Good Monday morning Utah!
Thanks for reading “The Rundown”.
I want to hear from you! Got a news tip? Some feedback on this newsletter? Send me an email or talk to me on Twitter.
Get this newsletter delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign up for free here.
Mischief managed
While Sen. Mitt Romney getting booed at the GOP state convention is getting all of the attention, Republican delegates made a significant change to party rules that will have far-reaching implications.
Delegates voted to change the quorum rules for State Central Committee meetings, increasing the number of members needed to conduct a meeting to half of the membership, which is about 90. The old number was just 40 members. While Carson Jorgensen was elected as the new chairman of the GOP, the central committee is the actual power center of the party. The 180-ish members make many of the crucial decisions about the party’s direction.
A few years ago, a group of about 50 SCC members exploited the old rule and held an emergency meeting where they passed a rule kicking any candidate who gathered signatures to get on the ballot out of the party. The rule intentionally violated state law and was part of an ongoing crusade against the signature path to the primary ballot. Many party hardliners have fought for years to repeal it.
Quite a few SCC members were unable to attend that hastily called meeting, but since only 40 were required for a quorum, it didn’t matter.
The new rule, which some of the more hardline members of the SCC strenuously opposed, should prevent those kinds of shenanigans from happening again.
Here’s what you need to know for Monday morning
Republican delegates rained boos and catcalls down on Sen. Mitt Romney as he tried to address the crowd at Saturday’s Utah GOP convention [Tribune].
Romney narrowly avoided an official censure from Utah Republicans on Saturday [Tribune].
Maine Sen. Susan Collins says she was “appalled” by the treatment Romney got from his fellow Republicans [Tribune].
Aside from turning their ire on Romney, Utah Republicans elected new leadership. Newly elected chair Carson Jorgenson and the rest his team are all under 35 [Tribune].
Lumber prices in Utah have jumped more than 300%, which is driving the cost of home construction through the roof [Tribune].
President Joe Biden is negotiating with Republicans on an infrastructure package, but he may not be patent for very long [Politico].
House Republicans are growing frustrated with Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, who won’t back down from her criticism of former President Donald Trump. She’s in danger of losing her leadership position in the GOP Caucus [The Hill].
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen brushed off concerns that President Biden’s multi-trillion-dollar spending plans won’t fuel inflation [AP].
Experts say it’s unlikely that the U.S. will ever achieve herd immunity against the coronavirus because of rapidly spreading variants and those who are hesitant to receive the vaccination [NYT].
The European Union says American tourists who have been fully vaccinated will be able to visit this summer [NYT].
Democrats got shut out of a runoff election for a congressional seat after Republicans grabbed the top two spots in a north Texas election [Texas Tribune].
Right-wing media outlet Newsmax apologized to an employee of Dominion Voting Systems for falsely accusing he manipulated votes against Donald Trump in the 2020 election [WaPo].
A bill in Florida would fine social media platforms for banning politicians, but there’s an exemption for Disney [The Verge].
Yikes! Former national security adviser Gen. Michael Flynn forgot the words to the Pledge of Allegiance when he was called on stage to lead the crowd during a political rally [The Week].
More than 100 U.S. colleges and universities are requiring students to get COVID-19 vaccinations [CNN].
Billions of dollars the Trump administration diverted from the Pentagon for the construction of a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border are being pulled from that project [ABC News].
Monday’s Utah news roundup
Utah
Jill Biden to visit Utah next week [Tribune].
‘Leaders listened’ — Treasured murals will stay in Manti Temple; Ephriam will get an LDS temple, too [Tribune].
Police violence prompts state debates over releasing officer records [Tribune].
What a Utah high school prom looked like in the middle of the pandemic [Tribune].
In-person visits at Utah prisons to resume in June [Tribune].
Despite sluggish growth nationwide, populations in Utah, Idaho growing at record pace [KUTV].
It’s the only wool testing lab in America. Here’s how the Utah lab is helping to save the planet [Deseret News].
First woman promoted to Brigadier General in Utah’s Army National Guard [ABC4].
COVID
‘It just hurts my heart’ — How COVID dissent pushed some Latter-day saints away from their church [Tribune].
COVID-19 case counts flatten after rising in Utah last week [Tribune].
Navajo Nation reports 6 new COVID-19 cases, 3 more deaths [AP via Tribune].
Why mass vaccination remains the focus of health officials in fight against COVID-19 [Deseret News].
Remaining Utah COVID restrictions expected to be lifted next Friday [KUTV].
Weber, Davis counties extend COVID-19 vaccination hours, allow walk-in appointments [Standard-Examiner].
Environment
Wyoming backs coal with $1.2M threat to sue other states [AP via Tribune].
How the pandemic exposed the water issues for southwestern tribes [Tribune].
What the heck is a ‘living building’? It’s a first of its kind for Utah [KSL].
Education
A public university bachelor’s degree for $9,000, and they’re not kidding [Deseret News].
Local news
Development of Skyline Drive, linking northern Pleasant View and North Ogden, edges ahead [Standard-Examiner].
Park City approves return of Silly Market after 2020 coronavirus cancellation [Park Record].
Summit County is told $1M grant helped ‘hundreds of community members’ avoid homelessness [Park Record].
Park City mayor launches reelection bid [Park Record].
City approves new noise ordinance [Moab Times-Independent].
On the opinion pages
Robert Gehrke: Here’s how some mixed families — with some kids vaccinated, others not — are trying to navigate the tail end of the pandemic [Tribune].
Utah should put its federal windfall into things that will last [Tribune].
Hold the ‘millennial’ jokes — Utah’s youngest congressman means business [Deseret News].
Follow @@SchottHappens