Good morning from the Tribune political desk, and TGIF! Thanks for reading “The Rundown”.
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(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Sen. Mike Lee takes on one of the questions asked by Apple CEO Tim Cook during a fireside chat at the Silicon Slopes Tech Summit in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021.
Lee leads GOP senate fundraising race
Sources close to Sen. Mike Lee’s campaign tell The Rundown that the two-term incumbent raised just over $775,000 in the most current fundraising quarter, which ended on September 30. He will report just under $2 million in cash on hand.
Lee’s two Republican opponents are also touting big fundraising hauls.
Former state Rep. Becky Edwards said through a press release her campaign raised more than $725,000. They did not say how much cash was on hand.
Ally Isom’s campaign says she raised $410,000. They also did not say how much money was in her coffers.
Lee’s campaign says their total came from 2,397 individual donors. Edwards’ press release says 770 individual donors gave to her campaign, while Isom touted 589 unique donors.
In the previous fundraising quarter, Lee reported raising more than $1 million. Edwards loaned her campaign $275,000 and raised another $229,000.
Independent candidate Evan McMullin officially joined the race on October 5, which was after the most recent reporting period, so he is not required to file a disclosure until January of 2022.
Here’s what you need to know for Friday morning
🏛 The committee investigating the January 6 insurrection will vote to hold Steve Bannon, a top advisor to former President Donald Trump, in criminal contempt for not complying with a subpoena. [WaPo]
⚖️ A federal appeals court ruled can continue banning most abortions after six weeks. The Justice Department challenged the law, which allows private citizens to sue abortion providers. [AP]
💉 Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, is worried a vaccine mandate for employers from the federal government could hurt Utah’s already tight job market. [Tribune]
🚨 After Uintah County used pandemic money on a tubing hill, a state audit raises several concerns about how the county manages public money. County officials claim the state has no right to conduct a financial review. [Tribune]
🦠 Democrats see a political opening among voters who are frustrated with Republicans who refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccine. [McClatchy]
💉 An FDA panel recommends people 65 and older, along with some high-risk adults, get a booster of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. [WaPo]
➡️ The Tribune’s Robert Gehrke explains how the long-running battle over a parcel of land outside Park City is coming to an end. [Tribune]
🏛 A new poll shows Americans feel the government is doing too much. 52% say the government is doing things that should be left to individuals and businesses. Last year 54% of Americans said the government needed to do more to solve problems. [Gallup]
➡️ Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe won back his pension in a court settlement. McCabe was fired by the Trump Justice Department just hours before he was scheduled to retire, a move cheered by Trump due to his role in the Russia investigation. [NYT]
⚖️ A panel recommended term limits for Supreme Court justices but warned expanding the court could be seen as a “partisan move.” [NYT]
🏥 Former President Bill Clinton is is hospitalized with a non-COVID-related infection. Aides say he is expected to recover. [NYT]
🏛 The Texas House of Representatives approved a bill limiting the participation of transgender athletes in school sports. [Texas Tribune]
😳 Ron Watkins, the man many suspect of being the mysterious figure Q behind the QAnon conspiracy theory, announced he is running for Congress in Arizona. [Raw Story]
⚡️ If you use natural gas to heat your home, expect to pay up to 30% more this winter. [WSJ]
Friday morning’s Utah news roundup
Utah
Dwyane Wade says ‘the perception of Utah is not our reality.’ The NBA legend is working to change that. [Tribune]
Disney on snow? Snowbird’s Fast Tracks lanes have come under fire, but are within resort’s rights. [Tribune]
Roy police chief proposes new bill to address officer shortage across Utah. [FOX13]
Utah school districts trying to attract more substitute teachers. [FOX13]
Park City wildlife collisions mount, with elk, deer and rabbit hit, even before wintry weather. [Park Record]
COVID-19
Utah reports more than 1,200 new coronavirus cases, 8 deaths. [Tribune]
Confused about COVID-19 booster shots? Here are answers. [Deseret News]
Business
Here’s what Gail Miller says is next for the Larry H. Miller Group. [Deseret News]
Nevada made over $1 billion in marijuana sales last year. [FOX13]
Supply Chain Issues impacting Utah’s small businesses. [KUTV]
On the Opinion Pages
Commentary: Will the Legislature listen to Utah voters when they redistrict the state? [Tribune]
Terence L. Day: LDS Church reaps bitter harvest from its link to conservative Republicans. [Tribune]
Mary Tipton: Medicare drug price ‘negotiations’ should be a nonstarter. [Tribune]
Josh Klein: Can we compare America with pre-Hitler Germany? Only if we are willing to examine Christian complicity. [Tribune]
🎂 You say it’s your birthday?!!
Happy birthday on Saturday to former Utah Lt. Gov. Greg Bell.
Best wishes on Sunday to former state Rep. Mike Noel and lobbyist Steve Barth.
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.
