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The 2022 money race
It’s FEC day when each campaign has to disclose how much they raised and spent over the past three months. The first report filed in Utah comes from Becky Edwards, the former state House Republican running against Sen. Mike Lee.
This is her first report, and it shows that she’s loaned her campaign $275,000, meaning that she could potentially pay herself back down the road. She raised another $229,000. Some of her former legislative colleagues are her contributors, including Republican Sheryl Allen and Democrat Rebecca Chavez-Houck. She also received a maximum contribution from Kansas City Chiefs Coach Andy Reid and his wife, Tammy.
Edwards is already as well-funded as most of Lee’s opponents during the two previous elections. In 2016, Democratic nominee Misty Snow raised just under $77,000 for her entire campaign. In the 2010 cycle, Democrat Sam Granato’s donations totaled just under $300,000. In the 2010 Republican primary, Tim Bridgewater raised $345,000 while loaning his campaign another $393,000.
This gives her $466,000 in the bank as she starts her primary challenge. Check back at sltrib.com later to see how this compares to Lee’s fundraising haul. — Matt Canham
Here’s what you need to know for Thursday morning
Utah news
The once-a-decade redistricting process will be a sprint this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Utah lawmakers will compress a process that usually takes months into a matter of weeks, beginning in September. [Tribune]
The Garfield County Sheriff is supporting the decision to charge a 19-year-old woman with a hate crime after she stomped on a “Back the Blue” sign. [Tribune]
Rising rents and a dearth of housing are forcing many Utah renters to get roommates or move in with family members to make ends meet. [Tribune]
Supporters of pop star Britney Spears rallied outside of the Utah Capitol on Wednesday to support her effort to be released from the conservatorship that has controlled nearly every aspect of her life since 2008. [Tribune]
National news
According to a forthcoming book, Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, was worried former President Donald Trump was considering a coup to stay in power after losing the 2020 election. “They may try, but they’re not going to f---ing succeed,” Milley reportedly told his deputies. [WaPo]
The same book reports Rep. Liz Cheney slapped Rep. Jim Jordan’s hand away when he tried to lead her to safety during the January 6 Capitol riot. “That f---ing guy, Jim Jordan. That son of a b----...I smacked his hand away and told him, ‘Get away from me. You f---ing did this,’” Cheney reportedly said during a phone call after the attack. [Daily Beast]
The House committee investigating the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol will hold its first hearing on July 27. They’ll hear testimony from Capitol Police officers who defended the building during the terrorist attack. [The Hill]
Mike Lindell, the “My Pillow” guy, is walking back his claims Trump will be reinstated in August. [Mediaite]
President Joe Biden and Congressional Democrats are working to sell their $3.5 trillion budget to the more skeptical members of their caucus. [AP]
The Delta variant is becoming more pervasive across the U.S. The more transmissible strain of the virus is likely fueling a surge of new infections. [CNN]
An Alabama military base is the first to require vaccinations if service members do not wear a mask while on duty. [WaPo]
Drug overdose deaths soared 30% in 2020. The increase was driven mostly by synthetic opioids. [WSJ]
In June, the number of arrests made at the U.S.-Mexico border was the highest in at least a decade. [CNN]
The Amazon rainforest is no longer a carbon sink. The region now emits more CO2 than it absorbs due to climate change and fires used to clear portions of the forest. [Guardian]
Delta Air Lines reported its first quarterly profit since the start of the pandemic. [NYT]
Thursday’s Utah news roundup
Utah
Murray City settles lawsuit with Black woman over a traffic stop, pays $152,000. [Tribune]
Zion National Park warns visitors to be aware that flash floods could kill them. [Tribune]
New dining, drinking and entertainment venue, brings ‘Las Vegas style’ to Salt Lake City. [Tribune]
What Utah Rep. Burgess Owens says is the ‘disinfectant’ to critical race theory. [DNews]
Facebook fires up first data center operations in Utah as massive construction project continues. [DNews]
COVID-19
Utah reports six more deaths and 572 new cases of COVID-19. [Tribune]
Summit County Board of Health members say vaccinations have become political. [Park Record]
Environment
Another reason to conserve water: We need it to put out fires, chiefs say. [KUTV]
Amid record heat, Utah expert suggests new proposal to pay for AC. [KUTV]
Housing
A woman died in the heat on Salt Lake City streets during a mental health crisis. Why her family says the system failed her. [DNews]
You need to earn $20.21 an hour to afford a 2-bedroom apartment in Utah, report says. [KUTV]
Utah home prices soar to new records as fewer homes are sold in June. [KUTV]
Where are all these people moving to Utah coming from? [KSL]
Education
Davis School District to consider partial land sale. [Standard Examiner]
School districts prepare for submission of federal relief funding application. [Standard Examiner]
Moms ‘struggled to survive’ work and home responsibilities during pandemic, Utah survey finds. [KSL]
Child tax credits should have immediate Utah County impact. [Daily Herald]
Local Government
Spanish Fork City Council approves land use amendments. [Daily Herald]
Mayors discuss transportation, future of mobility in Utah County. [Daily Herald]
Ogden City Council votes for seat at the renewable energy table. [Standard Examiner]
West 2nd Street named after notable Northwestern Shoshone chief. [Standard Examiner]
On the Opinion Pages
Mary McGann: Proposed Book Cliffs highway would be expensive and damaging to local environment. [Tribune]
Andrew J. Bjelland: Will American democracy pass its current stress test? [Tribune]
🎂 You say it’s your birthday?!!
Happy birthday to Rep. Chris Stewart.
Got a birthday you’d like us to recognize in this space? Send us an email.
— Tribune reporters Matt Canham and Connor Sanders contributed to this report.
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