Friday, April 25, 2025

⏰ Tick Tock

12 days remaining to verify signatures for the HB267 referendum. (5/7/2025)
110 days to Utah's 2025 municipal primary elections (8/12/2025)
194 days until Election Day (11/4/2025)
558 days until the 2026 midterm elections (11/3/2026)

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Utah Headlines

2 of Utah's national monuments are on Trump's list for mining and drilling. [Deseret News]

Utah's county clerks are analyzing 320,000 referendum signatures. Here's how they do it. [Tribune]

Gov. Cox issues drought declaration for 17 counties, urges Utahns to be "mindful" of water. [KSL]

This one Utah university president signed onto national letter criticizing Trump's attacks on higher education. [Tribune]

Portion of split Alpine School District proposes new name – Aspen Peaks. [KSL]

Operation Underground Railroad sees third CEO in three years. [Fox 13]

Here's when Salt Lake County taps will start pouring non-fluoridated water. [Tribune]

Search called off for missing U.S. Navy sailor from Utah. [Fox 13]

National/International

A federal judge blocked part of President Donald Trump's executive order on election laws, ruling he did not have the authority to require proof of citizenship for all voters. [New York Times]

  • President Trump directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Democratic fundraising platforms like ActBlue. [Washington Post]

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says his country is "ready to reach a deal" on ending the war in Ukraine. [Politico]

  • President Trump said that Russia will retain control of Crimea, which would reverse more than a decade of U.S. policy. [Associated Press]

President Trump's approval ratings on immigration have fallen into negative territory. 53% of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of immigration. [Washington Post]

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Elon Musk got into a shouting match within earshot of President Trump and other officials over who would lead the Internal Revenue Service. [Axios]

Germany has downgraded its economic growth forecast to zero for this year, mostly due to President Trump's trade policies. [Financial Times]

The U.S. is preparing to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth well over $100 billion. [Reuters]

The Pentagon will resume gender-affirming care for transgender service members following a court order. [Politico]

A trio of federal judges blocked part of the Department of Education's plan to enforce bans on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in K-12 schools. [Politico]

Briefly...

California has overtaken Japan to become the world's fourth-largest economy. [Los Angeles Times]

A judge will sentence former Congressman George Santos today after he pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. Prosecutors have recommended he serve 87 months in prison. [New York Times]