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Stewart boycotts the Jazz over vaccines
Rep. Chris Stewart took to Facebook to bemoan the decision by the Utah Jazz to require fans to show proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to attend games this season.
“In a world where so many things have turned contentious and divisive, the Jazz were an opportunity to bring us together. That’s why I will miss them,” Stewart wrote.
Stewart says he has been vaccinated, but he “will never allow a private company to require that I show proof of any medical procedure to visit their facility.” He adds he won’t show a vaccination passport nor share his medical information.
“So though vaccinated, I will not be going to any Utah Jazz games this year,” Stewart said.
He said if the Jazz changes their policy, “maybe” he’ll come back.
“Or maybe I’ll just move on,” Stewart said.
It’s not clear how many NBA games Stewart has attended over the past few seasons, and his office did not respond to questions about the matter.
I’m sure Stewart will fit right in with the RSL Supporters section at Rio Tinto Stadium.
Stewart may think he’s boycotting the Jazz, but comedian Marcella Arguello summed it up best on Twitter.
Here’s what you need to know for Thursday morning
🚨 Breaking overnight: Senate Republicans and Democrats have agreed to pass a stopgap spending bill to avoid a government shutdown. The measure must pass by midnight tonight. The agreement does not include a measure to raise the debt limit. [CNBC]
🏛 The House panel investigating the violent January 6 insurrection issued subpoenas to organizers of MAGA rallies in support of former President Donald Trump that preceded the attack. [AP]
😷 Gov. Spencer Cox said the state would provide KN95 masks for public school students in Utah. Due to low demand, most of the masks delivered to Salt Lake City schools have been left in storage. [Tribune]
⚖️ A lawsuit alleges a vulnerable Utah woman was victimized by an online fundraising platform for Republican candidates. She made more than 500 donations to GOP candidates, and her credit cards were sometimes charged multiple times per day. [Tribune]
💉 United Airlines is firing about 600 workers who refused to get the COVID-19 vaccination. [NYT]
🏀 The NBA says unvaccinated players who miss games due to local vaccine mandates will not get paid for those games. [Sports Illustrated]
💉 YouTube is banning all vaccine misinformation from its platform. The company shut down the accounts of several prominent anti-vaccine activists, including Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. [NYT]
📈 Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell says supply chain problems could lead to a more extended period of inflation than initially expected. [WSJ]
👀 South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is refuting a conservative website claim she is having an extramarital affair. [WaPo]
🚗 The Larry H. Miller group sells its car dealerships to a company in Georgia for $3.2 billion. [Tribune]
💵 Dollar Tree will start selling more items above $1 as costs rise. [WSJ]
📚 WIll Bagley, the Utah historian who most famously wrote about the Mountain Meadows Massacre, died at 71. [Tribune]
⚖️ Britney Spears’ father Jamie was suspended from his role as conservator over his daughter. [WaPo]
Moore goes yard (kinda)
Rep. Blake Moore hit an inside-the-park home run during the first inning of Wednesday’s Congressional Baseball Game. The former Ogden High School football star showed off his wheels as he beat the throw home to score thanks to a fielding error by the Democrats.
The Republicans defeated the Democrats 13-12.
Thursday morning’s Utah news roundup
Utah
Candlelight vigil held for Utah football player Aaron Lowe. [Tribune]
Brother of missing Utah conservationist died of hypothermia, autopsy shows. [Tribune]
COVID-19
15 more Utahns die of COVID-19, and one was between the ages of 15-24. [Tribune]
Education
Here’s where the masks that Utah officials promised to schools have gone in Salt Lake County. [Tribune]
‘Devious Licks’ TikTok challenge prompts Murray High to charge new football game fee. [FOX13]
Federal Government
What’s getting in the way of meaningful environmental policy? Lack of collaboration between Western states and federal government, Cox says. [Deseret News]
Sen. Mike Lee’s latest attempt to counter Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate? ‘Don’t Jab Me Act’. [Deseret News]
Environment
Utah Water Resource Plan draft open for public comment. [FOX13]
PCMR project supporters emerge amid the broad opposition. [Park Record]
Housing
Utah Housing Coalition worried about eviction filings, low awareness of rental assistance. [KUTV]
Ogden council member Choberka focusing on ‘wicked problem’ of housing. [Standard Examiner]
On the Opinion Pages
Republicans — even Mitt Romney — will crash the economy just to make Democrats look bad, Editorial Board writes. [Tribune]
Jeffrey Holland’s talk hints that BYU students could be catalysts for LGBTQ changes, Robert Gehrke writes. [Tribune]David Ibarra: We’ve lost our capital city, and it is up to leadership to get it back. [Tribune]
🎂 You say it’s your birthday?!!
Happy birthday to Democratic state Rep. Joel Briscoe.
Got a birthday you’d like us to recognize in this space? Send us an email.
— The Tribune’s Connor Sanders contributed to this report.
