We would like to thank all of the compassionate and patriotic people who have reached out to our family in our time of grief. We so appreciate their kind service to us during the funeral events for our treasured son, 1st Lt. Kenneth “Kage” Allen, and their helping us honor him. From Follow the Flag supporters, patriot riders, civic leaders (including Lee Perry and Box Elder High School administrators) and local businesses and community members to neighbors, military and church friends, we have been helped, assisted and strengthened as we celebrated Kage’s life and laid him to rest. We were in awe over flag lined streets and overpasses and roads filled with patriotic Utahns paying their respects during the honorary transfer of his casket and the funeral procession.
We know that this tribute was not just for our son, but an expression of appreciation and support for all the noble individuals who put their lives on the line in defense of our great country. May God continue to bless America through wonderful people like you. We appreciate every service you have given us and want you to know that your prayers have literally carried us through. Miraculously, even while grief brings waves of nausea and heartache, kindness has brought smiles, healing sunshine amidst rain. We thank each of you for all you have done to ease our way and lighten our pain. May you be blessed for your goodness.
Sterner ranks No. 4 all-time at BYU with a career earned run average of 2.86. That’s the best ERA recorded by a Cougar pitcher since Mike Tucker, who had a 2.60 ERA from 1976-78.
PROVO — BYU pitcher Justin Sterner is turning pro.
The right-hander from Laguna Niguel, California, signed a free agent contract with the Miami Marlins Thursday.
“I have so many people to thank especially my family and coaches at BYU for giving me a chance to prove what I can do,” Sterner wrote on a social media account. “I’m so grateful for my time at BYU. I’m so excited I get to keep playing the game that I love.”
Sterner ranks No. 4 all-time at BYU with a career earned run average of 2.86. That’s the best ERA recorded by a Cougar pitcher since Mike Tucker, who had a 2.60 ERA from 1976-78. Sterner also ranks No. 9 at BYU with a 9.21 strikeout per nine innings average and a 1.31 WHIP.
“I couldn’t be happier that Justin has this opportunity,” BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said in a statement. “He’s been a great leader for us the past few years and the anchor of our staff. He’s done nothing but get better and better every day and I know he’ll be great at the next level.”
The organization with which Sterner signed has been rocked this week with the news of 18 COVID-19 cases among its players, forcing the postponement of games.
In his coronavirus-shorted junior season in 2020, Sterner posted a 2.53 ERA and 24 strikeouts in four starts. In 2019, Sterner led the Cougars with an 8-3 record, a 2.92 ERA and 71 strikeouts.
Sterner is the second BYU player to sign a free agent contract. Pitcher Jarod Lessar signed a deal with the New York Yankees in June.
Sterner ranks No. 4 all-time at BYU with a career earned run average of 2.86. That’s the best ERA recorded by a Cougar pitcher since Mike Tucker, who had a 2.60 ERA from 1976-78.
PROVO — BYU pitcher Justin Sterner is turning pro.
The right-hander from Laguna Niguel, California, signed a free agent contract with the Miami Marlins Thursday.
“I have so many people to thank especially my family and coaches at BYU for giving me a chance to prove what I can do,” Sterner wrote on a social media account. “I’m so grateful for my time at BYU. I’m so excited I get to keep playing the game that I love.”
Sterner ranks No. 4 all-time at BYU with a career earned run average of 2.86. That’s the best ERA recorded by a Cougar pitcher since Mike Tucker, who had a 2.60 ERA from 1976-78. Sterner also ranks No. 9 at BYU with a 9.21 strikeout per nine innings average and a 1.31 WHIP.
“I couldn’t be happier that Justin has this opportunity,” BYU head coach Mike Littlewood said in a statement. “He’s been a great leader for us the past few years and the anchor of our staff. He’s done nothing but get better and better every day and I know he’ll be great at the next level.”
The organization with which Sterner signed has been rocked this week with the news of 18 COVID-19 cases among its players, forcing the postponement of games.
In his coronavirus-shorted junior season in 2020, Sterner posted a 2.53 ERA and 24 strikeouts in four starts. In 2019, Sterner led the Cougars with an 8-3 record, a 2.92 ERA and 71 strikeouts.
Sterner is the second BYU player to sign a free agent contract. Pitcher Jarod Lessar signed a deal with the New York Yankees in June.
A man wearing a protective face mask is silhouetted against a sunset in the city center in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, July 4, 2020. | Associated Press
As a doctor who works in an emergency room, I have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a university professor in pediatrics and global health, I have also been anxiously engaged in the discussion about the impact of climate change on the health of the world’s most vulnerable.
The parallels between the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change are striking. Both are global public health emergencies. Both simultaneously rely on trust in science and trust in a sense of common humanity. Both can seem abstract, even while the scope and implications of both can feel overwhelming. Both require bold and comprehensive public policy and bipartisan political support, even while the response to both has at times been hampered by disinformation that seeks division rather than solutions.
But I’m also struck by the differences.
The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused almost complete economic paralysis. In contrast, many economists and businesses believe that a comprehensive response to climate change would actually stimulate the economy, creating jobs for middle- and working-class Americans. Amid the harsh realities of COVID-19, our response to one planetary crisis — climate change — could offer a much-needed lifeline to our pandemic-ravaged economy.
But the most striking difference between COVID-19 and climate change is the dramatic disparity in the state of the science. While our understanding of what COVID-19 does to individuals and populations is evolving quickly, there remain huge gaps in our knowledge. New symptoms crop up daily; testing modalities have variable levels of accuracy; the degree to which infection results in subsequent immunity is uncertain; and we are still unclear how the virus affects children. All of this, while the world collectively holds its breath for scientists to find effective treatments and a vaccine.
This contrasts starkly with the science of climate change where the state of our knowledge is deep and the result of decades of intense study. With overwhelming scientific consensus, we know its causes, we know its effects and we know what to do to stop it. Without a significant decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, we will breach thresholds within a decade, beyond which the climate-related risks to the public’s health rise dramatically.
Here, too, comparisons with COVID-19 are helpful: as devastating as the human and economic costs of this pandemic have already been, they stand to be orders of magnitude less severe than what we can expect with climate change — particularly for children and for the poor.
Yet, we can take heart. Utah’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic heralds the critical need to respond as a unified community to a clear and present threat to our health. We now see the scale of adjustment we are capable of and we see the ability of people to mobilize when an emergency is made clear. Put simply, we cannot defeat COVID-19 if we do not act in unison as a community. Similarly, we need a unified response to climate change.
When it comes to protecting the public from a rapidly changing climate, we are woefully behind where science and expert consensus tell us we need to be. Let us learn from this unique moment in time to plan and make the necessary changes to combat the threats of climate change.
We are capable of leading the way through a major public health challenge. If we can confront climate change in the same way, we have the opportunity to lead our nation in making the transformative changes that will protect our communities, enliven the economy and lead to a more resilient society.
Jeff Robison is the director of the Global, Rural & Underserved Child Health Program at the University of Utah School of Medicine and a pediatric emergency medicine physician. He also serves on the board of Utah Clean Energy. His views are his own.
A man wearing a protective face mask is silhouetted against a sunset in the city center in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, July 4, 2020. | Associated Press
As a doctor who works in an emergency room, I have been on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a university professor in pediatrics and global health, I have also been anxiously engaged in the discussion about the impact of climate change on the health of the world’s most vulnerable.
The parallels between the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change are striking. Both are global public health emergencies. Both simultaneously rely on trust in science and trust in a sense of common humanity. Both can seem abstract, even while the scope and implications of both can feel overwhelming. Both require bold and comprehensive public policy and bipartisan political support, even while the response to both has at times been hampered by disinformation that seeks division rather than solutions.
But I’m also struck by the differences.
The response to the COVID-19 pandemic has caused almost complete economic paralysis. In contrast, many economists and businesses believe that a comprehensive response to climate change would actually stimulate the economy, creating jobs for middle- and working-class Americans. Amid the harsh realities of COVID-19, our response to one planetary crisis — climate change — could offer a much-needed lifeline to our pandemic-ravaged economy.
But the most striking difference between COVID-19 and climate change is the dramatic disparity in the state of the science. While our understanding of what COVID-19 does to individuals and populations is evolving quickly, there remain huge gaps in our knowledge. New symptoms crop up daily; testing modalities have variable levels of accuracy; the degree to which infection results in subsequent immunity is uncertain; and we are still unclear how the virus affects children. All of this, while the world collectively holds its breath for scientists to find effective treatments and a vaccine.
This contrasts starkly with the science of climate change where the state of our knowledge is deep and the result of decades of intense study. With overwhelming scientific consensus, we know its causes, we know its effects and we know what to do to stop it. Without a significant decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, we will breach thresholds within a decade, beyond which the climate-related risks to the public’s health rise dramatically.
Here, too, comparisons with COVID-19 are helpful: as devastating as the human and economic costs of this pandemic have already been, they stand to be orders of magnitude less severe than what we can expect with climate change — particularly for children and for the poor.
Yet, we can take heart. Utah’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic heralds the critical need to respond as a unified community to a clear and present threat to our health. We now see the scale of adjustment we are capable of and we see the ability of people to mobilize when an emergency is made clear. Put simply, we cannot defeat COVID-19 if we do not act in unison as a community. Similarly, we need a unified response to climate change.
When it comes to protecting the public from a rapidly changing climate, we are woefully behind where science and expert consensus tell us we need to be. Let us learn from this unique moment in time to plan and make the necessary changes to combat the threats of climate change.
We are capable of leading the way through a major public health challenge. If we can confront climate change in the same way, we have the opportunity to lead our nation in making the transformative changes that will protect our communities, enliven the economy and lead to a more resilient society.
Jeff Robison is the director of the Global, Rural & Underserved Child Health Program at the University of Utah School of Medicine and a pediatric emergency medicine physician. He also serves on the board of Utah Clean Energy. His views are his own.
University of Utah Health medical assistant Scott Anderson wears a FlexiFreeze cooling vest as he tests a motorcycle rider for COVID-19 in Farmington on Friday, July 31, 2020. University of Utah Health is using cooling methods at its testing stations to keep employees comfortable during the extreme heat. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Friday’s rolling seven-day average of new cases is 457, and the positive test rate is 9.9%
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah dipped below 500 average daily new COVID-19 cases on Friday — the day before the Aug. 1 deadline for which Gov. Gary Herbert warned could bring greater government restrictions if that goal wasn’t met.
The Beehive State confirmed exactly 500 more cases of the novel coronavirus and four additional deaths on Friday, the Utah Department of Health reported. The rolling seven-day average of new cases is now 457, and the positive test rate is 9.9%.
On Thursday, the average was 508 with a 9.6% positive rate.
As this week has brought lower daily case counts, it’s also brought lower testing numbers — but the positive rate remains relatively high. Just over 4,500 test results were included in Friday’s tally, with a positive rate of 11%.
And though the goal of fewer than 500 cases was narrowly met, restrictions such as a mask mandate still remain on the table, Herbert’s office said Friday.
Mask mandate?
“It’s very promising, and we’re extremely happy that we did see that number today, but we’ll wait for tomorrow and kind of go from there,” Brooke Scheffler, spokeswoman with the governor’s office, said.
She said Herbert will continue looking at the data into next week and continue discussions with other leaders about what should happen next. The lower testing numbers and high positive rate will also play into his decision whether to implement more restrictions, such as a mask mandate, Scheffler said, but she did not know to what extent.
Officials with the Utah Department of Health also remained cautiously optimistic about the decrease in the state’s average.
“I think it’s definitely a good sign, and we’re continuing to move in the right direction. I think everybody is still a little bit hesitant about what the numbers this week really mean just in terms of, we have seen lower testing and what role the 24th of July holiday potentially played into that,” Tom Hudachko, state health department spokesman, noted.
Utah’s testing capacity remains at an average of 7,000 a day. To continue performing tests at a high capacity, University of Utah Health, one of the largest test administrators in northern Utah, has implemented safety measures to work throughout the summer heat including cooling vests, stand-up cooling units and cooling stations
Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Traffic controller Mike Green shows his FlexiFreeze cooling vest as University of Utah Health workers test for COVID-19 in Farmington on Friday, July 31, 2020. U of U Health is using cooling methods to keep employees comfortable while working in the extreme heat.
But Hudachko said testing sites have reported less demand the past five to seven days. Officials and site administrators don’t know whether it’s due to the holiday weekend or fewer infections actually occurring.
“We have seen a slight decrease in testing. It’s not due to lack of test capacity. It’s not due to the fact that we are limiting testing, but it is something that we’ll have to kind of really keep a really close eye on, and how that impacts our total case counts, especially if we’re setting specific public health measures to our case counts,” Dr. Eddie Stenehjem, Intermountain Healthcare infectious disease physician, said Thursday in a news conference.
The test positive rate remaining around 10% indicates there is still a high community prevalence and transmission, he said.
“We are seeing cases going down throughout Utah, but the biggest impact so far is in Salt Lake County, where we’re seeing the biggest bending of the curve,” Stenehjem said.
Salt Lake — which once accounted for more than half of the state’s new cases — and Summit counties have both reported decreases due to mask mandates implemented just over a month ago. Logan announced its own mandate on Thursday.
But Stenehjem said Utah could see increased cases due to the 24th of July, which would begin to get identified over the weekend.
When asked earlier this week what she would recommend should Utah not reach its goal of a daily average below 500, state epidemiologist Dr. Angela Dunn simply said she is recommending measures that have worked in other states and countries.
When asked Friday what Dunn will recommend should the average rise again, Hudachko said she is “still in the same position as last time.”
“The governor is aware of the options that he has at his disposal, and he’s the one who will make any determinations as far as changing the response,” he added.
Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, who won Utah’s June 30 GOP gubernatorial primary, also said he’ll defer to Herbert on a statewide mask mandate.
“Look, I get it,” Cox said when asked whether he supports requiring all Utahns to wear masks. “But I’m the lieutenant governor. We advise the governor. We’re working very closely with the governor. This is his decision and I can’t get in front of him on this one”
That means, he said, “I support the governor. He’s been very clear if the numbers don’t continue to come down that we will need a mandate. We’re begging people to wear masks. We want people to wear masks. We’ll continue to do so.”
The lieutenant governor said he thinks “mask wearing is going up fairly significantly, even in places that don’t have a mandate,” citing a recent study by Salt Lake County.
“We will be doing some studies in different counties over the next day and weeks to see where the percentage is of people wearing masks,” Cox said. “Again, the governor has to make that decision and I’m trying to help give him the information he needs to make that happen.”
Cox, who was accused of politicizing the pandemic by his primary opponents was put in charge of the state’s COVID-19 response by Herbert but took a less visible role during the campaign.
Current case totals
Just over 40,000 of 528,910 Utahns have tested positive for the disease since the pandemic began, a 7.6% positive rate.
Currently, 213 patients in Utah are receiving hospital treatment for the disease, five more than on Thursday. The state’s intensive care units — which have about 600 beds overall — are 66.3% full with coronavirus patients and others, while other hospital beds are 56.9% full.
About 2,400 people have needed hospitalization for COVID-19 in Utah since the start of the outbreak.
The latest fatalities were two Salt Lake County men and one Cache County man, all between ages 65-84 and residents in long-term care facilities. A San Juan County woman. also between 65-84, died while hospitalized.
They bring the state’s death toll to the novel coronavirus to 304, of whom 142 were long-term care residents.
Just over 28,000 of Utah’s cases are considered recovered after passing the three-week point since their diagnoses.
The latest breakdown of Utah cases, hospitalizations and deaths by health district:
Salt Lake County, 19,036; 1,237 hospitalized; 173 deaths.
Washington quarterback Alex Smith, right, talks to a person on the field prior to an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Landover, Md. | Patrick Semansky, Associated Press
SALT LAKE CITY — Before we get to the miracle that is Alex Smith’s awe-inspiring comeback, I can’t get the images of his gruesome leg injury out of my mind. OK, it doesn’t help that I just Googled them, but still. It’s been something that I’ve thought about since watching the documentary on his injury situation a couple months ago.
Who would’ve guessed that seeing the lower half of his leg dangle after snapping in half from suffering an eerily similar compound fracture that famously ended Joe Theismann’s career and gave viewers the heebie-jeebies wasn’t the worst picture of him you’d see?
One behind-the-scenes photo of Smith’s leg is so difficult to observe Google Images pixelates it to make sure you really, really want to see when his fibula and tibula looked like a half-eaten chicken leg that had been gnawed to the bone.
But having watched “Project 11” and learning how multiple nasty infections invaded his body and nearly took both his leg and his life, it’s heartwarming just to have watched Smith regain his overall health and mobility. Seeing him play with his kids and return to FedEx Field at the end of the documentary were goosebump-producing moments.
Smith, however, is so competitive that that happily-ever-after ending was not enough.
In the film, the former University of Utah star mentioned that he wanted to return to the NFL and play football again. That seemed like a “shoot for the stars and you’ll at least hit the moon” goal, but the commitment, drive and work ethic he displayed in his rehab were admirable.
Honestly, though, not many thought his lofty goal would come to pass, literally. It seemed way too out of reach. Especially if you saw how truly horrific his injury was.
But months after his mangled and discolored leg, full of stitches, secretions, screws, pins, relocated muscle and skin grafts began to heal and he was able to put weight on it, Smith remained fixated on that goal. Living and being healthy were great, but he wanted his job back.
Almost unbelievably, Smith’s dream is close to becoming reality.
Yeah, his leg remains misshapen after a bunch of surgeries — and will always resemble a popsicle stick with play-doh pressed together in uneven clumps.
But he’s put in hours and hours with experts — even consulting with specialists who help wounded soldiers work on their trauma — to get to a place where he received some magical words last week. Less than two years after that harrowing experience, Smith was cleared by his medical staff to return to full activity. That includes the green light to begin practicing to play professional football.
Smith was told by his doctors that his leg bones were in a good spot and had healed enough — and were strong enough with the permanent rod in place — that there is no reason to limit his physical activities.
If allowed by an NFL team, Smith can play again.
How miraculous is that!?
“To hear them say that, from a life standpoint, they wouldn’t restrict me from doing anything — I could go skiing or snowboarding tomorrow if I wanted,” Smith told ESPN as part of a documentary update. “Then on top of that, to get the green light that I could practice, get contact, that I had healed up, that much was pretty wild to hear. I didn’t know if I would ever hear those words.”
Though under contract with the Washington Football Team through 2022, Smith has not yet received full clearance from the NFL club to go all out. In fact, he was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list by the squad after undergoing a physical earlier this week, the NFL Network reported, so he’s not quite able to get to those highly anticipated football activities quite yet. It’ll be a process.
Think twice before betting against Smith.
Two former NFL quarterbacks who’ve been down somewhat similar paths are stunned by what Smith has accomplished.
Theismann tried but never returned from the compound fracture injury he suffered exactly 33 years to the date earlier than Smith, and he couldn’t be more impressed with the 36-year-old’s comeback.
“Once Alex started throwing the ball again, I think that flicker, became more a pilot light, that pilot light has become now more of a blaze,” Theismann told NBCSports.com “I can certainly relate to the emotions and really when you go through the catastrophic injury he’s gone through. It’s the mental part of it that becomes the toughest. And the fact he is this type of a determined individual, in my opinion, is the best thing that could possibly happen.”
Former NFL and Texas QB Chris Simms nearly died after suffering a life-threatening spleen injury during a game early in his career. He was never able to fully recover from that setback while with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2006, and his career fizzled after that. So he gets the challenge Smith is facing and has already overcome.
“It’s like one of those things where you feel like you have a second life all of a sudden,” Simms said during a “Pro Football Talk” video segment of returning after a near-death experience.
“You’re going, ‘Man, I thought it was over, it’s done, I’m never going to get to play again, everything’s ruined.’ And then you’re just, ‘Oh, this is so awesome. I’m back. I’m so grateful to be here.”
Just do yourself a favor and skip refreshing your memory about what Smith’s injury used to look like. Instead, focus on the inspiring miracle that’s playing out before our eyes.
That’s what I’m going to do — starting now.
Then again, I’m not sure if I’ll be able to watch Smith play, either. I’m apparently way more anxious than he is about injuring that leg again. If I do watch, it will be while holding my breath and peeking between fingers covering my eyes.
Here’s an in-depth look at the Union Cougars football team heading into the 2020 season.
Note: Union finished with a 2-9 overall record in 2019 and was sixth in Region 14 with a 0-5 record. It was RPI seed No. 14 in the 3A playoffs, and was eliminated by Grantsville 48-7 in first round.
ROOSEVELT — For a quarter, and sometimes even a whole half, Union competed with most of the teams on its schedule last season. Eventually though, the lack of depth took a toll as it faded in games and struggled through a 2-9 season.
“I think we would run out of gas. We were playing a lot of the same kids on both sides of the ball, most of them weren’t getting a break,” said Union coach Matt Labrum.
Without enough depth to fill out a JV team, many players who would’ve benefitted playing at a lower level were thrust into varsity duty.
In 2020, Labrum said the depth is a bit better, particularly at the skill positions as the team returns many of last year’s contributors.
Boone Lathem was Union’s top receiver last year with 681 yards and four TDs, but this season he’s taking over at quarterback and the coaching staff is excited about the athleticism he brings to the table.
The biggest area Union hopes to see improvement from a year ago is defensively with nine returning starters. Not only do those players return with a year of experience, but physically they’re all more ready for the rigors of varsity football.
Union Cougars at a glance
Labrum’s thoughts on how his players dealt the COVID-19 adversity in the spring and summer:
“As we’ve been able to come back in the weight room and been able to do those things, it revitalized them, reenergized them to be able to get out. I think some of them were able to understand some things they took for granted and they don’t do that anymore. They have that opportunity to be back but they could lose it real fast if things don’t change, so a lot of them are making the best of what they have.”
“It always start on the line. If our lineman are shore and we can run the ball then it definitely opens up a lot more things for us. We can be pretty dynamic on the outside. I think Boone will be dynamic not only with his arms but with his legs, but it will all come down to protection with the line and being able to execute the run plays.”
“We’ve struggled to get off the field, and I think the big thing for us is we’ve got to be more physical. We haven’t been as physical as when I first got to Union, so we have to reestablish that physicality. And then we just have to play fast, let the kids go play and be athletes and make plays.”
Deseret News outlook for 2020
In the two years prior to a 2-9 season in 2019, Union won a respectable five and six games. So was the disappointing 2019 season the anomaly or the sign of a downward trend with a lack of depth within the team? Those answers should come pretty quick this season. The first half of Union’s schedule is much more favorable than the second half, which creates an opportunity to build momentum and confidence heading into the 3A gauntlet over the final five weeks of the regular season.
Recently, President Donald Trump tweeted to all the “Suburban Housewives of America.” While the meaning of the term “housewife” is unclear, I am going to assume that Trump’s tweet refers to me. The tweet declares that Joe Biden, if elected president, would “destroy (my) neighborhood and (my) American Dream.”
Shocked by Trump’s concern for my neighborhood and dreams, I investigated Biden’s plans to destroy them. If I understand correctly, Trump is referring to Biden’s plan to reinstate the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule.
I would like Trump to know that this “suburban housewife” grew up benefiting from affordable housing. This “suburban housewife” enjoys neighbors from disparate backgrounds and desires to have “high density affordable housing smack in the middle of (my) leafy neighborhood” where diversity and differences are celebrated and explored. This “suburban housewife” is distinctly similar to the women living in affordable housing and recognizes that I am only in this home, with these parks, these schools and in this suburb because I have privileges and support beyond my control. This “suburban housewife” is saddened by the president of the United States who uses one group of people against another, undervaluing both, for what appears to be votes.
When Trump tweets “low income housing,” he means humans. Humans with lives, neighborhoods and dreams, just like me. I want these humans to walk in my neighborhood. Diversity, unity and equality of humans is this “suburban housewife’s” American Dream.
Recently, President Donald Trump tweeted to all the “Suburban Housewives of America.” While the meaning of the term “housewife” is unclear, I am going to assume that Trump’s tweet refers to me. The tweet declares that Joe Biden, if elected president, would “destroy (my) neighborhood and (my) American Dream.”
Shocked by Trump’s concern for my neighborhood and dreams, I investigated Biden’s plans to destroy them. If I understand correctly, Trump is referring to Biden’s plan to reinstate the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule.
I would like Trump to know that this “suburban housewife” grew up benefiting from affordable housing. This “suburban housewife” enjoys neighbors from disparate backgrounds and desires to have “high density affordable housing smack in the middle of (my) leafy neighborhood” where diversity and differences are celebrated and explored. This “suburban housewife” is distinctly similar to the women living in affordable housing and recognizes that I am only in this home, with these parks, these schools and in this suburb because I have privileges and support beyond my control. This “suburban housewife” is saddened by the president of the United States who uses one group of people against another, undervaluing both, for what appears to be votes.
When Trump tweets “low income housing,” he means humans. Humans with lives, neighborhoods and dreams, just like me. I want these humans to walk in my neighborhood. Diversity, unity and equality of humans is this “suburban housewife’s” American Dream.
Drew Barrymore attends The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project fundraiser at The Africa Center on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, in New York. Barrymoore recently announced her new talk show, “The Drew Barrymore Show.” | Charles Sykes, Invision via Associated Press
In a short promotion video, a present-day Barrymore interviews her 7-year-old self, using footage from a 1982 appearance on ‘The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson’ when she was promoting the movie ‘E.T.’
Drew Barrymore has found her first guest for her new daytime talk show “The Drew Barrymore Show”: herself.
In a short promotion video, a present-day Barrymore interviews her 7-year-old self, using footage from a 1982 appearance on “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson” when she was promoting the movie “E.T.” according to CNN.
“Shooting this clip was so fun and a little emotional as my own 7 year old daughter Olive sat in as my 7 year old self,” Barrymore said in an Instagram post. “So, I am actually speaking to her too. I cannot wait to share this show with you. It is so personal to me and I’m grateful and proud of the journey it took us all to get this made!”
— The Drew Barrymore Show (@DrewBarrymoreTV) July 30, 2020
In the clip, Barrymore introduces her younger self, who says, “I’ve been waiting all my life to meet you,” according to USA Today.
Present-day Barrymore says, “It’s been a wild ride. Can you believe I have two daughters your age?”
“That’s kinda scary,” the 7-year-old Barrymore says.
“The Drew Barrymore Show,” which premieres Sept. 14 on CBS, will “spend an hour every day celebrating life,” according to the video. The goal is to “elevate, inspire and entertain in every area and in every segment from human interest stories to happy news to lifestyle segments and celebrity guests,” according to USA Today.
Celebrities have reacted to Barrymore’s new show with excitement. On the Instagram post, actress Cameron Diaz wrote, “Stop!!! OMG this is gonna be even better than I thought!!” Talk show host Jimmy Fallon called it “the best thing I’ve ever seen,” USA Today reported.
Utah Utes defensive tackle Leki Fotu (99) warms-up on the Levi’s Stadium field before the Pac-12 Championship game between Utah and Oregon in Santa Clara, Calif. on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News
Utes to open season at Washington State, wrap things up at home against the Ducks
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s revamped football scheduled was released by the Pac-12 on Friday. There were a few adjustments and the addition of a game with Oregon added as the conference hopes to play in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Games will begin Sept. 26 with camps beginning on and/or around Aug. 17.
The Pac-12 outlined the following plans for football:
Season to commence on Sept. 26 with the flexibility if necessary to commence on a later date if the situation warrants.
Each team will play five home and five road games.
Games that are unable to be played on their scheduled date can be made up in their bye weeks or in week 12 (Dec. 12), with the Pac-12 Football Championship game, presented by 76, now slated for Dec. 18 or 19.
The Pac-12 Football Championship game will be held in a home-hosted model for 2020, with the Pac-12 and partners Allegiant Stadium and the Raiders, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority and MGM Resorts International agreeing to commence hosting of the championship game at Allegiant Stadium in 2021 for its two-year run in Las Vegas.
The Pac-12 also said that: “The return to athletic competition for football and all other sports will follow the guidelines and protocols developed by the Pac-12’s medical advisory committee.”
Utah football’s 2020 schedule is now as follows:
Sept. 26: at Washington State
Oct. 3: at Colorado
Oct. 10: vs. Oregon State
Oct. 16: at UCLA
Oct. 24: BYE
Oct. 31: vs. Arizona
Nov. 7: at Arizona State
Nov. 14: vs. Washington
Nov. 21: at California
Nov. 27: vs. USC
Dec. 5: vs. Oregon
The rematch of last year’s Pac-12 Championship game between the Utes and Ducks will be Dec. 5 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Oregon defeated Utah 37-15 on Dec. 6 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, to earn a trip to the Rose Bowl. Utah wound up going to the Alamo Bowl instead.
The Pac-12 CEO Group (presidents and chancellors) revealed details of a previously announced plan to play a conference-only football schedule this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic. That led to the Utes canceling scheduled games against BYU, Montana State and Wyoming this fall.
To help offset the loss of nonconference play, the Pac-12 added a 10th game to its league slate and allow each team to play five at home and five on the road.
The usual scheduling rotation consists of playing all five division rivals each season as well as four teams from the other division. This year the Utes weren’t scheduled to play Oregon or Stanford.
With the addition of the Ducks, as well as a strategically placed bye week for scheduling flexibility because of COVID-19 concerns, Utah’s football schedule is now set ... for now.
“This is an exciting announcement as we continue to plan for fall sports seasons while taking all precautions for doing so in a safe and healthy manner,” said Utah athletics director Mark Harlan. “I am particularly excited for our student-athletes and coaches in our fall sports who now have dates to plan for. We, and they, know we must also remain flexible as we go forward.”
A far as fan attendance and such, details are still being finalized. Season ticket holders will be notified soon.
“We are in close consultation with university, state and local officials, and through those discussions we anticipate a reduced capacity at Rice-Eccles Stadium this season because of physical distancing requirements,” Harlan explained. “Every effort is being made to provide the safest experience possible for fans attending games, and for all involved.”
Utah Utes defensive tackle Leki Fotu (99) warms-up on the Levi’s Stadium field before the Pac-12 Championship game between Utah and Oregon in Santa Clara, Calif. on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News
Utes to open season at Washington State, wrap things up at home against the Ducks
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah’s revamped football scheduled was released by the Pac-12 on Friday. There were a few adjustments and the addition of a game with Oregon added as the conference hopes to play in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. Games will begin Sept. 26 with camps beginning on and/or around Aug. 17.
The Pac-12 outlined the following plans for football:
Season to commence on Sept. 26 with the flexibility if necessary to commence on a later date if the situation warrants.
Each team will play five home and five road games.
Games that are unable to be played on their scheduled date can be made up in their bye weeks or in week 12 (Dec. 12), with the Pac-12 Football Championship game, presented by 76, now slated for Dec. 18 or 19.
The Pac-12 Football Championship game will be held in a home-hosted model for 2020, with the Pac-12 and partners Allegiant Stadium and the Raiders, Las Vegas Convention & Visitors Authority and MGM Resorts International agreeing to commence hosting of the championship game at Allegiant Stadium in 2021 for its two-year run in Las Vegas.
The Pac-12 also said that: “The return to athletic competition for football and all other sports will follow the guidelines and protocols developed by the Pac-12’s medical advisory committee.”
Utah football’s 2020 schedule is now as follows:
Sept. 26: at Washington State
Oct. 3: at Colorado
Oct. 10: vs. Oregon State
Oct. 16: at UCLA
Oct. 24: BYE
Oct. 31: vs. Arizona
Nov. 7: at Arizona State
Nov. 14: vs. Washington
Nov. 21: at California
Nov. 27: vs. USC
Dec. 5: vs. Oregon
The rematch of last year’s Pac-12 Championship game between the Utes and Ducks will be Dec. 5 at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
Oregon defeated Utah 37-15 on Dec. 6 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, to earn a trip to the Rose Bowl. Utah wound up going to the Alamo Bowl instead.
The Pac-12 CEO Group (presidents and chancellors) revealed details of a previously announced plan to play a conference-only football schedule this fall because of the coronavirus pandemic. That led to the Utes canceling scheduled games against BYU, Montana State and Wyoming this fall.
To help offset the loss of nonconference play, the Pac-12 added a 10th game to its league slate and allow each team to play five at home and five on the road.
The usual scheduling rotation consists of playing all five division rivals each season as well as four teams from the other division. This year the Utes weren’t scheduled to play Oregon or Stanford.
With the addition of the Ducks, as well as a strategically placed bye week for scheduling flexibility because of COVID-19 concerns, Utah’s football schedule is now set ... for now.
“This is an exciting announcement as we continue to plan for fall sports seasons while taking all precautions for doing so in a safe and healthy manner,” said Utah athletics director Mark Harlan. “I am particularly excited for our student-athletes and coaches in our fall sports who now have dates to plan for. We, and they, know we must also remain flexible as we go forward.”
A far as fan attendance and such, details are still being finalized. Season ticket holders will be notified soon.
“We are in close consultation with university, state and local officials, and through those discussions we anticipate a reduced capacity at Rice-Eccles Stadium this season because of physical distancing requirements,” Harlan explained. “Every effort is being made to provide the safest experience possible for fans attending games, and for all involved.”
Taylor Swift arrives for the Sundance Film Festival premiere of her Netflix documentary “Miss Americana” at the Eccles Theatre in Park City on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
‘I am sharing my story to bring light to the trend of large companies/celebrities copying the work of small minority-owned business owners,’ The Folklore owner Amira Rasool said in an Instagram post
Taylor Swift has responded after being accused of copying the logo design of a Black-owned business on merchandise for her new album “Folklore,” NBC News reported.
Swift released her eighth studio album on July 24, but it didn’t take long before its merchandise was the subject of controversy.
Amira Rasool is the founder of The Folklore, which is an online business that sells clothing and other products from Africa and the diaspora, according to NBC. In social media posts, Rasool compared images of her company’s logo with the logo that is on merchandise being sold on Swift’s website.
“Based on the similarities of the design, I believe the designer of the merch ripped off my company’s logo,” Rasool wrote in an Instagram post. “I am sharing my story to bring light to the trend of large companies/celebrities copying the work of small minority-owned business owners.”
Swift responded to Rasool on Thursday, tweeting that she would make a contribution to Rasool’s company.
“I admire the work you’re doing and I’m happy to make a contribution to your company and to support the Black in Fashion Council (launching on 8/3) with a donation,” the singer tweeted.
Swift’s team also issued a statement on the allegations, saying that changes would be made to the merchandise and the logo design, according to USA Today.
“Yesterday, we were made aware of a complaint that the specific use of the word ‘the’ before ‘folklore album’ on some of the folklore album merchandise was of concern,” the statement read, according to USA Today. “Absolutely no merchandise using ‘the’ before the words ‘folklore album’ has been manufactured or sent out.”
“In good faith, we honored her request and immediately notified everyone who had ordered merchandise with the word ‘the’ preceding ‘folklore album’ that they will now receive their order with the design change,” the statement continued.
Rasool wrote on Twitter that the change was a “great first step and we are in conversation right now with Taylor’s team about the next steps to make this situation right.”
It was a great first step and we are in conversation right now with Taylor’s team about the next steps to make this situation right.
Swift’s response to the controversy is a contrast to a similar situation facing country band Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum), according to CNN.
The group decided to change their name last month, because of associations with the word “antebellum” to slavery. However, the band is now suing a blues singer named Anita White, who has performed with the name Lady A for decades, over rights to the name, CNN reported.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, left, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. Lee voted to move the EARN IT Act to the full Senate last week, but has concerns over the effort to compel internet companies to better police child sexual abuse materials. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) | Susan Walsh, Associated Press
In a letter to Google, Facebook, Twitter and Squarespace, Utah Sen. Mike Lee wants answers to perceived issues around censoring conservative voices and commentary.
SALT LAKE CITY — Sen. Mike Lee used his new Parler account to tout the fight he’s picking with Google, Facebook, Twitter and Squarespace over how each internet platform moderates content in general, and potentially targets conservative voices
“Somehow, I’m willing to be(t) this will get more likes and shares on Parer (sic) than it will on Facebook and Twitter combined. In any event, I picked a big fight today with Google, Facebook, and Twitter,” Lee posted to his @SenMikeLee Parler account Thursday evening.
Not surprisingly, Parler was not one of the addressees of Lee’s letter Thursday that instead went to the CEOs of Google, Facebook, Twitter and Squarespace.
“I am specifically concerned about corporations wielding their power unilaterally to silence opinions they dislike, and thus warp the public debates their platforms present to the American people,” Lee wrote. “In recent years, conservative voices like The Federalist, PragerU, President Trump, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump, Jr., churches, religious groups, Christian schools and others have found themselves deplatformed, demonetized or otherwise penalized for expressing their opinions.”
During that virtual hearing, Congressman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio reeled off a list of instances of purported censoring of, or content warnings issued to, conservative social media posters.
Jordan accused the group of tech executives of selectively censoring those expressing politically conservative opinions and cautioned them that “If it doesn’t end, there have to be consequences.”
Lee issued his own admonishment of big tech companies and the power he says they’re using inappropriately.
“I view your heavy-handed censorship as a sign of exactly the sort of degraded quality one expects from a monopolist,” Lee wrote. “In any other business you would never dream of treating your customers the way you treat those with views you don’t like.”
In another Parler post on Thursday evening, Utah’s senior senator linked to a story posted by right-wing website Breitbart News claiming Google has been censoring the outlet’s content from search results since the 2016 election. Attached to the post was Lee’s comment, “This is not ok, and it has to stop.”
In his letter, Lee also called out tech leaders for their roles in taking down video content that circulated earlier this week that showed what was characterized as a press conference by a group calling itself “America’s Frontline Doctors.”
CNN reported that the video, which had not been viewed by the Deseret News, was published by Breitbart News and included a quote from a woman claiming to be a doctor who said “This virus has a cure, it’s called hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and Zithromax,” and “You don’t need masks, there is a cure.”
Lee declined to take a position on the content of the video, but said he supported a social media arena of open dialogue.
“While I’m not in a position to endorse or refute any of the doctors’ comments, I believe that we should err on the side of encouraging more speech, not less,” Lee wrote.
The heart of the letter goes to 11 questions seeking details of how each of the platforms manages content moderation in the stipulated areas of COVID-19; violent riots and how they are distinguished from peaceful protests; hate speech; protections of the unborn; misinformation; and terrorist influence.
The questions include how content standards are established, the scope of processes designed to screen moderators for bias, whether user consent about content moderation is appropriately established, if platforms coordinate with each other on content moderation and other issues.
Deseret News requests for comment via email and social media direct messaging to Google, Facebook, Twitter and Squarespace were not immediately responded to.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, left, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. Lee voted to move the EARN IT Act to the full Senate last week, but has concerns over the effort to compel internet companies to better police child sexual abuse materials. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) | Susan Walsh, Associated Press
In a letter to Google, Facebook, Twitter and Squarespace, Utah Sen. Mike Lee wants answers to perceived issues around censoring conservative voices and commentary.
SALT LAKE CITY — Sen. Mike Lee used his new Parler account to tout the fight he’s picking with Google, Facebook, Twitter and Squarespace over how each internet platform moderates content in general, and potentially targets conservative voices
“Somehow, I’m willing to be(t) this will get more likes and shares on Parer (sic) than it will on Facebook and Twitter combined. In any event, I picked a big fight today with Google, Facebook, and Twitter,” Lee posted to his @SenMikeLee Parler account Thursday evening.
Not surprisingly, Parler was not one of the addressees of Lee’s letter Thursday that instead went to the CEOs of Google, Facebook, Twitter and Squarespace.
“I am specifically concerned about corporations wielding their power unilaterally to silence opinions they dislike, and thus warp the public debates their platforms present to the American people,” Lee wrote. “In recent years, conservative voices like The Federalist, PragerU, President Trump, Sen. Marsha Blackburn, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump, Jr., churches, religious groups, Christian schools and others have found themselves deplatformed, demonetized or otherwise penalized for expressing their opinions.”
During that virtual hearing, Congressman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio reeled off a list of instances of purported censoring of, or content warnings issued to, conservative social media posters.
Jordan accused the group of tech executives of selectively censoring those expressing politically conservative opinions and cautioned them that “If it doesn’t end, there have to be consequences.”
Lee issued his own admonishment of big tech companies and the power he says they’re using inappropriately.
“I view your heavy-handed censorship as a sign of exactly the sort of degraded quality one expects from a monopolist,” Lee wrote. “In any other business you would never dream of treating your customers the way you treat those with views you don’t like.”
In another Parler post on Thursday evening, Utah’s senior senator linked to a story posted by right-wing website Breitbart News claiming Google has been censoring the outlet’s content from search results since the 2016 election. Attached to the post was Lee’s comment, “This is not ok, and it has to stop.”
In his letter, Lee also called out tech leaders for their roles in taking down video content that circulated earlier this week that showed what was characterized as a press conference by a group calling itself “America’s Frontline Doctors.”
CNN reported that the video, which had not been viewed by the Deseret News, was published by Breitbart News and included a quote from a woman claiming to be a doctor who said “This virus has a cure, it’s called hydroxychloroquine, zinc, and Zithromax,” and “You don’t need masks, there is a cure.”
Lee declined to take a position on the content of the video, but said he supported a social media arena of open dialogue.
“While I’m not in a position to endorse or refute any of the doctors’ comments, I believe that we should err on the side of encouraging more speech, not less,” Lee wrote.
The heart of the letter goes to 11 questions seeking details of how each of the platforms manages content moderation in the stipulated areas of COVID-19; violent riots and how they are distinguished from peaceful protests; hate speech; protections of the unborn; misinformation; and terrorist influence.
The questions include how content standards are established, the scope of processes designed to screen moderators for bias, whether user consent about content moderation is appropriately established, if platforms coordinate with each other on content moderation and other issues.
Deseret News requests for comment via email and social media direct messaging to Google, Facebook, Twitter and Squarespace were not immediately responded to.
The town of Hideout wants to annex hundreds of acres from Summit County and Wasatch County, including land on both sides of state Route 248, near the Black Rock Ridge community, in Wasatch County on Monday, July 20, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — Summit County filed a lawsuit Friday to stop the tiny town of Hideout from relying on “bait-and-switch” legislation to annex hundreds of acres of land outside Park City for commercial development.
The complaint in 4th District Court seeks to prevent Hideout, which is located in Wasatch County, from taking over 655 acres between U.S. 40 and state Route 248 in Summit County until the Utah Legislature acts on a controversial annexation law in August.
Hideout has scheduled a public hearing for Aug. 12 and decision on Aug. 18 in order to thwart any effort by the Legislature to repeal the law at its anticipated Aug. 20 special session, the lawsuit says.
Opponents of the annexation say sneaky legislative maneuvering legally paved the way for a “land grab” for what would be another Kimball Junction-like expansion on the other side of the highway from Park City.
Despite protests from Summit County, Park City and Wasatch County leaders, Hideout’s Town Council voted in July to move forward with a process to annex the land, which developers Nate Brockbank and Josh Romney, son of Sen. Mitt Romney, want to develop but haven’t gained the support they’d need from Summit County.
Romney and Brockbank turned to Hideout, a small town nestled east of Jordanelle Reservoir, where the idea was warmly received.
Hideout’s move to possibly annex the land — which was included in an over decade-old Park City land deal to be set aside for open space and recreation — would clear the way for a commercial development that Hideout Mayor Philip Rubin said would help employ residents of thousands of future homes already headed for construction and help alleviate Park City traffic.
Summit County’s lawsuit says Hideout has never had adequate municipal revenue and services since its incorporation in 2008 under another questionable law that has since been repealed.
“Within this framework, a developer and defendant Town of Hideout began a course of conduct with the express intent of defeating long-standing annexation laws and the Snyderville Basin General Plan and Development Code through a joint enterprise which included secret meetings, failure of legal noticing requirements, hidden documents, obfuscation of public processes, and the same type of lobbyist misdirection at the Utah Legislature which gave rise to the Town of Hideout in the first place,” according to the suit.
Summit County contends that Hideout amended its annexation policy to reach across the border in 2019 when state law would not allow for such without the county’s consent.
The county argues a lobbyist for the developers worked outside normal legislative processes to “bait and switch” a bill in March with “custom-made special purpose legislation” eliminating the county consent requirement and restricting the ability of a county to protest such an annexation.
After learning of the “deception” involved in getting the bill passed, the Legislature and governor intend to repeal it in the special session, according to the lawsuit.
Sen. Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy, and Rep. Calvin Mussleman, R-West Haven, told the Deseret News in July that they were told there was consensus over the bill and its changes, and both said they couldn’t recall who represented that to them in the chaos of the Legislature’s final days and hours.
But in a separate interview, property rights lobbyist Mike Ostermiller said he was accountable for that misrepresentation to both Cullimore and Mussleman.
“I accept full responsibility for that,” Ostermiller said last week. “I want to be 100% clear. I told Sen. Cullimore and Rep. Mussleman there was, as far as I knew, consensus between the parties involved in drafting the legislation.”
Ostermiller said at the time he believed there was consensus, and it was his oversight if the Utah Association of Counties hadn’t been included. He said there wasn’t anything “sneaky” or “ill-intended” happening, but rather he may have forgotten to include key partners in the conversations in the final days of the session.
The town of Hideout wants to annex hundreds of acres from Summit County and Wasatch County, including land on both sides of state Route 248, near the Black Rock Ridge community, in Wasatch County on Monday, July 20, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
SALT LAKE CITY — Summit County filed a lawsuit Friday to stop the tiny town of Hideout from relying on “bait-and-switch” legislation to annex hundreds of acres of land outside Park City for commercial development.
The complaint in 4th District Court seeks to prevent Hideout, which is located in Wasatch County, from taking over 655 acres between U.S. 40 and state Route 248 in Summit County until the Utah Legislature acts on a controversial annexation law in August.
Hideout has scheduled a public hearing for Aug. 12 and decision on Aug. 18 in order to thwart any effort by the Legislature to repeal the law at its anticipated Aug. 20 special session, the lawsuit says.
Opponents of the annexation say sneaky legislative maneuvering legally paved the way for a “land grab” for what would be another Kimball Junction-like expansion on the other side of the highway from Park City.
Despite protests from Summit County, Park City and Wasatch County leaders, Hideout’s Town Council voted in July to move forward with a process to annex the land, which developers Nate Brockbank and Josh Romney, son of Sen. Mitt Romney, want to develop but haven’t gained the support they’d need from Summit County.
Romney and Brockbank turned to Hideout, a small town nestled east of Jordanelle Reservoir, where the idea was warmly received.
Hideout’s move to possibly annex the land — which was included in an over decade-old Park City land deal to be set aside for open space and recreation — would clear the way for a commercial development that Hideout Mayor Philip Rubin said would help employ residents of thousands of future homes already headed for construction and help alleviate Park City traffic.
Summit County’s lawsuit says Hideout has never had adequate municipal revenue and services since its incorporation in 2008 under another questionable law that has since been repealed.
“Within this framework, a developer and defendant Town of Hideout began a course of conduct with the express intent of defeating long-standing annexation laws and the Snyderville Basin General Plan and Development Code through a joint enterprise which included secret meetings, failure of legal noticing requirements, hidden documents, obfuscation of public processes, and the same type of lobbyist misdirection at the Utah Legislature which gave rise to the Town of Hideout in the first place,” according to the suit.
Summit County contends that Hideout amended its annexation policy to reach across the border in 2019 when state law would not allow for such without the county’s consent.
The county argues a lobbyist for the developers worked outside normal legislative processes to “bait and switch” a bill in March with “custom-made special purpose legislation” eliminating the county consent requirement and restricting the ability of a county to protest such an annexation.
After learning of the “deception” involved in getting the bill passed, the Legislature and governor intend to repeal it in the special session, according to the lawsuit.
Sen. Kirk Cullimore, R-Sandy, and Rep. Calvin Mussleman, R-West Haven, told the Deseret News in July that they were told there was consensus over the bill and its changes, and both said they couldn’t recall who represented that to them in the chaos of the Legislature’s final days and hours.
But in a separate interview, property rights lobbyist Mike Ostermiller said he was accountable for that misrepresentation to both Cullimore and Mussleman.
“I accept full responsibility for that,” Ostermiller said last week. “I want to be 100% clear. I told Sen. Cullimore and Rep. Mussleman there was, as far as I knew, consensus between the parties involved in drafting the legislation.”
Ostermiller said at the time he believed there was consensus, and it was his oversight if the Utah Association of Counties hadn’t been included. He said there wasn’t anything “sneaky” or “ill-intended” happening, but rather he may have forgotten to include key partners in the conversations in the final days of the session.
Deseret News
A man wearing a protective face mask is silhouetted against a sunset in the city center in Brasilia, Brazil, Saturday, July 4, 2020. | Associated Press
University of Utah Health medical assistant Scott Anderson wears a FlexiFreeze cooling vest as he tests a motorcycle rider for COVID-19 in Farmington on Friday, July 31, 2020. University of Utah Health is using cooling methods at its testing stations to keep employees comfortable during the extreme heat. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Washington quarterback Alex Smith, right, talks to a person on the field prior to an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019, in Landover, Md. | Patrick Semansky, Associated Press
Deseret News
Drew Barrymore attends The Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project fundraiser at The Africa Center on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, in New York. Barrymoore recently announced her new talk show, “The Drew Barrymore Show.” | Charles Sykes, Invision via Associated Press
Utah Utes defensive tackle Leki Fotu (99) warms-up on the Levi’s Stadium field before the Pac-12 Championship game between Utah and Oregon in Santa Clara, Calif. on Friday, Dec. 6, 2019. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News
Taylor Swift arrives for the Sundance Film Festival premiere of her Netflix documentary “Miss Americana” at the Eccles Theatre in Park City on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2020. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, left, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2018. Lee voted to move the EARN IT Act to the full Senate last week, but has concerns over the effort to compel internet companies to better police child sexual abuse materials. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) | Susan Walsh, Associated Press
The town of Hideout wants to annex hundreds of acres from Summit County and Wasatch County, including land on both sides of state Route 248, near the Black Rock Ridge community, in Wasatch County on Monday, July 20, 2020. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News
