Thursday evening, Jan. 23, 2020
STATE
More About The Condoms
Gov. Gary Herbert says no one at the Department of Health has been or will be fired in connection with the distribution of suggestive Utah-themed condoms as part of an HIV awareness campaign. 40,000 condoms had been distributed. The Department of Health is in the process of retrieving them, removing the suggestive outer packaging, and redistributing them. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health says they don’t yet know how much that will cost. — Sonja Hutson
Cox, Huntsman Neck And Neck
The most recent poll from Dan Jones and Associates, a market research and public polling firm, shows Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox and former governor Jon Huntsman are effectively tied for the Utah governor’s race. Among likely GOP primary voters, Huntsman is polling at 32% and Cox is at 28%. But a margin of error of four points means the two candidates are essentially tied. Huntsman is leading the race among unaffiliated voters with a margin of 12 points. No other GOP candidate for the governor’s race has support in the double digits. — Grace Osusky
Tax Law Repeal
Under pressure from a possible referendum against a controversial tax law, Republican leaders announced Thursday they will repeal it. Read the full story. — Nicole Nixon
NORTHERN UTAH
Temporary Shelter Opens
The Sugarhouse Temporary Shelter opens Thursday night in Salt Lake City. The shelter can house up to 145 people and is meant to be an overnight emergency facility. Mayor Erin Mendenhall said the beds were necessary because three recently opened homeless shelters are operating at 96% capacity. On Monday, Sugarhouse residents donated winter clothes and placed signs outside the shelter, reading “Welcome, neighbors!” The temporary shelter will remain open until Apr. 15.
NATION
Utah AG Calls For Impeachment Acquittal
Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes joined 20 other Republican attorneys general to ask U.S. senators to reject the impeachment articles. They said the articles would erode the separation of powers outlined in the Constitution, and are meant to overturn the will of the people. In a statement, Reyes accused Democrats of weaponizing the impeachment process, and said he believes it would hurt the U.S. abroad. — Grace Osusky