Good Thursday morning Utah!
Thanks for reading “The Rundown”.
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A bombshell report on Utah’s pandemic response
An investigation by The Salt Lake Tribune raises some serious questions about some of the no-bid contracts handed out by the Utah State Government in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The story from Andrew Becker says Co-Diagnostics, which provided COVID tests for the TestUtah initiative, was an unprofitable company. After joining Nomi Health as part of the TestUtah initiative, their stock price skyrocketed.
As Becker reports, the Securities and Exchange Commission made multiple inquiries to the state government about Co-Diagnostics around the same time that questions about the accuracy of their tests were beginning to multiply.
Co-Diagnostics also benefited from a handful of politically connected tech leaders in the state who reached out to Sen. Mitt Romney for help in security emergency authorization for their tests. That same group also relied on then-Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox to prod state health officials.
The whole story is remarkable. Read the whole thing here.
Here’s what you need to know for Thursday morning
Utah news
Republicans in the Utah Legislature are satisfied with actions taken by the Utah State School Board on teaching about race in schools. As a result, they don’t see the need to address critical race theory before the 2022 session. [Tribune]
Utah lawmakers heard testimony about transgender youth on Wednesday as they explore possible legislation restricting them from healthcare and participating in sports. [Tribune]
Rep. Chris Stewart says President Joe Biden should retaliate against Russia if cyberattacks against the U.S. continue. [Tribune]
Utah County has difficulty ensuring whether public officials aren’t hiding messages about official business on their personal electronic devices. [Tribune]
The Utah Jazz lost to the Los Angeles Clippers 119-111 Wednesday night, putting them on the brink of elimination from the playoffs. [Tribune]
National news
President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin met in Switzerland on Wednesday. The two planned future work on arms control and cybersecurity. Biden warned Putin of “devastating” consequences if opposition leader Alexey Navalny were to die in prison. [CNN]
“Pure insanity.” New documents show how desperate former President Trump and his supporters were to overturn his election loss in 2020. [WaPo]
The Federal Reserve says they expect to start raising interest rates in late 2023, which is sooner than anticipated as the economy is recovering rapidly from the pandemic. [WSJ]
The prospects for a bipartisan deal on infrastructure spending are rising in Congress. 21 senators support the deal, including 11 Republicans. White House officials say there is “room” to make a deal. [WaPo]
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin says he’s open to some voting reform measures, which could create an opening for compromise legislation. [WaPo]
Congress passed a bill making Juneteenth, which marks the end of slavery in the U.S., a federal holiday. 14 Republicans in the House voted against the legislation. [AP]
The Department of Education said Wednesday discrimination against transgender students is prohibited under Title IX. The announcement reverses a Trump-era position. [NYT]
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un admits that country is facing a “tense” food shortage. [BBC]
A dire new report says the Earth is warming much faster than previously thought. The amount of heat trapped by the planet has doubled since 2005. [WaPo]
A former White House adviser is warning the new Delta strain of COVID-19 is “like COVID on steroids.” The strain is more contagious and causes more severe disease. [CNN]
Listen to this
Former Utah Rep. (and friend of The Rundown) Jason Chaffetz interviews Brett Tollman on the new episode of his “Jason in the House” podcast.
Tolman discusses his time working in Congress for Sens. Orrin Hatch and Arlen Specter. He also talks about the Elizabeth Smart case.
Tolman is also defending an individual who is being questioned by the FBI for their presence in Washington, D.C. on January 6.
Thursday’s Utah news roundup
Utah
Inland port board approves $40 million budget that includes money for a new transloading facility. [Tribune]
Here’s why a Salt Lake City ‘Real Housewives’ star wants the fraud case against her dismissed. [Tribune]
A Utah student with Down syndrome was left out of a photo of her school’s cheerleading squad. [Tribune]
New map reveals Utah is one of the youngest places in the world. [DNews]
Utah driver licenses getting a new look to help prevent fraud. [KUTV]
Own it, Salt Lake City drivers, you could be better. [FOX13]
Salt Lake County Library to hold Juneteenth events. [FOX13]
Task force begins process of designing new Utah flag, question could be on 2022 ballot. [KSL]
‘We have a violent crime problem in Utah,’ says U.S. Marshal. [ABC4]
COVID-19
Utah reports 413 new cases of COVID-19 — the most in a month. [Tribune]
Legislature
State legislators question AP&P about parole failures leaving violent fugitives at large. [KUTV]
Environment
Federal judge says Biden cannot pause new leases for drilling on public lands. [Tribune]
Zion National Park warns of toxins in the water — and that they’re likely to get worse. [Tribune]
‘Lawn’ is becoming a ‘four-letter word’ amid Utah’s dire drought. [DNews]
Several cities in Utah consider proposal to expand no firework zones to major streets. [KUTV]
Salt Lake County parks cutting back water use in heat and drought. [KUTV]
Ogden City officials discuss early water facility closure, fireworks enforcement. [Standard Examiner]
Arson incidents, fireworks, high wildfire danger draw official plea for public vigilance. [Standard Examiner]
Local Government
Orem City Council approves budget for 2022 fiscal year. [Daily Herald]
Commission approves adding 17 employees to Utah County Recorder’s Office. [Daily Herald]
Provo council sends southwest intent statement back to Planning Commission. [Daily Herald]
Ogden City Council on the verge of resolving 2nd Street issue. [Standard Examiner]
On the Opinion Pages
Astrid S. Tuminez and Kyle Reyes: Juneteenth is a time to commemorate and to act. [Tribune]
Andre’ M. Boyd: Juneteenth is America’s second Independence Day. [Tribune]
🎂 You say it’s your birthday?!!
Birthday wishes to State Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Riverton, former state Rep. Rich Cunningham, BYU political science professor Kelly Patterson and Ally Isom, former spokesperson for former Gov. Gary Herbert and potential 2022 U.S. Senate candidate.
Got a birthday you’d like us to recognize in this space? Send us an email.
— Tribune reporter Connor Sanders contributed to this report.
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