Biden tells governors he's eyeing executive action on immigration, seems 'frustrated' with lawyers
President Joe Biden has told the nationโs governors that heโs exploring what executive actions he can take to address migration across the southern border after a bipartisan deal collapsed in Congress this month.
Utah governor approves censure of school board member who questioned a student's gender
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has signed legislation censuring a conservative member of the state Board of Education whose social media post questioning the gender of a high school basketball player triggered a firestorm of derogatory comments.
Utah campaign against porn marches on with phone filter plan
Conservative lawmakers in Utah have fired another salvo in their longtime campaign against online porn with a new requirement that all cellphones and tablets sold in the state automatically block pornography in a plan that critics call a significant intrusion on free speech. AdCombating porn is a perennial issue for Utah lawmakers who have previously mandated warning labels on print and online pornography and declared porn a โpublic health crisis.โUtahโs generally conservative culture means racy mainstream magazines and lingerie catalogs can be considered risquรฉ. AdBut even more important is comprehensive sex education to counteract messages kids might get from porn, she said. And he said no existing filters are that sophisticated: โItโs not like you put a judge in your phone,โ he said. AdThe American Civil Liberties Union of Utah said the bill is an overreach that imposes the same standards on everyone.
The Latest: Governor extends Oregon's state of emergency
Kate Brown on Thursday extended Oregonโs declaration of a state of emergency until May 2 as confirmed COVID-19 cases drop but hundreds of new cases continue to be reported daily. The Oregon Health Authority on Thursday reported 553 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the state total to 154,554. ___MISSOURI __ Missouri teachers and child care providers will be eligible for COVID-19 vaccination in mid-March, Gov. The nation of 10.7 million had almost 1.2 million cases with 19,835 deaths. AdLast week the Democratic governor announced that at least 10% of the stateโs vaccine supply would go to education workers.
Florida among states eyeing concealed carry of guns without a permit
Fifteen states already allow concealed carry without a permit, and lawmakers in nine others have proposed allowing or expanding the practice. Against that backdrop, the efforts to loosen concealed carry requirements are a frightening trend for Shannon Watts, founder of the gun control group Moms Demand Action. He pointed to a multistate study published in 2018 by the Journal of the American College of Surgeons that found loosening concealed carry permit laws didnโt lead to more homicides or violent crime. In Montana, the House recently passed a bill to allow people to carry concealed firearms without a permit in most places. Similar bills that would allow or expand concealed carry without a permit have been introduced in Texas, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Alabama and Georgia.
Campaigning during coronavirus, GOP ex-envoy falls short
Utah Republican gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. The competitive four-way contest was conducted entirely by mail during the coronavirus pandemic, which also shaped the campaign. But his comeback attempt fell short in a GOP primary as he contended with a crushing pandemic and a fresh-faced opponent. A very early start to his campaign also proved fortuitous in hindsight, allowing Cox, 44, to clock months visiting voters before the coronavirus hit. The Huntsman campaign answered those challenges in part by encouraging people to register as Republicans so they could vote in the closed primary.
Utah governor race has conservative coronavirus fault lines
Jon Huntsman, Jr., speaks during the Utah Gubernatorial Republican Primary Debate in Salt Lake City. He stepped down as U.S. ambassador to Russia under Donald Trump to return to Utah and make a run and reclaiming his seat. Now, it's showcasing conservative fault lines over the coronavirus crisis response and what recovery looks like. Hes still deciding between Huntsman and Cox, but has so far been impressed with the states handling of the coronavirus crisis. You keep hearing over and over that Utah wasn't locked down, Utah is doing so great, he said.