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Situational Analysis | December 11, 2025
It’s Thursday and International Mountain Day. 🏔️
What you need to know
The Salt Lake County Council voted Tuesday night to approve a property tax increase of around 14% for residents, less than the initially proposed increase of nearly 20%. Members of the County Council voted 8-1 in favor of the amended hike at the end of a truth-in-taxation meeting that lasted more than three hours. Four county-funded day care programs will close by the end of May but renovations at the Tenth East Senior Center will continue.
Rapid Relevance
Tooele food pantry doubles service amid rising demand; Utah farmers may miss out on federal aid amid economic struggles
Utah Headlines
Political News
Editorial Board: Aid cuts are threatening children’s lives (Deseret News)
Opinion: Utah Legislature’s special session highlights tension over gerrymandering (Deseret News)
How Utah's newest lawmaker went from fighting HB267 to using his first vote to repeal it (KSL)
Utah lawmakers still refuse to give USU full approval for its budget cut plan (Salt Lake Tribune)
Service/Kindness/Christmas
Utah
Returning items to their rightful owners: Inside Salt Lake City airport’s lost and found (Deseret News)
DHS says a man detained by ICE was a predator. His attorneys say that’s libel (KSL TV)
Crime/Courts
Family of slain Saratoga Springs mother and son insists they're cooperating (KSL)
How to protect yourself from the five most dangerous words used in email scams (KSL TV)
Washington County deputies warn of rise in mail scams, fake charity calls during holidays (KUTV)
Deaf Utah man files federal civil rights lawsuit after encounter with ICE agents outside SLCC (KSL Newsradio)
Jen Shah released to community confinement after fraud sentence (Deseret News)
Culture/Community
Economy
What is a ‘K-shaped’ economy and why is it a concern? (Deseret News)
For a St. George furniture maker, Trump’s unpredictable tariffs have become a costly new normal (Salt Lake Tribune)
Trump’s handling of the economy is at its lowest point in AP-NORC polling (AP)
Education
Why have Utah’s high school dropout rates been sliced in half? (Deseret News)
Weber State erred in creating list of 'prohibited' words, says Utah System of Higher Ed head (KSL)
UVU guaranteeing admission to all SLCC graduates through new partnership (KSL)
Alpine School District apologizes for “hurt feelings” after claim by Freedom From Religion group (KSL Newsradio)
Lawmakers express concerns over University of Utah athletics private equity deal (ABC4)
SUU Sorenson Legacy Foundation Center for Hope receives national recognition (ABC4)
Environment/Energy
Utah's snowpack off to 'slow start' amid 'whiplash' start to 2026 water year (KSL)
US Magnesium is mothballed, leaving Utahns with a giant and expensive mess. Here’s what to know. (Salt Lake Tribune)
BYU research team examines groundwater pollution in Great Salt Lake (ABC4)
Faith
YouTube sensation among those called to church advisory council for young men (Deseret News)
Family
Free emergency babysitting available to Utah parents through Family Support Center (KUTV)
Health
How a rare drug made from scientists' blood saves babies from botulism (AP)
Housing
Less than one-fifth of homes on Salt Lake market considered affordable (KUTV)
National Headlines
General
How podcasts took over the media landscape (Deseret News)
Parent of student charged in shooting that killed teen at Kentucky State University (KSL)
Tens of thousands in Washington state could face evacuations as rain continues to pound the region (AP)
Political News
Congress passes $900 billion national defense bill (Deseret News)
US seizes oil tanker off coast of Venezuela, Trump says (Reuters)
Centrist Republicans want to force vote on ACA subsidies, defying GOP leadership (Deseret News)
Calibri font becomes the latest DEI target as Rubio orders return to Times New Roman (AP)
Trump calls affordability crisis a 'hoax.' The data tells a different story (NPR)
Immigration
ICE threatens family separation, indefinite detention to satisfy Trump deportation goal (Reuters)
Trump’s ‘gold card’ program goes live, offering US visas starting at $1 million per person (AP)
U.S. plans to ask visitors to disclose 5 years of social media history (Washington Post)
Are Refugees Good or Bad for the Economy? Here’s What the Numbers Say (Wall Street Journal)
Ukraine/Russia
World
Number of the Day
News Releases
Salt Lake County Council Democratic Caucus statement on passage of 2026 budget
Tuesday night the Salt Lake County Council voted 8-1 to approve the county’s budget for 2026. This year’s budget process was more challenging than in years past; but the Council ultimately adopted a budget that is fiscally responsible and continues to provide critical services county residents depend on.
Through detailed deliberations, the Council was able to reduce a proposed property tax increase by approximately 25%. Asking residents to contribute additional taxes is not a decision we take lightly. However, the County’s continued growth, inflation, decreasing federal revenue, and unfunded requirements from the state legislature necessitated the County’s first property tax increase in six years. (Read More)
Utah ranks 17th highest for taxes and fees in the nation
According to the latest “How Utah Compares” report from the Utah Taxpayers Association, Utah’s combined state and local tax burden is above the national average placing Utah at 17th highest in the nation for combined taxes and fees placed on its residents. (Read More)
Tweet of the Day
Upcoming
Dec 11 - 2025 Common Good Awards with Envision Utah, 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Grand America Ballroom, Register here
Jan 8 — Men and Boys Wellbeing Symposium with the Sutherland Institute, 8:30 am - 1:00 pm; RSVP here
Jan 12 — Utah Taxpayers Association Legislative Outlook Conference, 9:00 am, Little America Hotel, Register here
Jan 20 — 2026 Legislative Session begins
Feb 4–7, 2026 — Summit with Silicon Slopes and Visit Salt Lake
Mar 6 — Legislative session ends
On This Day in History
1620 - Mayflower Pilgrims come ashore in Plymouth Bay
1892 - Harriet Adams is born. After the death of her father who syndicated the publishing of juvenile books, she and her sister continued his practice with many titles in the Nancy Drew series, among others, under the pen name Carolyn Keene
1941 - Germany declares war on the United States
1946 - UNICEF founded
1978 - Millions stolen from JFK Airport in infamous 'Lufthansa heist'
1997 - Kyoto Protocol first adopted in Japan
2008 - Billionaire conman Bernie Madoff arrested
2020 - US Supreme Court rejects lawsuit by Texas to overturn Joe Biden's election in four battleground states, endorsed by 17 Republican attorney generals
Quote of the Day
The mountains are calling, and I must go.
On the Punny Side
Why was Santa's little helper so sad?
He had low elf-esteem.
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