Happy Friday!
Need a reason to welcome immigrants? Research shows that the population of working-age Americans will drop significantly without them in coming years, making it more difficult to fund such things as Medicare and Social Security — let alone fill all labor needs.
The Pew Research Center says the large Baby Boom Generation — born after World War II and up to 1965 — is heading into retirement. Its loss plus the smaller size of following generations means the working-age population will shrink unless new immigrants are added.
“Without these new arrivals, the number of immigrants of working age would decline by 17.6 million by 2035, as would the total projected U.S. working-age population, which would fall to 165.6 million,” down more than 8 million, the center said. [Pew]
Topping the news: One story dominated Utah news: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints put an end to a controversial 2015 policy that classified same sex couples as apostates and prohibited their children from being baptized in the church. [Trib][Fox13][NYTimes][WaPost]
-> Reactions to the policy change among activists and government leaders ranged from joyful to cautious to critical. [Trib]
-> Imagine Dragons frontman Dan Reynolds, founder of Utah’s LoveLoud music festival that seeks to help prevent suicide among LGBTQ youths, was among artists who cautiously praised the policy change.[Trib]
-> In a Religion News Service commentary, Jana Riess says the LGBTQ policy reversal shows the church is willing to question and change even stands it had previously said were clear revelations from God. [Trib]
-> Tribune columnist Robert Kirby gave his take on coming out of the stupid closet. [Trib]
-> And cartoonist Pat Bagley drew about what it may mean to be church approved. [Trib]
Tweets of the day: From @TroyWilliamsUT “The hardest part of my job is quickly finding words to adequately capture overwhelming emotion — & then responding to an onslaught of press! I’m grateful to Church leaders for listening and reversing the policy. This will keep families intact. This will save lives. More soon.”
-> From @AddisonDJenkins “THERE we go! Reversing the policy doesn't magically *undue* all the damage in the past 3.5 years! Imagine... idk you broke Michael Phelps' back and he couldn't go to the Olympics and then years later you're like "my bad, here's you back, back ¯\_(ツ)_/¯" doesn't cut it!”
Behind the Headlines: Tribune Managing Editor David Noyce, government and politics editor Dan Harrie, and columnist George Pyle join KCPW’s Roger McDonough talk about the week’s top stories, including the policy reversal. Every Friday at 9 a.m., stream “Behind the Headlines” at kcpw.org, or tune in to KCPW 88.3 FM or Utah Public Radio for the broadcast. Join the live conversation by calling (801) 355-TALK.
Friday Quiz: Last week, 98% of you knew that Utah women will no longer need a prescription for birth control, but only 47% knew that 135,000 acres of public land in Utah were leased for oil and gas exploration. Think you kept up with the news this week? Take our quiz to find out. You can find previous quizzes here. If you’re using The Salt Lake Tribune mobile app, click here. [Trib]
Happy Birthday: on Friday to Karen Crompton from Voices for Utah Children and Jesse P. Higgins; on Saturday to state Rep. Craig Hall, state Sen. Karen Mayne, former state Rep. Neil Hansen, former Utah GOP National Committeeman Bruce Hough and former Young Democrats President TJ Ellerbeck; and on Sunday to state Rep. Derrin Owens.
In other news: More than a dozen police officers attended the Salt Lake City Council meeting to urge officials to increase pay for the Salt Lake Police Department which is one of the lower paid departments on the Wasatch Front. [Trib]
-> Lehi Police say chalk art that was left by mothers and children on the city hall sidewalk in protest of the gravel mine is considered “criminal mischief.” [Trib]
-> As recreation keeps booming near Moab, federal officials look to limit dispersed camping at the biking hot spot of Klondike Bluffs — saying visitors are destroying vegetation and leaving fetid waste. [Trib]
-> A public comment period has been opened to determine the best method to reduce congestion in Big Cottonwood and Little Cottonwood canyon, methods proposed include charging tolls, building train lines, constructing another road lane or adding buses or gondolas. [Trib][Fox13]
-> Tribune columnist Robert Kirby, describes what General Conference would be like if seating arrangements were organized hierarchically. [Trib]
-> Tribune columnist, Robert Gehrke, paints a picture of how the electoral college would apply to Utah state elections. [Trib]
-> Salt Lake City joined a nationwide protest movement that demands U.S. Attorney General, William Barr to release special counsel Robert Mueller's report. [DNews]
Nationally: President Donald Trump backs off his Mexican border shutdown threats, but now talks about auto tariffs. [AP via Trib]
-> Trump says Friday that Democrats are playing political games with national security, and there is “an undeniable crisis on our southern border and we need to fix it QUICKLY!” He posts a video on Facebook. [TrumpFacebook]
-> Despite bipartisan pleas from senators, Trump remains impassable on moving forward a bill to provide disaster aid unless funds to Puerto Rico are reduced. [Politico]
-> Trump tweeted a doctored video clip of former vice president Joe Biden mocking him based on allegations of being overtly physical with women. [NYTimes]
-> The news that the Mueller report could potentially contain information that would be detrimental to Trump has reignited the nearly two-year-old battle over the Russian probe. [WaPost]
-> Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, attempting to get House Democrats to keep him out of jail, extended a carrot in the form of documents he says would be useful in investigating Trump. [WaPost]
-> Boeing’s CEO acknowledges that a company-approved flight system played a role in crashes of its new Boeing 737 Max in Ethiopia and Indonesia. [AP via Trib]
-> Got a tip? A birthday, wedding or anniversary to announce? Send us a note to cornflakes@trib.com.
Lee Davidson and Christina Giardinelli
twitter.com/LeeDavi82636879, @C_Giardinelli
Follow @sltribpolitics