Schedule Next Week
Utah Policy Daily will be in holiday mode next week. On Monday, Christmas Eve, we will publish a slimmed-down version consisting mostly of news links. We will not publish on Christmas day. We will publish short editions the rest of the week and won’t publish on New Years Day.
Washington Watch
Hatch: Protect Performance Rights
Sen. Orrin Hatch introduces the Performance Rights Act of 2007, which "would apply the performance right in a sound recording to all audio transmissions thereby removing the exemption on paying performance royalties currently in place for over-the-air broadcasters" (see press release).
Hatch urges "the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to correct the major structural deficiencies that impact its contracting program based on the findings of a newly released report of the Government Accountability Office" (press release).
Matheson: No to AMT Bill
Rep. Jim Matheson condemns the passage of AMT legislation "that ignored House budget enforcement rules in place for the past 12 months and added billions to the federal debt." Says Matheson: "What are we doing to our children and our grandchildren? The federal debt continues to climb at a rate of about $1 million per minute. The Blue Dogs may be the last ones standing who put their money where their mouths are when it comes to fiscal responsibility" (see press release).
Bishop Secures Funding
Rep. Rob Bishop announces that the final Congressional spending bill of 2007 contains almost $50 million in funding for military construction projects in Utah (see press release); Bishop announces "that the US House has blocked efforts to get rid of an existing statute which protects the Utah Test and Training Range. The current provision, commonly referred to as the Hansen Moratorium, protects the land around the range from development, including the potential storage of high level nuclear waste nearby on the Goshute Reservation" (press release).
Regional Politics
Nev. Lawmakers Criticized
Las Vegas Sun editorial condemns Nevada's GOP congressional delegation for blocking legislation that would have increased air quality protections for Great Basin National Park and stopped construction of new coal plants in Nevada.
Today in Political History
Dec. 21, 1988: A terrorist bomb explodes aboard Pan Am Flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people.
Dec. 21, 1991: Soviet Union is formally dissolved and 11 of the 12 former Soviet republics meet in Alma-Ata, Kazakhstan and found the Commonwealth of Independent States. (Source: Perspicuity)
Wise Words
“He that respects himself is safe from others; he wears a coat of mail that none can pierce.”
-- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Source: quote garden)
Historical Spotlight
Utah State Seal
The official State Seal was adopted on 3 April 1896. The seal was, according to the most accurate accounts, designed by Harry Emmett Edwards. Edwards was born in Ottawa, Canada, about 1862, and lived in Chicago for three years before moving to Utah about 1893. He worked as a bartender and also for a bank. He reportedly had no formal art training, but was a member of the National Society of Artists. How he came to design the seal is not known. He listed his occupation as "artist" when he joined a Masonic Lodge. He left Utah in about 1898 for the Klondike where he supposedly accumulated a fortune but lost it all in a fire. He died 24 Jan. 1930 in California.
The seal is described in the Utah Code 1953 67-2-9: "The great seal of the state of Utah shall be two and one-half inches in diameter, and of the following device: The center a shield and perched thereon an American eagle with outstretching wings; the top of the shield pierced by six arrows crosswise; under the arrows the motto ‘Industry’; beneath the motto a beehive the figures '1847' and on each side of the shield an American flag; encircling all, near the outer edge of the seal, beginning at the lower left-hand portion, the words ‘The Great Seal of the State of Utah,’ with the figures ‘1896’ at the base.” (Source: Utah.Edu)
National Politics
Best Stories From . . .
-- New Hampshire Union Leader: Polls show John McCain gaining ground in New Hampshire "after a week of endorsements from major media, from former Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman, and from a former secretary of state to two Presidents, Henry Kissinger."
-- RealClearPolitics: Columnist Jay Cost: "Most neutral observers would agree that Hillary Clinton's response to Barack Obama's rise has been bungled. Over the past few weeks, we have seen her campaign attempt again and again to attack him, only to make itself look foolish. ... I am sure that Team Clinton has a number of contingency plans in its filing drawer, but the rise of Obama is clearly not one of them."
-- New York Times: While the other candidates focus on Iowa and New Hampshire, Rudy Giuliani is campaigning in Florida "in the hopes that a victory there will position him to do well on Feb. 5, when more than 20 states, including Missouri, New York, New Jersey and California, go to the polls."
-- The Hill: "President Bush on Thursday praised leaders from both parties for passing key bills prior to the end of the congressional session and refused to gloat even though Democratic leaders caved to many of the White House's demands."
SUWA: Protect White River
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance condemns the BLM's Vernal field office for releasing "a highly controversial decision approving 60 new natural gas wells near northeastern Utah's magnificent White River" (see press release).
Lighter Side
“Since I’m from Georgia, I’ll say the opposite of Sherman …If drafted, I would run, and if nominated, I would serve.”
-- Newt Gingrich, serving notice he’d like to be vice president (“This Week,” ABC, reprinted in The Economist)
Casual Friday
Fishing Report
Strawberry has safe ice on some bays and people report good fishing there. The main lake still has considerable open water. Conditions can change quickly at this time of year, so use caution.
Otter Creek, Scofield and other similar reservoirs are frozen and have generally good ice fishing. Jordanelle, Deer Creek, Fish Lake and some other popular waters will not freeze for a couple more weeks.
Hunting Changes
You must have a hunting or combination license before you can apply for a 2008 big game permit, and applications will only be accepted through the Division of Wildlife Resources' Web site. You can apply beginning Jan 2, at wildlife.utah.gov. Some 230,000 people will apply for permits, so get online early for your best chance. Here are more details. See the full fishing report on redrockadventure.com.
Outdoors Report
-- Utah’s natural wonders inspire artists in the Tribune
-- Morning News follows Utah skiers in World Cup competition
-- Tribune skis extreme lines in “Steep”
-- Enjoy Utah’s winter wonderland in the Morning News
-- Tribune’s Snowshoe Hike of the Week explores American Fork Canyon
-- 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
-- Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Seville: Tribune review
-- Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story: Tribune review
-- Charlie Wilson’s War: Tribune review
Concerts
-- “A Boy Was Born: A Celebration of Christmas,” Friday, 7:30 p.m., Bountiful Community Church, 100 North and 400 East, Bountiful
-- Winter Solstice Concert, Friday, 7:30 p.m., St. Mark’s Cathedral “Ebenezer Scrooge,” Ballet Centre, Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.; also Saturday, 2 p.m., Murray High School, 5440 S. State, $6 (266-5999)
-- New York Voices with the Utah Symphony, Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m., Abravanel Hall
-- “Here Comes Santa Claus,” Utah Symphony and Jordan High School Choir, Saturday, 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., Abravanel Hall
-- “Gloria: Life of Christ,” Lex de Azevedo & the Millennium Choir with George Dyer, Saturday, 7 p.m., St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 261 S. 900 East
-- “The Christmas Box,” pianist Paul Cardall, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Rose Wagner Center, $16-$18
-- “A Delightful Christmas Concert,” local pianists, violinists, singers along with San Francisco and Utah Opera Singers, Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Libby Gardner Concert Hall, U.
-- “Christmas on Temple Square,” through December 23
-- “Christmas at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building,” through December 23
-- “The Nutcracker,” Ballet West through December 29, Capitol Theatre
-- Organ Recitals, every Saturday, noon, and every Sunday, 2 p.m., Temple Square Assembly Hall
Theater
-- “1940’s Radio Hour” through December 22, Rodgers Memorial Theatre
-- “A Christmas Carol” through December 22, Hale Centre Theatre
-- “A Christmas Carol on the Air” through December 22, Utah Shakespearean Festival
-- “A Wonderful Life, the Musical” through December 22, Art City Playhouse
-- “Babes in Toyland” through December 22, Heritage Theatre
-- “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” through December 22, Valley Center Playhouse
-- “The Foreigner” through December 22, Pioneer Theatre Company
-- “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” through December 22, Academy of Performing Arts
-- “Santa’s Elves, A North Pole Musical” through December 22, Pickleville Playhouse
-- “Scrooge, A Christmas Carol” through December 22, Terrace Plaza Playhouse
-- “Christmas Carol 2” through December 29, The Off Broadway Theatre
-- “Gutenberg! The Musical!” through December 30, Plan-B Theatre Company
Museum Exhibits
-- The Bear River Exhibition through December 30, Utah Museum of Natural History
-- Picturing the West: 19th Century Landscape Photography Exhibition through December 30, Andy Warhol’s Dream America Exhibition through January 6, Cinderella: Masks, Magic, and Mirrors Exhibition through March 31, Utah Museum of Fine Arts
-- SF Recycled and Masters of West Coast Assemblage and Collage Exhibitions through January 26, David Kimball Anderson: To Morris Graves Exhibition through February 2, Salt Lake Art Center
-- Minerva Teichert: Pageants in Paint Exhibition, through May 26, Brigham Young University Museum of Art
Et Cetera
-- Winter Solstice Celebration, Friday, 5 – 7 p.m., Bend-in-the-River
-- Winter Solstice Festival, Saturday, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Red Butte Garden
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