Happy Friday from #OneUtah, a weekly update from the office of Gov. Spencer J. Cox. Here’s your recap of what we did this week, what's on the horizon, and more.

Vote!

We encourage every eligible voter to cast their ballot in the Tuesday, June 28 primary election. Your vote is your voice. So please vote and help us shape our great state. If you have any questions, visit vote.utah.gov.

Fireworks safety 

We met with firefighters and local officials to encourage Fire Sense as we head into fireworks season. Current drought conditions have made Utah a tinderbox and fire danger is extremely high statewide. In fact, 100% of the state is in drought and 83% of the state is in extreme drought or worse.

Firework sales begin today. If you choose to use fireworks this summer, please be smart and safe about it. Remember:

- Only use fireworks only during legal times and designated holidays.

- Keep a fire extinguisher and water nearby.

- Use fireworks away from dry grass — and never use them on state and federal lands, and all private lands outside cities and towns; and.

- Use extreme caution when lighting aerial fireworks.

You can always find the latest on fireworks safety and local restrictions at firemarshal.utah.gov/department-services/fireworks/.

We know that wildfires from fireworks are preventable. Last year, Utahns used good Fire Sense and cut human-caused wildfires by 51% — that’s more than 500 fires that never started. As we gear up for summer celebrations, let’s all stay vigilant and use good Fire Sense.

The Supreme Court’s ruling

This administration has been dedicated to giving a voice to the most vulnerable in our society, including the unborn. We wholeheartedly support today’s Supreme Court ruling and are encouraged to see abortion law will be left to elected state representatives. 

As pro-life advocates, this administration is equally committed to supporting women and families in Utah. We all need to do more to support mothers, pregnant women, and children facing poverty and trauma.

Working together to keep Americans safe

We’re heartbroken by recent gun violence, and we are committed to helping make a change.

We’re proud to join a bipartisan group of governors who are coming together to make recommendations and identify solutions that give state and local leaders effective tools designed to stop mass shootings and instill confidence in our communities and schools.

Every state is unique, but we can all agree that there are common sense ways to keep our schools and communities safe in a manner consistent with the demands of the American people. Stay tuned for updates.

Recognizing Utah’s Spirit of Service

Like so many Utahns, we know how important it is to give back, which is why we’re thrilled to introduce the awardees of the inaugural Governor’s Spirit of Service Awards. Out of more than 100 nominations, this year we honored:

Cristina Diaz de Leon, who created Rancho Market COVID-19 vaccine clinics, advanced inclusion and cultural celebrations, empowered youth, led out on service projects, and strongly believed in "meeting people where they are”. Unfortunately, she passed away from lung cancer on Jan. 22, 2022, and her family accepted the award in her honor.

Artes de México en Utah, which creates cultural awareness, provides diverse perspectives, builds understanding and cross-cultural competence, helps the Latino-Hispanic youth connect with their roots and be proud of their multicultural heritage.

The Little Lambs Foundation for Kids, which provides comfort kits for children placed into foster care, emergency shelters, and escaping domestic violence, Northern Utah's only direct service diaper bank, has distributed over 1.75 million diapers to Utah families.

Andilynn Chambers, a 10-year-old with a very giving heart. She asks for donations rather than birthday gifts, and has donated more than 1,000 items to the local homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, and The Christmas Box House.

Lenise Peterman, the volunteer mayor of Helper. She was nominated for working tirelessly on behalf of her community, being a key volunteer for the city revitalization committee, writing grants for the city, securing key partnerships, and acting as a mentor to aspiring change-makers.

Ruff Haven Crisis Sheltering Center, which works to prevent individuals from having to surrender their pets by providing shelter when someone is experiencing a crisis, temporary hardships, medical emergencies and more.

Emily Rojo Mendoza, who tutors fellow Kearns HS students, helps at food banks, serves as the president of the My Kearns Evidence 2 Success Youth Council, has raised thousands of dollars for the local food pantries and the homeless youth resource center.

Ken Vaughn III, who has been in a wheelchair for 20 years, is an active volunteer board member and webmaster for nonprofit Chairbound Sportsman, and helps fundraise and coordinate outdoor adventures for disabled persons.

Moab Multicultural Center, which works to help the homeless find a place to sleep and make sure the less fortunate families in Moab get food for dinner.

These awardees are why Utah leads the nation in volunteerism and service work. You can read more about them here.

Opening Utah’s new state corrections facility

This week marked a big moment for the Department of Corrections and Utah as we celebrated the largest construction project in our state’s history: We officially cut the ribbon at the new Utah State Correctional Facility. We're proud of this effort to provide a safe and secure facility that's also conducive to recovery and rehabilitation.

What makes this building different? There's increased programming space for education, vocational training, and treatment; greater access to medical care and resources; and improved working environments for staff.

We applaud the individuals who have dedicated more than five years to this project: Jerry Jensen; Bryan Taylor; Capt. Matthew Coates; Lt. Bisera Habibija; Lt. Michael Millward; Elizabeth Brown; Steven Turley; and Mike Ambre. 

We'd also like to thank the dedicated Department of Corrections staff. Corrections is not an easy career. It can be dangerous and thankless — and it can mean long hours. But it’s a vital part of keeping us all safe. Inmates will be moving to the new facility from the Draper prison site in the coming weeks.

CDC authorizes COVID vaccines for children

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued recommendations for vaccinating children 5 years of age and younger against COVID-19, which clears the way for the nearly 241,000 Utah children to get vaccinated!

Additionally, the FDA has authorized both the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines for use with all ages (6 months and older) eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations. Previously, only the Pfizer vaccine was available for children younger than 18. 

Vaccines for this youngest age group are on the way. According to the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, providers have already ordered 32,300 doses of the vaccines. 

Providers such as local health departments, select pharmacies, and doctor’s offices are offering vaccinations to the youngest Utahns over the next several days to weeks. For more information visit www.coronavirus.utah.gov/vaccine/ or call the COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-456-7707.

Good government in action

The town of Lynndyl in Millard County now has water, thanks to the quick action of state and local officials. Lynndyl has two wells powered by pumps. The state allocated $1.75 million to help the town build new drinking water infrastructure, but before that could happen, the pumps failed yesterday afternoon. The water shortage was not due to drought. 

When the Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Public Safety got word, they reached out to work with Lynndyl and Delta City officials to expedite hauling water into the town and to see if the pumps could be fixed. 

By 9 p.m., water was on the way with LiquaDry from the neighboring town of Abraham hauling water to Lynndyl. DEQ helped install a new pump and ensured the water was safe to drink. 

In the meantime, the Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity is working with Millard County to secure $113,000 in emergency funds to keep the water flowing until the grant money comes through.

“After talking with Gov. Cox last night, everything ran more smoothly,” Lynndyl Mayor Briar Proctor said. “A huge thank you to the surrounding cities, the state and everyone who helped us. It’s been an overwhelming amount of help.” 

We’re grateful to DEQ, DPS, Go Utah, Delta City, Lynndyl City, LiquaDry and Millard County for coordinating so quickly and efficiently to make sure this town of 120 has water. This is good government in action!

State flag design preview

We’re excited by the enthusiasm around a new state flag! Lt. Gov. Henderson and members of the Utah State Flag Task Force got a sneak peek of some of the 5,000 flag designs that have been submitted by the public..

Finalists were not selected at the preview event. 

The new state flag aspires to reflect on Utah’s past while uniting us with new symbolism and a shared identity. Learn more about the process and timeline here.

A discussion about America’s future

We’re looking forward to our discussion with author Jonathan Martin about his book, “This Will Not Pass.”

The book explores how both of our political parties confronted a series of national traumas, including the coronavirus pandemic, the January 6 attack on the Capitol, and the political brinksmanship of President Biden’s first year in the White House.

Join us for this free event at the Hinckley Institute of Politics at the University of Utah on Thursday, June 30, at 6:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!

Supporting local: Red Iguana 2

This week we were able to stop by Red Iguana 2 for a quick – and delicious — lunch. We especially loved the puntas de filete and queso. 

The Cardenas family has proudly served the Salt Lake Valley since 1965, and we’re sure they’ll be satisfying hungry patrons for decades to come. We’re always happy to see small family businesses thriving. Let us know what your favorite local restaurant is here!

Meeting with faith leaders

Faith leaders are a central part of the fabric of our community. This week we met with 31 different faith leaders from across the state of Utah.

Faith groups strengthen and illuminate our relationship with a higher power, but they also maintain cultural traditions, reinforce moral values and create community. We can’t thank each of them enough for their guidance, goodness, and charity.

ICYMI

More good economic news: Salt Lake City was ranked No. 4 by the Wall Street Journal in its annual rankings of the hottest job markets in the country. Provo was ranked No. 2 in smaller metro areas.

Yes, Utah experienced a tornado this past week. In fact, we've averaged two per year since 1950. The good news is that this one was in a remote part of Duchesne County resulting in no structural damage or injuries. If you find yourself facing a tornado, try to take shelter in a low place like a ditch or ravine. If indoors, get into a basement, or a room without windows. 

We had a fun opportunity to talk about a more hopeful version of politics with Vermont State Sen. Becca Balint and Slate host Amanda Ripley. Listen here!

Lt. Gov. Henderson welcomed the Consul General of the Republic of Georgia to the Capitol on Tuesday. He said he had a “wonderful visit to Utah.”

Courtesy of the Utah Office of Energy Development: Here are four energy saving tips to help you beat this summer heat!

Preparing for a backcountry adventure can look a little different for each outing and individual, but the benefits of a well-planned trip help ensure safety in the wilderness. Find a few first hand tips from Escalante-based guide and search and rescue volunteer Rick Green here!

We had yet another great jobs report. Our unemployment rate remains at a historic low, and our job growth is one of the best in the U.S. We’re proud of the hard-working Utahns who contribute to the most robust economy in the nation.

Coming up

June 24: Join Utah First Lady Abby Cox at the Show Up for Summer Service kickoff event tonight from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.! Connect with local nonprofits to find the perfect service opportunity for you and your family or friends to do this summer. 

June 28: The Primary Election is less than one week away! If you have any questions, contact your county clerk or go to www.vote.utah.gov.

June 30: Join us for a lively discussion with author Jonathan Martin about his book, “This Will Not Pass.” This free event will be held at the Hinckley Institute of Politics at 6:30 p.m. No registration required.

June 30: This is the last day to apply for a Utah Manufacturing Modernization Grant! This grant supports Utah businesses to modernize, establish, relocate, retain, or develop manufacturing in the state. The Legislature created the grant program to modernize Utah companies’ manufacturing, increase supply chain resilience, and lessen American dependence on foreign manufacturing.

July 1: Lt. Gov. Henderson will join the leadership of the newly consolidated Utah Department of Health & Human Services to celebrate its new vision and to reflect on its origins, which date back to Utah’s first female state senator – suffragist, doctor and visionary – Martha Hughes Cannon.

July 12: All Utah educators are invited to attend Show Up Utah’s free conference focused on professional and personal wellness. Learn more here.

Get involved!

Looking for a new job opportunity? From great employee benefits to versatile work schedules, the career opportunities with the state are truly endless. Join Team Utah today! 

Those looking to volunteer can also consider more than 300 boards and commissions. Find out which openings are available and how you can get involved here!

Get in touch!

You can reach the Governor's Office here. And you can follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube for the latest news and updates.

Contact the Governor's Office