- “Cash on Delivery” through August 2, Old Lyric Repertory Company
-- “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” through August 4, Hale Center Theater, Orem
-- “I Fall to Pieces: The Life and Music of Patsy Cline” through August 6, Bumbleberry Theatre, Springdale
-- “Saturday's Voyeur: The Rocky Show” through August 12, Salt Lake Acting Company
-- “Less Miserables: A Revolution of Comedy” through August 25, Desert Star Cabaret Theatre
-- “Candida” through August 31, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “Coriolanus” through August 31, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “King Lear” through September 1, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “Lend Me a Tenor” through September 1, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “The Matchmaker” through September 1, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “Twelfth Night” through September 1, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “A Pirate's Life: Groovin' on the Seven Seas” through September 1, Pickleville Playhouse, Garden City (Bear Lake)
-- “Cinderella” through October 17, Tuacahn Amphitheater
-- “My Fair Lady” through October 19, Tuacahn Amphitheater
-- “It's Showtime!” through October 27, Bumbleberry Theatre, Springdale
-- “Twist the Night Away” through October 28, Bumbleberry Theatre, Springdale
-- “Nunsense A-Men,” Desert Star Theatre
-- “The Taffetas,” Desert Star Theatre
Museum Exhibits
-- Albert Tissandier: Drawings of Nature and Industry in the United States Exhibition, Museum of Utah Art & History through June 30
-- 83rd Annual Spring Salon, Springville Museum of Art, through July 8
-- Brian Kershisnik: Painting from Life Exhibition through July 1, Head Trip: Around The World in Forty Hats Exhibition through August 12, Utah Museum of Fine Arts, University of Utah
-- Life After Death: New Leipzig Paintings from the Rubell Family Collection Exhibition, through September 29, Salt Lake Art Center
Et Cetera
-- Groovefest, through June 24, Cedar City
-- Utah Arts Festival, through June 24, Library Square
-- Downtown Farmers’ Market, Saturdays through October 20, 8 a.m., Pioneer Park
-- Utah Shakespearean Festival, through October 27, Cedar City |
