Take 2: New SLCPD Chief, Utah records laws, Ballot questions and DOGE

Take 2 Podcast Feb. 21, 2025 Heidi Hatch Maura Carabello Exoro Group John Dougall AG Administrator   SLC Mayor named her pick for Chief, 8 days after firing Chief Mike Brown No national search Brian Redd will go up for a vote March 4th Was appointed to DOC by Cox in May 2023 https://kutv.com/news/local/salt-lake-city-mayor-to-announce-recommendation-for-new-chief-of-police#   Concerns raised over decision to join SEC 504 lawsuit that could remove disability protections Last May, the Biden administration added "gender dysphoria" as a disability, and now the states are suing to find out if it was constitutional. Section 504 protects people with disabilities, including children who need accommodation in school. Children like Richardson’s son.   Senate panel advances major change to Utah public records law - out of committee 6-2 vote  SB277 proposed to disband a volunteer committee that decides disputes over access to government records. The revised bill would eliminate a key test for determining whether records are public or private. A Senate committee advanced the legislation despite strong opposition from Utahns. State and legislative audits found that few cases in the past few years were resolved within the 73 days the law requires and last year the average time was 156 days, he said. https://www.deseret.com/politics/2025/02/18/utah-public-records-law-sunshine-act-grama-legislature/   Utah Legislature considers tougher rules for ballot initiative A proposed Utah bill that would make it harder for Utahns to bring issues directly to the ballot is stirring up debate in the Legislature. Senate Bill 73, sponsored by Sen. Lincoln Fillmore, would require sponsors of initiative petitions to publish the full text of their proposed initiative in newspapers across the state for two months leading up to the election. If sponsors failed to do so, the initiative would become invalid — meaning that votes cast for or against the initiative would not be counted, and the proposed law would not be presented to voters. https://www.upr.org/utah-news/2025-02-20/utah-legislature-considers-tougher-rules-for-ballot-initiatives   Clock runs out on bill that would eliminate Daylight Saving Time in Utah (we will Spring forward 3/9) A legislative panel on Wednesday voted to "table" HB 120, signaling state senators' lack of desire to spend more time talking about time--and effectively killing time for this session. DOGE cuts continue Utah cuts at Federal parks Federal employees cut at IRS Congressman Mike Kennedy suggests Utah fill positions if the cut is too deep at our National Parks   DEA DHS ICE arrest 13 people for deportation, 4 are members of Tren De Aragua See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.