| Updated: 11:04 p.m.
Utah County Commissioner Tanner Ainge is stepping down, the first-term Republican informed his colleagues in a letter Wednesday.
Ainge is out of town for six weeks, through May 14, for Utah National Guard Judge Advocate General (JAG) officer training in Charlottesville, Va., and had intended to carry out his duties remotely until his return, he said in the letter. However, because he had not filed a notice required by state law, a temporary vacancy already exists.
Ainge said he decided to step out of the way rather than sit back while a temporary replacement picked in a special election among county Republicans took over his commission duties for a few weeks, until Ainge’s return.
How the governor and lawmakers settled on April 10 to lift the statewide mask mandate
Gov. Spencer Cox says they wouldn’t wait until everyone had a chance to get the vaccine so ‘The Legislature owns this now.’
(Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo) Gov. Spencer Cox steps into the House chamber following Rep. Francis Gibson, R-Mapleton, motion Friday night that the Legislature hear from “Gov. Gary Herbert.” The legislative session ended March 5, after lawmakers passed a bill ending the statewide mask mandate April 10. Cox said in an interview Wednesday that the Legislature wouldn t wait any longer so it now owns the consequences.
A bill regulating how social media companies moderate content squeaked through the Utah House on Thursday. Opponents and legislative attorneys warned the legislation may be constitutional.
Money would fund construction at the inland port and elsewhere.
(Francisco Kjolseth | Tribune file photo) A map shows the extensive boundary of the planned Inland port development, displayed during a news conference at the Utah Capitol, Jan. 22, 2020. Primary among issues described in a new report are human health impacts from increased pollution the port will bring. On Monday, a Senate panel advanced a proposal to create a $115 million loan fund to assist in needed improvements of roads, water and electric systems in the inland port area of Salt Lake City, the Point of the Mountain and in other large-scale developents.
Sen. Mike McKell’s bill aims to make social media moderation practices more transparent.
(Noah Berger | AP file photo) A sign hangs at Twitter headquarters on, Jan. 11, 2021, in San Francisco. A Utah lawmaker wants to crack down on social media censoring or restricting free speech.
| Feb. 26, 2021, 10:15 p.m.
Spanish Fork Sen. Mike McKell swears his bill targeting social media platforms that censor posts by Utah account holders is not a reaction to so-called “cancel culture.” He just wants some transparency in their decision-making.
“Our social media platforms have become a de facto public forum,” said McKell, an attorney. “We’ve seen some of the big social media platforms pulling folks off, and this requires clear information from a social media platform about their moderation practices.”