Wednesday morning, March 25, 2020
STATE
Utah Democrats Assign Delegates
Utah’s Democratic primary is finalized, and the party has assigned its delegates. Vermont senator Bernie Sanders won the state’s primary earlier this month and will get 16 Utah delegates at the Democratic National Convention. Former Vice President Joe Biden will get seven. Mike Bloomberg and Elizabeth Warren will each get three, but they've dropped out of the race for the White House. Utah will also receive six superdelegates, but they aren’t allowed to vote in the initial presidential nomination round. — Sonja Hutson
Herbert Gives 148 Bills His Signature
Governor Gary Herbert signed 148 bills Tuesday. A bill that expands access to virtual doctors appointments and could help the state respond better to coronavirus will become law. Herbert also signed a once controversial bill that provides breakfast at every school. Under the law, some kids could get that meal for free. A committee had killed that bill over concerns that parents should be the ones feeding their kids breakfast, but all the dissenting senators on that committee eventually changed their minds. As for elections, straight ticket voting — where you can select all members of a single party on the ballot by checking one box — will be eliminated. — Sonja Hutson
NORTHERN UTAH
Salt Lake City Mission Shortages
The Salt Lake City Mission, a non-profit that works with people in need, is experiencing a food shortage and an increase in people applying for services due to the coronavirus outbreak. Donations from businesses, stores and other community members have dwindled over the past few weeks, and co-executive director Joe Vazquez said that panic shopping has impacted their ability to buy in bulk. The mission will stay open, but only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to keep up with the demand. — Jessica Lowell
Salt Lake City Loan Program Approved
The Salt Lake City council has officially approved a $1 million loan program for businesses struggling to make ends meet because of coronavirus. The loans have zero interest and don’t have to be paid back until 90 days after the state of the emergency ends. Businesses can get up to $20,000 dollars and apply for larger federal loans with a higher interest rate as well. — Sonja Hutson
Inexperienced Snowmobilers
The Uintah County Sheriff's Office says the two men who got in trouble and needed rescue from a remote part of Dinosaur National Monument were inexperienced riders. The 65-year-old man who was saved and his 58-year-old partner who did not survive had been rescued from the same area on Feb. 29. The two were reported missing last Thursday and search and rescue located the pair Saturday. — Associated Press
REGION
Virtual Tip Jars
COVID-19 has forced a lot of bars and restaurants to close across our region. That leaves workers in a tough spot. Some communities around our region are stepping up to help. It’s called the virtual tip jar. It’s essentially a Google spreadsheet with hundreds of names and workplaces of struggling service workers and ways to tip them through apps like Venmo and Paypal. Utah Restaurant Association has organized a virtual tip jar for the state. — Madelyn Beck
