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Take a trip to Whoville in ‘Seussical Jr.’ Kaysville Elementary puts on its first musical
BDAC presents “Chromatic”
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‘Dear Evan Hansen’ at the Eccles
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March 3, 2023 | Vol. 4 Iss. 09
2023 LEGISLATIVE SESSION COMES TO AN END
NEWS BREAK SNAP benefits end giving individuals less for groceries Millions of Americans’ grocery budgets will shrink this month even as prices remain high due to inflation. The pandemic era boost to SNAP benefits has ended, and individuals will get on average $90 less this month.
Republicans challenge Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan The Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday over challenges to the Biden administration’s student loan forgiveness plan. A majority of the court's conservatives indicated great skepticism, and it seems the Republican-led state challengers could be on the verge of invalidating the plan. A final decision on the case is expected this summer.
VISITORS TO THE CAPITOL try to identify its iconic features. The Capitol has been bustling with activity over the last 45 days of the Legislative Session. It all ends tonight at midnight.
Photo by Roger V. Tuttle
Adams sponsors bill to help first-time homeowners By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com CAPITOL HILL—After a busy 45 days the 2023 Legislative Session is coming to an end by midnight tonight. A record number of bills – more than 900 – have been considered by lawmakers during the session. Many passed early on while others died a quiet death. Along with tax cuts and education funding, legislators have also looked at ways to provide affordable housing. SB240, sponsored by Senate President Stuart Adams is intended to help first-time home buyers realize their dream of homeownership. “Affordable housing has been a problem,” said Adams. “Utah has the best economy in the nation. We have one of the lowest unemployment rates and we’re the fastest growing state. Because we’re growing so fast, housing has become unaffordable.” The discussion has mostly been about high density or multi-family housing, he said. “We need to change the narrative of homeownership. America believes in homeownership, Utah believes in homeownership.”
There is pride in owning something, Adams said. “As you get older it also adds to your net worth and equity provides a nest egg for people to sustain themselves. I’m concerned if we don’t focus on home ownership and just renters, the middle class will disappear.” Back in the 1980s there was a program the government was working on for first-time homeowners, he said. “We need to pivot and focus on homeownership again.” Adam’s bill would give qualified applicants $20,000 to use for a down payment or to buy down the interest rate. “It’s a loan not a gift,” he said. “It’s capped at a $450,000 home. If they refinance or sell they have to pay it back. We hope to help at least 2,500 families to feel the pride and get the benefit of homeownership.” It is only for new construction, said Adams. “We don’t want to take away from existing homes that we already don’t have enough of and this creates new homes.” SB240 sets aside $50 million for the program, he said. “If you divide it by $20,000 it comes up to 2,500. That's where we got the number. We might be able to help 3,000 families. If each family has two or three children
we could get close to 10,000 Utahns into a home.” The Utah Housing Corporation will administer the program, said Adams. “They’ll work with local banks and credit unions to facilitate it.” As of press time, the bill was ready to be introduced on the House floor mid-week. “I’ve had a favorable response,” said Adams. “Maybe only one vote against.” Adams has said from the beginning that this would be the session of the tax cut. “It’s amazing that Utah has been able to do it again and again. We’ve had a tax cut for the last three years. In addition to cutting taxes we’ve had record funding for education which includes teacher salaries.” The legislature has also had record spending on infrastructure, he said. “We’ve put over a billion and a half on roads and transit and half a billion on water.” It’s been an impressive legislative session, said Adams. “There’s been a lot of work to do and not all bills will pass. It’s an honor to serve. We’re fortunate to live in Utah with such a strong economy. Utah lives within its means and has a great financial capacity.” l
CHS students raise more than $82,000 for Children’s Justice Center
Murdoch testifies in defamation case Rupert Murdoch knew in late 2020 that the hosts on Fox News were endorsing lies from then-President Donald Trump about election fraud, but did nothing to stop it. Under oath in a $1.6 billion defamation case, Murdoch says he wishes Fox News had been “stronger in denouncing” false claims of election fraud.
Despite high inflation Americans are still spending Americans are doing something weird. Despite high inflation, they've been spending like crazy, and personal spending went up 1.8% in January. Is this a good thing? It's hard to tell. If spending continues to grow, the Fed could raise interest rates again. But if spending cools, it would raise concerns of a recession.
By Becky Ginos becky.g@davisjournal.com FARMINGTON—It’s not often that teenagers want to give up their hard-earned money, but students at Clearfield High did just that.They emptied their pockets as part of the school’s “Falcons are Fabulous” event and raised more than $82,000 to donate to Davis County’s Children's Justice Center (CJC). They were recognized by the commissioners at Tuesday’s meeting. “Each year we’re in charge of raising money for charities,” said Eva Butler, SBO over service. “We reached out to Commissioner (Lorene) Kamalu and asked what charities needed help. We toured the CJC and had a strong feeling we wanted to raise money for them.” It’s a school tradition to raise money for charity, Butler said. “We did a million little fundraisers. There was the miracle minute where we had a bucket and people could drop in money. We also did lip sync battles and penny wars. Pennies are positive and everything else is negative. Each grade competed against another grade. We got $900 in pennies. Day by day, little by little we reached a huge goal.” Butler said when the service officers took their positions Please see DONATION: pg. 2
Erythritol sweetener linked to negative health outcomes
(LEFT TO RIGHT) CHS SERVICE OFFICERS Cole Flinders, Brinley Twitchell, Alissa Austad and Eva Butler. Clearfield High students broke the school’s fundraising record this year.
Photo by Becky Ginos
The food industry product erythritol has been linked to higher likelihoods of cardiovascular problems, according to a new study. Erythritol is used to bulk up the volume of products such as stevia and monkfruit. The study has found that higher levels of erythritol in sweetener products have a similarly higher correlation to blood clotting, heart attack and stroke than natural sugar products. The product has been highly successful as a component of “zero calorie” substitutes for sugar.