Amendment gives flexibility to legislators, not special interests

If we asked 20 special interest groups at the state Legislature to sit around a table, then dumped a pile of cash in the middle of them, they would fight to the political death over every last penny. Not one of them would ever say, "We'll make do with what we have," or "You know, some of our programs are actually ineffective."

February 19th 2012

By Paul T. Mero

Kaysville honored for making information available to public

When it comes to city government websites and the information presented, Kaysville city receives an A+ grade. The Sutherland Institute of Salt Lake City will present the city with the honor at the Kaysville City Council meeting Tuesday.

February 17th 2012

By Bryon Saxton, Standard-Examiner

McEntee: Let parents, not lawmakers, decide on sex education for their kids

Sex education in Utah schools has always been regarded with deep suspicion in some quarters, most recently by Republican Rep. Bill Wright, the Sutherland Institute and, of course, the Utah Eagle Forum.

February 15th 2012

By Peg McEntee, Salt Lake Tribune

Panel kills pitch to open certain Utah liquor stores on holidays

A proposal to open certain state liquor stores on holidays fell flat in a House committee Tuesday, with groups like the Eagle Forum and Sutherland Institute arguing it would lead to more drinking and drunken driving.

February 14th 2012

By Robert Gehrke, Salt Lake Tribune

Utah House committee says yes, no and maybe to three liquor bills

Land developers and real estate brokers urged a House committee Tuesday to consider proposed changes to Utah liquor laws that would foster economic development.

February 14th 2012

By Dennis Romboy, Deseret News

Liquor bills proving difficult to pass through legislative committee

Three bills proposed to Utah's Legislature that would loosen the state's strict liquor laws are not looking promising after one of the three has failed in committee and another is stalled as of Tuesday evening.

February 14th 2012

By Aaron Vaughn, Fox 13 News

Utah bill to change school employment laws advances

It was an unusual sight at the Legislature: Republicans, Democrats, teachers and education leaders all agreed Monday on a bill that would significantly change school employment laws in Utah.

February 13th 2012

By Lisa Schencker, Salt Lake Tribune

Utah lawmaker wants to ban talk of contraception in schools

Taking on a topic with a long history of controversy in Utah, a lawmaker plans to present a bill Thursday that would prohibit schools from teaching teens about contraception.

February 8th 2012

By Lisa Schencker and Lee Davidson, Salt Lake Tribune

Immigration bill would sanction those hiring undocumented workers

February 7th 2012

By David Montero, Salt Lake Tribune

Bill to regulate non-lawyer immigration consultants advances to the Senate

A bill to regulate non-attorney "immigration consultants" and prevent predatory practices in the immigrant community advanced to the full Senate.

February 2nd 2012

By Marjorie Cortez, Deseret News/KSL

Panel advances child welfare bill

January 25th 2012

By Brooke Adams, The Salt Lake Tribune

Conservative think tank courts Southern Utah

Representatives from Sutherland Institute, a conservative public policy think tank based in Salt Lake City, are reaching out this year to Southern Utah.

January 22nd 2012

By David De Mille, St. George Spectrum

Push to ban anti-gay bias gets new support at the Legislature

For the past four years, the Legislature has snuffed out efforts to ban discrimination against gay and transgender Utahns. But this year, the proposal has a champion from a new and, perhaps, surprising source.

January 20th 2012

By Rosemary Winters and Robert Gehrke, Salt Lake Tribune

2012 Utah Legislature Preview

2012 Utah Legislature Preview Posted by Seth Bracken on Jan 19, 2012 in Feature Stories | 0 comments Rebounding off of Salt Lake City being crowned the Gayest City in America, the pronouncement will be put to test in the upcoming legislative session.

January 19th 2012

By Seth Bracken, QSaltLake

The Meaning of Words

Words have meaning. Sexual orientation has a tangible meaning under the law, or it does not. The same goes for gender identity.

January 19th 2012

By Paul T. Mero

Chamber: Statewide anti-discrimination law good for business

Salt Lake business leaders are calling for a statewide law banning hiring and housing discrimination against gay, lesbian and transgender individuals.

January 19th 2012

By Robert Gehrke, Salt Lake Tribune

Coalitions Mobilize to Change Utah's Controversial Guest Worker Law

Coalitions are mobilizing around the state to make changes to Utah's controversial guest worker law, House Bill 116, passed in the Legislature last year.

January 18th 2012

By Andrea Smardon

Mormons overcoming hurdles

LDS members see a mixed picture of acceptance from fellow Americans, survey says.

January 12th 2012

By Cheryl Wetzstein

McEntee: Rhetoric swamps American Fork anti-discrimination debate

As the American Fork City Council heard from residents about a proposed housing and workplace anti-discrimination ordinance for LGBT people, someone plastered fliers saying, "Homosexuals Not To Have Rights!" on every car in the parking lot.

December 14th 2011

By Peg McEntee, Salt Lake Tribune

American Fork tables anti-discrimination housing, employment ordinances focused on gay and transgender population

No vote was taken on two proposed anti-discrimination ordinances following a Tuesday night public hearing where 24 people spoke both for and against the measures.

December 13th 2011

By Steve Fidel, Deseret News

Supreme Court's action may impact Utah immigration law

Supreme Court and immigration.

December 13th 2011

By Brian Ahern, The Spectrum

American Fork tables anti-discrimination ordinances

American Fork will not become the first in Utah County to enact ordinances protecting gay and transgender people from discrimination in housing and jobs. The City Council, after an hourlong public hearing on the ordinances, unanimously voted to table the measures indefinitely for further public discussion.

December 13th 2011

By Donald W. Meyers, Salt Lake Tribune

American Fork considers gay anti-discrimination ordinance

American Fork Mayor James Hadfield was greeted by 95 emails when he came into the office Monday morning.

December 12th 2011

By Donald W. Meyers, Salt Lake Tribune

American Fork to consider sexual orientation ordinance for housing, employment

The first city in Utah County to consider anti-discrimination ordinances focused on sexual orientation and gender identity has scheduled a public hearing at City Hall on Tuesday.

December 11th 2011

By Steve Fidel, Deseret News

American Fork considers gay rights ordinance

The conservative Sutherland Institute sent an email to American Fork residents alerting people about what it calls the unintended consequences of such an ordinance.

December 11th 2011

By Richard Piatt, KSL-TV

Rolly and Wells: It was 20 years ago today

Paul Rolly has not left the newsroom. He reluctantly took a one-day leave of absence, so I, his former partner in crime, could congratulate him on 20 years of muckraking.

December 1st 2011

By Joann Jacobsen Wells, Salt Lake Tribune

Beehives and Buffalo Chips, 11/12/11

Beehive to Lehi for its A-plus ranking from the Sutherland Institute for its city website.

November 12th 2011

By Daily Herald editorial staff

Utah Compact had big impact on immigration debate

It started with a lunch meeting at the New Yorker restaurant in the summer of 2010 amid Utah making national headlines for two rogue state employees leaking a confidential list of 1,200 alleged undocumented immigrant names.

November 9th 2011

By David Montero, Salt Lake Tribune

Utah Compact has had national impact, signers say on eve of document's 1st anniversary

When community activist Tony Yapias first heard about the Utah Compact last fall, he had a lot of questions. "I didn't know what the Utah Compact was. What is this thing? Where did this come from?" On the eve of the first anniversary of community, business, political and faith leaders publicly endorsing the document, Yapias calls the statement of principles "one of the inspired documents of our time."

November 9th 2011

By Marjorie Cortez, Deseret News/KSL

Lehi gets A+ in transparency

The city of Lehi received an A-plus award Tuesday from the Sutherland Institute for its transparency in government on its city website, up from a B-minus grade less than a year ago.

November 2nd 2011

By Cathy Allred, Daily Herald